The Samsung Intercept showed up on Sprint's EVP site for pre-order earlier today, and now the carrier has officially announced release and pricing information for the device. The rumors were correct, as the Intercept will be launching this Sunday, July 11th, for $99.99 after rebate after signing a two-year contract. The Intercept will be available for purchase in two different colors: "Gray Steel" and "Satin Pink." Considering the specs, $100 seems like a pretty fair price for the Intercept. The device is definitely a worthy successor to the Samsung Moment, and hopefully it will receive an update to Android 2.2 in the near future to help keep the Intercept relevant with the onslaught of Android devices being released. Considering that the Intercept is an Android device with a full QWERTY keyboard, which is still a relatively small group of phones, I'm sure that it will get a decent amount of attention from fans of the little green robot. The full press release from Sprint can be read below.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Jul 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, today introduced a stylish addition to its growing portfolio of Android devices with Samsung Intercept. In addition to the 3.2-inch, touch-screen display, 3.2 MP camera and video, and full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Samsung Intercept comes preloaded with social apps and one-touch picture posting to the top social sites.
Customers can purchase Samsung Intercept starting July 11 through all Sprint channels, including Web (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and select national retail partners. Retail pricing will be just $99.99 (excluding taxes) after a $100 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement on a new line activation or eligible upgrade on an Everything Plan with data. It will be available in two attractive colors - Gray Steel and Satin Pink.
Loaded with Android 2.1, Samsung Intercept provides access to popular Google(TM) mobile services, including Google Search(TM), Google Maps(TM), Gmail(TM) and YouTube(TM), and more than 50,000 applications available in Android Market(TM) today. It also features a powerful processor to make it a snap to maneuver within the device.
"Samsung Intercept is a valuable addition to our growing portfolio of Android phones with a rich Internet browsing experience, visual voicemail and practically all of the latest must-have features," said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product development for Sprint. "Best of all, at this price, we are able to bring the Android experience to a broader audience that will appreciate the versatility that comes with access to thousands of apps on Android Market. This is a great device for those who use their wireless device to manage a business or socialize with family and friends."
"The Intercept is a perfect example of Samsung's commitment to bring the latest Google mobile services, social applications and popular features to smart phones for the mass market," said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. "Users will enjoy the Intercept's stylish design, full QWERTY keyboard and access to full web browsing and Google services for a full-featured smart phone experience."
Great Price Without Sacrifice
Samsung Intercept makes menu and display navigation easy with a highly responsive optical joystick that virtually zips from item to item. It operates on the Sprint 3G network (EVDO-Rev. 0) and features Wi-Fi capability, integrated GPS navigation and accelerometer. Additional features include:
Home screen that scrolls right to left for more space to organize widgets and apps
3.2 Megapixel camera and video camcorder
MP3 Player with MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32 GB)
Stereo Bluetooth(R) wireless technology
Visual voicemail
Sprint TV(R), Sprint Football Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM
Access to social networking sites Facebook(R), Flickr(R) and TwitterTM
Access to personal and corporate e-mail
Easily view Word, Excel, PowerPoint on-the-go to maximize productivity
Samsung Intercept requires Sprint's industry-leading Everything Data plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM that include unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from every mobile in America while on the Sprint network. Everything Data plans start at $69.99 per month - the same price Verizon and AT&T charge for unlimited talk only. (All price plans exclude surcharges and taxes.)
Sprint is the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now service with trained retail associates to work one-on-one with customers to personalize their Samsung Intercept, set up features and demonstrate how it works before the customer leaves the store. Customers have the choice of sitting down with a Sprint retail associate at the time of purchase or they can schedule an appointment for a later time at www.sprint.com/storelocator.
More Satisfied Than Ever
Offering affordable plans to such feature-rich smartphones like Samsung Intercept is one of many reasons Sprint has excelled in customer satisfaction. Sprint is the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last two years, according to results from the 2010 American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Sprint's improvement was driven in part by substantial gains in two aspects of the survey. In the area of customers' perceptions of value, Sprint now leads both AT&T and Verizon. The company also achieved an impressive improvement in the area of customer loyalty. With these gains, the company's overall ACSI score jumped 14 points during the last two years. In the last six years of the ACSI survey, no other company has improved its satisfaction score by that many points in a two-year period.
The improvements in the ACSI survey come as Sprint has seen nine consecutive quarters of improved customer satisfaction and first call resolution. The company's improvements have also been recognized by other independent third-parties, including Sprint winning the #1 spot for both overall satisfaction for wireless voice service providers and wireless data service providers in a Yankee Group and Mobile Enterprise magazine survey of large business decision makers. Sprint also ranked high in small and medium business customer satisfaction. Also noteworthy was Sprint's two-year Reputation Pulse(TM) score increase in Reputation Institute's 2010 U.S. Most Reputable Companies Study (published annually in Forbes). Sprint's 18.22 percent gain puts its improvement in the top 10 percent of the 150 largest U.S. companies, ahead of both AT&T and Verizon.
Sprint is also the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, offering wireless 4G service today for select devices in 36 markets. In 2010, Sprint expects to launch 4G service in multiple markets, including Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. For information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.
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