Sprint announces Samsung UpStage, 99 cent songs over the air

As expected, Sprint has announced the SPH-m620 "UpStage" dual-faced musicphone today, giving Sprint a decided "wow" factor in its lineup -- for the moment, at least. Manufacturers seem to be turning to unusual form factors in an effort to gain some differentiation in a crowded high-end and specialty phone marketplace, and the UpStage fills the bill nicely with a full side devoted to traditional phone activities -- "calls, text messaging, and contact management" to use Sprint's verbage -- while the entirety of the flip side takes the form of a traditional MP3 player; a button press switches between sides. Naturally, the phone offers a microSD slot for up to 2GB of external storage, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and stereo Bluetooth, while an included 3.5mm jack adapter lets folks use more traditional headsets if they so choose; even cooler, incoming calls are announced via text-to-speech while you're jamming out. Also included is a Music Manager app for sideloading tunes to the phone via USB and a unique "battery wallet" boosting the phone's stamina for playing music up to a solid 16 hours or 6.3 hours of talk time (up from 2.5 hours talk time without) -- you sacrifice a bit of girth from the phone's normal, svelte 1.73 x 4.07 x 0.37 inch form, but for music junkies, the tradeoff may be worth it. Simultaneously with the phone's release in early April, Sprint will be offering 99 cent over the air (nice!) music downloads good on its entire Music Store catalog, which we reckon is just perfect for a phone of the UpStage's nature. Look for it to hit shelves for $149 on a two-year agreement with a $50 rebate available.

Sprint's Samsung UpStage

[GiggityGiggityGoo Posted Mar 26th 2007 4:56PM]

I like. I like.
Bye bye stupid Katana
Hello two-face phone ipod nano-ish thing

And I was just going to leave Sprint.

[TheCount Posted Mar 26th 2007 5:36PM]

I love how Sprint only even attempts to beat another company to a phone when they see it as a way to nickel and dime customers. They never bother getting a new phone because it has a cool form factor, or a wide array of free features. But here comes a phone where they can charge customers for songs and other media, and they are all over it. Jerks.

[PhilR8 Posted Mar 26th 2007 10:03PM]

"nickel and diming customers"

What, by lowering the price of OTA music downloads from a ridiculuous $2.50 per song to 99 cents? By conforming to the popular and accepted iTunes pricing structure? By allowing you to circumvent OTA downloads altogether by loading on your own mp3 tracks?

I don't understand what you are getting at.

[ceejw Posted Mar 26th 2007 3:41PM]

This thing looks awesome! except for the fact that it looks like you'll have to type text messages using the tiny mp3 player screen.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2007 3:46PM]

This phone is part of Sprint's Ambassador Program Phase III. I was lucky enough to get invited - I will get the phone for free for 6 months with unlimited access to everything Sprint offers. Should be fun.

One question though - Can you browse the web on the big screen of the phone? If not it's going to be pretty useless to me. :)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2007 4:37PM]

I'm confused, how does the switch button work exactly? Isn't it just a phone with screens on both sides?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2007 5:43PM]

hope they don't flood the market with pink,green,blue,redstage


anyway, i like it. kudo's to samsung!

[Tetris Posted Mar 26th 2007 6:01PM]

It'll be a real challenge trying to keep that thing clean. Too cluttered for me.

[TheCount Posted Mar 27th 2007 12:09AM]

What I'm getting at is pretty clear, I fail to see how you missed it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2007 9:43PM]

Well, TheCount, i'm sure Apple's sure not going to nickel and dime anyone on their proprietary products. That's a pretty good deal for a sprint phone, it's new, different concept. Sounds like you just have a chip...on your shoulder, about Sprint. Sorry for you.
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"They never bother getting a new phone because it has a cool form factor, or a wide array of free features." unlike Apple who stole their product design from a European technology fair prize winner and is currently being sued. Besides, can you name a phone company that does what you've commented on?
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http://www.syde-sho.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21427&highlight=IPhone
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btw, Flamer's grill has a point. Sprint offers cheaper downloads, how is that nickel and diming the customer? your point wasn't clear or specific.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2007 9:53PM]

Also TheCount, Sprint has a program that helps customers with problematic histories via any employee. Ask any Sprint employee about "Employees Helping Customers," and they should be able to help take the chip off!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 28th 2007 9:59AM]

I can't wait for this phone. It's going to be less than half the price of the IPhone, plus it will be backed by Sprint's OTA data backbone. I have already ditched DSL at my house for EVDO Rev-A air cards. Plus I heard that you will be able to listen to music on the MP3 player, text message and surf the web with your WAP browser all at the same time. Now that's multi tasking.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2007 12:52AM]

I got this phone today, and its pretty sweet... :)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2007 4:37PM]

This 'new' Sprint phone is a dinosaur in comparison to Apple's new iphone. Cut-Clear!
Anyone interested, should check-out apple.com for themselves. Yes, it's priced more, but I'd rather have smart, simple, GOOD technology over Sprint's 'dropped-calls, even while taking to their technicians', 'I don't care about your service-just your money' attitudes. I've worked in a Apple-Mac world and by far, nothing's better!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2007 11:04AM]

i think this is a really good move. the only thing that would be better (in my opinion) is to offer the actual itunes over the air to the iphone. that would be cool cuz i could buy the song anywhere i am and it would be in full quality and the same price so that i can bring it back home and play it on my computer.

btw skatter tech posted a review on this phone:
http://skattertech.com/2007/04/samsung-upstage-m620-sprint/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2007 1:33PM]

i think this is a really good move. the only thing that would be better (in my opinion) is to offer the actual itunes over the air to the iphone. that would be cool cuz i could buy the song anywhere i am and it would be in full quality and the same price so that i can bring it back home and play it on my computer.

btw skatter tech posted a review on this phone:
http://skattertech.com/2007/04/samsung-upstage-m620-sprint/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2007 1:53PM]

Hey, I am a Sprint Rep in the corporate office. I have a new promo that I can offer to people who set up a new line of service with a power vision pack. The Upstage is only $99.99 after rebate and you get a FREE 1GB Sandisk Memory Card! It only runs through the end of the week and is only good on new lines of service, not phone upgrades. Call me at my direct number 877-370-8227 or email me at [e-mail].

Thanks,
Eric

[lee gibson Posted May 25th 2007 6:27PM]

This is another great looking phone. Cutting edge for Sprint, color me impressed!