This is definitely going to UpStage the competition!

Engadget Mobile posted today about Sprint announcing the SPH-m620 "UpStage" dual-faced musicphone, giving Sprint a decided "wow" factor in its lineup -- for the moment, at least.

Manufacturers seem to be turning to unusual form factors in an effort to gain some differentiation in a crowded high-end and specialty phone marketplace, and the UpStage fills the bill nicely with a full side devoted to traditional phone activities -- "calls, text messaging, and contact management" to use Sprint's verbage -- while the entirety of the flip side takes the form of a traditional MP3 player; a button press switches between sides.

What else is there?

1. a microSD slot for up to 2GB of external storage
2. 1.3 megapixel camera
3. stereo Bluetooth
4. 3.5mm jack adapter lets folks use more traditional headsets if they so choose; even cooler,
5. incoming calls are announced via text-to-speech while you're jamming out.

Also included is a Music Manager app for sideloading tunes to the phone via USB and a unique "battery wallet" boosting the phone's stamina for playing music up to a solid 16 hours or 6.3 hours of talk time (up from 2.5 hours talk time without) -- you sacrifice a bit of girth from the phone's normal, svelte 1.73 x 4.07 x 0.37 inch form, but for music junkies, the tradeoff may be worth it.

Sprint will be offering 99 cent over the airmusic downloads

Cost: $149 on a two-year agreement with a $50 rebate available.

View Original News Post