Not to be left out of Windows Mobile 6.5 introductions, Sprint today launched the Samsung Intrepid as its own entry. The smartphone is a mixed-input model with both a 2.5-inch touchscreen and a fixed QWERTY keyboard that in theory give the phone the advantages of 6.5's more touch-friendly interface without giving up hardware controls. It's also a true world phone with quad-band GSM calling and basic GPRS data as an option beyond Sprint's usual CDMA and EVDO Revision A networks.

Uncharacteristically, neither Samsung nor Sprint has mentioned GPS, though the Intrepid does have a 3.2-megapixel camera, a microSDHC slot and Wi-Fi. Sprint will have the phone in stores by this Sunday, October 11th, for $150 after both a $50 immediate discount and a slower $100 mail-in rebate. Adding voice and data roaming discounts costs $5 and $70 a month respectively on top of an existing domestic plan.