We recall (vaguely) a time when CDMA phones were notoriously clunky compared to their GSM brethren; they were thick, built like tanks, and frequently sported aerial antennas flying shamelessly beyond the hinge. Well, yeah, those days are long gone. Exhibit A: the Samsung SCH-r510 "Wafer" candybar, just introduced by Alltel, clocking in at a ridiculous 8.4 millimeters thick. For the record, that's a solid half millimeter thinner than the A727 being passed around at CES this year, a phone allegedly destined for AT&T that's still nowhere in sight. Besides EV-DO, features include a 1.3 megapixel cam and the soothing knowledge that your carrying the thinnest durned cellphone your Alltel dollars can buy. On the low end, the SCH-u340 "Snap" (known simply as the u340 on Verizon) keeps it simple, offering a monochrome external display and nothing more than 1xRTT to speed those bits along. Look for the Wafer for $70 after rebates and the Snap for $10 -- both on contract, obviously.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Read - Samsung r510 Wafer
Read - Samsung u340 Snap

The PN-820 is the most interesting of Big Red's latest batch, but we've got a couple new arrivals to talk about on the low end as well. The MOTOKRZR K1m Fire is purty much like any other K1m, with the exception of a gloss red shell -- just in time for Valentine's Day -- which can be added to the pocket or gift box of your choice for $100 on a two-year agreement after discount. The Samsung SCH-U340 shores up Verizon's already well-stocked low end with a VGA cam, speakerphone, and not bloody much else for the attractive price of "free" after all the discounts have been applied and you've signed on the dotted line.

[Thanks, Jhonny and Brian D.]

Read - MOTOKRZR K1m Fire
Read - Samsung SCH-U340