Samsung Instinct available June 20th for $129.99, strings attached

In a move that Sprint clearly hopes will fuel the iPhone vs. Instinct fires, the company today announced that it would be selling its lauded touchscreen phone starting June 20th for a price point of just $129.99. Of course, that takes into account a new two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate, but it still comes in lower than the expected $199.99 price tag we'd been hearing about. Oddly, to activate the phone Sprint stipulates that you have to choose one of their unlimited data plans -- which start at a minimum of $69.99 per month (with 450 minutes of talk-time) -- so monthly costs hover right on level with AT&T's iPhone options... unsurprisingly.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[scorpeo Posted Jun 18th 2008 1:27PM]

I don't know if he's misinformed or if he just throws stuff out there with the hope something will stick, either case there are many misinformed folks like him.

[justlooking Posted Jun 18th 2008 1:00PM]

I saw the Palm Centro at ATT for $30 after rebate at Radio Shack.

[Shawn Posted Jun 18th 2008 1:51PM]

Only Simply everything plans? So does this pretty much mean those of us on share plans are completely left out? That would just be a shame and they would be losing out on a pretty big handful of customers who would want to purchase this phone but also want to share their minutes with multiple lines. How about a simply everything family plan Sprint? That would be pretty cool.

[montusama Posted Jun 18th 2008 2:12PM]

I believe that you save 5 dollars per additional line
so if you want to be the cheapest (like me) you get the Simply Everything 450 plan, but if you have 4 lines it would be
70+65+60+55 which is probably much more than a family shared plan

[reisse Posted Jun 18th 2008 11:28PM]

there is everything share plans now they just came out on monday

[rabscuttle Posted Jun 18th 2008 2:06PM]

But..... Can it play Crysis????

(sorry, couldn't help myself!)

[montusama Posted Jun 18th 2008 2:10PM]

Now I kinda want the phone....but I already got Sprint and can't upgrade any time soon, but then again not sure if i'm really into touchscreen or not....
as for speeds I don't see why it should matter....its a phone...not a computer even if the technology being used is fast....doesn't mean the "computer" can handle it

To me the only real advantage of the GSM/UTMS/HSDPA family is the fact of the sim card in those technologies while CDMA EV-DO Does not and (thats sucks for me....)

[reisse Posted Jun 18th 2008 2:44PM]

I am a die hard mac user have 2 of them I do not like the iphone the instinct seem like a good choice for me I already have sprint and with the everything plan i can do what i want even use third party apps without havening to go through sprint to get the with the java base of the instinct there will be a lot of people developing apps for it

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2008 2:44PM]

So regardless of what sprint says publicly, I have confirmed with two different Sprint CSAs that they will allow the instinct on the new "family" plan (Talk/Message/Data Share). These are 1500 shared minutes for $129.99 or 3000 for $169.99. Oh and they raised add on lines to $19.99 for each line after the two included. But with "unlimited" data, GPS, Sprint TV, and Music Packs included its not terrible.

[sam1am Posted Jun 18th 2008 2:43PM]

Step 1. Walk into Sprint store and get a business card
Step 2. Go home and log on to the Sprint SERO website
Step 3. Use the email address on the card to sign up for your new plan
Step 4. Spend $30/mo instead of $90 on AT&T (500-450 minutes, unlimited texting and data).

[masterchief10 Posted Jun 18th 2008 4:23PM]

Im tired of hearing stupid comments about the instinct, yes we know its no iphone, dats good, cause i hate apple, i love samsung, even if they are a copy cat, its still its own version! no back off b@tches!!!!!! Let me go down wit sprint and their new phone, by the way the true iphone killer is made by samsung, its the Omnia! Check out the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xZFsyYJus

[Ioncloud9 Posted Jun 18th 2008 5:18PM]

You make some valid points, but die hard fans, ESPECIALLY mac fans in their twisted minds turn the shortcomings into features, and worship the device's maker.. so try again.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2008 5:58PM]

Does anyone know if the email app will have a document reader for attachments such as .pdf or Office docs?

[bjsguess Posted Jun 18th 2008 7:01PM]

Haven't seen that at feature in any of the walkthroughs. I'd be surprised if it's included.

The Instinct is definitely NOT a smartphone. It's not direct competition to a WM device.

It is, however, a very attractive phone with music, picture, video, GPS, and basic email. Not bad for $129 (but only if you can use it on a SERO plan).

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2008 10:40PM]

So if it is 129.99 at best buy (no mail in rebate, the store announced it was an instant rebate in-store) would that make the msrp 279.99? (129.99 + 150) Due to rebates for new conracts etc. I'm still soo confused about that...someone please help.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2008 1:35AM]

Geez!!!! Why does this have to be compared to to the iphone at all? Just because it's touch screen???? It's a nice phone, and has some great features. If you are not tied in to an ATT contract, or any othter contract, and if you are considering a touch phone then give it a look. If it is not what you are looking for then move on. The iphone is not the end all-be all of phones. They were not even the first touch screen phone. Just the most hyped (and they still are). I bet when the Instinct come out you will not see CNN reporting on how long the line are, or how strong their sales are, but you will when the iphone comes out. It is all about the marketing, and Apple has that down to a T. Look at the features, and the service plans. Make your own decision about what you want-don't let the hype and marketing make the decision for you.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Phin

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2008 5:52AM]

Too little, too late Samsung. The Touch Pro has me smitten.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2008 3:18PM]

I don't understand what the big deal is. Critics admit the Instinct won't kill the iPhone, BUT they give the phone great reviews. It has great features, and responds well to almost all of them. Where is all the hate coming from? I kinda get the idea that people are just attacking out of complete bias?

One contradiction I read a lot is that Samsung blatantly ripped off the iPhone's look, but then they complain that it's ugly and looks like a dated phone. Haha, it looks just like an iPhone, but more rectangular! Petty?

I'm going to end up getting the iPhone 3G probably because I have a macbook pro and it would probably suite my lifestyle better, but if not for that considering the Instinct's lower price tag, the sprint email I have handy for SERO, great reviews, and, according to Consumer Reports, better service than ATT, I would have definitely considered getting the Instinct over the iPhone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2008 2:16PM]

I've been with Sprint for 8 years and I can't wait to move on. The service is abysmal. And this phone isn't going to make me stick around. My understanding is there isn't integration with Microsoft Exchange.

And these Web-only commercials, showing the Instinct outperforming the iPhone ... they probably shouldn't have done that quite so close to the date when Apple announced iPhone 3G. Unwise.

I don't think this phone will do well, especially given Sprint's customer-service record.

Who knows. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe would-be buyers of either the Instinct or the iPhone will go with the latter just because of the "cool and shiny" factor. Apple is excellent at marketing, after all.

[Jeetah Posted Jun 21st 2008 11:58AM]

This $139 price tag being thrown around is very misleading --

This phone costs $450. IF you are eligible for a discount, and a mail-in rebate, then that will bring the cost down. So you need to call and ask about your eligibility before heading to the store... if you don't mind paying $450.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2008 10:18AM]

the instinct isn't bad at all...but it does lack some features. i saw this article today that gives an off-the-wall, non-techie review of the instinct:
http://www.plasticpundit.com/?p=93

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2008 10:01PM]

Hey I'm very interested in seeing what the new instinct has to offer but I want someone to tell me will it be worth me getting.