Sprint’s HTC Evo 4G too rich for your blood? On July 11, Sprint will be adding a $100 option to its lineup of Android smartphones with the debut of the Samsung Intercept.
The Intercept features a 3.2-inch touch-screen display, a slideout QWERTY keypad, the additional navigation option of an optical joystick, 3G, WiFi and Stereo Bluetooth connectivity, an accelerometer and GPS navigation – in all, not a shabby feature list for a mid-range device. Though that $100 price point, it should be said, comes after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract and data plan.
“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,” Kevin Packingham, Sprint’s senior vice president of product development, said in a statement. “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 runs Android 2.1, and users can expect the usual suite of Google apps, including Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube. Perhaps less expected is access to Sprint TV, Sprint Football Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile app. There’s an MP3 player, a 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording, an included 2GB microSD card – though 32GB are supported – and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Multiple instant messaging apps are included, there’s quick access to social-networking sites, and users can view Word, Excel and PowerPoint files – though there’s no mention of being able to edit them.
The Intercept measures 4.4 by 2.2 by 0.6 inches, users can expect a talk time up to 6.4 hours, and there’s 512MB of ROM and 256MB of RAM on board. The processor – which Sprint describes as making navigation “a snap” – is the Samsung S3C410, same as in the Samsung Moment.
The Intercept will be available in Gray Steel or Satin Pink. And don’t forget, says Sprint, that it’s the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now – a service in which a retail associate will help you set up your new phone. The service is just one part of Sprint‘s major push to improve its customer service offerings – and reputation. And its efforts have been a success, according to the 2010 American Customer Satisfaction Index, which for the last two years has rated Sprint as the company offering the most improved customer service experience, across all industries.