Boost Mobile has announced its next Android smartphone in the Kyocera Hydro Android smartphone, which will be sold by the virtual operator beginning next month on the 3rd for $129.99. The phone features Android Ice Cream Sandwich along with entry-level hardware specifications and a water-resistant bodyshell which can withstand being completely immersed in water for up to 30 minutes.
The phone is underpinned by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, but otherwise features mid-range specifications such as an HVGA resolution touch display at 3.5 inches, Wi-Fi N radio, microSD slot and 3.2 megapixel camera. The Hydro also marks the first time that Boost Mobile will be getting a Kyocera phone ahead of Sprint proper, as Sprint usually launches Kyocera devices before offering them through the Prepaid Group for sale.
With Kyocera continuing to make its own strides in the marketplace, the addition of the Hydro to a carrier lineup does signal good news for the perennially small manufacturer, which typically relies on carrier agreements for the majority of its revenue rather than selling direct to consumers. The Hydro also marks the first Android smartphone from Kyocera to ship with Android Ice Cream Sandwich, as its previous Sprint devices in the Zio and Echo were not capable of being updated, owing to their older hardware specifications which limited them to Android Froyo.
