Kyocera DuraCore and Kyocera DuraMax Direct Connect rugged handsets on Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel's first Direct Connect handsets which will enable the use of PTT (Push To Talk) over a CDMA network come in the form of the Kyocera DuraCore and Kyocera DuraMax, where both of them are rugged in their very own way. Push To Talk comes in handy during emergencies, especially when there is no power around and everyone on a normal cell phone cannot make a call, you can always chat freely on your PTT handset.

These two phones will roll out to the masses sometime in Q4 later this year, with a Motorola model following closely behind. Both the Kyocera DuraCore and Kyocera DuraMax will come with color displays, where a 2″ internal screen and an external screen shows off relevant information for your attention, while Bluetooth connectivity lets you live out the wireless lifestyle with compatible peripherals. Too bad a 2.5mm audio jack is used, as we would have favored the far more popular 3.5mm version.

The Kyocera DuraMax also sports a microSD memory card slot with a 3.2-megapixel camera, not to mention a waterproof body that can go three feet underwater for up to half an hour. No idea on pricing as at press time though.
source: Ubergizmo

Sprint Kyocera Echo dual-touchscreen Android smartphone price drops to $99.99 with contract

Sprint's Kyocera Echo is a unique Android-powered smartphone that has not one, but two touchscreens. As you can imagine, they can be used either together as a giant screen, or separately with one acting as a keyboard, or simply displaying different information on each. All in all an interesting effort, even if it's probably doomed to stay forever a niche device.

Or it was, being priced at $199.99 with a new two-year contract since it launched. Now sure, that's pretty much the standard price for a high-end smartphone these days, but it clearly didn't make many mainstream consumers choose this handset over others sporting more traditional form factors.

That may be why Sprint has decided to cut the Echo's price in half, all the way down to $99.99. Of course, that still requires you to sign a two-year service agreement with the carrier, but nevertheless it may make the Echo more interesting for average consumers. Although don't expect new operating system versions to make their way to the Echo very quickly, since there are many hardware-related optimizations to be made there.

Anyway, if the dual-touchscreen Echo interests you, just go to Sprint and order one.

The Kyocera Echo has a 1 GHz Qualcomm processor, 1 GB of ROM and 512 MB of RAM, dual-3.5-inch capacitive touchscreens both with 800×480 resolution, and a 5 MP camera. The Kyocera Echo runs Android 2.2 Froyo.
source: Unwired View