Mr. Blaik Kirby reports

BELL ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE CANADIAN LAUNCH OF ULTRA-RUGGED KYOCERA DURAFORCE 4G LTE ANDROID SMARTPHONE

Kyocera Communications Inc. and BCE Inc.'s Bell plan to launch on Nov. 20 the new Kyocera DuraForce, an ultrarugged, waterproof 4G LTE (fourth-generation, long-term evolution) Android smart phone. Available in Canada exclusively from Bell Mobility on the country's largest 4G LTE network, the Military Standard 810G- and IP68-certified DuraForce supports Bell's leading push-to-talk (PTT) service, and enables workers and active consumers to do more with their smart phones -- on the most demanding job site or skiing down the steep slopes of one of Canada's many winter resorts.

Bell announces exclusive Canadian launch of ultrarugged Kyocera DuraForce 4G LTE Android smart phone

With the Kyocera DuraForce added to its phone lineup, Bell will offer customers Canada's largest selection of ruggedized handsets.

DuraForce is IP68 certified, meaning it is dust proof, waterproof and can be submerged in up to 1.8 metres of water for up to 30 minutes. With a reinforced housing and Military Standard 810G protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure/high altitudes, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity and water immersion, DuraForce can go more places, and withstand extreme environments and accidents. DuraForce's durability withstands toughest treatment, as evidenced by Bear Grylls, Kyocera's lead product tester, adventure survivalist and star of the new series, Running Wild with Bear Grylls.

With PTT from Bell, DuraForce gives customers quick and reliable connection to an individual or group instantly with just a push of a button. DuraForce is designed with a large, tactile side button that makes PTT calls easy, even while wearing gloves. It comes equipped with an extra-loud speaker and can accommodate an external PTT remote speaker microphone accessory.

"Kyocera and Bell Mobility have teamed up to offer the Canadian market an ultrarugged, affordable smart phone designed to meet the demands of extreme lifestyles," said Eric Anderson, senior vice-president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications. "DuraForce is designed for the person who works or plays in tough environments, like those in the oil and gas industry, or anyone who wants to take on the toughest winter sports and not worry about breaking their phones on a major spill. DuraForce is intended to allow users the freedom to work and play as hard as they want."

"Bell was the first wireless operator in Canada to offer customers a modern push-to-talk service on a high-speed wireless network, and we're excited to continue to lead the way with the exclusive launch of the PTT-ready Kyocera DuraForce ultrarugged smart phone," said Blaik Kirby, chief marketing officer at Bell Mobility. "With the DuraForce, Bell Mobility customers will experience all the business and consumer benefits that high-speed 4G LTE delivers in a smart phone tough enough to take whatever life throws at it."

DuraForce is certified for use in hazardous work environments (hazardous locations: non-incendive, Class I, Division 2), where concentrations of flammable gases, vapours or mists are not normally present in an explosive concentration, but may materialize, making it an ideal smart phone for industries such as oil exploration and production, utilities, chemical production, airport refuelling, pharmaceutical/paint industries, and natural gas pipeline/production centres.

DuraForce features the Android KitKat 4.4.2 operating system and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with 1.4-gigahertz quad-core CPU (central processing unit). The phone's 16 gigabytes of ROM (read-only memory) can be augmented via an external micro-SD (secure digital) card slot that supports cards up to 32 GB. It has a high-capacity 3,100-milliampere-hour lithium-ion battery that is well suited to long days on the job or on the go, along with a 4.5-inch 720p high-definition impact-resistant touch screen that can be used while wearing gloves (recognizes touch input while wearing gloves up to three millimetres thick; the material, texture and thickness of the glove, as well as how it fits your hand, will impact performance; individual results may vary), with wet hands or when the screen is wet. The touch screen immediately recognizes the input method, whether by glove or bare hand, and automatically adjusts the sensitivity level.

DuraForce is the ideal device for workers in industries such as agriculture, construction, oil and gas, security, transportation, hospitality and home health care, as well as mechanics, plumbers, landscapers and anyone who requires a smart phone that is tough enough to withstand the roughest work situations. And consumers -- whether outdoor adventurers or those in Canada's coldest climates -- will appreciate a device that's tough enough to overcome life's challenges, yet sleek enough to fit conveniently in a pocket.

The Kyocera DuraForce launches nationally with Bell Mobility on Nov. 20. For more information, please visit Bell's website.

About Kyocera Communications

Kyocera Communications is the headquarters for Kyocera wireless devices in the Americas. Designed with durability, dependability and long-term value as priorities, Kyocera mobile phones help people feel comfortable with new technology, and use it to connect, perform and outsmart life's challenges. At the heart of Kyocera's products is a belief that one size doesn't fit all, and that people should do more with phones instead of being confused by them or having to alter their lifestyles to accommodate them. For more information, follow the company on Facebook or Twitter.

Kyocera Corp., the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as advanced ceramics). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of solar-power-generating systems, mobile phones, printers, copiers, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial components. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the company's consolidated net sales totalled 1.45 trillion yen (approximately $14.1-billion (U.S.)).