With the new Kyocera Echo Dual Screen Android device coming April 17th to Sprint, the Now Network has set up a reservation and preorder site to purchase this odd, yet entertaining smartphone. The price at pre-order is $199.99 after a $100 instant rebate and requires a new line activation (or eligible upgrade) on a two year contract. Users can also get the Echo with an Everything plan with Data, or premium data add-on and a two year deal. And the site isn’t just a reservation site either, as Sprint is getting playful with a “challenge to a dual,” and a gunslinger shooting at you and getting you to play the Bottle Bustin’ Bandits game. In the game, users can also enter to win an Echo through the Duel for a Dual Sweepstakes.
Users also get to take a look at the various plan options to chose from ranging from $69.99 a month for 450 anytime minutes and unlimited data to the $179.99 a month Business Advantage plan with Unlimited data. All plans include nationwide long distance and no domestic roaming charges. Additional lines under the Everything Data family plan can be added for about $20 a month, and for free nights starting after 6pm is an additional $10 a month. Simply everything family plan is an additional $90 a month for 3-5 additional lines. So man, it adds up quick.
The dual touch screen Kyocera Echo comes with twin 3.5″ screens that can run int tablet mode (both screens in concert with a 4.7″ diagonal display size. Other options are the Optimized mode, which offers the same app spreading things out (think YouTube where one screen is the video and the second screen is the YouTube menu), Simultask mode, which takes full advantage of Sprints “Hyper-task” capability employing two of the core seven apps simultaneously, and Single Screen mode which works in the closed configuration for phone calls. The Echo is powered by a single-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor and will be running Android 2.2 (Froyo) out of the box.
It has a 5 MP rear facing camera capable of shooting 720p HD video with autofocus and digital zoom and with it’s external microSD card it can handle storage up to 32 GB. But the real selling point here is the unique 3D hinge design which moves the screens around to be able to use the real estate that a dual screen configuration affords. Check out our Hands-on and stay tuned, a review is bound to come real soon on this exciting new handset!
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