SANYO has received the highest ranking for customer satisfaction in 3 out of the 4 years since J.D. Power and Associated began tracking the mobile phone market
CHATSWORTH, CA ? October 31, 2005 ?The newly released J.D. Power and Associates 2005 U.S. Wireless Mobile Phone Evaluation StudySM reports that SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) ranked highest in customer satisfaction with wireless mobile phones, two years in a row, tied in 2005. This represents the third time SANYO has received the highest customer satisfaction ranking in the four years that J.D. Power and Associates has published the study. In the 2005 study, SANYO tied for the highest score of 107 on the customer satisfaction index, well above the industry average of 97.
The study measures overall satisfaction among customers who have owned their mobile phones for less than two years based on performance in five key factors. In order of importance, they are: physical design (24%); operation (22%); features (20%); handset durability (19%); and battery function (15%).
SANYO scored significantly higher that the industry average in all five factors, with especially high marks for Operation, Features and Durability.
?Consumers have consistently recognized our ongoing commitment to delivering performance-driven products and have distinguished SANYO with high marks for their wireless phone experience three times in four years,? said Andy Kodera, senior vice president and general manager of SANYO Fisher Company's Wireless Communications Division. ?We are particularly proud to be at the forefront of consumer satisfaction at a time when consumers have a number of choices when purchasing their handset. We will continue our commitment to providing the highest quality product with new features and continued durability so that consumers can achieve the most of their wireless experience.?
The operation of the mobile phones, for which SANYO ranked highest, has increasingly become more important to consumers. The study indicated that as more services are added to the phone, the ability to navigate around the handset in an easy and straight-forward manner becomes paramount. And, a feature like the integrated camera, when it is easy to operate, can increase satisfaction performance and enhance the overall wireless experience for the consumer.
The study is based on responses from 17,701 households who have owned their mobile phone for less than two years.
SANYO's handsets have earned a reputation for features, design and technology in the North American wireless market. SANYO was first in the U.S. to introduce a mobile phone with a color LCD display (SCP-5000) and the first to introduce a mobile phone with an embedded camera (SCP-5300). In 2001, SANYO introduced America's thinnest phone (SCP-6000). SANYO has also been at the forefront of supporting key technology initiatives from wireless carrier Sprint, including offering the very first mobile phone to support Sprint PCS VisionSM in 2002 and the first two phones to support Sprint's Ready Link walkie-talkie service in 2003.
In 2005, SANYO has received multiple awards for recently introduced handsets. SANYO's MM-7400 Multimedia phone was named an Innovations 2005 Design and Engineering Showcase honoree in the Wireless Communications category by the Consumer Electronics Association. The MM-5600 Multimedia Phone was selected to receive the prestigious DIMA (Digital Imaging Marketing Association) Innovative Digital Product Award. In addition, both Laptop Magazine and PC Magazine named the MM-5600 Editor's Choice.
