In a Shift from Nextel's Network, Sprint Releasing Rugged CDMA Phones

Although Sprint has already announced their plans to phase out their iDen network acquired by Nextel, they haven't given customers on the aging network a real reason to switch over to CDMA. In a first move to change this situation, Sprint has released the Sanyo Taho, a rugged flip phone that runs on the CDMA network. Although the phone isn't totally waterproof, it can withstand total submersion in up to one meter of water for thirty minutes, along with other military-grade specs. The phone doesn't have any type of push-to-talk service that doesn't use iDen, however, so this is only a phone for Nextel customers that like the rugged style of some of the phones. Sprint also has the Motorola ES400S smartphone, which is also a rugged phone. The ES400S has a full QWERTY keyboard on a candybar design and is running Windows Mobile 6.5.3. (Sprint)

Sanyo Innuendo Full QWERTY Messaging Phone Now Available from Sprint

The Sanyo Innuendo, an update to the Sanyo Incognito, is now available from Sprint. The phone is very similar to the Incognito, featuring a "glow-thru" display and dial pad on the outside of the display, which means that when the keypad and outer display aren't lit up, they blend in with the rest of the phone. Other features of the Innuendo are a 3.2 megapixel camera, a full QWERTY keyboard, Sprint OneClick interface with dedicated Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter apps, GPS navigation, and threaded text messaging. Although the phone is currently only in bright blue, messaging phones are frequently available in multiple colors. The phone is available from Sprint for $49 with a new two-year contract. (Sprint)

Sprint Finally Offering Refurbished Phones for Regular Sale

Sprint has finally decided to let customers buy refurbished phones in addition to new ones, a great way to save some money the next time that you buy your next phone. Something that other phone carriers have been doing for a long time now, refurbished phones used to only be available when you got needed to get a phone replaced. Some of the phones that are available to be refurbished include the HTC Hero, Blackberry Bold 9650, and the Sanyo 2700. Hopefully, more and more phones will be available refurbished soon, since you can save over $100 buying a phone refurbished instead of new from Sprint. (Sprint)

Sanyo Vero Launched on Sprint

While there has been lots of talk about smartphones lately, there have also been other, more basic phones released on Sprint, like the Sanyo Vero. The basic flip phone features a 1.3 megapixel camera, a large and easy to use keypad, and text and picture messaging capability. The phone can hold 600 contacts in it's phone book, and it's name means "true" in Italian. The Vero also has a "glow-thru" external display that, when not active, blends in with the rest of the phone. The phone also has great battery life and a soft-touch backing for a better grip. The phone will be available for $9.99 with a new two-year contract from Sprint. (Sprint)

Sprint Announces Sanyo Zio Android Phone

Going along with the Samsung Transform, Sprint has recently announced the Sanyo Zio Android phone. The phone has a 3.5" capacitive touch screen, a 3.2 megapixel back facing camera, and Android 2.1. The phone will also be getting a Froyo update, along with the Samsung Transform. The Zio also features a trackball for navigation without the touch screen, which is good for a phone that doesn't have a slide-out keyboard. The phone is more low-end than the Transform, coming in at $99 with a new two-year contract with Sprint.