Just like a few other devices we’ve been seeing lately, the Kyocera Rise Sprint smartphone offers the added flexibility of punching out text on a QWERTY keypad. The last we heard from the same quarters was regarding the release of the Hydro handset that flaunted its splash-proof properties.
As for the Kyocera Rise Sprint, it serves a delicious bit of ICS with no word about a Jelly Bean upgrade as of now. A Qualcomm Snapdragon processor ticking at 1GHz lies hidden within its chassis. The front panel is dominated by a 3.5-inch IPS HVGA touchscreen. Perched on the flip side is a 3.2MP snapper with LED flash and 30fps video recording. The phone’s internal memory can be expanded via a slot for a 32GB microSD card.
“Kyocera Rise brings customers the comfort of an easy-to-use Android smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard. It is a great option for customers who are new to smartphones, parents looking for the perfect first device for their teens and tweens or anyone looking for a device with an impressive set of features at a great price. This is a perfect addition to round out our Android portfolio,” shared David Owens, vice president-Product Development, Sprint.
Coming to the handset’s connectivity options, Wi-Fi b/g/n, stereo Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR, 3G, USB 2.0, mobile hotspot and GPS are thrown into the mix. Its integrated 1,500mAh battery is expected to provide the juice for up to 8.62 hours of talk time at a stretch. The phone will operate on the carrier’s 3G network. Some other attributes are inclusive of Kyocera’s Eco Mode that allows for power conservation and Sprint ID which provides added features for personalization.
The Kyocera Rise Sprint price stands at $19.99 following a $50 mail-in-rebate with a new line of service or eligible upgrade and a 2-year service agreement. It is expected to be made available on August 19. The device can also be picked up via Virgin Mobile for $99.99 with no contract starting from August 31. Customers can opt for Sprint’s Everything Data plans or Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans.