Technology Slice Blog

Kyocera Echo Smartphone - Sprint Nextel Corp., the third- largest U.S. mobile-phone carrier, unveiled a Kyocera Corp. dual-screen smartphone that it says will help capture more customers using its third-generation wireless technology. 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...