11 Notable Phones from Nokia, Samsung, LG and Kyocera Spotted at CTIA

by Michelle Maisto

The Kyocera G2GO M2000 (pronounced “good to go”) features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera with a dedicated key for quick access, an MP3 player also with a dedicated key, a WAP 2.0 browser, and support for IMAP/POP3 e-mail plus SMS, EMS, MMS and instant messaging.

The 2.2-inch QVGA display on the Kyocera Laylo M1400 does a vertical slide to a simple keypad. Included is a VGA camera with digital zoom, Bluetooth technology, a WAP 2.0 browser and—on the back—a slide-out self-portrait vanity mirror.

The Samsung Instinct s300 is an update to the Samsung Instinct and includes an improved Web-browsing experience using either the default browser or the Opera Mini 4.2, built-in IM and 16 GB of external memory. It comes in Cobalt Metal or Touch of Copper and will be available April 19 from Sprint for $129.99 with a two-year contract.

Samsung is calling its Mondi “the most advanced mobile WiMax-enabled handheld device in the U.S.” The Mondi features a 4.3-inch touch-screen with Samsungs TouchWiz user interface, which offers one-touch access to customizable online widgets. The Mondi runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and, in addition to WiMax, can connect via Wi-Fi.

The Nokia E71x is a thin, candy-bar-style smartphone finished in black steel. Its features include 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 3-megapixel camera and AT&T’s Navigator application for turn-by-turn directions. AT&T will be offering the Nokia E71x for $99.99 with a two-year contract, after a $50 mail-in rebate.

The Samsung Propel Pro runs the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, which allows for full enterprise applications. It also offers 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Samsung Propel Pro additionally features a full QWERTY keyboard. It will be available in April from AT&T for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

The Samsung Impression features a sliding, 3.2-inch touch-screen that’s the nation’s first with AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) technology. Which is to say: It looks good. Pricing will be $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

The LG Xenon is a bit of a scaled-back Samsung Impression. There’s a slide-out QWERTY keypad (no AMOLED here), a 2-megapixel camera and, among other features, the AT&T Navigator GPS application. Users get a choice of black, blue or red for $99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

With the LG Neon, AT&T offers something for the teen market—or anyone in need of a bolt of color. It comes in green or white and features a full keyboard, a 2-megapixel camera and access to IM, Mobile Email, AT&T Music and the mobile Internet.

Another cheery offering, the Samsung Magnet has a WAP browser and is ideal for chatting, texting and snapping pics. No 3G here, but that helps to lower the price—which AT&T hasn’t yet made public, though it’s promising something modest.

MetroPCS announced it will be offering the Samsung Finesse. The phone will run users $349, but there’s no contract to sign, and for $50 a month they’ll get unlimited voice and Internet. It features a full touch-screen, 150MB of memory, a MicroSD expansion slot and a 2-megapixel camera. The Finesse is equipped for 3G, though MetroPCS doesn’t offer it; it plans to jump directly to LTE.