The QWERTY keyboard is no longer a stranger to iDEN circles. With the introduction of the Motorola Clutch i465, push-to-talk fans now have an affordable QWERTY messaging phone to use with the leading PTT carrier in the US. Following on Boost Mobile’s announcement, Boost’s parent company Sprint (NYSE: S) has today announced the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Clutch i465 as a tough and affordable QWERTY messaging phone for use with Nextel Direct Connect Custom plans.

The Motorola Clutch i465 combines a rugged, yet slim(ish), exterior with a full QWERTY keyboard - the first QWERTY device in the iDEN portfolio. It features a new kind of text messaging service that uses Nextel’s class-leading push-to-talk network. “Group Messaging,” as it’s called, takes advantage of the Nextel Direct network’s strengths - allowing for instant text-communications with a large group.

Sprint says the Motorola Clutch i465 will be available later this Summer for 39.99 with a new two-year service agreement, $20 instant rebate and $50 mail-in rebate. Expect to see the Motorola Clutch hitting all Sprint retail channels.

Register to be notified when the Clutch becomes available on Sprint at this website.

Full press release after the break.

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Four entry-level handsets from Samsung have made a quiet debut today. We had seen a brief glimpse of the Samsung S6700 and C5510 not too long ago, but the M2510 and M2310 are new to the scene. Nothing hugely impressive, but definitely stylish, functional devices for those who don’t need all the hassle of a full-blown smartphone. Here’s the spec rundown, Align-Left Overlap Edition.

Samsung S6700

• Quad-band GSM, dual-band UMTS (HSDPA up to 3.6Mbps)
• 2.4″ QVGA display
• 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, dual LED flash
• 120MB of internal memory, microSD card slot
• GPS, Bluetooth

Samsung C5510

• 2.2″ QVGA display
• Quad-band GSM, dual band UMTS
• 2 megapixel camera (no AF)
• Bluetooth v2.1
• microSD card slot

Samsung M2510

• Quad-band GSM support (no 3g)
• 2.2″ TFT display
• DNSe audio enhancement, FM radio with RDS, 3.5mm headphone jack
• microSD card slot
• 1.3 megapixel camera

Samsung M2310

• 9MB internal memory plus microSD
• 3.5 mm headphone jack
• 2″ Q-QVGA display, 1.06″ secondary (96 x 96)
• Quad-band GSM
• Bluetooth

[via MobileBurn, GSMArena]

The Global Certification Forum has approved the HTC Hero, a mere two days away from what we presume will be the launch event. The biggest change that we can tell so far is the user interface makeover - if you haven’t had a chance to check out Rosie, take a look at some of the screenshots. We first saw the Hero when HTC’s ‘09 roadmap leaked out, and although specs didn’t show up then, the GCF certification confirms the Hero will be running on quad-band GSM and dual-band HSPA. Other pics have revealed that it will be packing a 3.5 mm headphone jack and none of this extUSB nonsense. It’s good to see HTC is keeping up with the Android hardware even though other manufacturers are finally starting to get the ball rolling.

[via ::theunwired]

LG isn’t just rehashing hardware announced at Mobile World Congress at CommunicAsia (although they are pushing the watch phone, Style, GM730 and everything else they announced in Barcelona) - the GW550 is a new handset that’s squarely targeting the enterprise crowd with distinctly BlackBerryish looks. LG is staying mum on a lot of the details, but it’ll be running Windows Mobile 6.1, packing a 3 megapixel camera, a QVGA display, and HSUPA/HSDPA connectivity. In the Windows Mobile sphere, the GW550 will be butting heads most directly with the upcoming HTC Snap, but those looking for a bigger keyboard may sooner eyeball the Touch Pro 2 or the Omnia 2. No information on release dates or carriers, as usual, but no doubt we’ll get something in good time.

[via LG, pic]

We first saw the LG GM730 at the Mobile World Congress, but it’s popped up again at the CommunicAsia conference and announced for a July release. The GM730 will be one of the first to use LG’s new S-Class 3D user interface built on top of a “new version of” Windows Mobile 6.1, as well as pack their new Application Store. Details on the Application Store are scarce, but we’ve got a full spec list for the GM730:

• HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HUSPA 2.0 Mbps
• UMTS 900/2100, 850/900/1800/1900
• 110 x 56.5 x 11.9mm
• 3″ WQGVA resistive touchscreen
• 5 megapixel camera
• aGPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,

Having seen a bit of S-Class in action, it should be an interesting new family of user interfaces. The main trick is having scrolling rows, so you can access more than four each without having to switch entire screens. The front-side keys have changed a little bit since the initial announcement in Barcelona, but nothing extreme. The GM730 will launch in Asia first, so don’t hold your breath too long for a North American release. As for LG’s app store, it’s not that much of a surprise - every manufacturer and his dog is opening one these days, it’ll simply be a matter of seeing how well-populated it is at launch and how many developers they can wrangle to sign up beforehand.

[via LG]

The fourth and final phone announced by Samsung today is the Omnia Lite (9B7300). So far, they’re only telling us that the B7300 packs TouchWiz 2.0, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, aGPS, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and comes preloaded with Opera and the Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Office Suite. The B7300 had snuck out back in March, but not much was revealed then either. Luckily Unwired View dug up a few more specs:

• Quad-band GSM, GPRS, Edge connectivity
• 3.2” 320×400px TFT LCD touchsreen
• Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 (microUSB)
• Dimensions: 107,9 x 51,8 x 12,98 mm
• Weight: 100gr

If you haven’t already, take a gander at Samsung’s other new phones, the two Omnia Pros and the Jet.

[via Samsung]

It’s been a busy day for Samsung - they’ve gone official with not only the Jet and Omnia Pro, but also this Omnia Pro variant (B7320). Opposed to its side-sliding sibling, the B7320 features a BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM)-style QWERTY keypad, but presumably similar specs. The only things they’ll tell us right now is that it has a 3 megapixel camera, FM tuner supporting RDS, and Wi-Fi. That definitely looks like a front-facing video conferencing camera, too.

Samsung also announced a little something called the Omnia Lite, which we’ll get to shortly…

[via Samsung]

A new addition to Samsung’s Ultra line, the Samsung Ultra S (S7350) has been spotted in a pink paint job. The specs put it just a notch below the Ultra Touch, but definitely packs the same style and slim profile. A 5 megapixel camera, WQVGA screen, GPS, FM radio, Bluetooth, and microSD memory card slot are all a part of the package - luckily, there’s a silver sersion for those who aren’t quite bubbly enough to pull off the pink.

[MobileNet via DailyMobile]

Samsung’s most prominent move into solar-power cell phones to date has been Blue Earth, but it looks like they’ve decided to ship another handset first: the E1107 Guru. Samsung India will be selling the E1107 for Rs 2799, primarily targeting rural areas with spotty electricity service.  Five to ten minutes of talk time can be squeezed out of an hour’s worth of sunlight, maxing out after 40 hours of sunbathing. Solar panel aside, there’s not much to look at…FM radio, MP3 ringtones, 1.52″ display, dual-band GSM, but all you really need is something that makes calls. Europe, Asia, and Latin America should be picking this one up shortly as well. Samsung’s touting the Guru as “the world’s first solar phone”, but that’s total bollocks, frankly - ZTE claims that prize and KDDI takes the runner-up spot. Not that we’re going to complain about an ecologically-friendly phone for emerging markets that have trouble getting with the times, but slimy marketing pushes my buttons.

[via TechShout]

Commence your rejoicing, Nokia (NYSE: NOK)’s 8 megapixel upgrade to their popular N85 model is now shipping! The N86 was announced at MWC back in February, and has already enjoyed an imaging award thanks to its blur reduction, quick processing time, and low-light sensitivity. After passing through the FCC late last month, we were ready to receive Nokia’s bounty with open arms, but for those of you unfamiliar with the N86, here’s a quick spec run-down:

• 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, dual LED flash
• 8 GB internal memory with microSD memory card support
• aGPS, FM transmitter, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth
• 2.6″ AMOLED QVGA screen
• Running S60 3rd. Edition
• Bands:
  • WCDMA 900/1900/2100 (HSDPA) and EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WLAN
  • WCDMA 850/1900/2100 (HSDPA) and GSM 850/900/1800/1900, WLAN
  • WCDMA 900/1900/2100 (HSDPA) and EGSM 850/900/1800/1900

The N85 is a hot little number, and will provide a solid alternative to the equally awesome N97 which just hit flagship stores yesterday. Presumably those same stores will be getting the N86 in short order, and carriers will be stocking up over the next few weeks. Will one of these two phones have a chance at swaying folks who are too impatient to wait for the iPhone 3GS? You can get a closer look at the N86 here, or scope out the data sheet here.

[via Nokia]