A pair of operators, Sprint and T-Mobile, recently updated flagship smartphones.
Sprint is now offering the Samsung Instinct s30, a new version of its popular Instinct model, which -- at a year old -- was getting a little long in the tooth. Meanwhile, T-Mobile's just announced the latest model in its long-running Sidekick series, the Sidekick LX 2009.
According Sprint, the Instinct offers an improved Web-browsing experience over its predecessor through both the default browser and Opera Mini 4.2. It sports a thinner more streamlined design for a smoother feel in the user’s hand with two color options—Cobalt Metal or Touch of Copper. There's also a 2 megapixel camera, microSD slot, and Stereo Bluetooth. There's 3G but no Wi-Fi, however.
The battery is supposed to last for 4.6 hours of talk time.
The smartphone also offers quick access to a corporate calendar via Microsoft Outlook. Sprint Mobile Email Work provides access to corporate e-mail, contacts and calendar from Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, 2003 or 2007 accounts, or IBM Lotus Domino accounts. It just may be the Sidekick to bring the popular consumer smartphone to the business market.
The Instinct s30 goes for $130 with a two-year agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate. See
here for full specs.
As for T-Mobile's Sidekick LX 2009, although it looks similar to its predecessors, it will be the thinnest Sidekick yet. It will also be the first Sidekick to support corporate e-mail, through Exchange ActiveSync, in addition to loads of other messaging options.
Additional features include a QWERTY keyboard, WVGA+ display and support for T-Mobile's 3G network. There's also -- like with the Instinct S30 -- turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates, among other location-based services, through the smartphone's integrated GPS function.
Both the Sidekick LX 2009 and Instinct s30 promise to easily connect to various social network and multimedia services, including YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.
It sports a 3.2 megapixel camera, microSD slot and support for Stereo Bluetooth.
You can pre-order the Sidekick LX 2009 for $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract now. It should hit stores on May 13.
See
here for full specs and details on the Sidekick LX 2009.
