Sprint Tries to Muscle Up Against Verizon iPhone Launch

[Michael Essany]

With Sprint obviously feeling left out of the iPhone party, the company is trying to muscle up to the swelling competition from Verizon and AT&T by teasing an exclusive new Android-powered dual-touchscreen smartphone. Dubbed the "Kyocera Echo," the smartphone in question is billed as a first of its kind Android device. It was formally unveiled this week by Sprint, with an estimated launch scheduled for spring.

The Kyocera Echo will run you $199.99 (two-year contract, of course), after a $100 mail-in rebate. But while the smartphone's critics contend that this smartphone is nothing more than a clever attempt to distract from iPhone-mania, some of the device's specs are worth noting. Most noticeably, of course, are the phone's two 3.5-inch WVGA touchscreen displays. According to the manufacturer, the screens are fused by "pivot hinge." So the screens can either be operated independently of one another, or combined to make a 4.7-inch diagonal display that makes the phone work in "tablet mode."

Pretty sweet. But will it make a dent in the iPhone market? "Sprint is proud to boast the most powerful Android portfolio available today and Echo adds to that legacy with industry-leading technology that will change the way our customers use smartphones," Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said, trying to drum up hype for the handset. "Today’s busy schedules often demand that we do at least two things at once. Kyocera Echo is the first device that allows us to do a different task on each of two screens while also providing a tablet-like, larger screen experience that easily fits in a pocket when closed."

Time will only tell if the Kyocera Echo will please consumers, or if it will simply "echo" the failures of other would-be iPhone killers.

Mobile Burn

[i3urger]

Nothing can out beat the iPhone cuz apple just makes good sh1t. Just like with tablets apple knows wat consumers want. Even without jailbreaking it still is a better product.

I just finished watching the video and I have to admit the idea of that fone is just WOW. Although is seems to be slow as the guy tries to click repeatedly to get it to work faster but I think it has a big chance to compete. At least, until they can get their fone to work faster. But it looks like something I would buy. On the other hand I can't wait until the iPhone 5 releases!

[chad2ss]

I must say this looks darn slick. I like it! I wonder how the touch screen responds. This is one of the major things that most of these iPhone competitors struggle with IMO.

[Mbeck0265]

Will you be able to watch video so it covers both screens ? Can it do data and phone at the same time ? If 1 screen breaks will the other work ?

[MPS3]

FAIL ! on the lag lol

[alexevo]

Looks too bulky and from the vid it looks like the presenter was struggling to get the screen to respond properly.

[Nickaroni22]

Apple needs a iPhone with screens on both sides lol! This is overkill!

[kraziebone]

That was super laggy in the presentation. He had to touch the screen 3 or 4 times before the phone would respond

[decke]

Sick idea. Imagine watching movie on top screen and reading email or using skype on bottom! Though I want that on iOS not crappy android.

[iNT3Rv3NTiONZz]

Nothing can out beat the iPhone cuz apple just makes good sh1t. Just like with tablets apple knows wat consumers want. Even without jailbreaking it still is a better product.

I just finished watching the video and I have to admit the idea of that fone is just WOW. Although is seems to be slow as the guy tries to click repeatedly to get it to work faster but I think it has a big chance to compete. At least, until they can get their fone to work faster. But it looks like something I would buy. On the other hand I can't wait until the iPhone 5 releases!

I agree, apples hardware will always be better.. And it goes without saying that iOS is better than android... But you must bear in mind that the device in the vid will be a test model, probably still running a beta fw, which will be why it is so slow.


Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

[steve-z17]

I can see this becoming more popular and useful. I don't like the split in between the screens, looks kind of tacky. I like that it can become a tablet though. We'll see how things move along.

[iNT3Rv3NTiONZz]

Sick idea. Imagine watching movie on top screen and reading email or using skype on bottom! Though I want that on iOS not crappy android.

That would be awesome, big shame it's not iOS..


Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

[Christian Bale]

Really good idea. I like the originality and competition is always good for the consumers! I really like the 2 touchscreens.

[DJ NiveK]

I think its a very interesting phone, the question is can a DS emulator be made for it? lolz

[santacruzlocal]

Sick idea. Imagine watching movie on top screen and reading email or using skype on bottom! Though I want that on iOS not crappy android.

Or two movies ... if (when) you and your "other" can't agree on one

[fishbone]

This dualscreen-pivot system seems pretty cool...until you consider what it would become after a few drops and/or a 2 year old kid getting it to play with, which is common place for a lot of people with smartphones this days.

Besides, one can just speculate about the quality of those touch screens, since they manage to put 2 in that thing and still place it in the $200 price range, let alone the battery life to feed both.

Let's just hope they got it right this time, 'cause this "iphone killer" thing is getting kind of boring.

[Taranis17]

I think it's a good attempt, and it's certainly innovative. Dual touch-screens have it over the iphone (think landscape texting...).

The iPhone isn't moving down from the top slot any time soon. The touchscreen has to work, on the first press, every single time, or it's a failure. That's a tall order, but the iPhone pulls it off nearly perfectly.

Apple has some of the most innovative and competent interface designers in the marketplace. The iPhone interface is dead-simple to use, is intuitive (mostly) and gets the job done with a minimal amount of taps.

Even if they figure out how to do that as well as Apple's iPhone, the best it can be is an imitation, with only a few things it can do better due to the dual screens.

I mean, seriously... who would want to watch a movie in 720p while checking Facebook status updates?

..waitaminute... O_o

Maybe they're on to something...

[pacmac]

I bet the battery was dead after one demo

[DeathOfLife]

Wow Thats Sic The Only Down Side It Must Be Pretty Wide And Idk If It Was Him Or The Phone But Look Like The Touch Screen Is Alil Ruff But Great Design I Like The 2 Screen Plane Where You Can Do Two Different Things At Once Or Just Have Help From The Other Screen

[gotanmp3]

Sprint already has an iPhone killer: the Evo. It bests the iPhone on everything except display resolution and battery life (easily fixed with an extended battery). The concept Sprint (and T-Mobile) isn't getting is that people are buying the iPhone for iOS and the app selection, not just the hardware.

Two screens just means this thing is going to suck battery like there's no tomorrow and it will have limited 3rd party app support. I honestly wonder why Sprint even bothered - they should've just spent the money and effort kissing Apple's behind to get some CDMA iPhone 4s to sell.