Youth Market Will 'Flip' for New Wireless Phone from Audiovox

March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The newest handset from Virgin Mobile USA, the Audiovox CDM-8500 (better known as the Vox 8500), is sure to push the buttons of teens and grown-ups alike. Big on fun and function, the phone's sleek, compact, silver clamshell-style format is a great-looking front for a feature-packed wireless phone that comes with Virgin Mobile's convenient pay-as-you-go wireless service.

The Vox 8500 is the first Audiovox handset and first compact, clamshell-style phone to be offered by Virgin Mobile USA, a wireless service designed exclusively around the needs of the youth market. Audiovox Communications Corporation (ACC), a subsidiary of Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ:VOXX) is a U.S. technology leader in CDMA (code division multiple access) wireless handsets.

The phone features a blue-lighted keypad, dual LCD screens with animation and seven backlighting colors that light with Caller ID. These colors can be programmed to change each time the phone is flipped open. The Vox 8500 also offers downloadable polyphonic ring tones -- including favorite Top 20 hits -- two-way speaker phone functionality and SMS text messaging.

Through ACC's Vox 8500 and Virgin Mobile USA, young wireless aficionados also have access to a unique suite of content called VirginXtras, completely tailored to their interests and lifestyles. VirginXtras are available to all Virgin Mobile subscribers and include features like the Hit List (which lets users vote on and share new music with friends) and the Rescue Ring -- a feature that brings new meaning to "being saved by the bell." By setting a Rescue Ring, users can program their phones to ring at a specific time to help them escape from a boring situation -- such as a family reunion or a bad blind date! VirginXtras also include exclusive content from MTV and VH1 and additional content from Nickelodeon -- such as MTV Video Voting, VH1's Top 20 Questions rock trivia game, SpongeBob's Deep Sea Thought of the Day and much more on the way.

"We think that our customers are going to love the Vox 8500 flip phone," said Dan Schulman, Virgin Mobile USA CEO. "It has all the features young people need to get the most out of the Virgin Mobile experience. This handset is ideal for those who want the latest in mobile technology at an attractive price, while enjoying the freedom and convenience of Virgin Mobile's no-contract and no-hassle pay-as-you-go pricing plan."

"We're pleased to have partnered with Virgin Mobile USA to showcase the Vox 8500. The phone has innovative features and capabilities that are perfect for the active and tech-savvy life-style of their customer demographic," said Philip Christopher, president and CEO of Audiovox Communications Corp.

The Vox 8500 is a tri-mode, CDMA2000 1X-capable handset that supports the 3G network on which Virgin Mobile USA operates. It is equipped with a variety of the latest features demanded by wireless customers. Weighing in at a mere 3.2 oz., the Vox 8500 supports high-speed wireless connectivity for Web browsing, e-mail and mobile e-commerce functions. The handset is also equipped with vibrating alert and voice-mail notification capabilities.

Virgin Mobile USA will offer the Audiovox Vox 8500 for $129 through its broad range of retail partners. Pricing of the Virgin Mobile service is simple -- just 25 cents per minute for the first ten minutes of each day, and then 10 cents for every minute thereafter. Using as much or as little airtime as they want, customers can simply Top-Up their account as needed either online or through their Virgin Mobile phones.

For more information, visit www.audiovox.com.

Virgin Mobile wireless products and services are available 24/7 on the Web at www.virginmobileusa.com or through Virgin Mobile Central Intelligence at 1-888-322-1122.

Source: Audiovox Communications Corp.; Virgin Mobile USA, LLC