Overland Park, Kansas — Wireless carriers are launching a flurry of 4G smartphones for the holiday season, but Sprint also sees demand for a free basic flip phone with a slower version of its 3G technology.
The phone is targeted to consumers who want to talk, text and take pictures and to meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities, the carrier said.
The phone is free after $50 mail-in rebate, which takes the form of a reward card. It is available through Sprint’s direct ship sales channels, including Sprint Stores, business sales, telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and web sales (www.sprint.com).
The phone incorporates cdma2000 1X RTT EV-DO technology, which delivers web-browsing data at speeds averaging 300-500kbps compared to 4G LTE phones that, on Sprint’s network, deliver download speeds of 6 to 8Mbps.
Features include 2.4-inch internal display with adjustable font sizes, 1.07-inch external display, oversized keypad, 1.3-megapixel camera, web browsing, stereo Bluetooth, threaded text messaging , 1,000mAh battery offering up to four hours talk time, and five-way navigation key. Other features include dedicated 911 key and an In Case of Emergency (ICE) button, which stores up to three contacts to dial emergency contacts quickly. The M400 also offers speakerphone button, voice dialing that allows the user to simply press a button and speak the name or phone number of the person they want to call, and Nuance VSuite version 4.0 text-to-speech client that reads menus, submenus, text, dialed numbers, caller ID and missed calls to the user.
The phone also features Sprint Family Locator service, which uses GPS technology to locate the phone and display its location on an interactive map on a PC.
