Introducing The Latest 'Catch' From Cingular: The Firefly Phone
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In time for holidays, Cingular offers Cool, Fun Mobile Phone for Tweens that Helps Keep Parents in Control of Calls
ATLANTA and CHICAGO, Nov. 17 - Cingular Wireless and Firefly Mobile, Inc. today announced the availability of the Firefly phone, a pioneering mobile phone designed specifically for kids ages 12 and under. Cingular is the first national U.S. carrier to launch this unique voice-only phone. Firefly Mobile also announced this week that the Firefly phone was awarded the prestigious 2006 'Best of Innovations' Award in the telephone category from the Consumer Electronics Association (CES).
The Firefly phone was designed with just five keys instead of a regular dial pad. Parents use a private PIN to program up to 22 outgoing numbers into the phone, including speed-dial keys for Mom and Dad. Kids place calls by pressing the Mom or Dad key, or selecting a name in the Phone Book and pressing "send." Caller ID lets your child know who's calling. An optional call screening feature can be activated, allowing the phone to accept incoming calls from only those numbers programmed into the phone.
"From ballet class to soccer practice to piano lessons-children are increasingly engaged in activities outside of the home and school," said David Garver, executive director, segment marketing and sponsorships, Cingular Wireless. "We're excited to offer a device that is designed with parents and, especially, their kids in mind. With the Firefly phone, parents can easily control their kids' calling activity, while kids can enjoy the cool look and feel of the device and stay connected to friends and parents while on the go."
"Parents asked us for a variety of calling plans for their Firefly phones and we are delighted that Cingular, the nation's largest wireless carrier, is bringing the Firefly phone and a choice of plans to its customers," said Fred Bullock, CMO, Firefly Mobile. "Cingular, like Firefly Mobile, recognizes that parents are searching for a mobile phone explicitly designed for kids ages 12 and under that suits an individual's parenting style and is fun for kids to use."
Kids Make The Firefly Phone Their Own
Weighing only two ounces, the Firefly phone - The Mobile Phone for Mobile Kids(TM) - is designed to fit comfortably in a child's hand. The Firefly phone lights up like a firefly when the phone rings, and intermittently when it is in use, when charging and when in standby mode. Kids can personalize their Firefly phone whenever they wish by selecting ringtones, animations, and backlight colors that come preloaded on the phone.
Cingular and Firefly Mobile offer an array of accessories for the Firefly phone, which enable kids to add a little more personalization to their phone to fit their taste. Accessories available at Cingular retail outlets include a "fashion kit" with a "bubblegum" colored collectible shell and wristlet purse, and an "action kit" with a "slime" colored collectible shell and pouch.
Pricing and Availability
The Firefly phone and accessories are available now through participating Cingular retail locations or via www.cingular.com. The Firefly is $49.99, after a $25 mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract. The Firefly phone is available on Cingular's $9.99 FamilyTalk(R) plan.
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 52.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER (SM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover (SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at www.cingular.com/newsroom.
About Firefly Mobile
Firefly Mobile is a privately held company with worldwide headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and a regional office in Northern California. Firefly Mobile designs, develops and sells the Firefly phone, accessories and airtime services. The Firefly phone was designed from the ground up to address the needs of pre-teenage kids and their parents. Kids love the Firefly phone because it's designed just for them and allows them to stay in touch with their family and friends by pressing a few keys. Unlike adult mobile phones, the Firefly phone provides parents with the control features they need in order to conveniently manage calling costs and access to calling features. Firefly phones are currently sold in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America. For more information regarding Firefly Mobile products visit the Firefly Mobile web site at fireflymobile.com. Firefly Mobile is the proud recipient of the 2006 'Best of Innovations' Award from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) which will be presented at CES 2006, and Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association's (CTIA) 2005 Winning Wireless Widgets Award.
Firefly, the Firefly logo, The Mobile Phone for Mobile Kids, and Firefly Fireworks are the exclusive trademarks for Firefly Mobile, Inc. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Jennifer Bowcock of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-6319, or jennifer.bowcock@cingular.com
