As expected, the long-awaited Android Froyo update for the Sanyo Zio is now available via Wi-Fi update and will be made available via select Cricket locations and third-party dealers. To help owners, Cricket has also posted a series of pictograms detailing how to update the device via Wi-Fi on its Facebook page. It should be noted that the update was initially meant to be Éclair but was instead pushed up to Froyo. Read more for the images.

Sprint has announced the launch of the Kyocera Sanyo Taho Mil-Spec clamshell.  The phone is available now online for $149.99 before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $99.99 .

The phone features an M810G certified bodyshell, QVGA display, autonomous GPS, Java Multitasking support, Dura-Grip® coating, 2.0 megapixel camera and video recorder with flash, media player, microSDHC expansion slot and Bluetooth with stereo audio support.  The phone also supports advanced enterprise functionality such as password protected voice/data access as well as enterprise control of the camera and GPS functionality for fleet tracking.

Sprint internal documentation has confirmed the forthcoming launch of the Sanyo Taho clamshell by Kyocera for December 9th at $149.99 after new 2 year agreement before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $99.99. The Taho features an M810F certified bodyshell for resistance to shock, dust and intense vibration, media player, microSDHC expansion slot, 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth with stereo audio support and speakerphone.

Details of a MetroPCS conference call intended for dealers and frontline execs have surfaced with confirmation of the regional carrier’s plans for the rest of the year, including Android handset plans.

First, the carrier has decided to cancel its planned launch of the Kyocera Zio, currently available on Sprint and Cricket.

Reasons cited for the cancellation concern its reluctance to delay the launch due to the carrier having purchased handsets with Android 1.6 before Kyocera made Android 2.1 available to carriers for handset purchase orders. Were it to launch this past October 20th, it would have been sold at $249.99 with Android 1.6 and no guarantee that it would have been updated, as it could not decide on a method to provide Android updates for the device as the Sprint version launched with 2.1 and Cricket with 1.6.

The carrier will instead launch the LG Optimus as the LG Optimus M in November for $229.99 with Android 2.2 and the previously covered Huawei Ascend for $179.99 along with 8 more handsets before the end of the year.

Following yesterday’s conference, Sprint has announced launch and pricing details for its midrange Android lineup in the LG Optimus S, Samsung Transform and Sanyo Zio.

The LG Optimus S features a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder, 512MB RAM/512MB ROM underpinned by the Qualcomm MSM7627 at 800MHz, visual voicemail support, Sprint ID, Wi-Fi with hotspot support, GPS and microSDHC card slot. The device will retail for $149.99 before an additional $100 mail-in rebate bringing the total to $49.99 and will be available on October 31.

The Sanyo Zio features a 3.5-inch touchscreen display Android 2., 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder, Wi-Fi radio, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, GPS and microSDHC card slot. The device will retail for $199.99 before an additional $100 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $99.99 and will be available on October 10.

The Samsung Transform feature a 3.5-inch HVGA display, sliding QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, front-facing VGA camera for video calls, Sprint ID, 800 MHz processor and 256 MB of RAM along with a microSDHC card slot. Samsung has also confirmed an update to Android 2.2 later this year. The device will retail for $249.99 before an additional $100 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $149.99 and will be available on October 10.

Sprint has quietly launched the successor to the Sanyo Incognito messaging device in the sleeker Innuendo.  The Innuendo features a 2.8-inch internal display at QVGA resolution and a full QWERTY keyboard for messaging. Like the Incognito, the Innuendo also has a touch-sensitive external dialpad with haptic feedback and a proximity sensor that deactivates the display when it is held up to the face. Other features include a 3.2 megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, threaded SMS, support for microSD cards up to 32GB, and GPS support.

Sprint is also rolling out an update for the phone to fix last-minute bugs, consisting of fixes to ringtone previews within the music application, opening the Web Browser after using Sprint TV and streaming audio issues via Bluetooth headset while watching a YouTube video. No-contract pricing is set at $249.99, and $99.99 with 2 year agreement and $50 rebate, bringing the total to $49.99.

Cricket has opened a product page for the Kyocera Zio M6000 Android smart device, now being sold under Sanyo branding.  The Zio will also herald the debut of a new $55 all-inclusive service plan that includes unlimited voice, domestic/international messaging, data and all applicable taxes/fees.

Technical specifications consist of tri-band CDMA EVDO Rev. A support on the 800/1700/1900MHz bands, making it compatible with networks operated by all major US CDMA carriers underpinned by Qualcomm’s MSM 7227 chipset with 512MB of RAM and 256MB of ROM.  The device also features Android 1.6 (up from 1.5 in the initial announcement) a Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth with stereo audio support and GPS support. It also features a 3.5-inch capacitive WVGA resolution display, a 3.2 megapixel camera with dedicated camera key and video capture at 30 frames per second, a digital compass, accelerometer and support for microSD cards up to 32GB.

The device is now available for pre-order directly from Cricket ahead of its August 21st launch date for $249.99, with a $20 discount when ordered online.

Boost Mobile has shown their first upcoming CDMA phone, since resuming sales of CDMA devices. The Sanyo SCP-2700 will be sold on Boost Mobile as the Sanyo Juno messaging phone.

Already a strong seller on Sprint postpay service, the rebranded Juno is a logical target for Boost Mobile service. It is similar in feature sets to the Sanyo Mirro that Boost already sells, but in a Motorola Q-like form factor. Also, since it is not a smartphone, it will not put significant strain on their CDMA network to sell as a prepaid phone at per-minute and per-message rates.

The phone will be sold for $99.99 and will be available on both flat-rate prepaid and on UNLTD unlimited service for $49.99 per month.

Boost Mobile has updated the Sanyo Incognito with a new firmware update. Most notably, the update adds full screen 3GPP video playback, enabling sites like m.youtube.com to play video in full screen on the phone’s large flip display.

The company’s switch to resuming sales of CDMA phones has led to some of the most attractive plans in the wireless industry today. The UNLTD plan delivers EV-DO Data, unlimited messaging, and unlimited voice for $50 per month. Their Pay As You Go plan offers the lowest data rate in the industry ($.35/day for EV-DO data), as well as inexpensive voice and messaging rates.

This new update does come with a cost, however. The phone disables some abilities to save files. You must use one of the many popular Sprint uploading tools to send unsigned files to the phone after updating. Prior to updating, the Incognito was able to access sites like GetJar with unfettered access.

To update your Sanyo Incognito, go to Settings > Tools > Update Phone > Software Version.

A Frisco, Texas based holding company by the name of SmartPhone Technologies LLC has filed suit against Apple, AT&T, RIM, Samsung, Sanyo, LG, and Motorola alleging that all the companies named are infringing upon patents owned by the aforementioned company.

Apple faces six counts of patent violations which include power conservation, telephony features, and email sync along with Bluetooth capability. The other companies were named together in violation of U.S. Patent No. 5,742,095, entitled “Personal Communications Internetworking”.

Smartphone Technologies is also seeking undisclosed damages from all of the companies involved, while requesting a jury trial in the Eastern District of Texas, where patent lawsuits are often filed in hopes of a favorable outcome for the plaintiff.

In a 2009 patent case also filed in Texas, Apple lost a similar case against patent holder OPTI Inc. when the same U.S. District Court had found that Apple infringed on patent No. 6,405,291, which meant that Apple was ordered to pay the company $19 million on top of an additional $2.7 million added on as pre-judgement interest, bringing the total judgment to $21.7 million.

Smartphone patents have now become a hot-button issue, with Apple, Nokia, HTC and others all involved in different lawsuits involving various technology patents involving one and/or the other manufacturer in recent months.