Sprint has recently released Samsung Z400, a new handset that comes in a clamshell form factor and features a rugged design. The phone meets the MIL-STD 810F military standards for shock, dust and vibration resistance and it's the first Samsung to have support for Sprint's Nextel Direct Connect service.

The Direct Connect feature of Z400 allows users to instantly connect with millions of Sprint subscribers that use the same service all over the US. Furthermore, the clamshell brings Call Alert and Call Alert with Text, for sending multiple alerts (with canned messages, if needed). Also, the Z400 features Group Connect (allows you to communicate with up to 20 Nextel Direct Connect users at the same time) and TeamDC (for communicating with up to 35 other users).

Aside from the Nextel Direct Connect related features, Samsung Z400 also comes with: dual-band CDMA connectivity (800 / 1900 MHz) with EVDO Rev A, a 1.8 inch TFT internal display with 176 x 220 pixels and 65K colors, GPS (to be used with Sprint Navigator), Bluetooth, email and Web capabilities, Sprint Mobile Sync, a 1.3 Megapixel camera with video recording, PictBridge, T9 predictive text input, voice dialing, speakerphone and so on.

The battery included in the Z400 is a 1300 mAh one and it's capable of offering up to 5.75 hours of talk time. The handset weighs 3.5 ounces (99 grams) and, when not flipped, it measures 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.96 inches (94 x 48 x 24 mm) - quite bulky, even for a clamshell, but after all we're talking about a rugged phone.

After a $50 mail-in rebate, Samsung Z400 will cost users $99.99, but only with the signing of a contract agreement for two years. The new clamshell phone can be bought either online, from Sprint's official website, or in select Sprint stores from across the US.