Kyocera DuraCore

Kyocera and Sprint have announced the DuraCore, a rugged clamshell phone with CDMA-based push-to-talk (PTT) capabilities. The DuraCore will be one of the first phones to take advantage of Sprint's new CDMA-based Direct Connect PTT service.

Direct Connect – Instant, one-to-one push-to-talk communication nationwide with any other Direct Connect subscriber, ideal for quick conversations with families, friends, and co-workers. Direct Connect is the core push-to-talk feature used and is designed for interoperability across Sprint and Nextel network platforms.

Call Alert with Text – Send an audio alert with an optional text message to let another Direct Connect subscriber know you are trying to reach them and why.

Group Connect– Communicate with up to 20 Sprint Direct Connect subscribers all at once, nationwide, at the push of one button.

TeamDCSM – Communicate with up to 199 Sprint Direct Connect subscribers at the same time nationwide1.

NextMail – Send a recorded message to any email worldwide or mobile handset via text message by using the Direct Connect button.

Military Standard 810G compliance for dust, shock and vibration.

Encased in rubber, non-slip Dura-Grip material for sure hold and extra durability.

Robust, bi-directional speakerphone.

Non-camera phone for jobs where cameras are prohibited.

Bluetooth (2.0 + EDR) wireless technology.

2.5mm headphone jack (supports PTT headsets).

Large-font menu option.

GPS navigation enabled.

Sprint Family Locator enabled.

Supports SMS and MMS messaging and third-party data applications.

Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.0 x 0.9 inches; weight: 4.4 ounces.

Display: Main display, 2-inch QVGA TFT (240 x 320 pixels); Sub display, high-contrast 1-inch monochrome (96 x 64 pixels).

Removable 1360 mAh Lithium Ion battery for up to 8.14 hours continuous talk-time.

The DuraCore is slimmer, thinner, and lighter in comparison to its sibling the DuraMax. The DuraCore is not waterproof, and doesn’t have a camera either. It still is equipped with Kyocera’s Dura-Grip technology that ensures that devices aren’t easily droppable. In addition, the DuraCore is stamped with the Military’s 810G approval which means it has passed various tests with dust, shocks, and vibrations.

As seen before with the DuraMax, the DuraCore’s buttons located on top of the device and along the left side are very sensitive. I found myself accidentally hitting the buttons throughout the day. This isn’t too big of a problem once you get use to avoiding the buttons altogether, but it is bothersome at first.

The Kyocera DuraCore is my favorite out of the two Dura-Series devices. Even with the lack of a camera and waterproofing, the device has a better overall feel in the hand. The combination of its lightness and thinness gives the illusion of a smaller device even though the device isn’t all that small. The camera does play a major part in the size though.

So the tradeoff has been outlined. Both devices are the same price, so either you get a bit bigger device with a camera and the ability to be fully immersed in liquid, or the smaller device with those characteristics. Surprisingly the DuraCore was originally planned to be the cheaper version, but that is proven otherwise with its $69.99 price tag.

Kyocera DuraMax

The Kyocera DuraMax offers Direct Connect push-to-talk services on Sprint's faster CDMA network. The handset meets military specifications and feels very sturdy.

The Kyocera DuraMax is a basic but durable handset that offers Direct Connect services over Sprint's faster CDMA network, but a couple of issues will prevent some iDEN customers from making the switch for now.

Sprint will be phasing out Nextel's iDEN network in 2013, but that doesn't mean users will be without Direct Connect push-to-talk services or handsets. The carrier is transitioning Direct Connect to its CDMA network, which brings faster data speeds and eventually, broader network coverage. Of course, with the new service, you need compatible devices, and the Kyocera DuraMax is one such device. Available now for $69.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate, the DuraMax will feel very familiar to iDEN customers, with its rugged exterior and Direct Connect features, which work just fine.

The clamshell DuraMax meets military specification 810G for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, and immersion up to 30 minutes in up to 1m (3.28ft) of water, so it should be able to take anything you or your jobsite can dish out at it. It is encased in a non-slip rubber finish, and has a 3.2 megapixel camera on the outside. The outside of the flip also features a 1-inch, monochrome display, while the inside has a 2-inch, QVGA (240 x 320) screen. The DuraMax measures 101.5mm x 53.5mm x 25.5mm (4.0in x 2.1in x 1.0in), and weighs 144g (5.1oz).

Sprint did not provide an exact release date or price for the DuraMax, but we should be seeing hit the market before the year is out.

Kyocera Echo

The Kyocera Echo will bring a 4.7-inch dual-screen experience to Sprint subscribers this spring.

Sprint and Kyocera finally unveiled the Kyocera Echo during a press event in New York yesterday. It's not the 4G-equipped Android 3.0 powerhouse we eventually imagined it to be a few hours prior to the launch. However, a 3G-equipped Android 2.2 powerhouse like the Kyocera Echo has turned out to be isn't a bad deal for $200 with a new two-year contract. Several surprises need to be revealed at the Mobile World Congress later this month for the Kyocera Echo not to be regarded as one of the most interesting Android experiences of the year.

Kyocera Echo Specs:

• Android 2.2 with Wi-Fi Hotspot and Flash 10.1

• Two 3.5-inch touchscreens with 800 x 480 pixels resolution

• 4.7-inch dual-screen experience with 960 x 800 pixels resolution

• 1 GHz Snapdragon processor (QSD 8650)

• 512MB RAM

• 1GB internal memory

• 8GB microSD card

• 5-megapixel camera with flash and 720p HD video recording

• 3G EV-DO Rev A connectivity

• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g

• Bluetooth 2.1

• 1370 mAh battery

• Dimensions: 115 x 56.5 x 17.2mm

• Weight: 193g (6.8 oz.) The Kyocera Echo's design offers some unique advantages, but its appeal is hampered by usability quirks and a lackluster feature set.