Sprint to Launch iPhone Competitor (That Can Actually Compete)

April 1 (Not an April Fool’s joke for Sprint, fortunately) - Sprint Communications recently announced at CTIA Wireless 2008 the newest release of a touch screen smart phone, rivaling Apple’s iPhone released in June of 2007. The Samsung SPH-M800, dubbed the “Samsung Instinct,” will be available in June 2008. The company noted their focus during the CTIA trade show: create a smart phone with a great user interface.

Similarities – i.e., where Sprint’s creativity team conceded: The Instinct has a large touch screen with nine “home” buttons that launch applications, similar to the iPhone. The Instinct also has a full web browser that zooms in and out with the touch of the finger. The overall build and dimensions seem to mirror the iPhone as closely as possible without triggering patent infringements. Sprint promises to provide its own media and music store on the phone for users to download music. Both devices have a built-in 2-megapixel camera.

Where it picks up votes: The Instinct will use the power of Sprint’s 3G EVDO network, one of the fastest next-generation wireless networks available. The iPhone launched last year on AT&T’s slower, 2.5G wireless network, EDGE. (Click here for discussions of a 3G iPhone due in June 2008). The Instinct also will have access to Sprint’s live TV broadcast reception capabilities. Until now, few people wanted to watch television on such small screens. This seems to be a viable solution. Additionally, the Instinct boasts Microsoft Exchange email program, which has been cited as the iPhone’s weakness. (Apple announced plans to rectify this problem). It will have the capabilities of other traditional Sprint phones, including the “Push to Talk,” complete with chirping (an asset or a liability, depending on who is asking).

The Instinct will also cost “less than the iPhone,” according to Sprint’s announcement. This likely will make the product more competitive with the now-stable $399 lowest iPhone price. Sprint failed to mention whether this phone would be able to access the $99/month “Simply Everything” Plan with unlimited voice, data, and texting. Should this be the case, it would also provide a competitive edge over AT&T, where a comparable unlimited plan starts at $120 or more.

Sprint agreed that the most important thing for this product was the user interface. It is unclear what took so long for people to realize that Apple pretty much had the market cornered on best user interface and to give their methods a real try. What is surprising is how they hired Icon Mobile, a design firm, to come up with the best and most creative user interface. They either robbed Sprint of the money it paid for a creative design or just agreed at the table they would transcribe the iPhone and try and make it better.

Most important about this release is that this phone has better features that the iPhone, and where the Instinct leaves off, it certainly supplements the smart phone experience with other applications. Verizon made a failed attempt with the Voyager to introduce a touchscreen smart phone, which hardly made a blip on the market radar. It turned out to be nothing more than the “EnV,” a phone that opened with a full keyboard and mediocre applications. Though it had web browsing capabilities, it offered little more than traditional Verizon phones. The Instinct has the potential to surpass what the iPhone started. How great the potential is, and who takes advantage of it, will be up to the consumer.

Dimensions:

2.17-inch-by-4.57-inch-by-0.49-inch

4.4-oz Instinct using its 3.1-inch

240-by-432 touch screen.

PC Magazine Reports here.

MSNBC reports here.

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AT&T Announces Nationwide 3G Network

Feb. 6 – AT&T officially announced plans to implement a nationwide 3G
wireless network in an effort to “cast a wider net for mobile customers this year.” This announcement comes on the heels of the FCC approving AT&T’s purchase 12 mhz of the 700-mhz nationwide spectrum for a cost of $2.5 billion. This portion is not part of the FCC auction currently in progress.

This news seems to be marginal in light of current events at the FCC. While this announcement paves the way for AT&T to establish the infrastructure for the eagerly-anticipated 3G iphone, the 700-mhz auction currently in progress deserves strict attention with respect to the future of 3G wireless networks (click here for the auctions current status). It is important not to lose sight of the 3G’s big-picture development.

The 3G iphone will help undoubtedly help AT&T’s push into the third-generation wireless market. There are many players, however, on the verge of entering the lucrative and innovative field. New market entrants hope to shake up traditional business models, including that of AT&T. For example, Google’s commitment of $4+ billion to a portion of the open-network portion of the C-Block, coupled with commitments to an open-platform cellular operating system, could quickly drive the direction of 3G wireless services.

This is not to ignore the partnership between Apple and AT&T and its effect on the smart phone/wireless broadband market. They have contributed substantial improvement and awareness to future wireless capabilities. This is not to say, however, that this partnership will swallow the 3G wireless movement whole. We have yet to see what companies, such as Verizon and Sprint, have planned to attempt dominance in the wireless market. Stay tuned.