US: Kyocera Wireless Corp., manufacturer of the world's first commercial BREW-enabled wireless phone, announced plans to become the first manufacturer to offer entry-tier, affordable BREW-enabled CDMA phones with enhanced color displays that use software to emulate 16-bit, 65,000-color performance.

Kyocera will offer versions of its Phantom, Blade and Rave Series phones that support BREW 2.0 to carriers who wish to extend their BREW-based content offerings to the mass-market segment of wireless customers.

Kyocera's Phantom, Blade, and Rave Series are three uniquely designed entry-tier phones with mix-and-match feature sets that enable carriers to create designs that fit their product portfolios. The new BREW-enabled versions of the phone are collectively known as Kyocera's KX400 Series. They complement Kyocera's previously announced KE400 Series, in which each of the three products is offered in grayscale and 4,000-color display models. A modular design also allows each to be ordered as single-mode digital PCS, dual-mode digital cellular or tri-mode with analog. Carriers will be able to select up to 1.5 MB of internal memory to store BREW applications. All three designs feature high-speed CDMA2000 1X and assisted-GPS (AGPS) position-location technology.

"We're addressing a clear need for feature-rich, affordable handsets that can bring the richness of BREW content to the mass-market audience," said Don McGuire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "Kyocera created the world's first commercial BREW-enabled wireless phone, the QCP 3035e, and this announcement marks another major milestone in bringing the power of BREW to the growing wireless marketplace."

Phantom, Blade and Rave join Kyocera's Slider and 3200 Series phones in Kyocera's 2003 BREW-enabled product line-up. Phantom and Rave can be user-customized with masks and faceplates, respectively, while Blade features an edgy design and an illuminated navigation "halo." Blade and Rave also incorporate an integrated LED flashlight. All feature contact cartoons, downloadable polyphonic ring tones, screen shades, and accessory carabiner-like clips. The BREW-enabled versions of the three phones will reach the market this summer.

Kyocera will demonstrate Phantom, Blade, Rave, and its entire line of BREW-enabled handsets at the BREW 2003 Developers Conference on April 28-30 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.