RSSSprint gains the Instinct, but can it 'kill' the iPhone?
By Michael Hatamoto | Published June 12, 2008, 4:01 PM
After Apple's announcement earlier in the week regarding plans to launch iPhone 2.0 for a lower price of $199.99, Samsung announced that its Instinct smart phone will launch on June 20 with a similar $199.99 price tag...after you take those rebates into account.
With some observers calling it the first possible "iPhone killer," Instinct has a 3.1" TFT LCD screen, supports 240 x 432 resolution, 2 Mp camera, microSD slot, 32 MB internal memory, MP3 player, video support, full Internet, and Bluetooth support. The phone measures 4.5" x 2.17" x 0.49", weighs 4.4 ounces, and thus far works on the Sprint EV-DO Rev. A network.
Below the 3.1" screen lies three buttons: Phone, Home and Back. The Back button is especially important because Sprint hopes it will make browsing through the phone easier than with the iPhone.
Current iPhone owners, to their dismay, are unable to swap out their internal battery without sending the phone to a local Apple distribution center. In an apparent response to customer frustration, Samsung will offer an additional battery with the phone, which users can easily swap out on their own.
Some other differences: The Instinct can record video, while the iPhone can only capture stills. Instinct supports picture messaging; can offer live, streaming TV, and all applications can be easily updated using the phone's network (although that's a feature it will soon have in common with the iPhone).
But Instinct also has some drawbacks: Its 3.1-inch display has lower resolution, it lacks multi-touch capability, and it's missing the buzz that happens nowadays when a phone gets its own public SDK.
Beginning June 20, Instinct customers will initially have to make a $449.99 purchase through Sprint, with a $150 instant rebate and a $100 mail-in rebate to all customers who sign a two-year phone agreement -- which is how the carrier arrives at $199. And Sprint is forcing all Instinct owners to sign up for its Sprint Everything or Simply Everything mobile phone plan, either of which offers more benefits but costs more than a regular phone plan.
Sprint already has quite a capable smartphone, the Treo 755P. When a friend (informally) compared his iPhone when it first came out, he could only find one thing the 755p lacked, the "pinch." Conversely, the 755p could take videos, while the iPhone could only play them. And, obviously, neither is saddled with Windows.
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|Wow I have had the AT&T Tilt (8925) for 7 months now and before that the 8525. This is one sweep puppy has 3G, GPS built, WM6, 256MB etc. Finally the iPhone 3G will be out with GPS and 3G. That was a deal breaker for me and I went with the Tilt last year.
Stay away from sprint, even Tmobile dropped the bid to buy them.
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|I have heard talk that Cricket will this summer be launching a whole new line of high end smart phones from various manufacturers with unlimited voice and data plans that are substantially less than the $99 + data Fees that Sprint is charging now (roughly around half of that). Customers will be leaving Sprint in droves when this happens and Sprint will be forced to dramaticlly reduce prices on their Simply Everything type plans to stay even remotely competitive.
Sprint: here's a news flash for you...$135 a month on a cell phone plan, under ANY circumstance is simply rediculous in today's world. Got it? Recall that this is now 2008, not 1988. Get with the program.
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|I don't see it being a competitor to the iPhone. Too little, too late. It doesn't have the advantage of good plans, it's technically inferior in a few key ways (screen resolution is a big let-down, IMO) and outright purchase is likely to cost a helluva lot more.
And no mention of WiFi? :/ What sort of headphone jack are we dealing with?
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|no windows mobile... not buying it i prefer iphone than that s***ty s***
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|They should call it iFlop or iFail. A wannabe iPhone clone isn't going to keep Sprint from sinking like a rock.
Sprint overcharged my small (US) company for over $50,000.00. We caught them doing it and now they refuse to refund the over-payments. You can read the full story at www.sprint-really-sucks.com
I also wrote an open letter to Dan Hesse the Chairman and CEO of Sprint Nextel. It is a good read so please consider reading the letter.
www.sprint-really-sucks.com/open-letter-dan-hesse.aspx
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|oh. my. god.
I get your vendetta and wanting to get even, but for crying out loud!
ANYWAYS...
There's no way that this POS will be a iAnything killer. It looks like crap, and from what I see icon-wise, its UI is ugly as freak too.
NOOOOt to mention that Sprint/Nextel really do blow monkey balls.
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|"Sprint is forcing all Instinct owners to sign up for its Sprint Everything or Simply Everything mobile phone plan, either of which offers more benefits but costs more than a regular phone plan."
This disturbs me. I like the freedom of choosing my own plan and featurs.
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|Nobody is "forcing" anyone!
As a condition of purchase, you must sign up for their contracted program.
This is no different than any other subsides plan in place with any of the cell carriers!
The CUSTOMER CHOOSES to do this. They are of course free to forgo such a contract and not use the phone.
Heaven forbid they should assume responsibility for their OWN market choices!
I'm a victim! I'm a victim!
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|This is the biggest drawback to me. I have a SERO plan, so I get all the features of Simply Everything, but I pay very little. The SE plan would cost me an additional $75/month or so.
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|SERO customers like myself do not have to change plans since SERO includes unlimited data, which is the reason why Sprint is trying to get customers to do a plan change (for the data usage).
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|"Nobody is "forcing" anyone!"
From what it looks like, if I buy this phone I am FORCE to use one of those 2 specific plans.
Where as before, if I buy a different phone I can transfer my existing plan or change it to something else.
Not everyone has a $100.00 plus cell phone bill every month.
Also I heard that the Sprint everthing plan doesn't support tethering to your laptop. According to the Sprint salesman at the Sprint store. Thats another deal breaker for me.
Edit: Intresting... I can't change my plan through Sprints website. It tells me to call customer service instead.
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|Poor victim mentality!
If you CHOOSE to buy the phone, you CHOOSE to abide by their terms!
Who is forcing you to buy this phone?
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|In July 2006, I got the Samsung A900 a.k.a. Blade, which was then, the top of the line. To get the upgrade rebate I had to get the PowerVision plan. I told the sales person that I wanted to tether the phone to the computer, so I wanted to buy the phone-as-modem plan. He told me that I couldn't do that and when I told him that people were doing it, he became louder.
Later, that day, I picked up the phone that now had all of my contacts. The salesperson was almost yelling at me "I called the company and they said that you can't do that." So right now, I'm tethered from the phone to the computer on the PowerVision plan paying $15 per month instead of $40 per month.
Back to the topic, I don't want another Samsung POS phone, but I could do worse, right?
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|Bousozoku,
Are you saying that you are using your A900 to get your computer wireless internet access? and, without the phone-as-modem plan?
I have the A900 with the PowerVision plan, but didn't want to pay the extra for the phone/modem plan.
On topic...
Maybe it has a few things that work better, but does it sync with your computer, and do all of the other things that the iPhone does? It doesn't look as sleek as the iPhone.
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|Multi-touch is no biggie, but does it have the ability to s*** from portrait to landscape?
Still not interested, with the two year deal, but it's always nice to see competition. Too bad they had to skimp on the resolution...but the SD card and 2mp camera are definite bonuses.
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|No one should be surprised as competitors copy a successful format, hopefully introducing new innovations that will push all camps forward...
But what Sprint needs now is to get WiMax up and running and to encourage the widespread availability of commodity WiMax devices for the home and traveling market - and to roll out the service at a price point that will present a compelling alternative to having both a landline and a mobile service.
If they keep the price equivalent to what is now being offered, there will be little compelling reason to jump and consolidate and their strategic advantage will be lost.
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|I have no experience with the iPhone, but would not own one as long as it must be used on the AT&T network. The Samsung name usually means quality, so I'd be inclined to give it a look, but not on the Sprint network.
Hopefully Verizon will give me a look at this phone.
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