Have seen these device. All specs are accurate. Not sure if launch by April but definetly by end of Q2. Last stages of testing of production model. It will actually be blue not silver. Because it would be impossible for Sprint's product development and marketing to get together as produce a phone in colors consumers would like. Would it be hard to get a silver phone? Is it that impossible I mean and amethyst black with 24k gold trim pearl is nice and all but compared to VZW its a joke.
Bigname, Although I feel your pain, I truly do, most of what you said is currently untrue. The main issue with Sprint is they decided in 2006 to integrate billings systems. Like everything else they've done, they did it backwards. Sprint had been leasing their billing system Premier for years and decided that since Nextel owned their billing system they'd move the 43 million plus Sprint Subscribers into the 7 million subscriber Nextel Billing System(to cut costs). If retail reps would stop activating new subscribers in the old premier system that integration would be complete. Regardless, at this time you can have a Sprint, Nextel, Hybrid, or EVDO Data Card all on one account in the existing billing system for Nextel Subscribers, there new Unified Billing Platform. However, it has been this process of integration they have driven postpaid subscribers away. Also, there has been no IDEN or Nextel innovation because IDEN is dead. Nextel will cease to exist by 2012 (That's a company directive by the way) because they have developed QChat (a new PTT technology that allows Sprint to Nextel Direct Connect)-Launching sometime first half this year. Why do you think Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart are racing in the Sprint Cup this year? The bottom line is like everyone has said previously. If Sprint would have coughed up the extra dough to buy Alltel instead of Nextel they would have improved their coverage in the southeast where it is the most lacking and had a compatible network will little integration difficulty. If they had keep their call centers on US Soil. But give Sprint credit they have been dealing with two consumer billing systems, separate systems for call centers, and entirely separate order system for online/telesales, and another system for 3rd party retailers trying to keep all that straight while talking to one rep on the phone might be difficult. If I were you I'd be buying Sprint stock like crazy because now they are almost over the hump so its smooth sailing, in another year of two it'll be back to 20+ a share. They have some really innovative stuff coming up...Xohm, Treo 800, Samsung M800, etc.
Actually the website is incorrect. The phone is 49.99 after a 50 dollar mail in. Making it the perfect release price point. They also refined the speaker making it a much better handset for custom ringers. A worthy upgrade to say the least although it lacks EVDO.
"I'm in the market for a new phone and money isn't a limitation. I'm also not partial to any particular US carrier, but here are some of the features I'd like to have: WiFi, GPS, good coverage in lots of places, push Gmail (a must!), physical keyboard (a must!), a touchscreen, decent battery life and a relatively slim body. And please, nothing that has a fruit logo on it. No offense to the fruit fans, though. Thanks!"
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
