Sprint Adds Samsung ACE and M520

A slim slider and a smart phone reminiscent of the BlackJack II are Sprint's latest mobile offerings.

Sprint expanded its line-up of available handsets Monday morning with the announcement of two new phones from Samsung. The M520 will offer consumers a slim, sliding Web-enabled phone, while the more robust SPH-I325 ACE is a smart phone in the same league as the BlackJack II, which remains an AT&T exclusive.

The M520 should serve as an entry level slider in Sprint’s line, as it’s offered for $49.99 with a two-year contract and $50 rebate. It gives users all the essentials including EV-DO Internet access, Bluetooth, 1.3-megapixel camera, microSD slot for up to 4GB of storage, GPS, and support for a host of Sprint’s own services including streaming music and Power Vision streaming television.

The pricier ACE will serve Sprint’s more upscale smart phone users at a price of $199.99 with a two-year contract and $100 rebate when it’s offered in March. The phone sports a form factor very similar to the BlackJack II, with the screen and controls both laid out on a simple black rectangular slab. It includes a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.3-inch LCD display, 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, 2GB microSD slot, EV-DO Internet access, and runs Windows Mobile 6.