Sprint today announced the upcoming availability of Samsung UpStage (SPH-M620), the first U.S. handheld designed with a revolutionary dual-sided form factor with the look of a phone on one side and an MP3 player on the other.

Samsung UpStage (M620) More Photos Read Review View Specs

The UpStage's screen on the phone side is dedicated to making calls, text messaging and contacts management. With a simple push of the "flip" button, the focus is shifted to the music side. The music side features a large, bright-color LCD screen that is ideal for navigating the music library and allows easy access to Power Vision products and services, including Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV.

Touch-sensitive navigation keys on the music side provide easy synchronization with a PC-based music collection, quick access to the music library and easy purchasing of music over the air through Sprint Music Store. A built-in tutorial guides users through navigating with the intuitive touch-sensitive controls. Five sensitivity settings are available for user customization.

The UpStage measures 4.07" x 1.73" x 0.37" and weighs just 2.57 ounces. Additional features include a 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder, microSD card slot for up to 2 GB of external memory, an easy-to-access keyguard switch to prevent accidental dialing, and Wireless Backup to quickly restore contact information if your phone is lost or stolen.

Packaged with tools to get started right out of the box, the UpStage includes a stylish extended battery wallet that increases talk time up to 6.3 hours or 16 hours of music listening. Dual battery gauges show remaining battery life in the extended battery wallet and the internal battery. The box also contains a 64 MB microSD memory card, USB cable, 3.5 mm adapter with microphone for standard music headphones and accessories, the Sprint Music Manager application on CD-ROM and a Quick Tips guide.

The Samsung UpStage is the first Sprint phone to offer:

- Sprint Music Manager, powered by Smith Micro, gives users the power to quickly and simply transfer, or "sideload," unprotected songs from a PC to the handset via a USB cable. Provided on an enclosed CD-ROM, Music Manager also allows songs to be managed on the PC through an intuitive interface.
- Advanced Stereo Bluetooth 2.0 with Bluetooth caller ID enables the user to identify callers with a spoken voice while they listen to music.
- UpStage by Samsung gives users the power to multitask with the ability to play music in background mode while also using the phone for text messaging, playing games or surfing the Internet.

The UpStage will be available in early April and initially priced at $149 with a two-year service agreement.

- Samsung UpStage (SPH-M620) Specs