Sprint's Six-Katana Arsenal

This summer, Sanyo and Sprint roll out no less thanII is a worthy mid-range phone with plenty to offer
six new Katana model cell phones, designed tothe casual user, although it may just whet the
replace the original Sanyo Katana line. They are, in noappetite for the more full-featured DLX.
particular order: the Katana II Pink Fascination, theThe Katana DLX
Katana II Midnight Steel, the Katana II Cosmic Black,For those with more powerful mobile features in
the Katana DLX Pink Satin, the Katana DLX Platinummind, the Katana DLX is a "deluxe" version of the
Ice, and the Katana DLX Champagne.Sanyo Katana. With all the feature of the Katana II,
At first, this might seem like an utterly bewilderingthe Katana DLX also features an 18-bit display,
array of cell phones... but all is not as complex as it500-contact phone book, a built-in music player, and a
might seem. Sanyo's six new cell phones are really1+ megapixel digital camera capable of video capture
just color variations on two basic models: theand streaming multimedia.
mid-range Katana II (a stylish general-use phone withIn addition, the Katana DLX is EV-DO capable,
a VGA camera) and the more powerful,meaning the cell phone can be used as a wireless
media-centric Katana DLX (a deluxe model with a 1+modum with a portable computer. Add to this the
megapixel camera and built-in media player).longer battery life and a slimmer form factor, and the
The Katana IIKatana DLX becomes a powerful cell phone without
Comparable to the Motorola RAZR in many respects,a staggering price tag.
the Katana II is an update of the already-thin SanyoThe Katana DLX comes in three colors: The Pink
Katana, featuring a similar form factor and sleekSatin, the glossy metallic Platinum Ice, and the
design. The Katana II has been updated with 21 MBChampagne (an elegant pinkish hue).
of onboard memory, Bluetooth capability, built-in textWhile both the Katana II and the Katana DLX are
SMS messaging and Web browsing, and aworthy successors to Sanyo's slim Katana line, the
serviceable built-in VGA camera, and ships in threeDLX definitely offers more bang for the buck, with
models, all of which differ only in color: your basican updated camera, EV-DO capability, and a built-in
Cosmic Black, the considerably more feminine Pinkmusic player. With these six new cell p coming onto
Satin, and the metallic Midnight Steel.the market, however, the discerning consumer will
While it lacks some of the features that make thecertainly have no shortage of choices.
Katana DLX so attractive by comparison, the Katana