Firefly Mobile Today Announces
NationalAvailability Of The
Firefly Phone

Cool, Fun Mobile Phone Designed Expressly For Tweens
Keeps Parents In Control of Calls and Costs


CHICAGO, Ill. - July 12, 2005 - Firefly Mobile, Inc., a leading developer and innovator of mobile phones and services, today announced the first nationwide availability of the Firefly phone, The Mobile Phone for Mobile Kids™, a pioneering voice-only mobile phone designed for kids' smaller hands. Firefly phones, introduced in March 2005, are now on shelves with accessories and Firefly branded, pay-as-you-go calling plans nationwide. Parents searching for a mobile phone explicitly designed for Tweens, kids ages eight to twelve, can now buy online at fireflymobile.com, visit select regional wireless carriers, go to Target, or head to Firefly kiosks at select shopping malls across the United States.

Tweens love the Firefly phone, which is about the size of a small pocket calculator, weighs just two ounces and feels good to hold. The phone is cool, fun to use, and kids can choose ring tones, animations and background colors. The Firefly phone also satisfies parents' concerns about unrestricted mobile phone use and monthly costs. With just five keys instead of a regular dial pad, parents use a 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, Dad or Phone Book keys, and then send. The patented phone lights up like a firefly when in use and intermittently when in standby mode.

"The national roll out of the Firefly phone in family-friendly stores across the country and in shopping malls delivers the unique Firefly phone to consumers in environments that both parents and kids enjoy," said Robin Abrams, CEO, Firefly Mobile. "With today's fast-paced lifestyle and numerous summer activities, family schedules are always changing. The Firefly phone provides parents with peace of mind, knowing that they can always communicate with their child; and kids love to stay connected with the people that mean the most to them."

Firefly phones deliver a variety of parental controls, including the ability to pre-program outgoing numbers with a PIN and optionally only receive calls from those numbers.

The Firefly phone features:

  • Just five keys to place most calls
  • "Mom" and "Dad" speed-dial keys
  • Parent-programmed, PIN-protected phone list with a 22-number capacity
  • 911 button for emergency calls, with accidental call prevention feature
  • Optional call screening
  • Caller ID and call waiting
  • Hook for backpack clip (included with phone)
  • Firefly Fireworks™ light display, which flashes when the phone rings, during standby and when the phone is charging
  • 12 ring tones
  • 7 screen colors
  • 5 animations
  • Battery charger

Specifications:

  • Weight: 2.12 oz.
  • Size: 3.46" x 1.73" x 0.79"
  • Talk time: Up to 6 hours
  • Standby time: 205 hours
  • Mhz: GSM 850/1900
  • Antenna: Internal
  • Battery: Rechargeable, non-removable lithium ion battery
  • Menu display: English or Spanish

Firefly Mobile also offers a fun array of accessories for the Firefly phone, which allow kids to personalize their phone to fit their taste.

Accessories include:

  • interchangeable translucent colored and patterned shells
  • glow-in-the-dark skin
  • lanyard
  • mesh pouches
  • wristlet purses
  • hands-free headset
  • travel and vehicle chargers

Pricing and Availability
Firefly phones with a Firefly branded, pay-as-you-go calling plan are available nationwide in Target Stores for $99.99, on the Web at fireflymobile.com, and in select shopping malls at the Firefly kiosk. Accessories are also available for purchase. The phone comes with 30 minutes of airtime and packaged with a backpack clip and battery charger as well as Parents' Guide and Quick Start Guide for Kids. There are no contracts to sign, no monthly bills and no hidden fees with the Firefly Mobile calling plan. Shipping and handling are not included when purchased on line.

Additional pay-as-you-go minutes are available and can be purchased at Target, via www.fireflymobile.com or by calling 1.800.Firefly (1.800.347.3359). Additional pay-as-you-go minutes are offered in increments of $10, $25, and $50.

The Firefly phone and its accessories are also currently available in both North and South America through regional wireless carriers. Today consumers can buy the Firefly phone through fourteen wireless carriers, including:

  • Airadigm Communication (Einstein Wireless)
  • Cellular One - Danville, IL
  • Cincinnati Bell Wireless
  • Edge Wireless
  • Highland Cellular
  • Plateau Wireless
  • SunCom
  • Union Telephone Cellular

Additional wireless operators in both North and South America will offer the Firefly phone over the next twelve months. The retail price of the handset and minutes varies from carrier to carrier depending upon the service plan chosen.

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., Mexico and South America. For more information regarding Firefly Mobile products visit the Firefly Mobile web site at fireflymobile.com.

 


Firefly and Firefly Fireworks are the exclusive trademarks of Firefly Mobile, Inc. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.