Sprint Mogul

Sprint this morning marked the launch of the Mogul, its custom-labeled version of HTC's PPC6800. The new design improves dramatically on the already-offered PPC6700 and its slide-out QWERTY formula in hardware and software. The Mogul is Sprint's first device to support its faster EVDO Revision A network for real-world speeds up to 800Kbps downstream, but is also performs better by itself: built-in memory has been doubled to 256MB while battery life has been extended by 20 percent, Sprint says. The camera has been sharpened to 2-megapixels while the slider's top-mounted control pad now includes a thumbwheel for faster scrolling. As with the earlier model, Wi-Fi covers local Internet hotspots while Bluetooth addresses wireless peripherals.

The Mogul also signals a first for Sprint in becoming the first to ship with Windows Mobile 6 Professional, which brings Office Mobile as well as full touchscreen support. It also brings Java to the carrier's smartphones and brings the company's On Demand media streaming and Sprint Music Store online shopping.

Shipping this week, the Mogul should be available online for $400 with a two-year contract and in stores by July. Initial support will only allow for Sprint's conventional EVDO Revision 0 network but should add the Revision A speed boost through a software patch next month.

By Electronista Staff