Sprint Nextel will launch four new Direct Connect phones in about 47 markets on June 15. The phones will be powered by Qualcomm's QChat next-generation push-to-talk technology that uses Sprint's EV-DO Rev. A network. The phones offer new features such as Call Alerts (a repeating alert that lets users notify another user that they are trying to reach them) and Group Connect, which lets customers quickly connect to up to 20 other Direct Connect users at once.
The new Direct Connect phones include the LX400 by LG, the Sanyo Pro-200 and Pro-700 and the Samsung Z400, which is the first Direct Connect phone offered by the handset maker. The phones range in price from $50 (with a two-year agreement and a $50 rebate) to $80 (with a two-year agreement and a $50 rebate).
The new Direct Connect handsets are critical to Sprint, which has been losing iDEN customers in droves. The firm hopes that the new QChat technology and handsets will prevent more customers from leaving the carrier.
For more:
- see this press release
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