Earlier this month at CTIA, AT&T launched quite a few new phones into its lineup, one of which happened to be Samsung's sophisticated, college-educated Propel Pro. For a smartphone, the design is quite unorthodox; rarely do you see a WinMo handset that looks more like a square than anything else and can easily double as a mirror for the fashionistas. Engineered specifically for those who favor texting but can't afford to live without the luxuries that come with owning a bona fide smartphone with a bona fide data plan, the Propel Pro caters to an interesting niche. Follow us past the break for our thoughts on the just-launched handset.

We've stumbled across a... ahem, major national retailer's stock sheet for the next few weeks, and things are looking up -- particularly on AT&T, where we'll have a couple of long-awaited releases. Let's start with the unknown, though: there's a "Jackfrost" due at the end of the month, and without even a manufacturer listed, it's impossible to know what this thing could possibly be. More importantly, though, the long-rumored LG Zenon (which spikes the less-trademarkable "Xenon" spelling we'd seen before) is slated for mid-April, and the even longer-rumored E71x -- which may simply be known as the E71 by the time it launches -- should drop by at the beginning of next month. Moving over to Big Red, that Nokia 7205 Intrigue that's been kicking around in spy shots since the early part of '08 might finally launch in just a few days' time. All told, we have a lot of emotional closure around the corner with these launches, don't we?

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

More spy shots from the net, eh? This latest set shows what's purported to be the Propel Pro, an update to Samsung's QWERTY that launched last October. There's a more streamlined interface under the screen, including a new optical joystick that according to Boy Genius Report's source is "worthless." The Windows Mobile 6.1 device also sports 3G and a camera of unknown quality, although we expect to at least match its 1.3-megapixel predecessor. Mum's the word on price and availability.

Part of its huge fall QWERTY blitz, AT&T has now released the Samsung Propel in four fresh 'n fruity colors. Your hard-earned $79.99 will buy you a 1.3-megapixel camera, UMTS (no mention of HSDPA in the specs), AT&T Navigator and Video Share support, and a full sliding keyboard that should keep your numeric keypad friends on the defensive during a heated SMS exchange. Of course, that $79.99 is an on-contract price -- but if you're down, the Propel can be all yours starting today.

If you're into that whole SMS craze and you're on AT&T, you're in luck -- four times over. The carrier's gone ahead and announced not one, not two, but four QWERTY-equipped dumphones today, including a dual slider and a Pantech being billed as "the world's thinnest device with a full QWERTY keypad."

First up, the Pantech Matrix is available now in your choice of blue or green, with red being added on Thursday, October 16. It slides two ways -- a conventional vertical slide to reveal a numeric keypad, and a second side slider for the full QWERTY action. It's got 3G, AT&T Navigation, Video Share support, and a 1.3-megapixel cam, running $79.99 on contract with rebate. Next, the Samsung Propel apes the i620's industrial design -- but make no mistake, there's no Windows Mobile to be found here. It also does 3G and features the full host of AT&T services, packs a 1.3-megapixel cam, and will run the same $79.99 as the Matrix when it hits in late October in blue, green, red, and white with red accents. Next, the Pantech Slate is pretty appropriately named -- if its claim of being the thinnest QWERTY device in the world ends up holding water, anyway. It'll be available in late October alongside the Propel for $49.99 on contract with a 1.3-megapixel camera, but there's no high-speed data to be found in this sucker. Finally, the long-rumored Quickfire -- you may know it better as the Knick -- will come in November bearing AT&T branding and a Sidekick-esque style that'll likely appeal to the young'uns among us. It's got a touchscreen in addition to a slide-out QWERTY deal, a 1.3-megapixel camera (notice a trend here?), and 3G in your choice of orange, lime, and silver for $99.99 after you've inked up the dotted line.

Perhaps "Sangria" was just a little too alcoholic for a teen-oriented device? Samsung's sliding QWERTY dumbphone for AT&T has been christened "Propel," it seems -- and we've now gotten the word from two independent sources, so we're feeling pretty good about it. Until AT&T changes its mind, anyway. The phone looks halfway decent, appears to support AT&T Navigation, and at the $80 we're hearing AT&T will be asking for it out the door on contract after rebates, they could sell pretty well -- especially when you consider that they'll be available in red, green, and blue.

[Thanks, Kal]

This week is the week for Pantech and Sony Ericsson fans on AT&T to break out the bubbly and throw a wild, crazy party, because the trick dual-sliding C740 Matrix will be joining the W760a (check the gallery) for release on Thursday; they'll be available for $79.99 and $129.99, respectively. Down the road, we're now seeing signs of a Pantech "Slate" running $49.99 and a Samsung "Propel" for $79.99 (in three available colors, no less), the latter of which is signed up for a late October release, but we really don't know much more about 'em.

We don't have dates, but it looks like that Samsung Epix will suck $199.99 out of your wallet after rebates, and the Fuze will run $299.99. Finally, we're seeing an AT&T "Quickfire" that's due in late October just like that Samsung Propel -- but unfortunately, we don't know much about this one, either. Any educated (or completely wild) guesses?

[Thanks, Kal]