Sprint Launching Samsung Instinct Tomorrow

[Ed Hardy]

Tomorrow, Sprint is going to introduce the Samsung Instinct, which isn't a smartphone by most people's definitions, but is still being viewed by many as a strong competitor for the iPhone.

(view large image)

This device will offer the features people have come to expect from a high-end phone, including a web browser, 3G, email, a GPS receiver, and more.

The Instinct will be based around a 3.1-inch, 240-by-432-pixel touchscreen. This will include tactile feedback, called haptics, which will allow the virtual QWERTY keypad to feel a little more like a real one.

This will be Sprint's first consumer-oriented phone with EV-DO Rev. A, which offers faster data connections than the original version of EV-DO, especially when uploading.

Support for Sprint Navigation will bring GPS-enabled audio and on-screen turn-by-turn driving directions, including rerouting around traffic problems.

The Instinct will also support Sprint's Visual Voicemail service.

Other features will include a 2.0 megapixel camera with camcorder, microSD memory card slot with SDHC support, and stereo Bluetooth 2.0.

Overall, this product will be 4.6 inches by 2.2 inches by 0.5 inches, and 4.4 ounces.

Pricing and Availability

One of the things that will help the Instinct compete against the iPhone is its price. When this device launches on June 20, it will cost $130 with a two-year contract and a $100 mail-in rebate.

It will be available on sprint.com, in Sprint retail stores and Best Buy stores, or by calling 1-800-SPRINT1.

Related Articles:

• Samsung Instinct Preview

 

[cktlcmd]

One of the things that will help the Instinct compete against the iPhone is its price. When this device launches on June 20, it will cost $130 with a two-year contract and a $100 mail-in rebate.

WOW.....with these specs and a killer price... it does not look good for the iPhone.

[Dick Tracy]

I expect to see a lot of iPhone wannabes. This one is a high-end featurephone. Some consumers will be entirely happy with the apps that are installed, others will want more flexibility.

[headcronie]

If I read it right, this phone is limited to Java apps. I've not seen any Java apps that compare to the offerings of WM or Palm OS. Opera Mini is one, but nothing else.

[questionfear]

WOW.....with these specs and a killer price... it does not look good for the iPhone.

Um...except for the haptic feedback and a 70.00 difference, it's not that different spec for spec. Both devices have GPS, both have 3G services, both have limited 3rd party support, both are being sold bundled with a data plan (and apparently there's some debate about SERO availability, which means they'll fall in roughly the same price range month-to-month assuming no SERO.)

If this were a windows mobile device there'd definitely be more pressure. But it's a feature-phone with excellent specs if you're tied to Sprint, not something SO amazing. And spec-wise, both the iPhone and the Instinct are about on par with most smartphones. The Instinct brings haptic feedback and the iPhone brings multi-touch.

And FWIW, Walt Mossberg said the UI on the Instinct is nothing compared to that of the iPhone. No shocker coming from him, but he's willing to admit when things work well, and he did not love the Instinct.

[jigwashere]

I see the Instinct on the SERO site, available for order, but shipment is delayed due to high demand.

[Dick Tracy]

Is it high demand or impending Longshoremen (ILWU) strike on the West Coast?

[jigwashere]

I just selected the phone for order from the SERO site and it does not include the typical SERO plans -- the only thing that shows up is the $99 Simply Everything plan.