Kyocera Echo Gingerbread update bringing WiFi calling, NFC support?

Um, okay? Hot at the heels of rumors that Kyocera’s Echo would see its first major Android update on August 1st, in flies an updated page over on the company’s own website detailing the approaching changes. Unless someone at Kyocera’s pulling a quick one, it seems like the approaching Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) update will bring a downright staggering list of latest features, making an already unique handset in a position to even rarer feats. Interest piqued? We’re told that the refresh will provide pinch-to-zoom support inside the browser, gallery, Maps and Sprint Navigation, a higher downloads app and an upgrade to the Swype 3.0 virtual keypad, with Tap Correction and Horizontal Word Choice list.

But that’s just the top of the proverbial iceberg — the genuine kicker is the addition of “internet calling over WiFi” in addition to “an NFC reader to have interaction with posters, advertisements, products, etc.” You heard right, WiFi calling and a previously unmentioned NFC chip! As of now, the only real major US carrier to support WiFi calling is T-Mobile, and neither Sprint nor Kyocera have mentioned any secretive Near Field Communications module to us. The luckiest of the early adopters should see their over-the-air update swing through once a half-hour, so be sure you tell us if this all proves true in comments below. Naturally, we’ll be looking ahead to the update on our own set and updating accordingly.

[Thanks, Brain_ReCall]

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This post is tagged: advertisements, early adopters, field communications, hot on the heels, impending changes, proverbial iceberg, virtual keypad