14 DAY TRIAL // Kyocera seems to be the main provider of budget Android phones in the United States, as the handset manufacturer has just announced the availability of Kyocera Milano smartphone via Sprint.
The handset is now available for purchase for $49.99 (excluding taxes) with a new two-year agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card, in all Sprint retail channels, including web.
Aside from the Android platform, another strong point of the Milano is the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, which makes it the perfect choice for heavy texters and first-time Android users.
Furthermore, the phone is powered by Google's latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread and comes pre-loaded with Sprint ID service, which allows users to customize their device to meet their needs.
“The touchscreen experience on smartphones is extremely popular, especially when optimized with an app like Swype, but many smartphone users are still looking for the familiar tactile experience of a full QWERTY keyboard,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of sales and marketing at Kyocera.
It is also worth mentioning that Kyocera Milano comes with Swype by default, which provides a quicker way to text on a touchscreen using the phone's virtual keyboard.
The Milano sports an average 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording capabilities and full Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support.
On the inside, the phone comes with 512 MB of internal memory, as well as microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB, 2GB memory card included).
"Kyocera Milano delivers an easy-to-use, customizable Android experience with multiple keyboard options in a compact package for less than $50. It’s ideal for those making the leap to Android but not wanting to give up their QWERTY keyboards," added Anderson.
One thing makes the Kyocera Milano stand out from other budget Android smartphones, the proprietary power-management application called “Eco Mode” that allows users to manage the battery life.
It is possible to set a point at which the Kyocera Milano will go into low-power-consumption mode by automatically adjusting various smartphone functions, including display timeout and brightness.
According to Sprint, the budget Android phone requires activation on one of the carrier's Everything Data plans plus a $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones.