Sprint Nextel tech event unveils new gadgets from LG, Palm, Sanyo

VIENNA, Va.-Although Sprint Nextel Corp. made headlines yesterday with news of its WiMAX branding and push-to-talk plans, the carrier also-apparently inadvertently-gave its “Technology Summit” attendees a glimpse of several as-yet-unannounced handsets. Although Sprint Nextel representatives refused to allow attendees to take pictures of the devices, on hand at the event were the “Rumor” from LG Electronics Co. Ltd., the “Centro” from Palm Inc., and an unnamed CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A-capable flip phone from Sanyo Corp.
The Rumor from LG is a bar-style phone that supports only the carrier’s CDMA 1x network, and does not work on its faster EV-DO network. The Rumor features a QWERTY keyboard that slides out along the device’s right side, and the phone’s screen automatically reorients to the keyboard when a user triggers the keyboard.
A Sprint Nextel representative said the phone likely would be commercially available later this year.
The Centro from Palm features the Palm operating system and, according to the manufacturer, is the smallest Palm OS smartphone to date. Palm said the device targets a younger demographic who would be new to the smartphone space. The device runs on Sprint Nextel’s EV-DO network, and features a QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen.
No release date for the device was provided.
Finally, Sprint Nextel used a Sanyo flip phone to show off its forthcoming CDMA, Qchat-based push-to-talk service, which will run over the carrier’s EV-DO Rev. A network. A Sprint Nextel representative explained that the phone is a “pre-production” model, and indicated that it could undergo significant revisions before becoming commercially available-if it is released at all.
Sprint Nextel has promised to offer its new PTT service sometime next year, which would necessitate the introduction of an EV-DO Rev. A handset.
Although both Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless have launched commercial EV-DO Rev. A networks, both still only offer PC cards for the network. No commercial EV-DO Rev. A handsets have been introduced into the U.S. market.