|
 | 
Jul-06-2008It Only Looks Like an iPhone(topic overview)
CONTENTS:
SOURCES
FIND OUT MORE ON THIS SUBJECT
You can now get $20 in exchange for shameless product placement in a YouTube video. In an effort to promote its new Samsung Instinct cellphone, an iPhone look-alike offered by Sprint Nextel, the carrier is paying customers to feature the phone in a homemade video. [1] Here comes the long-awaited iPhone killer, a cellphone with features so compelling it will make Apple Inc.' s renowned touch-screen phone instantly obsolete. It's the new iPhone 3G, which Apple will begin selling next week. With faster cellular data service, a built-in global positioning system chip, and a price of just $199, Apple's new model will clobber its older brother. Or did you think I meant the new Instinct phone, from Sprint Nextel Inc. and South Korea's Samsung Group? Hardly.[2] '''Yes, the phone itself starts at $200 (add $400 if you want it without a two-year contract)'''but the AT&T service now starts at $70 a month instead of $60,''' Pogue wrote. This certainly raises intriguing prospects for Sprint and its new Samsung Instinct phones. Sprint is undercutting the price for the new iPhones with its $129.99 price for the Instinct. The company also seems to have some advantages on its calling plan prices.[3] Last month Sprint and infrastructure partner Samsung Telecommunications said WiMAX was ready for prime time. Recent tests in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., areas show that the network has passed rigorous performance criteria pertaining to signal-handoff problems Sprint encountered earlier this year, the companies said. In the short term, however, Sprint is relying on the Samsung Instinct to keep Apple's new iPhone 3G from luring its subscribers to AT&T. To this end, Sprint slashed the introductory price of the Instinct to $129.99, $70 less than AT&T subscribers pay for the iPhone 3G.[4]
If you love to play around with your phone and enjoy discovering new applications, as of July 11, there'll only be one obvious choice: The Apple iPhone 3G (comare it to other multimedia smartphones ). It comes at a cost though, so if you don't think spending $200 a month and a significant amount of hours a day on a "mobile lifestyle" sounds like a good idea, move on to the next item on the list. Sprint has put some really hard work into the Samsung Instinct, and combined with its $100 "Simply Everything" plan, it's a good choice for those who don't want a smartphone with a ton of options, yet likes the idea of owning a phone that can do stuff that most other cell phones can't. If this does not sound like you, move on to the next item on the list.[5] You options are $99.99 for unlimited calls, $89.99 for 900 minutes and $69.99 a month gets you 450 minutes. The other reason Sprint'''s Samsung Instinct is so popular could be that the iPhone is tied in the United States to just ATT and if your cannot receive good coverage with them at home or the office, you would look elsewhere. When we look at the Apple iPhones features then overall they crush the Samsung Instinct, one I will highlight is the lack of being able to add software of your own on the Instinct, you then cannot make the phone anymore intelligent. The iPhone on the other hand can be expanded with many third party applications and this phone will continue to get more intelligent even without the 3G iPhone upgrade. The Samsung Instinct can be the right phone for you when its entertainment your looking for and not productivity, we all leave in a world where we have a massive love for music and videos, this is another reason the Sprint Instinct shines.[6] Sprint has put out the Samsung Instinct, a touchscreen phone which features a similar design to the iPhone, as well as all of the same features. There are some very cool aspects to the Instinct which have made it stand out, such as its tactile feedback when you use its touchscreen, as well as its improves functionality for GPS. Sprint has gone all out to release the Samsung Instinct, and give it enough features and power to try an detract those from buying an iPhpone. It is certainly priced right, as you can get a Samsung Instinct for $129 when you sign up for a contract. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.[7]
The iphone is the device that people want because it does things other phones don't do. That is web browsing, ipod, etc. Basically all the things that are selling points for the Instinct are all things that the iphone had first: touchscreen, visual voicemail, music player, video capabilities. By all accounts, though the Instinct does these things well, its just not as good. If sprint's network is so good then why are they #3 as compared to ATT being #1 and the company is on the verge of insolvency or a buyout? Wow! Their stock topped $9 dollars today? I live very near Sprint's world headquarters and had to dump them due to spotty service. Whereas both U.S. GSM carriers work fine.[8] With a marketing and launch budget for the Instinct that a Sprint executive previously told us was $100 million, the company has crafted movie trailers, produced strong TV spots and is running a film-your-own-Instinct contest. This last approach in particular is drawing notice. '''Sprint Nextel Corp is asking young filmmakers ''' a.k.a. YouTube superstars ''' to '''sell out''' by dropping an image of the Samsung Instinct into their short video for $20 to the first 1,000 lucky chosen ones and $10,000 for a grand prize,''' Moconews wrote. All of these efforts appear to be paying off, at least so far, with hot sales of the Apple iPhone-rivaling touch screen wireless phone. This success clearly helps for the future, but Sprint still has to be feeling the sting of its past muddled marketing efforts. In her advertising column, Jennifer Mann mentioned how Sprint fared last year with what could be considered massive spending on marketing. '''While Sprint declined to discuss specifics about its current campaign for Instinct, Advertising Age reports that the telecom giant lost market share, despite spending more on marketing in 2007,''' Mann wrote. '''According to the trade publication'''s annual slice-and-dice of the 100 leading national advertisers, Sprint upped its 2007 ad spending by almost 5 percent to $1.313 billion, but its market share slipped by 1.7 percent to 21.1 percent of the 255.4 million wireless subscribers in the U.S., according to TNS Media Intelligence.'''[9] The huge success of Samsung's Instinct smartphone surprised even the company's officials, which worked on its development and planned its release with the powerful wireless telecommunication network, the Sprint Nextel Corporation. Sprint Nextel needed the sales boost in order to get back in the front line, as its reports for the past year showed some rather upsetting figures. Even though the phone's reviews mixed about its capacities and market potential, once released, it managed to break the company's record for the biggest first week sales of any high-speed Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) portable device. According to some of the reviews, its biggest weaknesses are the lack of instant messaging and WiFi. The call quality isn't at an all-times-high, in addition to its troublesome Internet browser, its small memory stock and the missing camera features.[10]
With Apple's newly enhanced 3G iPhone handset heading for its retail rendezvous on July 11, it would appear that Samsung Electronics and Sprint Nextel are posting pretty decent sales figures for the new Instinct, one of oh-so-many supposed 'iPhone killers' heading to market since the emergence of Apple's trendy touch-screen device.[11] You've got to feel a little sorry for the folks at Samsung and Sprint Nextel. Last Friday, they launched a feature-rich, attractive and generously priced $130 smartphone called Instinct, yet all anyone wants to gab about is the new iPhone coming July 11 from Apple and AT&T. Instinct invites the inevitable comparisons to its iconic rival.[12]
Apple and AT&T have been preparing the launch of the iPhone 3G, set for July 11. That hasn't stopped Sprint and Samsung from jumping the gun though with the Instinct, a touchscreen phone which features a similar design to the iPhone, as well as all of the same features.[13] Even if you are not interested in iPhone, or if you're locked into a contract with a provider other than AT&T, the Apple's much-hyped device is likely to have an impact on you. As Apple and AT&T gear up to release the next version (see www.chron.com/iphone3g ) on July 11, its competitors are scrambling to offer products that will keep potential iPhone users from jumping ship. That's good news for cell phone users in general ' and particularly those who need a smart phone ' because it means the devices should get easier to use and offer more features. The best evidence for this trend can be found in a new phone being offered exclusively by Sprint.[14] The Instinct, which apparently has become Sprint's best-selling 3G phone product ever in a very short time, is an impressive device. Feature-for-feature, it's right there with the upcoming 3G iPhone about to be released in a few weeks. Independent research that counted the movement of Instinct phones at 100 Sprint stores around the country report that it's selling out fast. Sprint contends that the smartphone is the fastest-selling phone in Sprint's history up to this point. To those customers of Sprint (new and old) who just can't see themselves joining AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T ) just to get an iPhone, the Instinct is apparently turning out to be a perfect equivalent.[15]
The Instinct lacks some of the iPhone's most appealing features, as well as the almost seamless elegance of the Apple device. That hasn't kept the Instinct from selling out at Sprint stores nationwide. Its popularity is well deserved, for while it's no iPhone, the Instinct boasts some unique and powerful features, at a price as low as $129 for new Sprint subscribers.[2] Thanks to the next-generation iPhone being priced at $199 through partner AT&T (NYSE: T ), the mass market is now in play. Offering lower-cost, subsidized devices is a killer strategy that successfully brought once-pricey Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) BlackBerrys into the consumer space, so it's easy to see why a feature-rich device like the Instinct would be a hit. It also bodes well for the release of the next-generation iPhone -- Steve Jobs should have no problem selling 10 million devices this year with the new, lower prices. Because this is not a zero-sum game, the Instinct will not displace the iPhone. This is a whole new market demographic opening up, and the carriers are paying dearly in subsidies to grab hold of subscribers.[16]
Shaking free of Apple's trend-conscious market dominance won't be easy for rival smartphone manufacturers, but Samsung and Sprint are certainly hoping to prevent the Instinct's favourable sales from being merely flash-in-the-pan launch performance, which a price tag of just $129.99 should support considering the $199.99 price that will come with the basic 8GB model of the 3G iPhone. Other makes and models of smartphone also vying for consumer attention against the iPhone include the likes of the BlackBerry Bold 900 from Research In Motion (its first 3G handset), the Voyager and Vu from LG Electronics, the Touch Diamond from HTC, and the Xperia X1 from Sony Ericsson.[11] While it remains early in the game ' the Instinct handset has been on the market for 11 days ' the carrier already claims record sales for the device by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Not only is Sprint spending $100 million to market the Instinct, it has chosen the tactic of making side-by-side comparisons with AT&T Mobility and Apple Inc.' s device in prominent video pitches on its Web site, among other outreach methods.[17]
Sprint'''s Apple iPhone rival handset the Samsung Instinct, seems to be more popular than they had expected, this has now resulted in shortages of this device. It does seem as if this handset really has hit the spot with cell phone users, well it has to be popular as you can'''t even get one at the moment.[18] It seems a couple of mobile phone suppliers are having a little difficulty with keeping up with demand. Sprint'''s latest smartphone the Samsung Instinct, along with its rival the Apple iPhone are in such great demand and selling more swiftly than expected that there is now a shortage of these devices.[19] Sprint announced the Samsung Instinct in April at the CTIA Wireless show, looking to draw some attention away from the Apple iPhone's reign among touch-screen mobile devices.[20]
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has been leading efforts to stem subscriber defections with customer service and a $99 plan. Sprint has also spun off its WiMAX network, and the Samsung Instinct may help fend off Apple, Inc.' s iPhone 3G.[4] As further evidence that Sprint means business in halting defectors to AT&T and the iPhone, the Instinct is priced at $129 when you sign a contract. With its rich features, the Samsung Instinct may not kill the iPhone, but it should keep some Sprint customers from bolting.[14] Some people might be wondering why the Samsung Instinct has been so popular to the extent that its sold out in many places and while it lacks many features of the iPhone or iPhone 3G, it is still selling out. There could be a few reasons for this including the simple Sprint pricing plans that all feature unlimited Internet use, a navigation assistance, text/picture/video messaging and Sprint's online video and music feeds. This leaves you with one choice to make when choosing a Sprint price plan and that'''s how many weekday minutes to buy.[6]
Zoom in closer to find a 3.2 megapixel camera/camcorder with advanced features like face detection for outstanding image quality,''' according to Verizon. With Steve Jobs''' new iPhone set to arrive in a couple weeks and with Sprint'''s Instinct phones reportedly flying off the shelves in the early days of their debut, the summer'''s touch screen battle certainly is heating up.[8] Not to be outdone by Sprint and AT&T, Verizon now joins the touch screen multi-media party with the LG Dare. Starting today, the nation'''s No. 2 wireless company ''' with aspirations soon to claim the No. 1 spot with its pending acquisition of Alltel ''' is challenging mobile phone consumers to '''Take the LG Dare.''' Verizon claims that all of the alluring features on this phone make it up to any mobile challenge. '''This new handset will surpass your expectations with a large 3'''inch touch screen that recognizes your handwriting and gives you tactile feedback.[8]
I hope that the market continues to provide cool and innovative phones for the mobile market. There's always room for good phones so that people can utilize what they want for whatever service they wish to be on. In regards to the iPhone, its a great phone and has nice features, but really. if general MP3 players were today's norm and not the iPod, the iPhone really wouldn't be anywhere. It's the iPod users that really bring much more volume to the phone playing field. I'm an Instinct user and love it for what it is and I even suggested a friend of mine wait and get the iPhone 3G because he has such an investment in his iPod and accessories and music it wouldn't make any sense to go to a non iPod phone. This certainly isn't to make Apple sound bad as I support them but truly if iPods and Apple's music store weren't the primary player/store, we actually probably would not even have an iPhone on the market today. With that, we probably wouldn't have all these nice touch screen phones on the market.[8]
Maybe you didnt see the hyperlink to the story about Sprint selling out of Instinct's already. As another poster put it, Apple has the market cornered on innovation and software execution, but unfortunately they put the iPhone on the ATT network which is still several years behind Sprint's. People like you bash every other phone with some elitist mindset, unable to live with the fact that the iPhone will not always be the best phone (in fact, I'm quite sure it's revolutionary effect is wearing off rapidly.) I have almost developed a strong dislike for Apple if only because of their iPhone users attitudes. From their attitudes, it appears God.err Jobs has saved them from the fiery pits of cell-hell.[8] The Instinct is a full touch-screen device that uses Sprint's broadband network and EVDO Rev. A., which Sprint has said "speeds up the user experience like no other touch-screen phone," an obvious jab at iPhone's domination in the touch-screen space.[20] In mid-June, Samsung unveiled a successor to the Instinct known as the Omnia, which adds Wi-Fi and Samsung's new TouchWiz user interface, while boosting smartphone cameras capabilities to 5 Mp from the 2 Mp in the Instinct. Despite an even more capable phone for the months ahead, Sprint is pouring its marketing efforts into the Instinct, according to Sprint officials, who have publicly acknowledged plans to spend some $100 million on marketing the Instinct -- or three times the budget for Sprint's biggest phone launch in 2007. "Right now, we're just focusing on the Instinct," a Sprint spokesperson noted during the recent "Digital Experience" show in New York City, when asked by BetaNews whether Sprint -- like fellow OHA member T-Mobile -- plans to ship an Android phone at any time by the end of this year.[21] The phone costs $450, but a combination of discounts and mail-in rebates will lower the price to $129 for customers who sign up for two years of Sprint service. The deal applies to new Sprint customers, or those whose previous contracts will soon expire. The plan's working so far - Sprint is enjoying its best sales in years, and why not? The Instinct is the coolest phone most people have ever seen.[2] The iPhone will be available at the no-contract price sometime after July 11, AT&T said. The $199 price is available to new customers, people who purchased the previous iPhone model and current subscribers who have neared the end of their contracts, if they sign up for two more years of service. By publicizing the unsubsidized price of the iPhone, AT&T can tell customers they're getting a $400 discount for signing the two-year contract, said Jennifer Fritzsche, an analyst at Wachovia Securities Inc. in Chicago. She expects AT&T shares to outperform the broader market. "It's a marketing attempt by the company to get people in the door with the lure of no contracts,'' Fritzsche said. "Given the exorbitant price they're charging without the contract, once they're in the door it's an easy sale.''[22]
July 1 (Bloomberg) -- AT&T Inc., seeking a wider base of customers for Apple Inc.' s new iPhone, will offer the device without a service contract and instead make users who don't want a two-year commitment pay an additional $400 and get a month-to- month plan.[22]
Couple the $140 price difference with the fact that we are addicted to Apple products, the iPhone is our better option. I do, however, wish that Apple would break their contract with at&t and offer the iPhone though multiple carriers. Knowing that Sprint told Apple "no" before the first iPhone release, I think of the blame for this lays squarely on the shoulders of those in Reston/Overland Park.[3] Sprint's pugilism extends to price, near and dear to consumers' hearts. Once slated to retail at about $200, Sprint aggressively chopped that to $130 (with a two-year contract and a $100 mail-in rebate) after Apple and AT&T Mobility announced earlier this month that the new 3G iPhone (8 GB), due on shelves in less than two weeks, would cost consumers $200.[17]
The phone will be available July 11 at 8 a.m. for $199 with an AT&T contract. The $599 price without a contract will be too much for many customers, persuading them to sign up for a subscription with AT&T instead, said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at JupiterResearch in New York. That will help AT&T lower its customer turnover, keeping subscribers from switching to Verizon Wireless or Sprint Nextel Corp.[22]
Doug pointed out recently that the new Samsung Instinct most likely could not save Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S ) from its current financial and customer woes. He's right -- one phone does not resurrect a company.[15] Samsung has increased efforts to deliver new supplies of Instinct on a daily basis, and manufacturing plants are operating at full capacity to keep up with demand.''' Ok so we know that this shortage is a bit of a setback for Sprint, but you have to look on the bright side of things, it does show that Sprint has hit gold with the new Samsung Instinct. This latest touch-screen handset is even being touted as the iPhone killer, but it would have to be something very special to do that. However; it does seem as if there could be some truth in that statement, why else would they completely sell out of this phone.[18] Samsung has increased efforts to deliver new supplies of Instinct on a daily basis, and manufacturing plants are operating at full capacity to keep up with demand." Although this shortage is somewhat of a setback for Sprint it does show that they have undoubtedly struck gold with Samsung Electronics''' Instinct, which is a touch-screen mobile handset that many analysts have proclaimed to be an Apple iPhone killer.[19]
Samsung has increased efforts to deliver new supplies of Instinct on a daily basis, and manufacturing plants are operating at full capacity to keep up with demand." While the shortage of devices is a setback for Sprint, it's also an illustration that the wireless carrier has hit gold with Samsung Electronics' new Instinct, a touch-screen device that many industry analysts said could potentially be an iPhone killer.[20]
The term "iPhone Killer" certainly gets tossed around too often these days, especially now that so many more companies are coming out with finger touch based devices with large displays and better web browsing abilities. Even if all of these devices don't kill the iPhone, they do certainly bring finger touch to an audience that possibly hasn't experienced it before, and possibly couldn't buy an iPhone even if they wanted to - due to carrier contracts or other reasons. Samsung's SPH-M800 Instinct for Sprint definitely has its sights set on the iPhone, but it does many things quite differently.[23]
More than enough are already available including the LG Voyager (Verizon), Samsung Instinct (Sprint), HTC Touch (Verizon, Sprint), LG Vu (AT&T), and Samsung Glyde (Verizon). While this is great for those who may want to go against the rising tide of the iPhone, these phones will not break the iPhone's stronghold.[24] Shares of Sprint, which has been dealing with massive subscriber losses amid a painful turnaround, added more than 33 percent during the quarter. It started at a low point: Sprint's stock lost almost half its value in the previous quarter. During the second quarter, however, Sprint said its Samsung Instinct phone - the company's answer to the iPhone - broke company sales records.[25] Sprint says sales of Instinct are strong and research firm Pali Research called 100 Sprint stores across the country to check on availability of Sprint's new Samsung Instinct phone and found the claims to be true.[26] With the early sales success of Sprint's new Samsung Instinct phones, a much-needed reprieve from the FCC on a major wireless interference project, a WiMax deal with Clearwire and generally positive views of CEO Dan Hesse's leadership, investors finally are giving Sprint the benefit of the doubt.[27] According to Walter Piecyk, an analyst with Pali Research, the touch-screen Samsung Instinct has performed so well at retail since its launch on June 20 that Sprint Nextel Corp., the third largest wireless carrier in the United States, is presently running low on unit availability. Specifically, Bloomberg reports that Piecyk revealed the strong sales to investors after conducting availability research across 100 Sprint stores in the United States; during which he discovered that more than 10 percent of stores had no Instinct units left in stock, while 28 percent were down to just five units or less. In terms of retail impact since Samsung launched its Instinct handset, Piecyk also noted that one of the stores he probed had sold in excess of 600 units, while another revealed demand had been high enough to shift 25 units in just a single hour.[11]
John Garcia, president of Sprint's wireless division, said "We had high expectations going into the launch so our initial order to Samsung was the largest for any Sprint EVDO handset to date." It still remains to be seen however if the Samsung Instinct will actually cause a dent in the Apple iPhone 3G'''s dominance of the market when it comes out on 11th July.[19]
The Samsung Instinct, Sprint's latest smartphone and its Apple iPhone rival, has been selling more swiftly than expected, resulting in shortages of the device, Sprint said this week.[20]
Samsung's Instinct, which will be available in Canada later this summer, bears a remarkable resemblance to the Apple iPhone. Both devices are high-quality touch-screen phones, with strong Web and multimedia features, and will run on high-speed networks.[28] Another unprovoked, inaccurate, obviously biased comparison to the IPhone. "Apple iPhones features then overall they crush the Samsung Instinct, one I will highlight is the lack of being able to add software of your own on the Instinct, you then cannot make the phone anymore intelligent. The iPhone on the other hand can be expanded with many third party applications and this phone will continue to get more intelligent even without the 3G iPhone upgrade." When will these useless Iphone comparisons stop? The Instinct is vastly different from the Iphone! There were touchscreen phones BEFORE the Iphone. Therefore, every touchscreen after the Iphone is not an "IClone", as you pretentious tech critics put it so often.[6]
Analyst Avi Greengart at Current Analysis gave the device and its accessories bundle a thumbs-up, while questioning the wisdom of Sprint's head-to-head comparison with the iPhone. 'The Instinct is a well-designed touchscreen feature phone with attention to detail throughout: from the accessories in the box to the user interface to the attractive cosmetics,' Greengart wrote in his report on the device.[17] One of Sprint's ads for the Instinct approvingly quotes some tech-news site's evaluation of the device as an "iPhone killer"--which is up there with calling something an "iPod killer" in the techno-hubris department. When evaluated in its own right, and not in a "why is this not an iPhone?" perspective, the $230-before-rebate Instinct isn't all that bad and even has a few features worth emulating.[29] To "experience the full capabilities of the device," however, Instinct users must activate an unlimited data plan with Sprint, which start at $69.99 per month for 450 minutes, the company has said. Along with those functions, the Instinct offers interactive maps, one-touch click to call access, picture sharing, live television and commercial-free radio. Instinct also boasts other advanced features such as Visual Voicemail, which lets users listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a screen tap.[20] "The strong early response tells us that wireless customers recognize Instinct as a highly innovative and convenient touchscreen device combined with the fast speeds available on the largest national mobile broadband network," said John Garcia, president of Sprint's wireless division. Since joining the company early this year, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has been leading efforts to stem subscriber defections through the launch of beefed-up customer service and a $99 voice/ data plan. That renewed focus on subscribers appears to be paying off.[4] A company spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. Muzib Khan, vice president for product management and engineering at Samsung, said the Instinct represented his company's best effort at ease-of-use for consumers and represented the closest pairing of a new handset with a carrier's launch of new service plans. As Samsung has earned the No. 2 global handset vendor ranking behind Nokia this past year, it has done so by delivering the large display feature phones exemplified by the Instinct.[17] Sprint announced that the Samsung Instinct has turned into the fastest selling EV-DO handset in the carrier's history, leading to product shortages in some parts of the U.S. since the phone's release on June 19.[21] In Sprint's contest, the more obvious the product placement, the better. NEW YORK Sell out your pets, your family and friends! A YouTube contest launched this week by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners asks consumers to "Sell Out with Sprint" to promote the new Samsung Instinct touch phone.[30]
Sprint is on the road to recovery and is looking good, as consumers are flocking to get an Samsung Instinct for $129 when you sign up for a contract. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.[13] Sprint's stock responded to the assessment, rising by 13 percent last week. According to Sprint, the news is all good about the new Samsung Instinct, which has seen strong sales since its introduction June 20.[31] And, Sprint's sales of the Samsung Instinct will at least owe partial credit to the iPhone maker.[15]
We received the Instinct a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to write up my impressions on it after using it for just about a week straight. I'm happy to report that the Instinct on Sprint is a capable and powerful smartphone and, in a way, is a direct competitor to the iPhone generation 1 (iPhone 3G doesn't fit into this equation, but I suspect I'd say the same thing when we see it). Sadly, there are many caveats to this opinion and it would behoove Sprint and Samsung to quickly update the phone as soon as possible if they wish to have the blockbuster success that this device, in the end, deserves.[32] Washington (dbTechno) - Sprint has released what they are calling their very own iPhone killer with the Instinct, and according to critics and reports thus far, they may have a device that can stand toe to toe with Apple's phone.[7]
In the totally unconfirmed rumor category, Mobile Magazine reports today one that the iPhone will be sold in Radio Shack and Best Buy stores. That would put the phone, designed for the AT&T network, in an over-the-counter competition with Sprint's Instinct.[33] There and in other venues, Sprint has shown off features of the Instinct that include digital video and audio recording, movie downloads, an FM radio, GPS with audible driving directions, and a Speech to Action capability for placing phone calls by voice, just for starters. The apparent popularity of the Instinct comes at a crucial time for Sprint, Although with its future WiMAX network, Sprint does look likely to beat Verizon and AT&T to market in the 4G arena, the financially struggling company has been losing ground to both of those companies in the 2G/3G space.[21] Of course, the new iPhone will match two of the Instinct's better features - with GPS and a new AT&T data network that's about as fast as Sprint's.[2] No doubt Sprint Nextel is taking a big hit up front on the Instinct -- just as AT&T is with the new iPhone -- but it certainly will help the company keep and grow subscriber rolls.[16] Comparing one company'''s calling plan to another'''s can be impossibly complex. Sprint might have new opportunities to emphasize the value of its '''Simply Everything''' $99.99 a month plan. Pogue breaks down some of the iPhone calling plans in a Q&A with an AT&T spokesman '''so you can take it as gospel,''' he says. A: No. This is our standard pricing for 3G PDA'''s and smartphones.[3]
Sprint has an Instinct plan that shares 1500 minutes for $129.99 for 2 phones, plus $19.99 for each additional phone (up to 3 additional allowed). That's only $169.97 plus taxes/fees vs. 1400 minutes/$260 plus taxes/fees (by your math) for iPhone.[3] The Instinct is my first smart phone and I am pretty impressed with what it can do. It is not like the iPhone in regards to technical specifications, but it does everything that I need it to do. The data plans that Sprint has are less expensive than those offiered by it's competitors (especially Verizon).[29] Although it doesn't offer the ingenious "multi-touch" gesture-based controls of the iPhone and Microsoft's Surface, the Instinct's own touch-screen interface generally keeps things sensible and simple. Its onscreen keyboard's buttons look enormous compared to the physical keys on a BlackBerry or Treo (although they're disengaged from the screen's "haptic" force-feedback capability, in that the screen buzzes slightly whether you touch a key or any other part of the screen). I also appreciated the clarity of Sprint's all-inclusive plans--although if you don't make much use of text messaging or don't care for Sprint's video and music services, they become much less of a bargain. I also kept seeing a fundamental inattention to detail that robbed the Instinct of much of its potential elegance. That screen was hard to read in direct sunlight--especially when Instinct programs like its music player use a light-gray-on-dark-gray palette.[29]
Most importantly, the browser needs a complete overhaul and the next generation needs a glass screen. As it stands, however, this $130 iPhone competitor is quite compelling. If you are on Sprint, this is the closest you'll get to a truly intuitive phone with enough horsepower to download TV, audio, and video on the go. It is not a dream come true - yet - but it is a start. It is up to Sprint and Samsung to upgrade this phone with regularity, adding features that business folks need - Outlook sync for one - and a better browser for everyone else.[32] Sprint covers more areas simple as that and coupled with the everything plans why would I need wi-fi that's a moot point. Compared side by side with both Iphones 1.0 and 2.0 they have similar feature sets. It's one thing to review a product but review it on it's merits alone. One review I caught on a tech site gave the Instinct a 72 out of 100 and the Iphone a 75 but this review judged the product for what it was not what some critic thought it should be.[29] Strigl's comments gave Sprint Nextel stock a 13 percent bump once word got out. The company's resurrected deal with Clearwire and the release of the Instinct, the company's answer to the iPhone, have both played roles in Sprint's recent turnaround. According to The Washington Post, Sprint should keep its champagne on ice. Despite its recent resurgence, questions remain over its plans with Nextel.[34] Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S ) is reporting that the launch of its iPhone-killer Instinct smartphone is exceeding expectations. Sales of the Samsung mobile device have already broken company records, and both Sprint and Samsung say they are scrambling to fill sales channels. Of course, without seeing actual numbers, this could be a manufactured shortage.[16] The company is pushing a huge marketing budget -- at least $100 million -- to make the Instinct a winner. In this Fool's mind, though, two things made the launch of Instinct a success: ''a $130 price and the Apple iPhone. Without one or both of these, the Instinct would still be a really cool device, but sales would be along the lines of any other attractive Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) or Motorola (NYSE: MOT ) smartphone.[16]
Average download speeds on EVDO Rev. A can hit 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps and average uplink speeds between 350 Kbps and 500 Kbps. While sales of the Instinct have been building steam, it remains to be seen whether it will cause a dent in the iPhone's dominance when Apple officially releases the 3G model of its iconic mobile device July 11.[20]
Apple stands to also profit as the iPhone turns into a great mobile gaming platform. AND each sale of an iPhone leads customers to recognize and many buy the other Apple products - the Macs, Mac Software, and iPods, and their accessories. It drives people to come to the Apple Stores - which are the highest per-square-foot selling stores on the market - even better than Tiffany's. Developers of iPhone applications will make a higher profit selling their software than on other platforms. Selling their product on iTunes costs only 30% overhead versus the 50% or more overhead selling their product on other platforms. Each iPhone user will be able to access the developer directly on their iPhone as opposed to going to their computer to buy the software. This will cause the iPhone to dominate mobile applications sales.[24] Think about it: Apple makes at least $425 on each iPhone sale in pure profit. It also makes more money selling iPhone accessories, makes a 30% cut off each iPhone application, makes another cut off 3rd Party "Made for iPhone" product, makes additional money selling MobileMe, and makes even more money selling music AND movies on iTunes.[24]
THIS is the Apple iPhone Ecosystem. There is NO other cell phone manufacturer that can create such a MONSTER selling and profit environment around a mobile product.[24]
With all the promotion that Apple and AT&T are getting, other carriers and mobile handset developers have been releasing touchscreen phones like crazy. From Blackberry to LG, there are tons of touchscreen handsets that will hit the market this year in order to take ground from the iPhone. They're missing something very important. It's not about the touchscreen guys, it's mainly about the mobile apps.[24] Turns out that the $200 iPhone price is only for new AT&T subscribers and subscribers currently eligible for the hardware upgrade. Needless to say, I was not happy to discover this little fact, considering I took advantage of my hardware upgrade back in January only now to find out I should have waited. Who's really hurting are the people who had contracts expire with other carriers, switched to AT&T specifically because they knew a new iPhone was coming out, and then they were told that they should just get one of their free handsets until the new iPhone comes out. Now those same customers are being told they have to pay an extra $200 for the iPhone because they did that. All AT&T is offering these customers is an apology for the "misinformation."[3] I didn't ask about the contract amount though. Who ever buys the instinct because they think it's an Iphone killer will be gravely dissapointed. The very attractive price is also too good to be true for those Sprint customers under contract who are not eligable for an upgrade (There was no mention of this in any of the ads that I read.[29] As for instinct, I think it packs a punch with haptic feedback, great GPS, good call quality plus decent Sprint network and data plan at price tag of $129 with two year contract.[29] Extra plans will also be available to listen to Internet streaming versions of some SIRIUS satellite radio stations and to watch 20 Internet TV stations. Bell plans for the Instinct to reach stores on August 8th and will sell the phone for as little as $150 on a three-year contract; its price increases to $250 on a two-year plan, $400 for one year, and $450 for a contract-free edition.[35] You will pay $229.99 with a two year contract in the store, then get $100 back after the mail in rebate to effectively make the price $129.99. You need wifi on the apple device because 1) the ipod doesn't connect to a cellular network & 2) it's no mystery that the current phone's wireless data speed is horrible.[29]
The Instinct does have an edge when it comes to price, with the Instinct coming in at just less than $130 with a two-year contract and $100 rebate and the 8 GB model of the 3G Apple iPhone carrying a $199 price tag.[20] Although the Instinct does have a slight pricing advantage in as much as it will be $130.00 on a 2 year contrite and $100.00 rebate, while the Apple iPhone pulls a $199.00 price tag.[19]
The Instinct -- which looks and functions very similar to an Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iPhone -- is still selling like hotcakes. My guess? It's all due to Apple, not Sprint.[15] One more thing Sprint supplies that Apple doesn't: a carrying case that in hindsight I should have used. Its touch-screen got a nasty scratch after I carried it unprotected in my pocket during tests in Manhattan, northern New Jersey and South Florida. All this indeed makes Instinct a worthy rival to the iPhone, even if it falls short.[12]
Well, when I went to Sprint's website, selected the Instinct phone, put 4 in the quantity field, selected "Buy with a new plan," the only plan it gave me was the "Simply Everything" plan. Because of this, I must assume that the Simply Everything Plan is the only option with the Instinct making this a comparison of "Apples to Apples". Considering the article compared the at&t smart phone/pda plans with the Simply Everything plan from Sprint it is only fair to compare those plans in this conversation when considering a family of 4.[3] As the flagship device to launch the carrier's Simply Everything plans the Instinct'should help Sprint reduce churn and may even bring Sprint back into consideration for consumers who had largely written off the carrier,' Greengart wrote. Backed by the carrier's Simply Everything plans, the Instinct makes 'a wonderful navigation device and Samsung has done extensive work integrating navigation into other applications on the phone, such as local search,' the analyst added.[17] Developers are coming out with apps that just can't be matched by Instinct. Its too bad these Instinct buyers will walk away with such an inferior device thinking they got a phone as good as the iPhone. Starting July 11th, a lot of them will feel duped by Samsung and their tricky ads. @slappy: Congratulations on posting the 9,000th comment on this blog. (Or, if you count all comment spam that gets junked, the 25,000th comment.)[29] The Sprint employee who was hovering about when I was testing the phone was visibly embarrassed to admit that the Instinct does not support Outlook synchronization. That alone would be enough to kill the deal for me, but the rest of the Instinct's flaws make the iPhone all that more appealing.[32] Years ago, the witty, profane and (sadly) now-defunct Web site Suck suggested that anything in the universe could be judged by how it landed on two basic scales: "shiny" to "not shiny" and "useful" to "useless." I think this is a fantastic way to evaluate a phone: The iPhone is both shiny and useful, the Treo is not shiny but useful--and the Instinct is quite shiny but, alas, less than useful. I could be entirely wrong in this assessment, as Sprint apparently can't keep the Instinct in stock.[29]
The Instinct also uses Sprint's high-speed data network, which runs much faster than the original iPhone's AT&T Inc. data service.[2] An unlocked iPhone can run on T-Mobile USA Inc.' s network in the U.S. and on international networks that use the global system for mobile communications. The phone won't work on the networks of Verizon Wireless and Sprint because they use incompatible technology.[22] Sprint's "best selling 3G device". gee, that must've been quite a lofty competitor. is that the same as 'best tasting water buffalo' and 'easiest to use WIN CE device?' And as you point out, what exactly were the cell phone makers producing BEFORE the iphone 365 days ago? They were basically standing around with their hands in their pockets.[15]
Washington (ChattahBox) - Sprint appears to be back on top of its game as they have the fastest selling EV-DO handset in their history with the release of the iPhone killer, the Samsung Instinct.[13] According to Sprint, since the Samsung Instinct hit the streets it has become the fastest selling EVDO device in Sprint'''s long history, and Sprint says the Samsung Instinct broke records for the initial launch.[19] Sprint's stock jumped 13 percent last week after word of Strigl's comments circulated. As we reported last week, Sprint says it's new Samsung Instinct device, which launched June 20, has experienced traction in the market.[26] Tagged as: instinct, samsung, sprint Jamie Hunter is a self professed gadget geek. You can often find him playing with a new mobile device. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.[36]
"The strong early response tells us that wireless customers recognize Instinct as a highly innovative and convenient touchscreen device combined with the fast speeds available on the largest national mobile broadband network," said John Garcia, president of Sprint's wireless division, as quoted by NewsFactor.[10] '''The strong early response tells us that wireless customers recognize Instinct as a highly-innovative and convenient touch-screen device combined with the fast speeds available on the largest national mobile broadband network. In the first few days of availability, many Instinct devices were purchased by existing customers upgrading their wireless device ''' we thank our customers for their endorsement of this device, our Simply Everything pricing plan and our company.'''[37]
The following day, the Instinct was released to all customers and brisk sales continued. Sprint said the Instinct broke Sprint's record for the first week of sales for any device in its arsenal.[20] Instinct became available to all customers on June 20; sales continued to be brisk with Instinct breaking Sprint'''s record for the first week of sales for any device.[37]
Instinct also offers the ability to quickly share pictures, watch live TV, listen to commercial-free radio and more as Sprint'''s first EVDO Rev A consumer device. 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.[37] With the Instinct, Sprint has pulled a turnabout on AT&T by getting an exclusive. Both phones share a number of features in common.[21]
With Sprint, you could also get 3000 minutes to share for the first 2 Instinct phones for $169.99, plus $19.99 each for up to 3 more phones.[3]
In comparison, Sprint's Instinct is selling for $130 with a two-year contract, after a $100 rebate. At least one industry analyst has tested out Sprint's claims of product shortages. In a note to clients today, Pali Research Analyst Walter Piecyk said he asked 100 U.S. Sprint stores about the availability of the Instinct.[21] Good luck Sprint. I just brought the instinct and think it has the potential to be the "i-phone killer", however, I dont see that happening right away because of some needed functions and necessities it lacks, plus apple has the best marketing tactics around their products. No software available at this present time; I cant's search through my contacts; contacts listing doesn't view enough information on the main screen.it just shows the names.[29] I do not want to compare with apple IPhone because no matter what u say the 3G IPhone will not be as fast as the Instinct u like it or not. 3G is no where close to EVDO in speed. Its a great product and its not an Iphone killer. It will give it some competition for sure.[29]
Borchers is not a professional actor, as many have thought, but is the senior director of the Apple iPhone product line. Borchers, wearing the collarless black shirt commonplace with Apple presenters, describes a wide array of product features without much specific emphasis on what is new to the iPhone 3G. Still, he makes it clear that using a faster 3G network, one of the major added features in the new iPhone, will help users in downloading Web pages and video.[38] No, it's not the new iPhone Boston Globe Here comes the long-awaited iPhone killer, a cellphone with features so compelling it will make Apple Inc.' s renowned touch-screen phone instantly obsolete.[2]
There never was and there never will be. Just a bunch of phones that try to be like the iPhone with some touch interface and a collage of similar features, but they all fall short like all other MP3 players fall short of an iPod. In July Apple will widen the gap between themselves and their competitors with 3rd party apps.[8] Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-06-30 15:28. Verizon and Sprint just need to face it, there isn't anything they could release other then the iPhone itself that would even have a chance to compete against the iPhone. Sure, pack in a ton of features and such but the bottom line remains, you can't touch Apple in popular culture and marketing. Oh and calling out T-Mobile?? Whats the point of that, they have figured out that it's not even worth the effort. They have Android which will be it's own major story separate of Apple.[8]
There's a certain irony that AT&T and Apple have dubbed iPhone 2.0, "iPhone 3G". That seems to underscore that AT&T is just now offering what Verizon and Sprint have had from some time -- a super-fast 3G network.[29]
Sprint's monthly plan price (all you can eat $100) is way less expensive than iPhone's AT&T lock-in price ($130-150). Hope this helps.[29] In a unique twist, however, Bell also promises less expensive and more varied Internet access than either Sprint or what Rogers will offer for the iPhone 3G: the handset will qualify for Bell's $10 unlimited on-device browsing plan, which should allow most users to get at least web browsing for significantly below the $60 minimum plan for Rogers' iPhone and Sprint's $70 plan.[35]
What I have to say about sprint is another story. Their customer service is HORRIBLE. My wife called them to add 100 minutes to her plan one month. They added the 100 minutes for I think $5 but they also removed her data plan. When she called them up to have them fix it they said they added it back and for her to wait 4 hours. She tries it 4 hours later no go. She calls them up and they again tell her to wait 4 hours. This goes on for 2 days. If you are wondering something like this for AT&T and Verizon would have been fixed in minutes. They finally get her data plan back on and when she gets the bill she has two items on it. They charged her for removing it and adding it back. They charged her for their mistake! If you don't think this is true just do some research.[3] The only upside for consumers is that Alltel users will get free calls to other Verizon phones. With their "My Circle" plans, they already get free calls to Verizon - and Sprint, and T-Mobile, and AT&T. Alltel had some good ideas, like My Circle and their Celltop application, and, well, competition.[39]
If you think today's review of Sprint's Samsung Instinct sounds harsh, you should know that I got to like this phone a little better as I used it over the past couple of weeks.[29] The Samsung Instinct is the latest in a series of touchscreen phones that are, to be blunt, blatant knockoffs of the iPhone's design and interface concepts. It also adds a few twists of its own, including a slick way of giving you tactile feedback as you use the Instinct's touchscreen.[14] Said in short, the iPhone 3G represents a concept for the prosumer multimedia smartphone market, the Samsung Instinct represents a concept for the high-end multimedia phone market, while the LG Dare gives a taste of the future touchscreen phone mass market.[5]
The Samsung Instinct is up against some great touch-screen phones though; firstly there is the ever popular iPhone, which will become more popular with the release of the 3G version.[18] "The overwhelming success of the Samsung Instinct reinforces our expectations; people want choices when looking to buy a powerful touch screen phone and the Samsung Instinct is a top contender," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. "Samsung is working around the clock to meet the consumer demand for this fast and easy-to-use device."[37] Perhaps the two announcements on the heels of one another was more than fortuitous. Samsung Instinct ' with its glossy black colour, touch screen buttonless interface, and square tabbed icons for the various functions ' bears a remarkable resemblance to the iPhone.[28]
If you don't like the price of an iPhone, don't buy it. One side-effect of the year-long wait for iPhones in Canada is that other gadgets, such as the much-talked about Samsung Instinct, are providing new competition.[40] I also want to thank our friends at Samsung for allowing us to experience the Instinct first hand. While comparisons to Apple's iPhone are inevitable, Samsung's Instinct has enough under the hood to stand on its own merit as a competent alternative. Earlier this month Scott posted an "unboxing" of the Samsung Instinct that can be found here.[36] Samsung Canada last week announced that its new Instinct touch-screen smartphone, which bears a strong resemblance to the Apple iPhone, will be arriving in this country later this summer.[41]
Be that as it may, Samsung execs at the Collingwood event studiously refrained from positioning Instinct as an iPhone competitor. Everything we learned about Instinct ' its user interface, design and specs ' indicates that the Samsung product has been designed to take on the iPhone. In the U.S., where both devices are available, contrasting them is commonplace and many videos offering spec-by-spec comparisons have been posted to YouTube.[28] The device, offering many of Apple iPhone's features, design details and also a $129 price tag, managed to attract huge numbers of clients, proving that an efficient advertising campaign combined with a decent product which is up to date on the market's trend and demand can easily become the number one seller in a certain segment of the market.[10] The effort seeks the "greatest product-placement movie of all time" and offers $20 for the first 1,000 submissions that place the Apple iPhone rival in a home video -- and the more obvious the product placement, the better.[30] Looking at the smartphone's main attractions, it is worth to mention several features unavailable on Apple's iPhone. First of all its mobile radio and TV features, the voice dialing, the small but expandable memory, video camera, stereo Bluetooth and removable battery.[10] Instinct and iPhone kind of resemble each other. Both run off their respective carriers' fastest cellular networks. It may be an iPhone wannabe, but Instinct boasts features the iPhone doesn't offer. These include mobile radio and TV services, voice dialing, stereo Bluetooth, expandable memory, a camera that shoots video and a removable battery.[12]
Unlike with the older model, customers won't be able to take the new iPhone home from the store without connecting it to AT&T's network, so even buyers of the no-contract phone will have to pay for some AT&T service.[22] We just received an LG Dare to test last week, so stay tuned for some of our thoughts about how the handset matches up against the Instinct, and eventually the new iPhone 3G. Other tech outlets have yet to complete their full tests, but some are offering initial perceptions. '''Phew, these guys really packed it in. Stand by for our hands-on impressions,''' they said. The phone would not fare as well in head-to-head matchups with its rivals on surfing the Internet.[8] The Instinct handset has been selling pretty well so far, with some retail stores even selling out of the model, which hit shelves less than two weeks ago. The company is known for offering popular features and applications on its phones, but has been searching for a top-selling handset for some time.[1]
Sprint has poured over $100 million into marketing the Instinct, and it is paying off. The popularity of the Instinct has made it a stand out, with big features such as tactile feedback when you use its touchscreen, as well as its improved functionality for GPS.[13]
The Instinct? Well, June 20th came around and dispite all the Instinct vs. iPhone comparison (where iPhone puts Instinct to shame, except with GPS, but I'm sure that software will be developed for the iPhone soon) iPhone kicks booty, I went to play with the Instinct at the Sprint store. It's slow, slow, and. slow.[3] I tried this phone out at my local Sprint Store today. It does in fact suck compared to an iPhone (and I'm a Sprint subscriber, even). It's extremely laggy and lacks the interface polish that makes the Iphone such a pleasure to use.[32] Much of the good ideas the iPhone uses - slide to unlock being one of the most important - are partially visible here and special care has clearly been taken to ensure that an apples to apples comparison is difficult if not impossible. Nothing in this phone is a direct knock-off and it is all fresh and slightly disconcerting at the same time.[32]
Srpint uses EDVO network. Current IPhone?(yes i know abut the new 3g but are they out?) Iphone has more functionality with other devices and syncing up to Outlook, and better keyboard. and you can it is a platform device. This is the best Touch Screen Smart Phone I have seen that is anywhere near the capability of the Iphone.[29] While it may not kill the iPhone it at least gives us a hint as to what is possible in future iterations of touch screen devices. Apple doesn't own the patent on intuitive touch screen displays and the Instinct is a prime example of this.''[36] The Instinct uses the same "primitive" touchscreen as your ATM/Grocery Store/WalMart type of device. iPhone is multi-touch screen. A lot smarter than those.[29] For the record, the Instinct's touchscreen provides haptic feedback and its in-box bundle of accessories include two replaceable batteries and a charging cradle for the one not currently in use, a leather case, wired stereo earbuds, a 2 GB microSD card, a CD for media management and a 2.0 USB connector for side-loading music and transfers to a PC. The device supports A2DP stereo, the iPhone does not.[17]
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-06-30 19:44. Well i think the one and only thing that distinguishes the iphone among its peers (i wouldn't use "competitor" because iphone exceeds other touchscreen phones in every area) is the fact that iphone has quality construction. software is important too but if it were that much of an issue, everyone would be on at&t's network with the iphone (and numbers show that verizon has a huge segment of the market).[8] I disagree that it is an Iphone Killer, i think titles like that are foolish. Companies should just try to make the best phone they can. I love this phone! The main reason I did not get an iphone is because of att's network, the size of the phone, and the battery. It's an entertainment, personal use phone.[29]
The iPhone has a pretty good camera, but only takes still photos. Like many newer phones, the Instinct has software that lets its camera shoot two-minute video snippets.[2] Will Instinct provide stiff competition to the iPhone in Canada? INCLUDES VIDEO. 7/2/2008 5:00:00 AM By: Joaquim P. Menezes Samsung announced the imminent release of its Instinct smart phone in Canada last week, a day before Rogers publicized pricing for the iPhone here.[28]
Instinct's Voice input button allows you to initiate calls, text messages, etc. Funny that of all things you would have expected Apple to get that right given that the product is a phone. It turns out Samsung has a first-rate voice command offering.[29] On Sprint's "The Instinct: the Phone" ]] "The Instinct: the Phone" site, users can find step-by-step instructions on how to add the product to any clip.[30] If you're a business user stick to your blackberry or treo. This phone wasn't designed to be PDA. Just because it has more functionality than a regular phone doesn't make it a Smart Phone. After they launched the Instinct Sprint announced a software upgrade for multimedia phones enabling mobile email. It's about connectivity and the ability to get your information when you need it. With regard to the lack of wi-fi, why should Sprint install it on the Instinct? The only reason ATT did is because their Edge coverage is lacking compared to EVDO. Their 3G coverage is even less.[29]
You can fit the phone for right handed user or left handed user. Most anything done on this phone requires one touch, easy. To anyone wanting a great phone, touch phone, and are sprint customers, why would you talk ianythingthey're not sprint, and this phone is fantastic. Try it, they give you 30 days to return it if you don't like it, and a great price.[32] I like many others, have been with other phone providers and all had less than perfect customer service and network issues in different areas but for the price I am sticking with Sprint.[3]
Sprint Nextel S may be seeing customer attrition bottom out, according to rumors that rivals AT&T T and Verizon VZ are seeing fewer subscribers swap over from the struggling wireless provider. Rumors have surfaced that the investor relations departments for both Verizon and AT&T were telling individual shareholders that fewer telephone numbers were being ported over from Sprint's wireless network. That speculation offers an explanation as to why Sprint shares have jumped 15% during the same week that the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4% to its lowest level in 2008.[42] In an article this morning, The Wall Street Journal says recent comments from Verizon's chief, along with other factors, indicate that Sprint Nextel is on the rebound. In an article headlined "Sprint's Turnaround Effort Is Picking Up Steam," The Journal noted that Verizon President Denny Strigl last week told investors that Sprint isn't hurting his company, but said the No. 3 wireless company's performance "had picked up in the past 30 days."[43] Sprint also won't be sold any time soon. Verizon Wireless, which just bought Alltel from its private owners, is the only company that could have made a merger work in buying Sprint Nextel. It would be disastrous to have another company come in and try to emulate what Sprint attempted with Nextel back in 2005, which has turned out to be a complete disaster and has led to tens of billions in write-offs (do you hear me now, Deutsche Telekom ?).[44]
Sprint Nextel's hot-selling Samsung Instinct smartphone may help the struggling company stage a comeback.[4] 'Samsung Electronics and Sprint Nextel are posting pretty decent sales figures for the new Instinct' -- there are no sales figures posted but there ARE whispers about a (quasi-)well-engineered shortage.[11]
Perhaps the most encouraging sign comes in the form of record sales for the new "iPhone killer" Sprint co-developed with Samsung.[4] The Sprint Instinct by Samsung has had a strong marketing push in advance of initial sales in June, although the campaign did not include a similar online video.[38]
Isolating Los Angeles as the city with the highest demand for the Instinct, Piecyk also relayed that one particular store in the region presently has a waiting list of around 20 customers. 'We're being very aggressive to work with our partners at Samsung to make sure our customers get them as fast as they can,' outlined Sprint spokeswoman Michelle Leff Mermelstein regarding weight of demand for the Instinct device.[11] Just a few days after hitting store shelves, Samsung Instinct has become the fastest-selling EVDO handset in Sprint (NYSE: S) history.[37]
We take a look at what to expect from the iPhone 3G, Samsung Instinct and LG Dare. The iPhone 3G, Samsung Instinct and LG Dare all rely on finger-based interaction, but that's also pretty much the only thing they have in common.[5] The story behind the Instinct's form factor is obvious - Samsung was looking to build something like Apple's iPhone. They have been reasonably successful in that regard.[23] Like the Instinct, the 3G iPhone supports GMS and HSDPA. Also in the 3G iPhone, Apple has added GPS support.[21]
The Instinct with the older touchscreen technology like your ATM and Store debit card screen is the same. They only added a vibration mode and gave it a fancy name "haptic" screen. iPhone is a multi-touch screen that completely interacts with the OS itself, full system calls on it.[32]
I couldn't see paying for a service that performed so poorly. Overall I would say the Instinct gets more right than it does wrong, and it's a great first step for Sprint into the foray of "iPhone killers."[36] If you want to refer to Sprint's Instinct, then you should refer to AT&T's iPhone.[8] Sprint called it an Iphone competitor. The average user doesn't purchase a Smartphone or PDA. This is only catching on due to the success of the Blackberry Pearl which was achieved by lower pricing. The same factor that's driving the adoption rate of the Instinct.[29] The only hope for the Instinct is to have it stationed as far away as possible from the iPhone. head to head Sprint does not want.[33] Sprint Instinct is very intuitive and friendly and packed with features. iPhone browser is better though.[6]
Throw in a $200 price cut, and Apple has little to fear from the Instinct. It's Sprint that's running scared these days.[2] The new price details indicate Apple is getting about $550 for each iPhone AT&T subsidizes, up from an earlier estimate of $350, Ben Reitzes, a Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. analyst in New York, said today in a note.[22] AT&T fell 39 cents to $33.30 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. AT&T and Apple revised their sales plans after some customers used software tricks to make the previous version of the device run on other networks.[22] The news sent Sprint's shares up in the last week of the quarter even as the broader market tumbled. AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., meanwhile, both declined during the quarter, with AT&T hitting a 52-week low on Monday, when a Citi Investment Research analyst lowered his outlook for the telecom service sector. Michael Rollins said in a note to investors he expects the sector's sales to grow by 3 percent over the next four years, down from his prior estimate of a 4 percent growth, hurt by a weaker economy. He also expects Verizon to perform better than AT&T.[25]
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-06-30 15:47. I'm a Verizon family plan user w/ 5 phones so I love their service but there's no way I'd be the first to buy any new LG product. They need to team up with a better hardware provider.[8] Analysts said the video is unusual in smart phone marketing. It is also distinctive because, at 30 minutes, it is lengthy and intimate, with a narrator talking directly at the audience, with up-close demonstrations of how an application works. Many other cell phone makers and cell phone carriers have elaborate marketing campaigns and offer users the ability to hold and try out phones in their stores before making a purchase, but the video shows how far Apple is willing to go, analysts said. To say Apple is good at marketing is an understatement, said analyst Ken Dulaney at Gartner Inc. "They are awesome at this," he said and called the guided-tour video part of a "very effective" overall campaign designed to lure customers. "No one does services, hardware, software and marketing to the degree of excellence of Apple in one single organization," he added.[38] There are also game demos from third parties. You can buy full versions from the phone, but there's no applications store such as the one Apple has in the works for the iPhone.[12]
Canadian technophiles who have been anxiously waiting for what was last year's most anticipated gadget south of the border are understandably up in arms. Their reward for being forced to sit on the sidelines while more than a million Americans were able to buy Time magazine's invention of the year for 2007 -- the Apple iPhone -- is a just-for-Canada price that is much higher than American phone companies are offering.[40] By embracing developers, Apple has insured that there will be a steady stream of new and cool apps for the device for many years. That is what will make the iPhone a killer device.[8] According to Bloomberg, AT&T ( T ) announced its prices for Apple's ( AAPL ) new 3G iPhone.[45] Well. after the "deal" that I would get from retension, I would still be paying as much as I would with the new iPhone monthly prices on at&t.[3] I couldn't wait to get my hands on a new iphone. until I saw AT&T's new pricing plan.[3]
I personally am not sold on the new IPhone as yet, as a mobile web device it cannot yet load full flash player 9 and its the biggest thing that is stopping me from buying a new smartphone/mobile device that is capable of Wifi and 3G, and also has full flash player 9 capabilities. however I believe it eventually will come, so I will wait for the version that will finally sport full flash player 9 support.[24] When it comes to mobile web browsing, the iPhone already dominates all other smartphones. That is simply because the iPhone has the best web browser. iPhone users, as a result, will use the iPhone more frequently than other smartphones, to browse the web. It already dominates in this area. The iPhone, as a result of its standards-compliant web browser, its dominant hand-held browsing position, and its new standards-compliant application framework (SproutCore - which allows you to create desktop-like apps in a web browser), will make Flash obsolete.[24] The built in email application is great for me since I use gmail. and setting up my work and school email was a snap, I also like how it notifies you when you get a new email and you don't have o open up the web bowser. In all its sleek fast and functional. I love what this phone can do for me in my personal life.[29]
I have seen and played with the IPhone ver 1 phones, though i quite like the new fresh feel it brings with the accelorometers (spelling?), and its touchscreen motion commands.[24] About 4000 applications, games and new features supported by the software will make the iPhone so much more than just a phone.[3] Main is similar to the iPhone's central screen, a collection of colorful icons for major features ' e-mail, messaging, voice mail, calendar, GPS navigation, clock, settings, etc. Fun is video, music, the 2-megapixel camera, games and more. Web gets you to buttons for the browser, as well as shortcuts to specific kinds of sites, such as news, sports, weather and more.[14]
"Regular" Instinct = $29.99 (w/ $100 rebate) with faster downloads and more features than iPhone.[8] Samsung is not shy about discussing the features embodied in the Instinct that directly take aim at much-discussed omissions in the iPhone.[17] I also bought an Instinct on the first day after carefully studying the features since it was first announced. It's not an iPhone.[29] The iPhone is not an Instinct. They have unique feature sets that can't be compared directly.[29]
The failure to include any sort of calendar-synchronization software is bad enough, but then look at the sloppy, awkward software Sprint provides to sync an Outlook or Outlook Express contacts list to the Instinct's own address book. Even though the Instinct features "picture caller ID," where your friend's photo appears when he or she calls, this software did not bring over pictures saved in an Outlook 2007 contacts list. When I tapped the "Sports" icon on the Instinct's Web home page, entered a Northern Virginia Zip code, and tapped the "My Teams" link, that page led off with the Orioles, the Phillies, the Pirates and the Mets -- with the Nationals nowhere in sight. (Does Peter Angelos have any relatives working at Sprint? Somebody needs to look into this.)[29] I have been a Sprint customer for six years. This device offers every single Sprint feature down to the smallest and jam-packs them all into one device.[37] Sprint has the chops to turn itself around in 2009 with some solid management and good decisions, but it still won't be easy. Spinning off the Nextel network (oops, I mean selling the spectrum off) and migrating all those customers to Sprint's network -- along with heavy retention incentives -- may be Hesse's biggest bet yet. If he has the cahones to do it.[44] Even if Verizon/Alltel will result in something good for users - and I can't possibly figure out what that is - it probably means years of pain. The AT&T/Cingular merger resulted in years of dropped calls as they integrated the "blue network" and "orange network." Then Sprint put a Nextel in its mouth and pressed the push-to-talk trigger.[39]
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. 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. RSS feed for comments on this post.[34] Samsung and Sprint Nextel running low on supplies of the Instinct smartphone.[11] Sprint Nextel says you'll get about 5.75 hours of talk time with the Instinct -- double if you factor in the spare battery.[12]
Sprints basic service option of $69.99/month for 450 minutes and unlimited data for the instinct is comparable for 4 people. That would be $280/month and 1800 minutes (though not shared) of talk time with unlimited data.[3]
"We know we have a winner in Instinct, especially since Sprint's EVDO Rev A network offers five times more mobile broadband coverage than the AT&T 3G network based on square miles," Garcia said.[4] When it comes to style, you can be assured that the Sprint Instinct has more flair than a BlackBerry, Palm or Windows Mobile cell phone.[6] 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.[37] Build quality didn't seem up to par with the iPhone. While the Instinct is lighter it doesn't feel as sturdy because of it's plastic body. Another hint at the Instincts questionable build is the "hollow" feeling you get when you tap the phone in your hand. This could be a by product of the haptic feedback, but there's a definite ringing that you feel in your hands when the phone is jolted.[36]
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-07-01 01:27. The iPhone and the Instinct are both great phones. That's all that really matters. Its not a crime to admin that they both work really well.[8] I've got an iPod Touch (an iPhone without the phone), so I have compared interfaces side by side. The Instinct is a little slower loading up the data for apps, such as Music.[6] Apart from the welcome feedback, it feels rather cool; I found myself fiddling with the Instinct just to enjoy the buzz. It does take some fiddling to get used to the phone, which uses a different, more sensitive touch-screen technology than the iPhone.[2] With that said, I am very happy so far with my Instinct. I certainly think the iPhone is a great phone and recommend it for people with a lot invested into their iPods/iTunes, otherwise.[29] The Instinct also combines Microsoft's Live Search voice recognition capability with GPS, so you can speak the name of a business into the phone, then get a map and directions to the location. Unlike the iPhone, this one has a user-replaceable battery.[14]
Submitted by emaxon on Thu, 2008-07-03 17:43. I think you're spot on with this observation! The one's who are fortunate in this situation are the early iPhone adopters that bought the first go 'round. Since those phones were not subsidized by at&t, those subscribers are eligible for the $199/$299 pricing of the 3G iPhone.[3] Your Comment: "Thus, my comparison of $260 (at&t) to $400 (sprint) for comparable services is spot on." First off its not comparable services, at&t family plan for unlimited minutes (which is what you were comparing it to) would be $259.99 for two lines plus $129.99 for each additional line plus $30 for texting = $549.97 according to their website.[3] My comparison of $260 (at&t) to $400 (sprint) for comparable services is spot on. I must use the Simply Everything pricing because Sprint, according to their website, won't let me select another plan.[3]
Doing a little analysis as my family (my parents, my spouse, and me) will have 4 iPhones on one plan. According to the pricing scale released by at&t the other day, this should run us approximately $260 plus tax each month for unlimited data, unlimited text messages (we selected the additional $30 for unlimited family text messaging), and 1400 minutes per month (approximately twice as much as we collectively use now).[3] Now don't get me wrong I would love to be able to get a $99 EVERYTHING plan from AT&T. Would I trade my iPhone in to get that plan.[3]
The third-largest wireless carrier in the U.S. has lost millions of customers to larger and more successful competitors like Verizon Wireless and AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T ). With the launch of an extremely successful iPhone competitor (among other things), the company is showing signs of stemming its huge customer defections from past quarters.[44] For Verizon Wireless customers, the LG Dare is probably as good as it gets for a while (unless the rumored Motorola Blaze shows up soon with a blazing performance. who knows?), while T-Mobile and AT&T customers will soon have a pile of similar offerings from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and LG to choose from, at least when shopping at Amazon and other online stores.[5]
Best Buy handles Sprint and AT&T, as well as T-Mobile and Verizon, meaning that the iPhone and its leading competitor also will have an in-store challenge from the LG Dare, designed for Verizon.[33] I Work for Best Buy, and we carry sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Here's the issue, do we have nothing better to argue about besides what cell phones are better, and what electronics retailers sell.[33]
Aside from that i will say if the IPHONE was hamstrung on one network and I coul dget one of the Sprint Network I would have bought 2 in an instant. That is the downside of network exclusive phones.[8] Even with Sprint's EVDO network, the phone felt slower than a 1st gen iPhone.[32]
I had my verizon number since 96. The only bad thing I can say about them is that they cripple the phones on their network. They wanted to cripple the iPhone and Steve said "Hello no."[3] The performance is fast! The interface is intuitive and it sports an iPod. How many people have phones with music playback capabilities, yet don't transfer any songs to play on their phone? I'm one of those users and if you're one too, you know you'd use the iPod that's integrated with the iPhone with no hesitation.[24] The back button returns you to your previous spot on the display, the home button takes you to a Favorites screen, and the phone button brings up the dial pad. One of the frustrating things about using a touchscreen is its lack of tactile feedback. This is what makes the iPhone's virtual keyboard frustrating for a lot of users.[14] The haptic feedback works great, and should be standard on all touch screen phones going forward. It made composing text messages and emails so much easier than on the iPhone, because you could feel every tap of the screen register with a vibration.[36] Many have griped about the difficulty of typing on the iPhone's touch-sensitive onscreen keyboard, which lacks the tactile feedback of mechanical push buttons. The Instinct uses a "haptic interface" that causes a weird, edgy vibration in your fingers whenever they touch the screen.[2] There was just a hint of a delay present, but I have to believe that had I not experienced an iPhone prior to the Instinct I would have been fine with the Intinct's touch screen performance.[36]
The Instinct is one of a number of devices released recently that fall into the bucket of iPhone clones ; others include the Palm Centro, the HTC Touch Diamond and the rumored-to-be- up-and-coming BlackBerry Thunder from Research In Motion.[20] The touch technology used in the Instinct is just a notch below that of the iPhone when considering responsiveness. This was particularly evident when scrolling through pages of text such as web browsing.[36]
I think the iPhone is overrated and for the price and the plan, you can't beat the Instinct! There are no hidden fees.[29] You can get an Instinct for $130 (after rebate) - that less than the $200 iPhone. There are hundreds of Java Mobile applications - iPhone can't run any of them - not even one. because the iPhone doesn't run Java.[29] The video quality is pretty poor, but good enough for capturing life's random madness. While the iPhone relies on its limited built-in memory, the Instinct uses interchangeable microSD memory cards so you won't run out of storage space.[2] The iPhone switches from narrow- to wide-screen mode when you tip it sideways, thanks to a chip that senses motions. The Instinct only goes wide-screen when its software tells it to, like when you're watching videos. It works well enough, but I prefer the iPhone's more versatile approach.[2] As I've posted before. Instinct is fooling lots of users that its just like the iPhone.[29]
For you die hard ATT iphone fans go for the new iphone and enjoy I will stick with my Instinct.[29] The New York Times''' guru of all things high tech predicts that we won'''t see quite the same hysteria when the new iPhones arrive next week as we did a year ago. Pricing, he says.[3]
The iPhone will only be available in AT&T and Apple stores, and not online like last year.[45] Apple and AT&T are getting ready to release the iPhone 3G on July 11, but that is not stopping the competition from getting phones out to compete with it.[7] Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2008-07-04 00:22. Though iPhone is the best phone there ever was, AT&T, as well as some other telecoms around the world, will kill it with its greed.[3]
"There's a small minority of people who for whatever reason want the latest and greatest phone and don't want to be tied to the network for two years,'' Gartenberg said today in an interview. "It's going to cost you quite a bit for the privilege of not signing a contract.'' AT&T plans to sacrifice 10 cents to 12 cents a share in earnings this year and next to subsidize the cost of the phone, making it available for half the price of the older version.[22] A version of the phone with additional storage will cost $299 with a contract for eligible customers and $699 without one, AT&T said.[22] For customers willing to sign a two-year contract, the phone will be priced at $199.[45]
The Samsung Instinct will be available for without a term contract for $449.95.[41] From the moment you get a box containing a Samsung Instinct in your hands, you'll see the iPhone's influence.[14] Our colleague Jennifer Mann has an interesting piece this week about some of the innovative approaches Sprint is using to spread the word about the Samsung Instinct.[9]
Sprint said the Instinct was first made available to current Sprint customers on June 19, breaking records for the initial launch of any Sprint product.[20]
Looking at Sprint's website, the Simply Everything plan for 4 Instincts is $400 per month plus taxes and other charges.[3] Plans will start at $69.99 per month. Customers will also have the option of choosing another carrier such as T-Mobile ( DT ), but not Sprint ( S ) or Verizon ( VZ ) due to incompatible technology.[45] During a recent meeting with investors, Verizon Communications President Denny Strigl noted that Sprint's performance had picked up in the past 30 days, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sprint has also agreed to spin off its fledgling WiMAX network, which had been threatening to drain as much as $5 billion from the company.[4]
Not only are investors expecting the company to show improvements in customer retention in the second quarter, but Sprint also is selling out of a new high-end handset in some retail stores.[46] Just like Apple, Sprint aims to claim a share of the enterprise smartphone market. The company has just introduced an extension to its mobile e-mail platform featuring compatibility with Microsoft Exchange Server and IBM Lotus Notes. Enterprise-class customers "will be able to read and respond to their business e-mail and look up work contacts from a wider variety of Sprint phones," said Sprint Senior Vice President Kevin Packingham.[4] Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies including serving nearly 53 million customers at the end of the first quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone.[37] Verizon Communications fell by 6 percent. Nextel, saw its shares drop by nearly 5 percent. Embarq, the Overland Park local telephone spin-off from Sprint, also capitalized on its successful first quarter and leadership from its new CEO Tom Gerke.[27]
In a quick search of the Internet late today, BetaNews came across prices among the e-tailers ranging from $230 to $400 for Sprint's new 3G device.[21] I just visited the Sprint store, the price is $449 and only for new activations there is a $220 instant rebate and a $100 mail in rebate.[21]
Sprint has said that, since the Instinct hit store shelves it has become the fastest-selling EVDO handset in Sprint's history.[18] Sprint stated in an announcement: "The record pace of Instinct sales has led to temporary shortages of the device at some locations across the United States.[19] "The record pace of Instinct sales has led to temporary shortages of the device at some locations across the United States," Sprint said in a statement.[20]
The carrier crowed last week that the handset was the 'fastest selling EV-DO handset in Sprint history' and that it broke Sprint's record for the first week of sales of any device.[17] Despite mixed reviews, the Instinct smartphone broke the company's record for the first week of sales for any high-speed EVDO mobile device.[4]
Sprint does not release sales figures but claimed that the Instinct is already a hit with consumers, after launching June 19.[17] Sprint and Samsung are diligently working around the clock to increase inventory in all sales channels.[19]
|
|
|
