Sprint, the third largest mobile operator in the US (and the whole North America), announced the future release of several new Samsung phones, including Z700 and Z400, two handsets that don't offer very advanced features but will probably sell well.

Standing nowhere near Samsung Instinct, the high-end touchscreen phone that will be available from Sprint starting June 2008, Z700 and Z400 both come in a clamshell form factor and are obviously targeted to users who don't want to spend too much money for a cell phone.

Samsung Z700 comes with a nice design, especially looking good when it's open, thanks to a metallic black & silver color combination used wisely. Weighing 3.5 ounces (99 grams) and measuring 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.96 inches (93 x 48 x 24 millimeters) when closed, Z700 offers dual-band EVDO Rev A connectivity, an internal 2.1 inch display with 262k colors and 240 x 320 pixels, Sprint Navigation for turn-by-turn driving directions, 2.0 Megapixel camera with video recording, email, Instant Messaging, push-to-talk, USB, Sprint TV, Sprint Music Store, Sprint PCS Picture Mail and so on. The phone includes a standard 1100 mAh Li-Ion battery capable of providing up to 290 minutes of talk-time.

Samsung Z400 has exactly the same dimensions and weight as Z700 and works on the same frequencies. The phone comes in a dark blue, rubberized case which offers a plus of protection, allowing users to take it even in harsh environments. Besides this, its features include a 2.1 inch internal display with 262k colors but only 176 x 220 pixels, a 1.3 Megapixel camera, Sprint Navigation, Bluetooth, email, Instant Messaging and a 1300 mAh battery that should be able to provide up to 345 minutes of talk-time.

Sprint has revealed neither the prices for Samsung Z700 and Samsung Z400, nor their exact release dates.

What's a bit odd is that Samsung has other two phones named Z400 and Z700, both released more than two years ago. But I guess that, since the new ones are, well, new, and they're offered by Sprint, no confusions will be made.