The Echo, as the smartphone is known, will operate on Google Inc.’s Android software and be sold for $199.99 with a two-year contract starting next quarter, Fared Adib, Sprint’s vice president of product development, said in an interview.
Sprint, the first U.S. carrier to offer fourth-generation wireless service, is introducing the 3G device even as it is planning a $5 billion investment to upgrade its network to accommodate a greater range of 4G technology, including with partner Clearwire Corp. The carrier last month began selling its third 4G handset, from HTC Corp.
“We believe this is a pretty big deal,” Adib said. “We didn’t want to hold up the innovation on the device to wait for 4G capability.” He said he expects brisk sales, and declined to provide specific numbers.
Kyocera Echo Smartphone
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