During its media event in New York this evening, Sprint and Kyocera have lifted the veil on the forthcoming Kyocera Echo dual screen Android smartphone slated for launch later this Spring for $199.99 after new 2 year agreement and $100 rebate, plus the newly expanded $10 Premium Data charge which PhoneNews.com has covered extensively.
The Echo will feature two 3.5 inch widescreen displays at 853×480 resolution each with a patent pending hinge design that will allow for horizontal and vertical use. The Android Froyo-powered device is meant to bridge the gap between conventional smartphones and larger MIDs/tablets without sacrificing power or having to deal with portability issues.
As previously reported, the device resembles a Nintendo DS when opened in Tablet mode and will usher in two new modes of operation, which Kyocera and Sprint call “Simul-tasking” by including seven custom developed applications that take advantage of both displays and operate simultaneously (Messaging/Email/Gallery/VueCue/Contacts/Phone) with device specific APIs being released in the future for developers to take advantage of when developing applications.
Accessories included with the Echo will also include a charger with a second battery for extended use that can be swapped out at will once the battery in the device is spent or can be utilized with the charger. Further details on specifications are expected at a later time, but what is currently known is that despite being a Sprint exclusive and its flagship device for the first half, it will not feature WiMax access..
