Dave's Download

Sprint Answers the iPhone With $130 Instinct

By David LaGesse

Posted: June 19, 2008

As predicted, Apple's own price reduction helped force down the price of the latest iPhone competitor. Sprint went further than it had announced, though, and is introducing the new Samsung Instinct for $130 tomorrow (with plan and after rebate).

Still, a $70 discount off the iPhone's price won't be enough to sway people. The iPhone has too much buzz. Much of it is well deserved, with the fun that software from Apple, and outside developers, is bringing to the phone.

Some people will choose the Instinct because they don't like the coverage or service offered by AT&T, which is the iPhone's exclusive carrier. Or true power users who wirelessly swap a lot of photos or surf the Web might be drawn to Sprint's $100 unlimited plan for voice, data, and text. The same $100 gets you only unlimited voice with AT&T.

Not going to make a difference

My company recently switched from their long-time mobile company to Sprint. While I'm still not sure who's genius idea this was, it's turned out to be a horrible nightmare. The week that we switched over, our travel staff around the world couldn't make calls. Okay, that's somewhat understandable. But then there's the dropped calls, the missed calls (because the phone never rings), the voice message notifications that come hours after the person actually left a message. I can't get service out at mine or my boyfriend's house, and it's not like we live in remote locations. It's embarrassing when I'm on the phone with a client or vendor and have to repeatedly call them and apologize for my phone cutting them off. We switched only about two months ago, and there's already talk of going to AT&T.

My point is, no one will give two hoots about the Instinct if the coverage is terrible. I've seen the Instinct, played with it in the office just yesterday, but it's not nearly as amazing as the iPhone. In fact, I was sorely disappointed after all the hype it had received; at one point, I had actually hoped that there would be a good rival to the iPhone. If I was the paying customer, there is no way I would invest more money into a company who can't even provide a ten minute conversation without my signal being lost.

I hope we do switch to AT&T. I would be the first one to have the IT department ready a brand new iPhone for me.

Jen of NV @ Jun 25, 2008 11:40:14 AM

Sprint

Having been in the telecom industry for more years than I want to credit, I would like to say that Sprint is a horrible company. The absolute worst in terms of customer service and collegial cooperation. Sprint never learned to grow with grace. To quote Monty Python "run away, run away" I'd never patronise Sprint or any Sprint derivatives - rather be off-line than on-line via a company built on predation and customer abuse.

Michael of @ Jun 22, 2008 00:22:20 AM

Sprint and iCrap phone

Sprint overcharged my small (US) company for over $50,000.00. We caught them doing it and now they refuse to refund the over-payments. You can read the full story at http://www.sprint-really-sucks.com

I also wrote an open letter to Dan Hesse the Chairman and CEO of Sprint Nextel. It is a good read so please consider reading the letter.

http://www.sprint-really-sucks.com/open-letter-dan-hesse.aspx

AllenHarkleroad of GA @ Jun 20, 2008 13:34:03 PM

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Dave's Download

Our in-house gadget guru, Senior Writer David LaGesse, checks out the latest technologies and gizmos, from computer software to GPS systems -- and reports back to you in plain English.


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