Sprint’s Samsung Instinct, priced at $199.99

Posted June 12, 2008 at 06:05 AM by Arnold Zafra

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Apple had better watch its back as it seems Sprint is really determined to battle it out. In a bid to compete with the iPhone 3G, Sprint has just announced that it will be making the Samsung Instinct available for $199.99 along with a contract and after rebates. That’s the same price that AT&T is offering the iPhone 3G to its customers.

Sprint had originally announced that the full retail price of the Instinct would be around $449.99. However, Sprint modified its Instinct package a bit by offering a $150 instant rebate under a new two-year contract. To lower the retail price further, Sprint will also be deducting a $100 mail-in rebate for the mobile phone. That sums up the rebates to around $250. Deducting it from the announced market price of the instinct would total to a $199.99 introductory price for the phone.

But unlike AT&T’s iPhone 3G offering, Sprint would still make the Instinct available for those who don’t want to get tied up with a two-year service contract with Sprint. Customers who will opt for this scheme will have to pay $449.99 and they won’t have to renew their contract with Sprint.

If you look at the scenario from a different angle, Sprint’s offer for the Instinct may seemed more practical than the iPhone. Given that the iPhone 3G is a much sought after mobile phone, still it pales in comparison with the more advanced features of the Samsung Instinct. But of course, it doesn’t carry the Apple branding which for some may be a big deal. The Samsung Instinct also comes packaged with a complete set of accessories in the box to even include a spare battery and a 2GB microSD card.

So, what’s it going to be, iPhone 3G or the Samsung Instinct?

Via [Phone News]