Sprint announces the Samsung Intrepid

Sprint this morning announced the addition of the Samsung Intrepid to its Windows Mobile lineup as a follow-up to the Ace. Here's what's we know thus far:

  • Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional.
  • 2.5-inch touchscreen at 320x240.
  • WiFi b/g.
  • 3.2MP camera.
  • World Phone.
  • Microsoft's Tell Me service is on board!

Other rumored specs were a 528MHz Qualcomm processor, with 512MB ROM/256MB RAM.

The Intrepid will be available Oct. 11 for $149.99 after contract and rebate.

Full presser after the break.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.

Samsung Intrepid adds to Sprint’s robust line of international devices allowing its customers to leverage America’s most dependable network domestically and other high-performance, world class networks abroad. Global business travelers can rest easy knowing Sprint has a solution to keep people connected when they travel in the United States and abroad.

This device is a strong addition to Sprint’s business device portfolio and features a 2.5-inch touchscreen interface with 320x240 resolution, full QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera and camcorder, and combines a robust mobile office experience with all the must have Microsoft Office Mobile-capabilities like corporate email and the ability to view attachments and manage your calendar. Additional business features include:

  • Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional with Microsoft ActiveSync® and Microsoft Office Mobile (edit Word and Excel® files, view PowerPoint®)
  • Windows Mobile email (work & personal)
  • stereo Bluetooth®
  • multimedia with microSD slot (up to 32 GB)
  • easy access to social networking sites, including Facebook®, Flickr® and Twitter
  • instant messaging and threaded text messaging
  • Wi-Fi
  • Pre-installed SIM

It will be available on Sunday, Oct. 11 for $149.99 (excluding taxes) with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement, and after a $50 instant savings and $100 mail-in rebate, at Sprint stores, Web sales (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1), Sprint Business Direct and select third-party dealers.

“Combined with America’s most dependable 3G network and Sprint’s affordable rate plans, Samsung Intrepid is a great value for our customers who want a Windows phone with International capabilities,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “This phone offers the robust enterprise capabilities of Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, and a best-in-class email experience with smooth Web surfing and access to applications that are both useful and fun.”

“Samsung Intrepid makes it easier for people to do more on the go by giving them the choice to use voice or touch input on a sleek new Windows phone,” said Andy Lees, senior vice president of Microsoft's Mobile Communication Business. “Samsung Intrepid on Sprint’s reliable network is a great example of how customers benefit when industry leaders rally around a common goal – in this case convenience.”

“Samsung is excited to have the Windows phone operating system integrated into the new Samsung Intrepid,” said Omar Khan, senior vice president of Strategy and Product Management for Samsung Mobile. “Intrepid’s global connectivity, Wi-Fi capabilities touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard options combined with document editing, imaging and messaging capabilities and enhanced multitasking make this device a perfect fit for international business and personal use.”

Innovative Features and Applications

Featuring Internet Explorer Mobile® 6, Samsung Intrepid offers powerful Web search capabilities with a touch-friendly user interface and Bing™ for mobile information while on-the-go, the ability to view Web sites in Mobile or Desktop view and better zoom, scroll and pan features for easier Web site navigation and an Adobe Flash Lite® plug-in that allows Samsung Intrepid users to enjoy rich Flash-based games, videos and other interactive Web content on their phone. Additional upgrades over previous Samsung Windows Mobile phones include:

  • Windows Marketplace for Mobile offering a rich and integrated marketplace of quality applications for purchase using a Windows Live ID
  • Lock screen allows users to receive calls, keep track of upcoming calendar appointments and view recent activities, all while the phone is still locked
  • Microsoft® My Phone service allows users to access, manage and back up their personal information on their device using a password-protected, Web-based service

Samsung Intrepid from Sprint is the first device to offer Microsoft Corp.’s TellmeTM mobile experience, which allows customers to use their voice to dial a contact, compose a text message and search the Web using America’s most dependable 3G network. The Tellme application can search business listings, traffic, maps, driving directions, movies and weather, instantly with the touch of a button and a person’s voice. With Tellme, Samsung Intrepid users only need to push a button and say 'coffee shop' to get the location of nearby cafes.

Worry-free Pricing Plans

With its powerful data experience, Samsung Intrepid will benefit from the value of Sprint’s Everything Data plans, with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, which gives customers unlimited mobile calling on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless carrier, unlimited nationwide texting, email, Web browsing and much more, starting at just $69.99. For customers that want Sprint’s Simply EverythingSM Plan that offers a truly unlimited experience for only $99.99 per month, and they can save $1,200 over two years vs. a comparable AT&T iPhone® plan3. (All price plans exclude surcharges and taxes. Other exclusions apply.)

Sprint also offers great value on international service plans for Samsung Intrepid. The Worldwide Data plan gives customers email and Web access in more than 145 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other locations using CDMA technology, and with GSM/GPRS carriers abroad where Sprint has applicable roaming agreements. The plan is available for $69.99 per month, or just $40 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) as an attachable to Simply Everything, Everything Data, Everything Data Family or Business Advantage Messaging and Data.

Sprint international voice roaming rates range from $0.59 to $5.99 per minute, depending on where customers are calling. Customers making frequent calls while in Canada can take advantage of a specific service plan for $2.99 per month which allows calls to be made and received at $0.20 per minute. Customers also have the option of using a third-party SIM for international voice and data services.

Sprint provides voice coverage in 195 countries and data coverage in more than 145 countries. The Sprint Worldwide voice plan (International Voice Roaming Discount Plan) enhances the value proposition for Sprint’s International devices like the Samsung Intrepid, HTC Touch Pro II and the Blackberry Tour. Customers can add the plan at anytime for $4.99/month; discounted prices available for more than 110 countries; discounts range from $0.10/minute to $3.00/minute with plan. For more information on Sprint’s International Services, go to www.sprint.com/international.

Sprint offers an additional value as the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now with trained retail associates that work one-on-one with customers to personalize their Samsung Intrepid, 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.

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming) reaches more than 269 million people, 18,652 cities and 1,838 airports. The Sprint Networks (inclusive of data roaming) have more than twice the coverage of AT&T’s current 3G network and more than 20 times the coverage of T-Mobile’s current 3G network, both based on square miles4.

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.