Kyocera Koi Megapixel Camera Phone on Flat-Rate Service Plan

Cricket Communications is now the first company to offer a megapixel camera phone with a flat-rate service plan. The Kyocera Koi will sell for $300 and offers a 1.2 megapixel digital camera with 16MB of storage to record images and MPEG-4 video.

The phone will come with the “Cricket Clicks” service that gives access to RealTone Jukebox for real song clip ringtone downloads and FlixTones for movie clip ringtones. Their flat rate services start at $29.99 a month for unlimited local calling and up to $54.99 for unlimited long distance within the USA, excluding Alaska; just because it's too damn cold there.

See press release below.

Cricket Offers Kyocera Koi, the Nation's First Megapixel Camera Phone to Be Offered with Flat-Rate Wireless Service

Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited local and domestic long distance wireless services, and Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless phones and devices, today announced the immediate availability of the nation's first megapixel camera phone at a flat-rate service provider, the Kyocera Koi. The fashionable, easy-to-use Koi marks Kyocera's entry into the megapixel camera phone market and Cricket's first megapixel camera phone offering.

Along with its unique "swiveling" design and large external display, Kyocera Koi features a 1.2 megapixel digital camera with built-in flash and 5x digital zoom, MPEG-4 video record and playback, and 16 megabytes (MB) of onboard memory. Koi provides a camera phone solution to consumers with sharp, clear resolution for saving, printing and framing photos as large as 4" x 6". The handset also features a sliding protective lens cover so the lens won't get scratched in purses or pockets. Koi's unique swivel-to-open design adds additional style appeal for the user who wants a cutting-edge look.

The Kyocera Koi is available to Cricket customers for $299.99. MMS/picture messaging will be available early this year.

"As with our popular Slider Series, the Kyocera Koi is another great example of our ability to combine intriguing new designs with superior technology and features in a phone that make sense and are easy to use," said Jim Kelly, chief operating officer, Kyocera Wireless Corp. "The 1.2 megapixel camera on Koi produces images that turn the camera phone into a true next-generation multimedia device without compromising the original intended use of the handset -- as a wireless phone."

"The Kyocera Koi offers cutting-edge technology so our customers have access to the latest and hippest handsets," said Nitu Arora, vice president, product development for Cricket. "Megapixel camera phones continue to grow in popularity, and our unlimited, contract-free, flat-rate pricing makes it a perfect choice for value-conscious consumers."

The phone will also offer a wide array of ringtones and graphics through Cricket Clicks, including: RealTone Jukebox, allowing subscribers to download real song clips as their ringtone; FlixTones, downloadable movie clips as a ringtone; Soda Pop Mail, receive and send email from your phone; Wallpaper Universe, cool, customizable wallpapers; and two popular games, Air Raid and Tetris. More information on Cricket Clicks is available at www.mycricket.com/clicks/.

The easy-to-use Kyocera Koi can be used in open or closed mode; opening the cover automatically launches Koi into "camera" mode even when the phone is closed, making it simple to catch life's spontaneous moments. The large 262,000-color display is always visible to the user, and both the phone and digital camera can function when the phone is "closed" by using the jog dial and shutter button on the side of the phone. Expanding on Kyocera's renowned user interface, the phone features an extremely intuitive and user-friendly "pinwheel" menu option to quickly scroll through its many features. Large, easy-to-press keys are also ideal for quick and accurate number input and text messaging.

Via

Fabrizio Pilato