Sprint Now Offering a Range of Smartphones at $50 to $100

Sprint has dropped the prices on a variety of its smartphones, with many now available for $100 or less with a standard two-year service contract and mail-in rebate.

Not surprisingly, many of these were designed to be entry-level models, but a few of them are older devices that have dropped in price over time.

These devices have a surprising amount in common. All of them use a basic tablet shape with a keyboard -- either QWERTY or SureType -- below the display. Some, but not all, have a touchscreen, and most of them support Sprint's EV-DO mobile broadband network.

Palm
This carrier's entire Palm OS line is now available for low prices, not surprising as this operating system is close to being phased out. The very consumer-friendly Palm Centro is now Sprint's least expensive smartphone at just $50, and the older Treo 755p, once a high-end model, is now $100.

In addition, the Treo 800w, a business-oriented model that runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, is also $100. This troubled device is close to replacement by the Treo Pro.

BlackBerry
Sprint's least expensive model from RIM is the BlackBerry 7100i, which uses its iDEN network and sells for $75. The more consumer-oriented BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is just slightly more at $80.

For $100, this carrier is offering the BlackBerry Curve 8330. This smartphone seeks to straddle the different needs of both business users and consumers.

Windows Mobile
The Treo 800w isn't the only Windows Mobile smartphone being offered by Sprint at the $100 price point. There's also the Samsung Ace and the Motorola Q9c.

Note: Getting all these prices requires a two-year service contract and mail-in rebate.