CTIA: AT&T launches six new phones

As the cellular industry’s annual gathering gets underway here in Las Vegas, AT&T has announced six new phones—two of them smart models—that highlight the growing trend toward mobile messaging.

Available over the next several weeks, the lineup includes the Nokia E71X (right), the company’s first smart phone—at least from a U.S. carrier—that sports a keyboard. Priced at $100 with a two-year contract and rebates, the phone will also be one of the lowest-priced smart phones on the market, as well as one of the thinnest: measuring just 10mm. The E71X will support AT&T’s proactive GPS navigation application as well as Wi-Fi and corporate e-mail, the latter via Microsoft’s Exchange server. It has a 3.1-megapixel camera.

We'll have more details on the E71X as the show unfolds. In the meantime, here's a peek at the other five new AT&T models:

Samsung Propel Pro, $149, a business version of the Samsung Propel, a slider that is already in our labs. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and has built-in Wi-Fi. Available on April 14.

Samsung Impression, $199, which claims a bright and clear display with help from a technology called active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes (AMOLED). Underneath its 3.2-in touch-screen display is a keyboard for easier messaging. It has a full Web browser and 3.0-megapixel camera.

The other three models are conventional phones with keyboards. They are: the LG Xenon, LG Neon, and the Samsung Magnet. The Xenon will go on sale on April 8 for $99. The Neon and Magnet will be available in a few weeks for an undisclosed price. — Mike Gikas