OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-The nation’s handset vendors are kicking into high gear in time for the holiday shopping season-which started on “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving-with a range of new, advanced products.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the world’s third-largest phone maker by volume, announced its second new phone for Sprint Nextel Corp. in as many weeks. Samsung’s new M610 features a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a removable memory card and a QVGA internal display. The phone also features a super-slim design, measuring just half an inch thick.
Sprint Nextel is selling the M610 for $180 with a two-year agreement.
The carrier just two weeks ago began selling Samsung’s M500-a slim clamshell with many of the same features as the M610-for $80 with a two-year agreement.
Separately, Sprint Nextel’s CDMA rival Verizon Wireless announced it will sell LG Electronics Co. Ltd.’s new “enV” phone, which the carrier described as “the envy of all mobile phones.” The enV is the follow-on to LG’s V, which also features a flip-open QWERTY keyboard. The new enV features a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a digital music player.
Verizon Wireless is selling the enV for $150 with a two-year contract.
