Two days before CTIA kicks off, AT&T's gone and beat everyone to the punch with the launch of a half-dozen new phones. I'll get to the other four - QWERTY messengers, all of 'em - in a separate post.  For now let's talk smartphones, shall we?

Nokia's E71 is an awesome smartphone, and I'm really glad to see that it's only going to cost $99 (on contract/after rebate) when it comes to AT&T as the Nokia E71x.  Symbian devices have never really caught on in the US, but if any phone can change that it's the E71 in all of its sexy glory. And ooh, check out that black finish, huh? This one will be available "in the coming weeks."

Next up is Samsung's Windows Mobile-packing Propel Pro. Like the Propel before it, PP is a horizontal QWERTY slider. Unlike Propel, the Pro adds WinMo 6.1 and WiFi to the mix, and costs a bit more: $149.99 (on contract/after rebate). Propel Pro is due in stores starting April 14.