sapien said:

Can I put in my wish list? 🙂 I wish they'd sell a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard so it's easier to text with

Um, you could buy the Samsung Hype in the Rogers Paygo package at Walmart - $89.
I bought one and it works fine on 7-Eleven. It is a nice little phone with a clear display.
It is also quad band which means you can take it abroad if you can get it unlocked.

Of course you can always get an unlocked phone off of Ebay. You can pick up a HTC s620/T-Mobile Dash (which is what I use) or a Nokia E61 for between $100-$150. Both have WiFi so you don't need a data plan to access the web. Or you can probably pick up a variety of other unlocked GSM phones with a qwerty keypad for less. No need to wait for Speakout and Nokia to bring it to you.

There are also lots of refurb'd Blackberries available from PureMobile, TigerDirect, FactoryDirect, etc. I don't know which models have WiFi but they all have QWERTY keyboards and are quadband.

To keep prices down Speakout buys low-end phones and sells them at the actual cost. Unlike regular phones sold with plans are subsized by the carrier since the customer is locked into a contract etc etc etc.

These phones are normally phones that Nokia traditionally targets to emerging markets, Africa, South America, etc etc.

Engadget normally reports it when Nokia announces new models, and we end up seeing a couple of them in Speakout's lineup 6-12 months later.

Unfortunately the latest crop, announced in May of this year, does not have any Qwerty phones. Basically Nokia added 3G internet and email access to a couple of flip phones and candybar-style phones.

In fact, looking at Nokia's lineup, they have very few low to mid-range Qwerty phones.

Phones starting with an E (Like the E71) are way too expensive to be sold on prepaid.

The 6760 (aka Surge) looks middle of the road, but if the model number is any indication, it will also be too expensive to be available un-sibsidized. It's being sold in the US for $230 no contract (or $80 WITH a 2yr contract)

The 5730 looks AMAZING (basically a music version of the E75), but it might be too pricey as well. 🙁

The 7705 (aka Twist) looks mid-range and might be a possibility as well. It is currently going for (subsidized) $100 in the US with a 2yr contract.

And that's basically it as far as Full-keyboard Nokias go. My guess is that the Nokia 6760 Surge has the best chance of coming to Speakout, but I doubt it will be anytime soon, IF EVER. Maybe as the phone gets older Nokia might lower the price, cause right now $230 is probably too expensive for Speakout to stock it in stores, or for many Speakout customers to buy it.

Of course you can always get an unlocked phone off of Ebay. You can pick up a HTC s620/T-Mobile Dash (which is what I use) or a Nokia E61 for between $100-$150. Both have WiFi so you don't need a data plan to access the web. Or you can probably pick up a variety of other unlocked GSM phones with a qwerty keypad for less. No need to wait for Speakout and Nokia to bring it to you.

Or anytime after that?