Sprint Nextel has introduced a smart phone "Echo" with two screens which could be slid and laid side by side to more produce screen space, an important feature of tablet computers.
Japanese manufacturer Kyocera has made the phone.
Put together, the screens create a larger space for typing e-mails, playing games and watching videos. The user can even use more than one service simultaneously.
The user can also use just one screen, and stretch it across to the second screen to have a better view of videos or maps.
Sprint also allows users have different parts of certain applications show up on each screen. This could facilitate simultaneous reading and replying of e-mails, said the company.
The Echo runs Google’s Android OS.
Sprint has re-configured the basic e-mail, some games, text messaging, photo, video and Web browser features for users to use these apps while doing different things on each screen.
Sprint said the phone offers at least 5.5 hours of talk time.
The phone will be available in the spring. It is priced at $199 with a two-year contract.
