Kyocera brings K325 "Cyclops" to Virgin Mobile

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 1st 2006 at 11:45AM

Looking perhaps to move a little upmarket from the low-end Oystr, Virgin's new Kyocera-supplied "Cyclops" clamshell adds a couple key features that should appeal to the gearheads in the prepaid crowd. Besides generally looking a little fancier than its pearly sibling, the Cyclops puts its money where its mouth is by rocking a 1.3-megapixel shooter, a 160 x 128 display, and a speakerphone. The big draw here, though, appears to be the introduction of Virgin's new Virgin Mobile Audio Messaging (VAM) which allows subscribers -- rocking compatible handsets, of course -- to exchange brief voice messages the same way they'd send SMSes. As with Nuance's voice-to-text service, we're a bit skeptical that this is really gonna catch on, but who knows what kinds of services the kiddies are into these days?

Filed under: Handsets, Virgin Mobile, Kyocera, MVNOs, CDMA

Tags: audio messaging, AudioMessaging, cyclops, k325, kyocera, vam, virgin, virgin mobile, VirginMobile

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

robertr728 @ Dec 17th 2008 3:27PM

With the “Unlock” prompt displayed at the bottom of your phone display, enter
1-1-1-1-1-1 (one 6 times) – you will see the “Service” prompt appear.
Select the “Service” option then press OK when “Reset Lock” appears. You will
be required to enter a 6-digit service programming code. We recommend entering
the default service programming code of 0-0-0-0-0-0 (6 zeros). If the
default 6 zeros does not work, you will have to contact your wireless provider
for assistance (some wireless provider’s change the service programming
code).
I used virgin for the security code it asked for and it worked. Cuz mine was a virgin mobile phone :)

Neutral

Tony @ Nov 1st 2006 1:39PM

Virgin's new Virgin Mobile Audio Messaging is just like Sprint's Voice SMS which has been around for over a year

Neutral

Bryan @ Nov 4th 2006 1:39PM

My rep has told me that no phone for virgin from now on will be over $100, also he said a bluetooth enabled phone is in the works.

Neutral

brittany @ May 5th 2007 2:40PM

the telephon is coo but i dont have 3way calling that ehat it need

Neutral

J @ May 9th 2007 12:10PM

I picked up a Cyclops earlier this week. I liked the fact that Virgin Mobile had pay-as-you-go plans and didn't lock you in with contracts. The Cyclops looked to have the nicest camera, so I went for that.

I've since come to understand some of its limitations. The Cyclops is the only VM phone that can shoot pictures at 1024 x 1280. The only problem is, at that resolution, some pictures will be too large, memory-wise, for you to get them off the phone. The only way you can get pictures off the phone is to send them via message, or upload to their website. I had one picture that was over 500Kb, and I couldn't do either, just getting a message about the picture being too large to send. The manual for this phone mentions that there may be size limits on the pictures you send and to check their site for details. Couldn't find details on their site, or get any details from their customer service, but, like I said, I think it may be about 500Kb. The higher res camera isn't very useful if you may end up with pictures you can't get off the phone.

Another limiting factor: memory. The VM website tells you that this phone has 256 megs of memory. That's pretty deceptive though, because when you get it there's only about 10 megs free. It doesn't have a memory card, and you aren't allowed to delete much, so you can't get much more than 10 megs to use.

I wasn't expecting a whole lot from a $60 phone, but I was a bit disappointed in it nonetheless.

Neutral

randybisme @ Jul 7th 2007 6:29PM

i just got the cyclops. its awesome! although on the phone, the pictures look like crap because of the screen resolution. but once you upload the pics to the VMU mypix place. ITs awesome this phone. and the red back lit keys are pretty wicked.

Neutral

Claire @ Aug 13th 2007 3:57PM

It costs 25 cents to send a picture from these phones to another phone or email, right? Does it cost 25 cents to send it to the virgin mobile picture website, too?

Highly Ranked

freedom crusader @ Aug 17th 2007 7:46AM

Hey J, (and everybody else) DON'T PAY 25 CENTS PER PICTURE MESSAGE, OR FOR ANY TRANSFERS OR VIRGINXL DOWNLOADS ANYMORE! There is a data cable you can get for the Kyocera Cyclops! (got mine on eBay for about $12-13) With a data cable, you can do SO much more with your phone! First of all, you can erase a lot more stuff from the phone to free up more memory. (you still don't get a LOT of space at all, the Virgin Mobile site is dead wrong about the 256Mb, which is 32MB - (notice the Mb and MB difference) Kyocera and PhoneScoop.com both give the right number, which is about 13-14MB total)

You also save tons of money on transfer costs, since it's free to use the data cable all you want! I have this phone and the cable, and it works great! There are no size limits, like when sending a picture message. You can transfer pictures of any size with a data cable, as well as wallpapers, games, ringtones and more! To do all this, you use the data cable and a free, open source program called BitPim. Read all about how to get everything working here: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1087468

I also read that you can just let Win XP recognize the phone when it's plugged in, and not do all the steps they mention, but I don't know how well that works because I took the long way. Anyway, it's not too hard to learn, and VERY worth it! That forum site has more articles on how to do other things with the Cyclops if you click on links in the first article. To know what kinds of games and apps your phone can use, check the specs on PhoneScoop.com, and you can also just experiment at your own risk.

Now you don't have to pay a dime to get the expensive VirginXL junk, unless you really want it. They're not getting MY money, I already paid for music CDs that I can make ringtones out of and put on myself! (If you make your own MP3 ringtones, use MP3Gain and set the gain at 90dB or less, so you don't damage the speaker)

Spread the word, the Kyocera Cyclops can be used with a data cable! It makes the phone have a whole new level of value! Also, you can buy car chargers, earphones, cases and more from eBay or cellphone accessory sites, so you don't have to spend a fortune at the Virgin Mobile store! Virgin's cell service is cool, but the prices for everything else are ridiculous!

Have fun! It's your phone, so as long as you're being legal, modify it the way you want and enjoy!

Neutral

freedom crusader @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:54AM

Here's an update: YES, you can just plug in the cable, and Windows XP will recognize it! So how do you find a data cable for a Kyocera Cyclops in the first place? Just search Google or eBay or whatever for "Kyocera Cyclops data cable" or something like that. This phone's model number is: K325, and you can also try using that to look for a cable. Once again, to use the data cable, you need to use a program like BitPim, and then follow the instructions from the link above at: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1087468

If you take the time to learn how to use a data cable to get ringtones, games, pictures, etc., on and off of your phone, you can save a lot of money compared to the cost of paying for VirginXL stuff! Like I said before, Have fun! It's your phone, so as long as you're being legal, modify it the way you want and enjoy!

Neutral

John Dewez @ Oct 12th 2007 10:14PM

I downloaded the program and changed my ringtone. When I phoned my cell to here the new ringtone it was locked on one ringtone and I can not change it. In a pickle.

Neutral

alton moore @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:19PM

I need some serious help here..I have purchased a cyclops phone and would simply like to be able to upload photos to my computer..I have the data cable I purchsed from ebay..I have tried downloading txdta 10102 driver,not working, I have tried downloadingn txdta 10084, and still does not work..I am quite computer literate but never dealt with a cell phone like this.. I do not understand your instructions and when I do the best i can I come up with all kinds of errors, my wizard cannot find this phone ..I have tried everything..I have used virgin mobile for 3 years and never had a camera phone..Is there anyway I can get some "click by click" support from you either via messenger or by telephone? I can call if long distance is a problem for I have un,limited long distance on my home phone...I am about ready to trash this phone and cancel all vitrgin mobile services due to this..I called virgin and they tell me they dont even sekll or support a data cable for this phone..they are of no help at all..could you help me other than a posting? Please I need help..pcbeachrat@yahoo.com is my e mail and m,essenger..my phone is 850-914-2635..Thanks..if you haven't the time to help, can you maybe hook me up with someone that can? TThanks..

Neutral

freedom crusader @ Oct 13th 2007 9:04PM

@John Dewez,
Everything you do with your phone is at your own risk. This site is not here to provide technical support, and neither am I. Read all of the instructions and suggestions, etc. that are on the www.howardforums.com website. If you search the forums, you'll see that there are multiple posts about things you can do with the Kyocera Cyclops phone. If something's really messed up, you can search online to see how to do a master reset. I haven't found out how to do that yet, but you could also call Virgin or Kyocera and ask them how.

Now that we have that clear, I will help you with this issue. I am not responsible for any mistakes you make, you are on your own, and anything you do is your own choice. First of all, before you do anything, you should copy all of the original files on the phone to a folder, so you have a backup. If you don't do that, you're just asking for trouble.

Besides, if you ever want to sell the phone later, you can use the backup files to make it just like it was when you bought it. Also, you have to restore the phone's original files because other people don't have a legal right to use ringtones that you made from your own CDs.

When it comes to any modifying - whenever possible, take precautions that will allow you to put things back to the way they were, in case things don't go well. Some modifications are risky and there's no going back, but that's why it voids the warranty, right?

Next, in order to load new ringtones onto the phone, you must encode your tones into the same format that the phone uses, which is .aac. (it also takes .mid files) There are free programs out there that you can use to do this, and you'll want to study them online and pick one you like. I use SUPER (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html). Once you have made a ringtone as an .aac file, you have to give it the same name as one of the original ringtones on the phone, and replace it. The phone only wants to recognize the names it already has for ringtones.

When you erase or rename any of the original ringtones, the name still shows up on the phone, but it won't have any sound. If you upload your own ringtone with the same name as one of the original ones, you'll hear your sound in it's place.

I hope you can fix your problem. I haven't had the phone get locked on one ringtone before, and I haven't read about anyone else who has. Make sure to read the forums thoroughly, and to search for more information, and take the time to learn more about BitPim. Basically, do lots of study and research.

Also, I want to mention something (out of love) because America has a terrible spelling problem. You didn't call your cell phone and "here the new ringtone", because you don't "here" sounds, you "hear" them. If you don't take the time to spell properly online, others might think your mistakes are the right way and then they'll spell bad, and it grows.

For everyone reading this, please understand that this message comes from love. There are 3 forms of the word "too", 3 forms of the word "they're" and 2 forms of the word "you're". Learn the differences and quit dumbing down the American public's collective spelling intelligence. It's okay to make mistakes sometimes but if you habitually spell certain words wrong all the time, then you need to look them up and learn how to spell correctly. English is our first language, get it right or go back to grade school!

Okay, we've covered a little bit about ringtones and a little bit about spelling. Everyone, keep studying and learning all you can! Don't smoke or drink, that stuff will just bring you down! Greater intelligence and knowledge give us greater freedom! Keep tinkering with things and making them better. Modify anything you want, as long as you can afford to break it! Don't just be a slave to the settings a product gives you. Have fun! It's your phone, so as long as you're being legal, modify it the way you want and enjoy!

Neutral

rcfnpl @ Nov 9th 2007 9:00PM

Regarding backing up the files on the phone - are the folder and files created through Bitpim? Are they stored on the phone or the PC?
I've just recently started using Bitpim to transfer photos and mp3 files to the phone.
I haven't done any backups but have been fortunate thus far. Everything is still working.
I'd appreciate details on backing up the phone files.
Clearly I'm a novice but want to learn.

Neutral

Rik @ Nov 12th 2007 11:44PM

"...others might think your mistakes are the right way and then they'll spell bad, and it grows."

Too true. The word is "badly".

Neutral

freedom crusader @ Nov 13th 2007 5:01AM

@rcfnpl, BitPim does not make any folders, it just displays the folder structure that's already on your phone. When you do a backup, BitPim just loads all of your files into a .zip file and you save it to your PC, not your phone. You can backup individual folders by right-clicking on them and choosing "Backup directory" to backup that folder, or "Backup entire tree" to backup a folder and all of its subfolders. To do a total backup of everything, right-click on the very top folder that has no name and choose "Backup entire tree". The bottom left of the program window will have a red dot and the word "busy" and it will take a while, but when it's done a window will pop up that asks where you want to save the backup. It will save as a .zip file and the default name is "root.zip". Of course, you can change that to whatever you like.

Here's another Cyclops tip: Virgin Mobile and Kyocera might both tell you that the Cyclops phone's camera flash can't be used as a flashlight, but they're wrong! All you have to do is open the phone, press the "OK" button to go to camera mode, (or go to camera mode any other way you want to) and then press the top right button on the phone to go to "options". From there, choose "Settings" and then "Low light mode". Once you enable Low light mode, the white LED light of the flash will turn on and stay on for 45 seconds. To turn it off before that, just close the phone or press the "end call" button, or leave camera mode. The light isn't very focused, so it's less effective the farther away you are from something, but it works great up close. Be careful about shining it into your eyes, it's really bright to look at!

Everyone, keep studying and learning all you can! Don't smoke or drink, that stuff will just bring you down! Greater intelligence and knowledge give us greater freedom! Keep tinkering with things and making them better. Modify anything you want, as long as you can afford to break it! Don't just be a slave to the settings a product gives you. Have fun! It's your phone, so as long as you're being legal, modify it the way you want and enjoy!

Neutral

mrkhm2005mrk @ Jan 16th 2008 1:34AM

Thanks, Crusader. I have been using a Nokia Shorty for several years and missing out on the advantages of phones like the Cyclops because Shorty was the only Virgin Mobile phone that I knew of that I could sync via cable with my PC. Shorty is a great, tough little phone, in my opinion, but with no color, little customizing, etc., it really is just a very basic phone and scheduler. I actually bought a Cyclops a year ago and returned it two weeks later because I feared the long term hassle of a phone with no SIM card being isolated also from the PC. My new Cyclops is in hand, my cable is ordered from ebay - I'm told that it has shipped, and I am excited about the prospects ahead. I appreciate tips like using the camera flash as a flashlight - a feature that I would have missed from the Shorty. Hopefully, before long, I will have posts of my own to contribute for others' benefit. Please, please, keep the tips and news coming. You are doing a great service.

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