Award-Winning Samsung Instinct(TM) Available Exclusively from Sprint on June 20

[larry]

Award-Winning Samsung Instinct(TM) Available Exclusively from Sprint on June 20 for Just $129.99

Revolutionary device offers industry-leading combination of full touch-screen functionality and fast network speeds with live TV, stereo Bluetooth, GPS with turn-by-turn navigation and one-touch access to favorites

View high-resolution images of the Samsung Instinct(TM)

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2008--Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced pricing for Instinct, a new wireless device that offers consumers an industry-leading user experience by combining full touch-screen functionality with the fast speeds available on the largest national mobile broadband network. When the device launches on June 20, it will cost just $129.99 with a two-year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate.

Customers will be able to purchase Instinct through Sprint retail stores, Web (Cell Phones, Mobile Phones, and Wireless Calling Plans from Sprint) and telesales (1-800-SPRINT1.) Best Buy is Sprint's exclusive retail partner for Instinct from June 20 - August 28.

In order for customers to experience the full capabilities of the device, Instinct must be activated on a pricing plan offering unlimited data. Customers can choose from Everything plans for individuals starting at just $69.99 per month for 450 voice minutes or Talk/Message/Data Share plans for families starting at $129.99 per month for 1500 voice minutes to share between two lines. Instinct complements Sprint's signature Simply Everything Plan offering both unlimited nationwide voice and data services for just $99.99 per month. The Simply Everything Plan offers premium services, including GPS navigation, email, web surfing, Sprint Music Premier and Sprint TV Premier, while letting customers easily budget for phone expenses.

Instinct was recently named "Best in Show" in the third annual Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Award competition in April at CTIA Wireless 2008. Instinct was also honored as "Most Innovative Product at CTIA Wireless 2008" by the editors of LAPTOP, a leading mobile technology magazine. CNET also recognized Instinct as the "Best Cell Phone" in its annual Cream of the Crop CTIA 2008 awards.

The innovative device speeds up the user experience like no other touch-screen phone and brings the customer's most-used applications and contacts within a single finger tap. Instinct has a high-tech look with large, vibrant touch-screen featuring localized tactile feedback, called haptics, which transform the virtual QWERTY keypad and other screen interactions into a sensory experience. The device also offers a Speech to Action button providing many functions using speech activation for calling, texting, picture messaging, traffic, movie, sports, news, weather and search.

As Sprint's first EV-DO Rev A consumer-centric device, Instinct provides the ability to quickly browse the Web, access business or personal e-mail, share pictures, listen to commercial-free radio and more at broadband speeds. Instinct also provides smooth access to GPS applications including Sprint Navigation, with GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions and one-click traffic rerouting as well as Live Search for Sprint, powered by Microsoft, providing easy access to directory information on-the-go, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access.

Instinct boasts many advanced features including Visual Voicemail, allowing users to listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a simple tap of the screen. This device also provides support for corporate and consumer (POP3 and IMAP) email, multitasking capabilities that allow the user to play music in background mode while surfing the Internet, texting or playing games, a 2.0 megapixel camera with camcorder and expandable microSD memory of up to 8GB. Additional features include advanced stereo Bluetooth(R) 2.0, SMS voice and text messaging with threaded text, picture caller ID and Sprint Mobile Sync.

Instinct comes with everything the user needs to enjoy the device's full capabilities right out of the box. Contents include a 2GB microSD(TM) card that can hold approximately 2,000 songs from Sprint Music Store, two standard 1,000 mAh batteries offering up to 5.75 hours of continuous talk time each, battery-charging sleeve, travel charger, USB cable, 3.5mm headphones with built-in microphone, and carry case with stylus. Customers can access the latest information on Instinct at Sprint | Instinct.

[WumpusVA]

I want it... but I don't think I can activate it with a SERO plan. Not to mention I don't have the money to blow on new devices right now

[Quint101]

Wow! All that for just $130?!? If the Instinct was on a different carrier, the price would likely be higher! I really hope Sprint succeeds with this phone and with its future plans.

[walkguru]

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.1.11328/528; U; en))

sounds like a great deal i hope it sells good

[RJB]

I think the Visual Voicemail is neat for this.

[Mobile Mike]

I'd seriously consider this thing if it wasn't a Samsung. Phonescoop has done a review of the Instinct, and apparently it got horrible reception (not a big surprise for a Samsung).

Here is a snippet of their review, particularly the wrap-up. Take it for what it's worth:

There were definitely things we liked about the Instinct, and things we didn't like. The form factor is great. Nice weight, easy to hold, and good looks to boot. But the Instinct suffers some performance issues that make it a questionable choice. Signal quality was poor, and lots of dropped calls were the result.

The touch screen technology is far from perfect, and can be difficult to use at times, but we do find that interacting with touch-based devices is enjoyable on a whole different level compared to regular phones with D-pads.

The camera and video software are seriously lacking in functionality, but the pictures and video are passable. The music player is better than what we've seen on other Sprint phones, but it doesn't match the iPhone.

Lastly, the browser gets the job done better than WAP browsers, but it could be much better. More intuitive controls that are better integrated with the Instinct's touch capabilities could really push the browser into "excellent" territory.