SAMSUNG INSTINCT™ BECOMES SPRINT’S FASTEST-SELLING EVDO HANDSET WITHIN FIRST WEEK OF AVAILABILITY

Just a few days after hitting store shelves, Samsung Instinct has become the fastest selling EVDO handset in Sprint (NYSE: S) history. Instinct was first available exclusively to current Sprint customers on June 19 breaking records for the initial launch of any Sprint product. 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.

“We had high expectations going into the launch so our initial order to Samsung was the largest for any Sprint EVDO handset to date,” said John Garcia, President of Sprint’s wireless Division. “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.”

The record pace of Instinct sales has led to temporary shortages of the device at some locations across the United States. Sprint and Samsung are diligently working around the clock to increase inventory in all sales channels. 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 the demand.

“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.”

“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,” added Garcia. “We appreciate the support from our customers and we are committed to working with Samsung to ensure that every customer who wants an Instinct can get one.”

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

Sprint customers have joined in the praise:

* “It’s awesome. 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. It is just an amazing device.” – William Leak, Millville, NJ
* “Instinct offers easy access to everything I need when I’m traveling or at work… even my music! It’s everything I want in a phone and more.” – Stanley Long, Philadelphia, PA
* “I purchased it because it’s the hottest phone out there and I love the huge screen.” – Stephan Boyett, West Orange, NJ
* “I was out of contract and stayed with Sprint because of this phone! Also your everything plan includes everything, not like AT&T.” – Daphne Wilson, White Plains, NY
* “I was blown away the first time I saw the device. The more I play with the device, the more I love it.” – Jennifer Hayes, Edison, NJ

Initial indications show extremely heavy use of the device for email access, web browsing and GPS navigation with Live Search for Sprint providing access to directory information on-the-go, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access. 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. Additional features include advanced stereo Bluetooth® 2.0, SMS voice and text messaging with threaded text, picture caller ID, a 2.0 megapixel camera with camcorder, haptic feedback, expandable microSD memory of up to 8GB and Sprint Mobile Sync.

Instinct costs just $129.99 with a two-year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate. Customers can access the latest information on Instinct at www.instinctthephone.com.

source : http://press-releases.techwhack.com/

Samsung Instinct hits record sales, says Sprint

According to an announcement made by Sprint today, the new Samsung Instinct has seen record sales since the its launch last Friday. This comes just two weeks before Apple's second generation 3G iPhone release takes place.

Dubbed the "iPhone killer" when it was first announced at CTIA 2008 in April, the Samsung Instinct only received heavy media attention just days before launch, when Sprint decided to cut the Instinct's price from $199 to $129, in an effort to compete with the iPhone and grab some sales.

Looks like it worked. No numbers were revealed as of yet, but Sprint is happy with the results, so it must mean they're doing good.

Sprint's Samsung Instinct comes packed with a 2.0 megapixel camera with video recording, POP3 email, Visual Voicemail, microSD card slot for up to 8GB of extra memory and a 2GB microSD card in the box, Bluetooth 2.0 and a full HTML browser. You can pick up the Instinct from Sprint fro $129 with a 2 year contract.

source : http://www.mobileguerilla.com/

Samsung Instinct touchscreen phone comes to Sprint

Sprint and Samsung unveiled a new all-touch cell phone today, boasting an impressive out-of-box configuration for a consumer phone.

At CTIA Wireless 2008, Sprint and Samsung today announced the upcoming availability of a new mobile phone, Samsung Instinct, which offers full touchscreen functionality with EV-DO Rev A data speeds. The Instinct is claimed to be one of Samsung's best phones to date, offering users the ability to access applications and contacts within a single finger tap.

Samsung Instinct, exclusively available from Sprint, has a touch screen featuring localized tactile feedback, called haptics, which allow the virtual QWERTY keypad and other operations to become a sensory experience. The device also offers a Voice to Action button providing many functions using voice activation including call, text, picture messaging, traffic, movie, sports, news and search.

As Sprint's first EV-DO Rev A consumer-centric device, Samsung Instinct provides the ability to quickly browse the Web, access business or personal e-mail, share pictures, listen to commercial-free radio and more at broadband speeds. Samsung Instinct also provides access to Sprint services and multimedia content, including Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, Sprint Music Store and Pocket Express.

The sleek and stylish device offers three dedicated keys on the lower portion of the device to make operation of the device very straightforward and easy to navigate - phone, back and home. The phone key always takes the user back to essential voice calling features including speed dial, visual voicemail, contacts and the dial pad.

The home key on the Samsung Instinct provides quick access to the four menus of functionality included in this user interface, which consists of Favorites, Main, Fun and Web. The Samsung Instinct boasts many advanced features including Visual Voicemail, allowing users to listen to messages in their order of preference.

The device also provides support for corporate and consumer (POP3) e-mail, multitasking capabilities that allow the user to play music in the background mode while surfing the Internet, texting or playing games, a 2-megapixel camera and expandable microSD memory of up to 8GB. Additional features include Bluetooth 2.0, integrated world clock, SMS voice and text messaging with threaded text, Phone as a modem, picture caller ID and Sprint Mobile Sync.

Samsung Instinct comes with everything the user needs to enjoy the device's full capabilities right out of the box. Contents include a 2GB microSD card that holds approximately 2000 songs, two standard batteries offer up to 5.75 hours of talk time each, battery charging sleeve, travel charger, USB cable, 3.5mm headphones with built-in microphone and leather case with stylus.

Measuring 2.17 by 4.57 by 0.49 inches and weighing approximately 4.5 ounces, the Samsung Instinct will be available in June 2008. Pricing for the phone has not yet been determined.

source : http://www.infosyncworld.com/

Sprint Offers Green LG Rumor for St. Patrick's Day

Sprint has declared its new green LG Rumor as the Official Wireless Phone of St. Patrick's Day. Not only does it feature a new green color scheme, but it also comes in environmentally friendly packaging. This popular handset features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard in addition to the standard numeric keypad found on the front of the device.

The green LG Rumor is the first device from LG to feature environmentally friendly packaging, using 70% post-consumer waste. There is also a pre-paid return envelope included for recycling your old handset through Project Connect, which uses the proceeds to fund Internet Safety classes for kids.

The LG Rumor also features a microSD card slot and supports Sprint Navigation for GPS enabled directions. A 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth are also on board.

source : http://www.mobileburn.com/

Owner of T-Mobile may buy Sprint, analysts say

Sprint Nextel may be a takeover target, according to one of the nation’s largest investment banking firms.

Deutsche Telekom, owner of T-Mobile and the world’s sixth largest phone company, may consider acquiring Overland Park-based Sprint to block a price war in the mobile phone industry, analysts for Merrill Lynch speculated in a report Thursday.

Merrill Lynch, which advises its clients to sell Sprint shares, said it is not aware of any acquisition discussions.

Sprint, as a matter of policy, doesn’t comment on market rumors and speculation.

Merrill Lynch said Sprint’s operational problems and shaky position in the U.S. wireless industry may force the company to cut prices even further to attract customers.

“In such a price war scenario, we think T-Mobile would face the most pressure, and Deutsche Telekom would see the increased urgency to drive market repair,” according to the Merrill Lynch report.

T-Mobile generally is considered to be the low-cost alternative among the top five U.S. mobile phone companies. Last week, Sprint introduced an unlimited voice and data wireless plan that undercut other U.S. companies.

A Deutsche acquisition is possible now because of Sprint’s depressed share price, according to Merrill Lynch. The plunging value of the U.S. dollar also makes a potential acquisition by a foreign buyer cheaper than it otherwise would be.

Investors on Wall Street didn’t put much stock in Merrill Lynch’s speculation. Sprint shares closed Thursday at $6.80, down 20 cents. Shares of the company have fallen more than 48 percent since the beginning of the year.

Sprint reported last week that it lost $29.5 billion, or $10.36 a share, on sales of $9.8 billion during fourth-quarter 2007. Sprint also suspended dividends for investors and said it expected the first-quarter loss of an additional 1.2 million subscribers.

Sprint, the nation’s third largest wireless company, after Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless, has about 54 million customers.

Based in Germany, Deutsche Telekom has about 120 million subscribers worldwide.

Source : http://www.kansascity.com/