Sprint announces the Samsung Transform, Sanyo Zio and LG Optimus S

Sprint just dropped three new (OK, some more new than others) Android phones on us at CTIA. They are the Samsung Transform, the Sanyo Zio and LG Optimus S.

The Transform we saw through the user manual that appeared earlier this week. It'll go for $149 with $100 rebate and contract. It's a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen, 3.2MP camera and front-facing VGA camera. It's launching with Android 2.1, but Sprint says it'll be upgraded to Froyo later this year. The transform will be available Oct. 10.

The Zio's an oldie from the Sprint CTIA event and more recently as dummy units at Radio Shack. It'll cost just $99 on contract and $100 rebate. It sports Android 2.1 (again, an update is in the works) on a 3.5-inch WVGA touchscreen, a 3.2MP camera, 512MB of internal memory and a 2GB micro SD card. It'll be available Oct. 10.

The Optimus S looks to be a lot like the Optimus One we've seen in Asia.  It'll be available Oct. 31 for just $49.99 after contract and $100 rebate. It's got a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 3.2MP camera, mobile hotspot capability and launches with Android 2.2. [Transform, Zio, Optimus S]

Phil Nickinson