In an internal memo, Sprint released pricing for their $100 million dollar nest egg; the Samsung Instinct. As we suspected, Sprint has decided to price match the iPhone 3G, but with one small catch; a mail in rebate. The Instinct will be available for a no contract price tag of $449.99, but customers looking to upgrade for 2 years or first time buyers will be receive $150 instant discount and $100 mail in rebate. This brings the price down to $299 at the time of purchase (plus tax) and then 6 to 8 long weeks of waiting before you reach the effective $199 price tag.
The big buzz around the Samsung Instinct has been over rate plans. In a second internal memo Sprint announced the following plan changes:
- There will no longer be separate CDMA (Sprint) and iDen (Nextel) plans
- Power Pack and Free Incoming plans are gonzo
- Users can mix and match CDMA and iDen on the same plans (before you had to have separate accounts)
- Single user lines start at 450 or 900 min for $39 and $59 respectively
- Talk/Message/Connect gives unlimited messaging and Direct Connect (Walkie Talkie) but no data – $49.99 for 450 minutes, $69.99 for 900 minute or $89.99 for unlimited.
- Everything Plans (include messaging and data) – $69 for 450 minutes, $89 for 900 minutes or $99 for unlimited minutes
- Unlimited plans include navigation, TV and Direct Connect
- Smartphone MUST be activated on a talk plan with a Vision Pro pack ($30) – or on an Everything plan
- Share plans (aka Talk Share) start at $69.99 for two lines with 700 minutes – add a phone is $9.99 per to a max of 5 total phones on the line
- The Talk/Message Share plans run $99.99 and $149.99 for 1500 and 3000 minutes and unlimited messaging, additional lines are also $9.99. Finally, the Talk/Message/Data Share plans run $129.99 or $169.99 for 1500 and 3000 minutes, unlimited messaging and data. Besides browsing, these plans include Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV and Sprint Radio. Additional lines can be added for $19.99 apiece.
The Samsung Instinct will require the use of either the $69.99 Unlimited Plan or the $99.99 Everything Unlimited Plan at the time of purchase. Similar to the iPhone, a special plan is required to use the device, but the big problem with this news is for Sprint customers on SERO plans. Unfortunately SERO plans will not be compatible with the Samsung Instinct and users must switch over to one of the two unlimited plans. We can only imagine the uproar this new will bring as Sprint currently operates with the highest churn rate in the industry and missing out on all the potential SERO users buying the Instinct will not help a $9 stock price. With only 8 days away until the June 20th release date of the Sprint Samsung Instinct there is not much time for Sprint to re-think their Unlimited Plan requirement, but we’ll cross our fingers anyway.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
“The Samsung Instinct will require the use of either the $69.99 Unlimited Plan”
Sounds like an idiot decided to use a no name device with no brand and no existing capital to push people to pay much higher rates. This against a killer brand like apple and a much better service provider like AT&T.
They have to come in at half total price (handset and 24 months of charges) to have a prayer of not being flattened.
“Hey honey, I got you a Timex but it was a great deal, only cost half of what a Rolex does and has almost the same features, aren’t I a genius”
Instinct will also be available with one of the talk.message/data plans as well starting at 129.99 for 2 lines.
Lol @ apple being a “Killer brand”.
Apple’s products are good if you’re mentally challenged, or younger than 15.
Dear Mr. Jones,
Thank you for contacting Sprint. I understand your concern regarding the Samsung Instinct handset with the Sero plan.
I apologize for the inconvenience caused. I understand that you wish to activate the Samsung Instinct handset on the $30.00 Sero plan.
The Instinct can be activated on the $99.99 Simply Everything SERO plan.
As of now it is not possible to activate the Samsung Instinct handset on $30.00 Sero plan. However the SERO customers are allowed to move to any of the Everything Plans, not just the $99.99 Simply Everything.
While the $99.99 Unlimited Simply Everything plan is the plan available to the Instinct SERO customer, they can change to the lower priced
$69.99 or $89.99 SE plan after activation.
There is no update with us that whether the Instinct & the $30.00 SERO plan as a package will come in the near future.
I have forwarded your feedback to the appropriate department. We keep on launching new services and features on the feedback of the valuable customers like you.
We are receiving emails with same concern from other customers also. In future, we may come-up with this feature, however, it is still under consideration and at this time, we are unable to predict about it.
I once again apologize for the inconvenience caused in this regard.
Thank you for emailing us.
Sincerely,
Vince G.
Sprint
New SERO Plans start July 10th, but July 13th they are scheduled to enable SERO Plans to be compatible with the Samsung Instinct. Looks like you just have to hold out until after the iPhone 3G launch since now is the big push for Simply Everything Plans and the Instinct.
Nick, Im thinking the same thing….That email response I got from Sprint was some B.S.
They are advertising the Instinct hard…. Commercials all over TV, Wimbledon, etc. They want to take advantage of the pre-release time before the IPhone 3G. They want to lock up, as many with the “Everything plan” and maximize profits. Good strategy on their part. However, when its time, the SERO plan will be unveiled and the people in the know who know how to play the game will get what they want. (-;
Putting this up against the IPhone without a SERO plan is suicide IMO.
I agree, I have been a sprint customer for 10 years and the only thing keeping me here is the sero plan, I really want a smart phone like the instinct or the iphone. But Im gonna wait it out till my contract expires in January. I use barely 200 minutes a month total between calling phone, moble or nights and weekends and 70 dollars a month is too high for how little I talk on my phone or the 30 text messages I use a month. Ill probably use a lot more text messages with this phone but nothing to justify 70 dollars a month
Awesome phone. Makes the iPhone look like poop, literally. Works great, great features, but still the same sucky customer service. Only downfall to the whole thing is Sprint owns it. I do dislike that my corporate discount was $30 for 3,000 minutes and now I had to change to the $79.99 plan but it does knock it down to appx $50 for the same service/features. Well internet is alot better and gps is include. But still I’m losing minutes and basically adding gps. Thats the only downfall, otherwise. Phone is great, don’t listen to anyone who says it isn’t. Instinct VS Iphone…….Instinct all the way
Hmmm… Let me think.. 69.99 for for a Iphone wannabe on a outdated CDMA network or… $70 on a GSM network for a real Iphone. Let me think… No brainer!
I’m on a SERO 500 plan. I would probably pay another $10 per month, but double the price? No way! When my contract is up. I’ll probably jump to the 3G Iphone like most SERO users.