Cell Phones

Sprint and Boost Mobile are both adding a new eco-friendly (and affordable!) 3G feature phone to their lineup. Available now at Sprint and arriving at Boost Mobile later this month, the LG Rumor Reflex comes packed with features such as a 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, 2-megapixel camera and camcorder, built-in GPS and MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32GB).

As far as the eco-friendly features are concerned, the LG Rumor Reflex's outer cover is made of 31 percent post-consumer recycled materials, it's Carbon-Free certified, and the device comes in fully recyclable packaging that uses soy inks. In addition, the battery charger touts a 5-star rating for extremely low power draw while still plugged in after your phone is fully charged.

LG Rumor Reflex in a Titan Grey color is available now from Sprint for just $29.99 with a new two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card. It will be available at a later date in White, as well. Read more

So, you want a mobile phone that makes it easy to text but don't want all the other features (and add-on fees) of a smartphone? The new Pantect Link II may be your answer. Available now at AT&T, Link II has a contemporary look, is thin and most importantly of all, sports a large keyboard. The phone is available now for $9.99.

Features include:

• Super Slim Form – Measuring 10.7 mm, Link II slips neatly into a pocket or purse.
• A Faster, Smoother Phone – Running BREW Mobile 1.0.2, Link II's user interface is quicker, slicker and better able to manage all the apps you love with a wider choice of applications and more personal customization.
• Immediate Messaging – A full keyboard allows users to easily send a range of messages – texts, email, social media messages, picture mail, video messages and IMs.
• Social Media and Web – Update any social media page with pics and videos, while browsing the web without restrictions.
• Preloaded Apps – Link II includes AT&T Family Map, AT&T Social Net, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Code Scanner and YPmobile pre-installed.
• Durability – A rubberized backing provides a comfortable and sturdy grip for avid message senders.
• USB 2.0 HS Charger – With an upgraded option to recharge, users can conveniently plug this charger into a laptop or computer while away from home.

Sprint announced that the Motorola Brute i686 is available beginning today for $119.99. This ultra-rugged flip phone meets Military Specification 810G for dust, shock, vibration, low temperature, high temperature, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, blowing rain and water immersion. It may be immersed into up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes when the battery door is attached properly, and the headset jack and micro-USB connector are correctly covered and sealed.

Additional features include a 2-megapixel camera with flash and 4x zoom, SMS and MMS messaging, large internal and external color display, GPS, MP3 player and stereo Bluetooth. Plus, you get Group Connect, Group Messaging, support of business apps and a great battery life. The Brute i686 also offers the ability to switch from an active push-to-talk call to an interconnect voice call for longer conversations.Read more

Sprint today announced the Sanyo Taho by Kyocera, a new rugged handset that can be fully immersed in water 3.28 feet deep for up to 30 minutes. In addition to water immersion, this "military tough" phone can handle just about anything Mother Nature throws at it – dust, shock, vibration, extreme temperatures and blowing rain. The Sanyo Taho is Sprint's first fully submersible device priced less than $100.

The handset is covered in a non-slip Dura-Grip texture and has a 2-inch QVGA TFT internal display and 1-inch monochrome external display. It includes 256 MB of internal memory, a 1 GB microSD memory card (supports up to 32GB), a front-ported speaker phone and 2-megapixel camera with flash and camcorder. Read more

Verizon Wireless and Samsung Mobile this week unveiled the Samsung Zeal, a dual-hinge messaging phone. Practically identical to the Alias 2, the Zeal features a full QWERTY keyboard with E Ink keys which change the keyboard's layout according to what app is running and which way the phone is opened.

Features include a Social Beat widget for Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Skype Mobile, Corporate Email support for Microsoft Office Exchange, and a microSD slot for cards up to 32GB.

Available in Black, the Samsung Zeal will in be in Verizon stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com on Nov. 11 for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

Verizon Wireless has a new mobile phone for texters and social network addicts, the LG Octane. Available in Verizon stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com on October 28, the LG Octane features a full QWERTY keyboard and seamless integration of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter via a Social Beat widget.

The LG Octane also touts a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera and camcorder with flash and includes tons of camera features like five camera resolutions, two video resolutions, Intelligent Shot, Smile Shot, Panorama, Zoom up to 2.98 times, an Image Editor and Dual display activation for self portraits.

Additional features include a microSD slot for up to 16 GB of memory, Bluetooth 2.1 capabilities, a built-in music player, V CAST Music with Rhapsody, new Mobile E-Mail client 4.0, Visual Voice Mail, HTML Web Browser and it is Skype mobile capable.

The LG Octane is priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

Sprint this week announced a new Certified Pre-owned Device Program, giving Sprint customers a chance to purchase pre-owned devices at a lower cost. But not only do those who purchase a pre-owned device get a great deal, they are helping the environment by giving these pre-owned devices a "second life."

Three certified pre-owned devices are now available at Sprint.com – BlackBerry Tour, Samsung Reclaim in green, and Sanyo 2700 in pink and blue. Existing customers can purchase one of these pre-owned devices at regular price without a contract extension and without affecting their current upgrade eligibility status.

Existing pricing for the devices are as follows:

• BlackBerry Tour at $79.99, and
• Samsung Reclaim in green and Sanyo 2700 in pink and blue are each available for $49.99.
• Customers with a new two year contract can get the Hero & Tour at $29.99 and the green Reclaim or pink & blue 2700 for FREE.