Virgin Mobile's New 'Cyclops' Brings Music to Text Messaging

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Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- With its eye-catching two-tone red and white facing, lightweight clamshell design, and new messaging features, the new Cyclops camera phone from Virgin Mobile USA and Kyocera Wireless is one monster hit for the holidays. Cyclops also includes two innovative and exciting texting features: TXT Tones and Audio Messaging.

Cyclops is the first phone to benefit from an agreement between Virgin Mobile and Warner Music Group, giving U.S. cellular customers access to music-based TXT Tones from Virgin Mobile. With access to hundreds of tunes from WMG's catalog, Virgin Mobile is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to launch an exclusive text tone deal with a major record label. The 3.5-ounce Cyclops is also the first handset to carry Virgin Mobile Audio Messaging, or VAM, which allows instant messages to be sent by voice instead of keyboard. Pearl-white with a red stripe down the middle, Cyclops also includes a 1.3-megapixel camera, long battery life, cool games and Superphonic, real music ring tones.

"We know our audience looks for features to personalize their mobile phone experience, and these texting enhancements allow us to deliver on that," said Dan Schulman, chief executive officer of Virgin Mobile USA. "Throughout 2006, we've continued to add exciting and affordable new choices to our handset line-up and Cyclops is no exception."

"Our strong ongoing relationship with Virgin Mobile has brought some unique and feature-packed Kyocera phones to market this year, including the Switch_Back and now Cyclops," said Tom Maguire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "As the holiday season is about to kick off, we're excited to have a breadth of affordable Kyocera phones available for Virgin Mobile's eclectic mix of texters, callers, IMers and photo takers."

"Warner Music Group is always looking for innovative ways to expand our digital product offerings in the mobile space. As the first music company to launch music SMS tones earlier this year in Europe, we are now delighted to make text tones available, for the first time in the U.S., to Virgin Mobile customers who want to personalize their handsets," said Alex Zubillaga, Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development, WMG. "It's exciting to take the lead in offering consumers unique new digital products, enabled by our partners' platforms."

TXT Tones
Cyclops takes text messaging to a new level with TXT Tones that work just like ring tones, but are linked to text messages. Virgin Mobile's new TXT Tones allow the phone user to program a short clip of a song alerting that a new text message has been received on his or her handset. Each text tone is about three to five seconds long and can be assigned to incoming text and picture messages, offering the users the option to assign personalized TXT Tones for anyone in their phone book. The WMG catalog will be available only to Virgin Mobile customers starting November 2 through November 14, 2006.

Each TXT Tone costs $1.50 to download from either www.virginmobileusa.com or the VirginXL menu on the phone. Cyclops is currently the only Virgin Mobile handset with TXT Tone capabilities; the feature will also be available on handsets offered in the future.

VAM
Virgin Mobile Audio Messaging [VAM] lets a user first set up a contact list, similar to an IM "buddy" list, to see who's online and available to get 'VAMed.' They then record their message and hit send. If the recipient is available, he or she can reply right back. If not, the audio message will be waiting when they get back. VAM sessions can also be saved on the handset so the user can play them back later and share with friends.

From now through June 2007, Virgin Mobile is offering 100 free audio messages per month to customers who opt-in to the service. VAM comes pre- loaded on Cyclops, and will soon be available for download on the Virgin Mobile Switch_Back as well.

More Good Looks and Great Features
Cyclops' striking exterior color scheme is complemented by a stunning internal color display, as well as an external display that shows the time and caller ID. The handset comes pre-loaded with three great games -- Lumines Mobile, New York Nights and Bikini Beach Party -- with scores more available for download. An internal antenna makes for a sleeker and more pocketable design, while features like an integrated speakerphone and voice-activated dialing notch up the convenience.

Cyclops will be available on November 2, 2006, both online at www.virginmobileusa.com and at retail locations nationwide, including Best Buy for a suggested retail price of $99.99.

SOURCE Virgin Mobile USA