Sprint ships Samsung Instinct
updated 07:35 am EDT, Fri June 20, 2008
Samsung Instinct Ships
Sprint today began shipping the Samsung Instinct, the carrier's primary challenge to the iPhone 3G. The close cousin of the Europe-oriented F490 is now known to be launching with a number of the same features as the Apple device due three weeks later, including full 3G Internet access (here through Sprint's EVDO Revision A network), true GPS navigation, and the last-minute addition of Exchange mail support despite using a non-smartphone operating system.
The touchscreen device also supplies a two-megapixel camera, voice dialing, and uses a microSD slot for storage; in Sprint form, the Samsung phone comes with a 2GB microSD card to give it basic room for media but also has access to Internet streaming TV and the carrier's online music store for over-the-air purchases.
Sprint deliberately undercuts iPhone pricing with the Instinct and sells it for $130 when paired with a rebate as well as a Sprint Everything plan of $70 per month or more, which includes 450 minutes of calling time plus unlimited access to data and all the navigation and other Internet services available to the phone. A contract-free Instinct sells for $450.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2008
iPhone competition?
I think not. Let's see: 2GB memory (sure you can upgrade it, but then you're paying more, cuts into the cost difference). No multi-touch (means it's less than useful for touch-screen based functions). Non-smartphone OS (means limited functionality). And of course it's on Sprint, one of the worst carriers in the US, and a CDMA carrier to boot, so no chance of ever unlocking it.
Yep, real iPhone killer there. Gonna knock their sock right off.