Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

Product Category: PDA Phone

Manufacturer: Samsung

Where to Buy: Sprint

Price: $449.99 USD; $149.99 with a new or upgrade 2 year contract

Specifications: From the Samsung site

Pros:

• Great keyboard;
• Design provides a good balance of features for business and pleasure;
• Auto focus feature on camera.

Cons:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 provides limited touch friendly control;
• Stylus is very hard to remove;
• Slow auto focus.

Summary: Windows Mobile 6.5 has hit the marketplace in a big way and phones featuring it are widely available from all of the major US providers. Among its offerings, Sprint features the Samsung Intrepid, a Windows Mobile phone in the classic BlackBerry-style form factor. The Intrepid distinguishes itself in that it's based on Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, which adds a touch screen featured on only a small handful of devices of this style currently available from US carriers and not offered on BlackBerrys. So let's see if the combination of touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard puts the Intrepid at or near the top of the "must have" list. Read more...

"Windows Mobile 6.5 fever: catch it! AT&T had the good fortune of releasing the Tilt2 late enough to get 6.5 out of the gate, but the other guys have been falling in line ever since: first Verizon, then T-Mobile, and now Sprint's getting in on the action. The bad news is that they're only committing to a vague "by the end of first quarter, 2010" window at this point"

Ah the dysfunctional Windows Mobile update model. Microsoft releases the update, and providers screw around with it for months first deciding if they should release it (or hold back hoping people will buy newer models), then tote the official party line of "we must make sure it works well on our network" (Hint: It always does, this just gives them a stall line for another 4-6 months). Then they must decide what sort of crap to put in the ROM that you'll never actually use (That takes 1-2 more months I'm guessing). Finally they have the update ready, but usually decide to hold off another 1-2 months just for fun (Looking squarely at you T-mobile...). Finally around 10 months after Microsoft releases the version, it may show up on some handsets owned by the devoted masses, but most likely won't as they've already moved on. Seriously guys - this is messed up!

" SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2009-- Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the number one mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced the upcoming arrival of Samsung IntrepidTM smartphone, a dynamic Windows® phone that lets the customer be productive on-the-go using America's most dependable 3G network (EV-DO Rev. A)2 domestically and through international roaming when traveling worldwide. Samsung Intrepid features Windows Mobile® 6.5 Professional, and improves on previous Samsung Windows phones with a user experience that offers a customizable Today screen to display the features the user accesses most often and shows important information like new emails, text messages, missed calls and calendar appointments. It also has a richer Internet browsing experience and new personalization options including a diverse selection of designer themes and the ability to create an original look for your phone with the built-in theme creator."

Another new device that will thankfully ship with 6.5. Wondering why their is no picture? Well for that gem you'll have to head over to the press release and click on the "Picture Gallery" link near the bottom. Whereas one would expect to see what the Samsung Intrepid looks like, instead one gets low and high res Samsung and Sprint logos. Classy - just want I want to see, a logo I already see everywhere else! Here's a hint though - the device looks quite a bit like a Blackjack from pictures purporting to be it on the web. Which makes it interesting as above it lists as a "professional" (e.g., touchscreen) device!

"We already knew the CDMA HTC Touch Pro2 headed to Telus and Verizon had been upgraded with a 3.5mm headphone jack, so it's not a huge surprise that the Sprint version has one too"

I haven't used a 3.5mm jack in years, and so I haven't missed one for the last 3 years that HTC has shunned them. However here is more proof that they are on their way back. Now if we can just keep everything constant for 10 years - Mini-usb, 3.5mm jack, and microSD card, I'd be happy.

"We still like what we get in the Treo Pro, but at the same time can't help but look forward to the Pre. We're not quite sure where it fits in Sprint's lineup, given that HTC offers two devices that not only offer more features, but are better designed. Still, the Pro has a good design and will probably find its way into more than a few business suits."

Phone Arena has published a review of Sprint's Palm Treo Pro, which swaps GSM for CDMA. A few niggles aside, impressions are positive; however, with so many new, exciting, and more powerful devices on the horizon, this may be one device to avoid.

Palm and Alltel have just announced the availability of the Treo Pro for $199.99 after rebate with a requisite agreement. You can pick one up now through retail or online at alltel.com. But if Sprint is more to your liking, then you'll be happy to know that said carrier also has the Treo Pro for $199.99 after rebate with a two-year subscriber agreement; however, you'll have to endure a nine-day wait for the privilege of picking one up.

Anyone plan on biting?

"HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today launched the HTC Touch™ Pro for Sprint. Bringing a beautiful new angle to mobile business productivity, the HTC Touch Pro uses styling and functionality similar to the recently launched HTC Touch Diamond™ and introduces a variety of business-focused enhancements that make getting work done on-the-go quick and easy. The HTC Touch Pro is priced at $299.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement, after a $100 mail-in-rebate and a $25-or-higher data add-on or Everything plan with data. Customers will be able to purchase the device in select national retailers beginning the week of Oct. 26 and in all Sprint sales channels, including online at www.sprint.com, 1-800-SPRINT1 and Sprint Stores, on Nov. 2."

Fancy a Touch Pro with the Sprint logo? Then plan a trip to your nearest retailer next week, where the aforementioned device will sell for $299.99 - with strings attached, unfortunately. The first is a $100 mail-in-rebate, and the second is a two-year contract with a $25-or-higher data add-on or Everything plan with data. Anyone plan on picking one up?

Read more...

"...we posted an article saying that the Sprint variant of the Touch Diamond may launch this month, but now we have slightly different information...First, HTC Touch Diamond will be called HTC Victor for Sprint and HTC Diamond for Verizon. Sprint's variant runs on Qualcomm 7501A chipset with 528MHz processor, 256MB ROM, 256MB RAM and 4GB internal memory. Verizon's runs on Qualcomm 7500 chipset with 400MHz processor, has half the RAM (128MB) and has microSD cards slot instead of 4GB NAND flash...The CDMA equivalent of the HTC Touch Pro will be called HTC Herman for Sprint and HTC Raphael for Verizon. They are QWERTY variants of respectively the Victor and the Diamond and have similar specifications, but twice the ROM memory (512MB for both). Herman trades Victor's 4GB for memory card slot and Raphael's frame is also made out of aluminum instead of steel...A few of our readers report that the Victor will be available with Sprint on September 02, 2008, and the Herman will come one month later. There is no exact information when Verizon Wireless will release the Diamond and the Raphael, but it is expected that Sprint will have 30 days exclusivity."

Details started leaking out about these exciting pair of devices for Verizon and Sprint last week. I'm rather surprised at how different the models are for the two carriers, especially with regards to memory, but both look like great devices (small battery notwithstanding; let's hope it gives good battery life on EVDO). As usual, Verizon users will have to wait a little bit longer than the Sprint folks, but at least there's some hope!

Chris from Mobility Site suddenly noticed that Sprint is offering some great mail-in rebates on many of their phones, including all of their WM phones. Amongst others, you can get the Samsung Ace and the HTC Touch for $99, the brand-new Treo 800w for $249, and the Mogul for $299. Of these, the Touch and the ACE certainly seem like the best deals.

Whether or not this is a response to that new unnamed phone, you guys stand to benefit most. You can get the full details from Sprint's site. Any of you planning to take the leap?

"MetroPCS may not have the largest wireless footprint in the States, but they did take a jab at the larger two CDMA carriers by announcing their intention to take on any Verizon and Sprint customers ready to jump ship -- as well as any "compatible" devices they may want to bring along with them. Sprint already supposedly does this (although we've still yet to hear of it actually really happening), but the specifics of MetroPCS's MetroFlash seem equally unclear. It doesn't sound like they'll reprogram just any CDMA device that walks through their doors, though, just the ones they've had a chance to test on their network. Definitely kills the buzz (and the number of devices that can be ported), but a little open is still kind of better than totally closed, right?"

One of the things that have always annoyed be of CDMA devices and carriers is the almost non-existence of openness between them. With my GSM/HSDPA handset I can pop in a SIM card from almost any other GSM network and be up and running with a snap of my fingers. This is something that is almost impossible to do on CDMA networks… heck even switching your current device on the same CDMA network is a hassle. While I give MetroPCS a pat on the back by trying to stand apart from the crowd is it really enough? What benefit is there to being open when the whole process of enabling the handset on the network is so ridiculously cumbersome?

"Reports wafting over the Atlantic Ocean suggest that Deutsche Telekom -- parent company of T-Mobile USA -- is considering Sprint Nextel as a take-over target. And why not? Sprint's share price is below $10, and the euro continues to dominate the dollar. Sprint's spectrum alone is worth it. That would make T-Mobile + Sprint the largest wireless operator in the United States. But could it work without falling to pieces?"

There is further speculation that Sprint is ready to ditch Nextel, the "push to talk" provider it purchased in 2005, which could make Sprint an even sweeter target for a T-Mobile buyout as Nextel's value and subscriber base has been on a steady decline since 2005. The big question is, if it happens, is how do you meld the two networks based on different technologies, T-Mobile being GSM and Sprint being CDMA. In order for the deal to make long term sense, there would have to be one surviving network.

"Sprint's not going out of its way to make a big fuss about it, but its long-standing Voice Command service will soon be no more. The service, which allowed Sprint-Nextel phones to dial two buttons and then give voice commands to place calls, will be discontinued on July 1st, 2008, meaning that all your server-based contacts will soon be inaccessible. Aside from removing the VC fee from your monthly bill, Sprint's advising users to download and print their contact lists, and better still, it's encouraging users to rely on handset-based voice-activated dialing (or pick up a new phone if their current one can't pass muster). So long, Voice Command -- we can't imagine too many folks actually missing you."



I'm not sure if any of our Sprint readers take advantage of their carrier based Voice Command service, but if you do it would be a good time to back up all of your contacts now! It turns out Sprint is pulling the plug on this service on July 1st, 2008 and whatever you do not backup will be sent to the vast CDMA heaven up above. To be honest, I'm surprised they didn't pull the plug on this service a few years back when it started becoming more popular to use the VC services on the handset instead of via the network. Better late than never, huh?