Samsung's ACE dual-mode phone, M520 hit Sprint

Sprint today has quietly rolled two Samsung phones into its collection, including its first direct rival to AT&T's BlackJack II. The pictured ACE shares some of the body style of the earlier phone but is designed explicitly for world roaming: it includes both Sprint's native CDMA as well as GSM, allowing the phone to connect in Europe and other regions without swapping phones. The handset is 3G-capable on CDMA but is capped at 2G-level EDGE access abroad. Samsung also equips the phone with GPS for assisted navigation and a 1.3-megapixel camera. In Sprint trim, the phone sells for either $200 with a two-year contract or $450 without the commitment.

Also added is a simpler option, the CDMA-only M520; it replaces the earlier M510 and switches to a slider form factor from the earlier phone's clamshell. It too uses a 1.3-megapixel camera and supports 3G but is aimed at budget users, with pricing set at $50 after signing a two-year contract or $250 for up-front purchases. [via Phone News]

ACE

M520