Feb 8, 2011 09:11 GMT  ·  By

Just hours after Sprint and Kyocera had hinted to an important event to be hosted by famous illusionist David Blaine, the companies officially announced the first dual-touchscreen Android smartphone, Kyocera Echo.

[ADMARk=1]The Android-based device features two high-resolution 3.5-inch WVGA touchscreen displays connected by a patent-pending “pivot hinge” that enables the two displays to operate independently, side-by-side or combined to form an oversized 4.7-inch integrated display.

Sprint is proud to boast the most powerful Android portfolio available today and Echo adds to that legacy with industry-leading technology that will change the way our customers use smartphones,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse.

Today’s busy schedules often demand that we do at least two things at once. Kyocera Echo is the first device that allows us to do a different task on each of two screens while also providing a tablet-like, larger screen experience that easily fits in a pocket when closed,” continued Hesse.

When the device is opened, it enables consumers to use the touchscreens in four possible ways: Single-Screen Mode, Simul-Task Mode, Optimized Mode and Tablet Mode.

In Single Mode users can take advantage of all the functionality of a single-display, touch-screen smartphone, while in Simul-Task Mode users will be able to check out two of the phone’s seven core apps (messaging, e-mail, Web browsing, phone, gallery, contacts and VueQue) while they're running independently on the dual displays.

Optimized Mode offers users the possibility to compose an e-mail on one screen with a touchscreen keyboard on the other or watch a YouTube video on one display while browsing and queuing additional YouTube videos on the other.

When using the Tablet Mode, a single application is spread across both displays for a full 4.7-inch viewing area. Tablet Mode is ideal for viewing maps, videos, websites, detailed documents and long lists.

Kyocera Echo operates on the Android 2.2 system and is powered by a single 1GHz QSD 8650 Snapdragon processor. The device comes with Wi-Fi hotspot capability, which supports wireless connections for up to five devices.

It also boasts a 5-megapixel camera with flash, autofocus and digital zoom, as well as 720p HD camcorder. The Echo packs 1 GB of on-board memory and comes with an 8GB microSD card for the external memory card slot supporting cards up to 32GB.

Kyocera Echo includes a 1370 mAh Li-Ion spare battery in the sales package and a low-profile charging cradle. In addition to charging the spare battery independently of the phone, the cradle can also be used to tether the spare battery to the smartphone Echo as an external power supply.

The device will be available exclusively from Sprint for $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Pre-registration is required for those who wish to purchase the Kyocera Echo, as no release date has been disclosed yet.

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Kyocera Echo (front closed)
Kyocera Echo (front opened)
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