On schedule and as reported, Sprint has officially announced the addition of the LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio, and Samsung Transform to its Android handset lineup.

The LG Optimus S in an Android 2.2 device that boasts a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, Wi-Fi (with hotspot capabilities), GPS, 1500 mAh battery, and micro-SD card slot. The device will retail for $49.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available beginning on October 31.

The Sanyo Zio is an Android 2.1 device with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi b/g, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, GPS, 1140 mAh battery, and micro-SD card slot. The device will retail for $99.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available for purchase on October 10.

The Samsung Transform is an Android 2.1 device with a 3.5-inch HVGA display, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera with flash, front-facing VGA camera, Sprint ID, 800 MHz processor, 256 MB of RAM and 1500 mAh battery. Samsung has said they will update the operating system to Android 2.2 “later this year.” The device will retail for $149.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available on October 10.

There you have it. Hit the jump for links to all of the press releases.

Read [Optimus S] Read [Zio] Read [Transform]

We’ve just been dropped some intel from a new source that we thought we would share. Our source details three new handsets that U.S. wireless carrier Sprint will detail today at CTIA in San Francisco: the Samsung Transform, the Sanyo/Kyocera Zio, and the LG Optimus S.

The Samsung Transform will have a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display (not Super AMOLED), 800 MHz processor, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED-flash, EV-DO Rev. A and Android 2.1. We’re told the device will be upgraded to Android 2.2 shortly after launch. The phone is set to launch on 10/10/10 for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. We saw the user guide for this device leak yesterday, so no real shock here.

The second device is the Sanyo/Kyocera Zio. The Zio sports a 3.5-inch HVGA full-touchscreen display, 600 MHz processor, 3.2 megapixel camera, and Android 2.1. Like the Transform, the Zio will be upgraded to Android 2.2 shortly after launch. The device will retail for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and will be available on 10/10/10.

The third and final phone is the LG Optimus S. The Optimus S will have a 600 MHz processor, 3.2-inch full-touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera, and will ship with Android 2.2. The device, which our source says feels great in the hand, will retail for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate; also e available on 10/31/10.

All three devices will support Sprint’s mobile hotspot feature for up to five devices; the Optimus S will support this at launch, the Zio and Transform will support mobile hotspot creation once upgraded to Android 2.2. We’re also told that all three devices will run the the Sprint ID service we heard a little bit about yesterday.

Anything in this potpourri of devices pique your interest?

It looks like Sprint is adding the Sanyo Innuendo to its feature phone lineup. The Innuendo, like the Incognito, is a horizontal-flip, full-QWERTY keyboard device with a “concealed external dial pad that glows through the phone’s luxurious mirrored finish and then disappears when not in use.” The device has a 2.8-inch internal display, 1.3-inch OLED external display, 3.2 megapixel camera that can also take video, GPS navigation, proximity sensor, and micro-SD card slot. The device is $49.99 with a 2-year contract or $249.99 at full retail.

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Some huge news this evening in the world of prepaid mobiles as Sprint has announced its new strategies for Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile. With some 60 million Americans using prepaid mobiles, Sprint feels the time is right to make an all-out assault on the market. Said Sprint’s Dan Schulman: “This is the year that prepaid moves to the forefront of the wireless industry. In the first quarter of 2010, more than half of the mobile gross additions in the U.S. selected prepaid, and we predict that approximately 70% of the net adds in 2010 will choose plans without a contract,” adding that “the no-contract market has clearly moved beyond the credit-challenged and lower income segments.” Here’s what’s in the pipeline.

As of May 12th, Virgin Mobile will begin offering Beyond Talk plans. Ranging from $25 to $60 per month, each plan includes unlimited SMS/MMS, email, data and web. The $25 plan includes 300 minutes, the $40 plan 1,200 minutes and the $60 plan has unlimited minutes. Throw in an extra $10 per month and you’ll be able to hook a BlackBerry up to BIS. Yes, you read that right. $35 for a BlackBerry with unlimited data. If you’re a bit puzzled as to why Virgin is more focused on data and texts over voice minutes, the reason is simple: the amount of voice minutes used by young adults continues to plummet as email, IM and SMS grows at a rate of 150% during the years 2007 to 2009. Factor in 1800% growth in mobile data in this segment and it’s pretty obvious Virgin is one of the few companies that actually caters to the demands of its customers. This brings us to its new handsets. Virgin Mobile will be bringing the LG Rumor Touch and Rumor 2 ($149.99 and $89.99, both only available off contract), and Kyocera Loft ($69.99) into the fold with the BlackBerry Curve 8530 launching at the end of May with a retail price of $299.99.

As for Boost, not much is new in terms of plans (keep in mind it just announced that unlimited calls to 411, email and IM were recently added to its $50 unlimited plan which also includes all the talking, texting and web you wish), but now we know for sure that it will soon be carrying the Samsung Rant and Kyocera Incognito, Mirror and Juno.

Hit up the jump to check out the press release.

SPRINT’S PREPAID MULTI-BRAND STRATEGY

FOCUSES ON DISTINCT CUSTOMER SEGMENTS

Differentiated Brands Old & New Aim to Serve

Increasingly Diverse Audiences, Tackle Specific Competitors

WARREN, N.J. – May 6, 2010 – Sprint [NYSE:S] today officially unveiled its comprehensive multi-segment approach to the prepaid wireless marketplace. Since Sprint’s acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., the company has rolled out a series of new prepaid products, enhancements and industry-advancing products, each designed to appeal to specific customers in the wireless space.

“We brought together the resources and experience of the Boost and Virgin Mobile teams in late 2009,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse.  “Since that time, we have been developing the critical pieces of our multi-brand prepaid strategy.  Our approach to the prepaid market can truly set us apart from the competition with tailored offers that will address specific needs in this growing market.”

“This is the year that prepaid moves to the forefront of the wireless industry,” said Dan Schulman, president of Sprint’s prepaid group.  “In the first quarter of 2010, more than half of the mobile gross additions in the U.S. selected prepaid, and we predict that approximately 70% of the net adds in 2010 will choose plans without a contract.”

“With almost 60 million people now on prepaid service,” Schulman continued, “the no-contract market has clearly moved beyond the credit-challenged and lower income segments.  The prepaid market has changed dramatically, with customers across multiple demographics and lifestyles demanding a wide variety of handsets, features, and plans tailored to their specific needs and wants.”

Sprint’s prepaid portfolio will initially be driven by four brands, with each focused on a specific audience.  “The launch of this portfolio goes far beyond changing prices,” explained Schulman.  “We are introducing innovative and attractive offers for specific groups of customers based on usage and habits – from those who are on limited budgets and use their phones infrequently to those who want high-end devices to use for all their communications, entertainment and social networking.”

Virgin Mobile USA

Reinventing prepaid wireless once again, Virgin Mobile will introduce an innovative new value proposition that focuses on serving customers who use text and data services to power constant connection with their social networks.

With unlimited messaging, email, data and web included on all plans starting at just $25 a month and a new high-end handset lineup, Virgin Mobile will offer a clear alternative for customers who want a data-driven service without expensive annual contracts and thousands of unnecessary voice minutes. With the addition of the lowest-priced BlackBerry® service plan in the market, Virgin Mobile will provide real value for individuals looking to stay connected without compromising on handset or service quality.

The way youth and young adults communicate has changed dramatically over the past few years.  Data from Nielsen shows that usage patterns for postpaid mobile subscribers aged 18-34 shifted from 2007 to 2009.  Minutes of talk dropped over 10% while messages sent and received grew by more than 150%.  The amount of data usage within this group grew by over 1800% during the same time period.

Beyond Talk™

On May 12, Virgin Mobile will unveil three new “Beyond Talk” plans that all include unlimited messaging, email, data and web [with no incremental fees or taxes]:

• The revolutionary $25 plan is the industry’s lowest price point for unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 300 minutes of voice per month, ideal for high-end device users seeking an unbeatable price to enable the text and data services they need.
• The $40 plan includes unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 1,200 minutes of voice per month — the perfect value for those seeking an affordable plan with everything they need.
• The $60 plan includes unlimited messaging, email, data and web with unlimited voice to offer great value for high-end smartphone users expecting an unlimited plan to cost much more.

For the first time, Virgin Mobile customers can add Blackberry® data service to any of these plans for just $10 more, enabling an unprecedented $35 plan consisting of both voice calling and Blackberry data service.

“Our new offers target a continuing evolution in wireless consumer behavior – increased use of text and data services as a form of wireless communication over talk,” explained Schulman.  “These Beyond Talk plans offer the most accessible solution for customers seeking that data-driven lifestyle — unlimited text and data on their terms without a contract, at prices they will love, without requiring them to buy extra minutes they don’t need.”

New Handsets

Virgin Mobile’s new handset lineup proves that a two-year contract isn’t necessary to get a hot data-driven device:

• The Blackberry Curve™ 8530 smartphone is a particularly desirable device without a contract.  Key features include an approachable form factor, full-QWERTY keyboard, optical track pad, Wi-Fi connectivity, dedicated media keys, and 2 MP camera.  The Blackberry Curve 8530 smartphone will be available for $299.99 at retail and at www.virginmobileusa.om at the end of May.

• The LG Rumor Touch™ at $149.99 is the first full touch interface handset from Virgin Mobile and is only available without a contract on these plans. Customers can use all the data they want and message all of their friends easily and simply with a Beyond Talk plan. This handset is ideal for the super-connected with an external memory drive that can store up to 16GB of data.

• The very popular LG Rumor 2™ QWERTY launched last year, also only available without a contract from Virgin Mobile.  For $89.99, it allows customers to message quickly and easily with preloaded apps like the Ultimate Inbox, threaded messaging and Connect social networking. The popular Opera Mini web browser is included as well.

• The Kyocera Loft QWERTY for $69.99 suits message-savvy customers perfectly with an embedded instant messaging and email application, and message threading for SMS and MMS in a single inbox. The camera phone includes the networking features mentioned above as well as a Google Maps and other navigational applications.

Virgin Mobile USA continues to serve its current base of prepaid customers with a wide range of handsets, monthly unlimited plans, Minute Packs, Texters Delight and Broadband2Go.

Broadband

Broadband2Go, launched last year under the Virgin Mobile label, also targets the needs of the high data-using crowd that wants easy wireless Internet access wherever they are but doesn’t want to sign a long-term contract.

“Since we expanded distribution, lowered the price, and added more data capacity without changing prices, sales have tripled,” said Schulman.  “We’ll continue to enhance this product line as well, possibly under multiple brands to include new services and the very latest in high speed networks, including 4G where available.”

Broadband2Go operates on Sprint’s Nationwide Network, unlike other prepaid broadband offers.

Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile continues its popularity by focusing on consumers who love to talk and text and stay connected with the best value and straightforward monthly unlimited pricing.  With more than 25% of U.S households now wireless-only for voice, Boost offers value and service that is second to none.  This week, Boost added unlimited 411 calls, email and instant messaging to its $50 Monthly Unlimited plan, which also features unlimited talk, text and web access.

Boost’s ever-increasing suite of CDMA handsets, introduced in late January, is driving significant consumer demand.  The Blackberry Curve 8830 smartphone, launched earlier this year, is joined by the Samsung Rant™ and, from Sanyo by Kyocera, the Incognito™, Mirro™ SCP3810 and Juno™ on the CDMA side.  Depending on a customer’s choice of features, Boost Mobile also is available on the Nextel National Network for push-to-talk technology.

Assurance Wireless

First launched late last year, Assurance Wireless is a free wireless service developed specifically for the 37 million eligible low-income households who need it most. Qualifying customers – often cash-constrained individuals eligible for government- assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) – receive a free cell phone and 200 free minutes of airtime for local and long-distance calling every month.

Sprint is “proud to offer this valuable program,” according to Schulman, which is currently available in Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and will continue to expand as individual states approve the program. To date, hundreds of thousands have signed up for this uniquely tailored offer.  Sprint anticipates that Assurance Wireless will be available in approximately 25 states by the end of 2010.

A New Pay By the Minute Brand

During Sprint’s first quarter earnings call, reference was made to another new brand to launch this month targeting budget-conscious customers who spend less than $30 per month and are focused on the value they pay per minute.  Roughly 63% of the no-contract market chooses to pay by the minute or by the day.

“There are millions of people who don’t want or can’t afford smartphones and expensive data plans,” said Schulman.  “This is the traditional no-frills prepaid customer base.  For these ‘basic communicators,’ we are creating a fresh brand with industry-leading value and consumer-friendly offers.”  Designed to resonate directly with cost-conscious consumers, this new brand is expected to initially debut at retail in approximately 16 markets.

• Kyocera/Sanyo ZIO (M6000)
  • Target July 2010
  • MSRP $299.99
  • Android-powered touchscreen handset with 3.5 inch WVGA TFT display, Wi-Fi, 3.2 MP camera with video
• RIM BlackBerry Curve (8530)
  • Target August 2010
  • MSRP $349.99
  • BlackBerry handset with WiFi, 2MP camera with video, QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO, A2DP
• Samsung r710
  • Target Q4 2010
  • MSRP $249.99
  • Touchscreen feature phone with EV-DO, 3 inch 400×240 display, 3MP camera with video, full HTML browser, A2DP
• Huawei MiFi (EC5808)
  • Target September 2010
  • MSRP TBD
  • EV-DO connectivity

Hit the jump for all the pretty pictures, prices, and phones headed to Cricket this year. It’s an impressive lineup for the small, but growing wireless carrier.

Thanks, Blitzz!

Samsung Stunt (R100)
March 2010
MSRP $99.99
basic candybar with 1xRTT, 128×160 display, SMS/MMS, Bluetooth

Kyocera Domino (S1310)
June 2010
MSRP $99.99
basic candybar with 1xRTT, 128×160 display, SMS/MMS, Bluetooth

Cricket CAPTR II
Target July 2010
MSRP $129.99
Basic flip phone with 1xRTT, VGA Camera, 128×160 display, SMS/MMS, Bluetooth

Cricket MSGM8 II
Target July 2010
Candybar with ful QWERTY keyboard, 1.3MP camera, 220×176 display, SMS/MMS, and Bluetooth

Cricket TXTM8 3G
Target September 2010
MSRP $159.99
Candybar with QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO, 2MP camera, QVGA display, microSD expansion, full HTML browser, SMS/MMS, Cricket email, A2DP

Kyocera RIO (E3100)
Target November 2010
MSRP $159.99
Touchscreen handset with 1xRTT, 1.3MP camera, 2.8 inch QVGA display, microSD expansion, SMS/MMS, A2DP

Samsung r631
Target Q3 2010
MSRP $199.99
Side slider with touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, 2MP camera/camcorder, microSD expansion, full HTML browser, A2DP

Samsung r710
Target Q4 2101
MSRP $249.99
Touchscreen with EV-DO, 3 inch 400×240 display, 3MP camera with video, full HTML browser, A2DP

Kyocera/Sanyo ZIO (M6000)
Target July 2010
MSRP $299.99
Android-powered touchscreen handset with 3.5 inch WVGA TFT display, Wi-Fi, 3.2 MP camera with video

RIM BlackBerry Curve (8530)
Target August 2010
MSRP $349.99
BlackBerry handset with WiFi, 2MP camera with video, QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO, A2DP

Huawei USB Stick
Target August 2010
MSRP $119
USB Sitck with EV-DO, compatible with Windows and Mac OS X

Cricket A605
Target August 2010
MSRP $119
2xSwivel USB stick with EV-DO, external microSD expansion and compatible with Windows and Mac OS X

Huawei MiFi (EC5808)
Target September 2010
MSRP TBD
EV-DO connectivity

ZTE Modem
Target August 2010
MSRP $119
2xSwivel USB with external microSD and EV-DO connectivity, compatible with Windows and Mac OS X

Some thought Sprint was teaming up with LG to launch a killer WiMAX smartphone at CES but the big press event came and went with nary a mention of an LG-branded WiMAX handset on the horizon. A leaked inventory list from Sprint reveals that we all might have been barking up the wrong tree. First on the inventory list is not an LG phone but the HTC A9292, an Android-powered WiMAX handset with a candy bar form factor. HTC already has one WiMAX phone in its portfolio, perhaps the A9292 will become the second. Our unknown friend, the LG LS680 makes its second appearance on a Sprint inventory list. The LS680 will be an Android handset which the tipster claims is similar to the GW620 Eve. Also making a second appearance is the Palm C40, an unknown device that was originally spotted in Sprint’s inventory last August. The tipster leaked additional information about some new handsets that do not appear on the inventory list above, too, so hit PhoneArena for the details.

Read

VUDU has taken a great leap forward, moving from its small lineup of streaming media set-top boxes and its presence on a few home entertainment devices to being the embedded media service of choice for LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Toshiba and VIZIO. The popular streaming movie service will be installed on select models of broadband TVs and Blu-ray players across all partners, an arrangement that may put millions of VUDU-enabled home entertainment devices into living rooms across America. Customers who purchase a VUDU-spiced HDTV or Blu-ray player will be able to access VUDU’s 3,000 strong on-demand HD movie catalog and its exclusive 1080p HDX formatted feature films. VUDU also announced its new VUDU Apps application platform, a cloud-based application service that allows customers to browse photos, stream video, access social network sites and more from the comfort of their favorite chair. They’ve got over 100 applications in the catalog and they will be available on broadband HDTVs from Mitsubishi, SANYO, Sharp and Toshiba and on broadband Blu-ray players from Toshiba. We need this. Now.

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For those of you who love CDMA and fear contracts, we have some good news for you. A new connect has come through with some details on three new handsets to be offered by U.S. prepaid provider Boost Mobile. Our source indicates that starting January 13, Boost will be offering the BlackBerry 8330 for $249 and will pair it with an unlimited talk, text and web plan for $70/month. The Sanyo Incognito will be offered for $149 and the Sanyo Mirro for $99, both with unlimited talk, text and web for $50/month. We’ve got the additional screen captures queued up for you after the break. So the only question left is, any Boost Mobile fans out there and anyone itching to grab a BlackBerry 8330?

Remember those disastrous spy shots of the Sanyo SCP-2700 from back in March? Well luckily for the budget-conscious message addicts out there, the real thing is nowhere near as hideous as those pics made it out to be. Beginning immediately in both “impulsive pink” and “deep blue”, Sprint’s latest QWERTY messaging phone is available for an extremely reasonable $29.99 on a 2-year contract after $50 mail-in rebate. This his and hers duo sports a QWERTY keypad beneath a 2.5-inch 65K color QVGA display. Other notables include a 1.3 megapixel camera with geotagging support, navigation, Bluetooth, voice control and 4.8 hours of talk time. No, its specs won’t knock you out of your chair but for younger users looking to break the one-month SMS record, the SCP-2700 might be just what the doctor ordered. Too bad that pink one missed Mother’s Day.

Thanks, Basil!

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What happens when you cross a blurrycam special with a complete lack of image editing skills? Behold, an appalling 8 bit-looking Photoshop job that reportedly depicts Sanyo’s upcoming new addition to the Sprint lineup. Of course we can understand why this Sprintusers forum member would be overly cautious but dude, seriously. Moving on, Sanyo’s upcoming offering allegedly sports a QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and integrated GPS — Palm Pre eat your heart out! Ok so it might not be the most impressive offering Sprint might issue this year, but text-hungry users seeking an affordable entry-level QWERTY handset will surely give the SCP-2700 a gander. For the time being, no release date or pricing info is available. Hit the jump for bigger shots.

[Via Engadget Mobile]

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What would the world do without BGR? Well, you’d probably have a lot less broken AVAYA phones, less screaming, and just all around happier wireless executives. Oh well. We just got our hands on Sprint’s ’08-’09 roadmap, and there are definitely some goodies in here if you are a current Sprint subscriber. First up is the BlackBerry 8350i. That’s right Nextel-lovers, you’ve got a new phone to play with coming soon! Contrary to other online images of the device, it appears this BlackBerry does not have the hideous external antenna. The BlackBerry 8350i will have Wi-Fi, a 2 megapixel camera, GPS, and run OS 4.6 out of the box! Look for a Q4 release on that bad boy. For the rest of the goods including more lack-luster phones than you can count, hit the jump folks!

As you can see, the BlackBerry 8350i is based on the Curve (obviously), but you’ve got to love that internal antenna now. Wi-Fi and GPS make this the dream Berry for Nextel users. Also, you’ll be able to grab a camera-less version of the 8350i so you can play nice in restricted areas. Holla!

Let’s break down the roadmap a bit:

• The first that looks to be coming out is the Motorola i950
• Launching in early Q4, there’s the Motorola i576 and the Motorola i776
• In mid-to-late Q4 there’s the BlackBerry 8350i
• Coming up around Jan-Feb, we’ve got the Motorola “Monolith” which is some sort of entry-level SureType-type device, what looks to be a Motorola V8-type phone, and a Sanyo iDEN/GSM handset
• Later on in Q2, there’s a Samsung music slider phone, a military-spec “Immersion” phone by Motorola, and the Sanyo Pro410.

Here are the super-large handset images, followed by a couple more slides…