Touchable TV on Canadian version of Samsung Instinct?

Check out this site about Canadian version of Samsung Instinct:

http://pages.samsung.com/ca/instinct/English/

Its camera software has 4x digital zoom (which I don't really care about because it is still 2 megapixel).

(and don't forget to tell your friends about Instinct Bookmarks, the best Instinct information site!)

Samsung Instinct goes on sale in Canada on August 8th

Bell Canada to launch Samsung Instinct on August 8th:

http://samsunginstinct.bell.ca/samsung-instinct-features
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/07/03/bell-instinct.html


Check out the pictures of Bell's version of Instinct (click to view larger and note the subtle difference from Sprint Instinct icons):

Update notifications to begin August 8th

Note: This is regarding the first update. If you regularly read this blog, you probably already have this update.

"Regarding the availability of the update:

Currently, you can manually update the software (Main - Settings - Update Software) -- it's only being noted to the readers of BuzzAboutWireless and InstinctInsight.com as a 'Thank You' for all your comments, questions and input.

The automatic pushes will begin on August 8th, at which point notifications will be sent to about 100,000 people per day to update their phone.

Will England
Buzz About Wireless Admin
Sprint Nextel "

Note "100,000" people per day. So if people receive the update notification on August 10th, it might indicate over 200,000 sold! Let's keep an eye on that and post a reply here if you receive notification after August 8th...

Getting ''unsupported document type" error - very small number of users

A very small number of users might receive unsupported document type error on their browser. Sprint is aware of this issue and the fix should be available by late August.

Opera Mini 3.1 Browser looking a lot better now

It seems that after the Instinct July software update, Opera Mini 3.1 browser is showing the pictures well and it looks much better and loads faster! The Java keyboard hasn't been updated yet so you will have to use the workaround for a little bit more.

If you don't know how to make Opera Mini 3.1 work (without the keyboard!), you can try the steps here:

http://instinctbookmarks.blogspot.com/2008/06/exclusive-how-to-use-opera-mini-3-older.html


And many sites are already bookmarked here for your convenience:

http://instinctbookmarks.blogspot.com/2008/07/some-popular-websites-for-browsing-in.html


NOTE: Opera Mini 4.1 still doesn't work but we are hopeful that it will work after the Java LCDUI update.

Details of what has changed in Sprint Instinct July update

Here are the details of what has changed according to InstinctAdmin at baw forum:

Sprint released an initial update to the Instinct today. This update will not change the behaviours of many of the applications. What it does is update the Samsung ROM - the base code that the applications run on - to prepare the device for application updates starting early in August. Some of the issues fixed include:

• Elimination of issues by where data services are disabled without user preference
• Elimination of NAI corruption upon provisioning if new NAI is shorter than the previous
• Reflect reoccurring calendar appointments
• Improved volume – Bluetooth headsets
• Utilize saved pictures as background image
• Reduce fluctuation in signal bar and other functions related to RF/Network quality
• Eliminate “echo” on conference bridge

The application updates coming in August will make changes to Picture Mail, the web browser, Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Email, Sprint Music Store, Visual Voicemail, Mobile Sync and more. Today's update prepares the device for these updates.

And here is a teaser:

"And you are correct - it was mainly to the Samsung ROM. Application level fixes are coming in August. They're ready but not fully tested / certified. We want to make sure we aren't introducing any new bugs when we drop the app fixes.

Will England
Buzz About Wireless Admin
Sprint Nextel "

Sprint Instinct July Software Update - Screen Images

If you haven't already updated the software on your Sprint Instinct phone, here's what the screens look like during the update. Also shown is the phone information before and after the update.

The only noticeable change is the phone software version from "SW:ES.M800 BE09" to "SW:ES M800 BF30":

Software update for Sprint Instinct today - next one in 2 weeks

According to Will England (Admin of Buzz About Wireless), there will be two updates to Sprint Instinct software with one available today!

------------------
"There are two updates. One will fix the native software on the phone. That's available today. The second update will be in about two weeks that will update the third party applications to use the new features and changes pushed out today. Both updates will be over the air. There should be no reason to go to the store at all.

Will England
Buzz About Wireless Admin
Sprint Nextel"
----------------------

"I'm working with Doug to get a list of everything that was updated in this release - I should have that ready by the end of the day. Stay tuned!

Will England
Buzz About Wireless Admin
Sprint Nextel"
----------------------

Sprint AIRAVE™ - Create mini cell tower in your home!

Source:

http://www.sprintenterprise.com/airave/

http://www.nextel.com/en/services/airave/index.shtml?id9=vanity:airave

With Sprint AIRAVE™, a winner of the 2008 PC World 25 Most Innovative Products Award, you'll enjoy enhanced wireless service in your home or office — even if there is no coverage. It's like having your own miniature cell tower with a coverage radius of up to 5,000 square feet.

Key Features

• Works with any Sprint phone — up to three users at the same time.¹
• Installs in minutes with your existing broadband Internet access, such as DSL, cable or T1.
• Unlimited incoming and outgoing calls, including nationwide long distance, when using your Sprint phone and initiating your call on the device (requires an AIRAVE unlimited calling plan).**
• Automatically transfers calls to the Sprint Nationwide Network once you leave your home or office.²
• Limit access to your AIRAVE by creating a list of up to 50 approved Sprint phone numbers.

Get It

• AIRAVE is available exclusively from Sprint. Here's how to get it:
  Check to see where AIRAVE is available.
• Contact or visit your nearest Sprint Store for details.

What You'll Need

• Active Sprint phone(s)
• Sprint voice plan
• Broadband Internet access, such as DSL, cable or T1.
• Available Ethernet port — either on your modem or via a router — to connect AIRAVE to your broadband data service.
• Available power outlet

Pricing

• Sprint AIRAVE Base Station - $99.99/each (requires activation at time of purchase and subscription to an AIRAVE plan. Excludes taxes.)
• AIRAVE Enhanced Coverage Charge - $4.99/mo. (required per AIRAVE unit)**
• Single Line Unlimited Calling Plan (optional) - $10/mo.**
• Multi-Line Unlimited Calling Plan (optional) - $20/mo. per account**

This looks similar to T-Mobile's AtHome service. It even has a GPS chip in it for E911 service. According to the user guide:

"By utilizing a built-in GPS antenna, the base station is capable of maintaining exact network timing updates and providing E911 services with an accurate location.

• The current GPS location (provided by the internal antenna) is used to help the base station quickly locate GPS satellites for faster GPS acquisition
• If the GPS signal is ever interrupted or insufficient because of location, install the external GPS antenna and place it in an open area for better reception."

Sprint Loses Early Termination Fee Case

Source:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807290957DOWJONESDJONLINE000447_FORTUNE5.htm

"Sprint Nextel Corp. was dealt a major blow in its early-termination-fee case when a California judge ruled it would have to pay $ 73 million."
...
"This ruling sounds the death knell for the industry's petition seeking a preemption ruling from the FCC - a ruling the industry has never been able to win in court," said Scott Bursor, an attorney representing the plaintiffs."

PDF: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/files/sprintorder.pdf

The ruling is tentative and Sprint intends to fight it...

Streaming online TV, radio and Podcasts on Sprint Instinct using Orb

UPDATE:
Here are the instructions:
http://instinctbookmarks.blogspot.com/2008/09/streaming-media-on-sprint-instinct.html




I just tested online streaming TV and videos, streaming radio and podcasts on Sprint Instinct using Orb. You can even subscribe to podcasts using iTunes software on your PC and then stream them from your PC to Instinct via Orb. Here is orb's website:

http://www.orb.com/

I will post detailed instructions in a week or so, so be sure to check back later if you can't get it to work on your own.

It also has options to view Google video, Yahoo video, AOL video and Guba videos in addition to YouTube!

CNET Labs - Battery test results

Source:
http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2008/07/29/iphone-3g-battery-results-music-and-video/

Music playback battery drain
Apple iPhone 3G (Wi-Fi off, 3G on): 25.5 hours
Apple iPhone (Wi-Fi off, EDGE on): 31.4 hours
Samsung Instinct (3G on, Wi-Fi unavailable): 18.2 hours

Video playback battery drain (same settings as audio)
Apple iPhone 3G: 2.68 hours
Apple iPhone: 5.99 hours
Samsung Instinct: 4.28 hours

File transfer speed to transfer a single 500MB file to the phone from a PC
Apple iPhone 3G: 1.35 minutes
Apple iPhone: 1.6 minutes
Samsung Instinct: 7.71 minutes
(using iTunes 7.7 for iPhone and Windows Media Player 11 for Instinct)

My guess is that iPhones are optimized for iTunes software. With Instinct, you can direct copy via USB (without using Windows Media Player) and also take the MicroSD card out to use with a PC memory card reader. You can also replace it with a faster memory card.

Sprint announces Sprint Web for most phones

Looks like this is mainly for the phones that do not have an advanced browser...

Sprint Makes It Easier for Customers to Navigate the Internet, Find the Content They Want on Sprint Phones with Sprint Web

Available Now on 40+ Popular Sprint Phones, Sprint Web Features Adaptive Home Page Reflecting Each Customer's Usage, Plus Google(TM) Search of Open Internet

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Jul 28, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- As customers increasingly count on their wireless phones for on-the-go Internet access, Sprint (NYSE:S) is making it easier for them to get the content they want with today's launch of Sprint Web, a next-generation mobile Web browsing experience on popular Sprint phones. Sprint Web offers an adaptive home page that delivers content based on the customer's previous usage, along with direct access to search from Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG). This enhancement is automatic for Sprint customers who currently access the mobile Web on these phones and requires no additional action on their part.

...
The new Sprint Web home page uses technology by ChangingWorlds, a global expert in mobile Internet personalization and content discovery technologies, to provide each customer with dynamic, relevant content and information as a result of their past usage. This makes each customer's Sprint Web home page unique, depending on their interests. For example, if a customer continually goes to sports links, the top sports stories will be featured. This allows customers to quickly get relevant information based on what they use most, making it easier to navigate the Internet on their phones and reducing the time they spend looking for content. To access Sprint Web, customers simply click the Web icon on the main menu of their phone.
...

Sprint Web is available today on 40+ popular Sprint phones, including RAZR2 by Motorola, Centro by Palm, Rumor by LG, Upstage by Samsung, and Katana DLX by Sanyo. Sprint plans to make Sprint Web available on virtually all Web-capable Sprint feature phones over the coming weeks. The introduction of Sprint Web follows Sprint's launch earlier this year of a more PC-like open Internet browsing experience on its phones, which provides more user-friendly renderings of Internet sites, even those not optimized for mobile devices.

SOURCE: Sprint Nextel

iPhone 3G available in most states now?

As of this writing, it seems that iPhone 3G is now available in most states:

http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.php
http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/07/24/iphones-briefly-available-at-80-of-apple-stores/

Does this mean iPhone sales have slowed down or supplies have increased? Whatever it is, I hope that people look at Sprint's commercials and then check out plan comparison because AT&T iPhone 3G plans are very expensive. Here is a comparison that I did a while ago:

http://instinctbookmarks.blogspot.com/2008/07/sprint-instinct-vs-at-iphone-3g-family.html

Cellphone Radiation - Some neurosurgeons don't hold cellphones to their ears

So the cellphone radiation debate goes on. While most experts say that there is no proven risk from cellphone radiation:

"... three prominent neurosurgeons told the CNN interviewer Larry King that they did not hold cellphones next to their ears. “I think the safe practice,” said Dr. Keith Black, a surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, “is to use an earpiece so you keep the microwave antenna away from your brain.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03well.html

Instinct and iPhone comparison with top 10 highest-radiation cell phones (US)

Manufacturer and model	SAR level(digital)
1 Motorola V195s	1.6
2 Motorola W385	1.54
2b RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Sprint)	1.54
2c RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Verizon Wireless)	1.54
5 Motorola Deluxe ic902	1.53
5a T-Mobile Shadow (HTC)	1.53
5b Motorola i335	1.53
8 Samsung Sync SGH-C417	1.51
9 HTC SMT5800	1.49
9a Motorola Z6c	1.49
Other phones for comparison below	Not in continuous order
Samsung Instinct	1.46
Apple iPhone 3G (8GB)	1.38
Apple iPhone 3G (16GB)	1.38
LG Dare	1.09
Apple iPhone (4GB)	0.974
Apple iPhone (8GB)	0.974

((Source - CNET News)
SAR = specific absorption rate, is "a way of measuring the quantity of radiofrequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body."

If you have a different phone, check out your cellphone's radiation level here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020355-1.html?tag=lnav


(Image courtesy: http://wiki.ucalgary.ca)

Another review - Samsung Instinct and LG dare vs iPhone

Chicago Tribune has a review of Samsung Instinct and LG dare here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-mon-tech-buzz-dare-instinctjul28,0,7858971.column

Bottom line - Sprint Instinct stands on its own and Verizon customers will like LG dare but iPhone browser is better.

Sprint PhoneIQ - 2D bar codes on phones

What are 2D bar-codes

http://www.google.com/adwords/printads/ads/barcode/

2D barcodes are a way to encode information, just like conventional barcodes – but 2D barcodes can encode significantly more. This information can be read by devices with cameras, such as cellphones.

For example, the 2D barcode shown here contains the information "www.google.com." When you capture a picture of it with your cellphone, special decoding software reads the encoded information, and, in this case, prompts your phone's browser to visit a URL.

2D barcodes have been common in Japan for a number of years. In fact, Japanese business cards often feature barcodes containing contact information. Such barcodes are starting to gain popularity in other countries as well.

What is Sprint doing with 2D bar codes?

http://sprintspecialoffers.com/phoneiq/

Sprint already has a number of devices that are 2-D ready! I would imagine that they might include Instinct in the list at some point (this is just a guess, nothing from Sprint at the moment).

Sprint users with compatible phones can get the ScanLife software by texting the word "Scan" to 70734 and choosing install.

Here is the home page of ScanLife where you can create your own EZcodes:

http://www.scanlife.com/

Another promising Push-email application (with calendar!)

Here is another promising FREE push-email application. I haven't tried it and didn't see Instinct in the list of supported phones (but saw that they now have a Java edition):

http://www.emoze.com/en/get/index.asp

http://www.emoze.com/en/press/releases/080722.html

With emoze

• Receive your emails and Outlook data anywhere, anytime
• Handle your schedule and meetings via your mobile device
• Enjoy synchronized Personal Information Management (PIM)
• Access information about your Contacts, anywhere, anytime
  

Instinct customers are heavy users of Pocket Express® application

Source:

http://www.handmark.com/company/sprint_case_study.php

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/07/28/story3.html

"Pocket Express delivers content for News, Sports, Weather, and Movie Showtimes featured on the Samsung Instinct available exclusively from Sprint this June. Additional Pocket Express content is available on the Instinct from optional widgets for Marine Forecasts and Entertainment News"
...
“The minute that they started selling the phones in their stores, we started seeing subscribers using our services,” said Ted Wugofski, chief technology officer of Handmark Inc. “It is far exceeding expectations in the number of people using the Web and services.”

Kansas City-based Handmark, whose Pocket Express mobile news and search service comes loaded on the Instinct, had to redirect employees to work on its servers and use more hardware to manage the demand."


It looks like Pocket Express® also provides a Stocks application. I don't know why Sprint didn't include it with Instinct. It would have been a very valuable application to a number of users and iPhone has always had a Stocks application!

LifeInPocket - iPhone like features, Navigation, Location IM, Finance, Sync'ing and more

I haven't tried it yet but this application promises many iPhone like features (Instinct already has most of these) that should work on many phones. I will try it after Sprint's Java keyboard (LCDUI) update. In its beta mode, it requires MSL. Hopefully they will integrate it with Instinct's GPS...

http://mobile.roadcomm.com/

FAQs: http://mobile.roadcomm.com/FAQ.html

PR Newwire Press release:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=LRDTLS.story&STORY=/www/story/04-04-2008/0004786663&EDATE=

RoadComm, Inc. Unveils LifeInPocket(TM), an Enhanced Alternative to the iPhone. The new mobile phone application/services platform that adds full-spectrum iPhone features -- from emails, PIM and map to web browsing, GPS to navigation, location messaging and more -- to most mobile phones, was demonstrated live to reporters
...
Reaching beyond general iPhone features, such as mail, maps, weather,PIM, and web browser, LifeInPocket(TM) also makes available aGPS/address-based directory offering over 14 million points of interest(POIs). It features not only turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance,but instant location messaging, family locator and much more. Unlike iPhone's limited sync capability, LifeInPocket(TM) offers address book sync/import/export with Yahoo!, Gmail, MSN, Hotmail, OutlookExpress, Palm Desktop, etc. The user can one-click on those synced contacts to "call," to "mail" and to "navigate" on your phone. The only highly integrated mobile application/services platform of its kind, LifeInPocket(TM) not only transforms middle-of-the-road cell phonesinto a "iPhone plus" powerhouse, it truly is designed to be nothing less than a Life In your Pocket.

Sprint Instinct (Samsung SPH-M800) Phone codes

Check out this page to get a list of some phone codes for Sprint Instinct. It also tells you how to use your instinct phone as a modem (PAM):

http://www.phonenews.com/phones/index.php/Samsung_SPH-M800_Instinct

(Be very careful if you make any changes to your phone!)

InformationWeek's article on mobile email

Source:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209600408

"Sprint offers the Sprint Mobile Email Work, backed by software from Seven, a mobile messaging software provider. E-mail is pushed from the Exchange mailbox to the end user via Seven's network operations center and a signaling channel.

Sprint Mobile Email Work does not cost extra if users already subscribe to Everything plans, which start at $69.99, and the $30 Sprint Pro Pack data plan. Sprint Mobile Email Work is priced at $9.99 per month, in addition to voice and data charges, under other plans from Sprint. Handsets that support this service include the Rumor and Fusic by LG; Motorola's Razr, Razr2, and KRZR; Samsung's Instinct, A900, A900M, and M50; and the Katana, Katana II, and 8400 by Sanyo."

Most of Sprint Instinct's plans like simply everyting and Talk/Message/Data Share plans have the mobile email included at no extra charge!

Steve Jobs calls NYT reporter about the rumors of his health

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/business/26nocera.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1217217600&en=131a48fd2164e968&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

"... and much to my amazement — Mr. Jobs called me. “This is Steve Jobs,” he began. “You think I’m an arrogant [expletive] who thinks he’s above the law, and I think you’re a slime bucket who gets most of his facts wrong.”

...he said he wouldn’t talk if I insisted on an on-the-record conversation. So I agreed.

Because the conversation was off the record, I cannot disclose what Mr. Jobs told me... While his health problems amounted to a good deal more than “a common bug,” they weren’t life-threatening and he doesn’t have a recurrence of cancer. "

I think that someone's health is a private matter that they don't need to tell others about (as long as there is no serious issue that could cause billions of dollars of loss in shareholder value)

Some popular websites for browsing on your Instinct

Click on the post title (above in bold) to get direct URL of this post.

Keyboard URL's for the Opera Mini 3.1 workaround:
http://www.proceemo.com/bookmarks/urlkeyboard.php
Or
http://zx81.zx81.free.fr/public/psp/keyboard/qwerty/
Or
http://zx81.zx81.free.fr/public/psp/keyboard/dvorak

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

http://www.bloomberg.com/index.html

http://www.marketwatch.com/

http://www.foxnews.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

http://mobile.nytimes.com/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

http://mobile.washingtonpost.com/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

http://www.reuters.com/

http://online.wsj.com/public/us

http://www.economist.com/

http://www.economist.com/printedition/

http://www.newsweek.com/

http://www.businessweek.com/

http://businessweek.mobi/

http://www.cnn.com/

http://money.cnn.com/

http://www.wired.com/

http://news.cnet.com/

http://slashdot.org/

http://www.npr.org/templates/topics/topic.php?topicId=1001

http://www.forbes.com/

http://www.time.com/

http://arstechnica.com/

http://www.eweek.com/

http://mobile.eweek.com/device/html_sections.php?id=1&mdpg=A

http://mobile.informationweek.com/

http://www.usatoday.com/

http://news.google.com/

http://www.facebook.com/

http://www.myspace.com/

http://www.okcupid.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.drudgereport.com/

Opera Mini also available as a branded solution to mobile operators

According to this page, Opera Mini is available as a branded solution as well. This means that Sprint could have paid them and got some dedicated servers for the Instinct phone (it would have saved their network bandwidth due to server side processing on Opera Mini)!

One drawback I see is that Opera Mini requires server side processing (and decrypting your information in the process) and I probably wouldn't have used for my banking-type transactions which I don't do on my mobile phone anyways. It is supposed to be pretty secure however.

http://www.opera.com/b2b/solutions/mini/benefits/


"Choose between a full-customizable branded licensing model or an Opera branded distribution model. With Opera Mini, there is choice and flexibility in the way you take it to market.

With Opera Mini, there are numerous customization options. These options include full brand integration of the UI, homepage control including search, modification of menu items, pre-installation, dedicated servers, bookmarks and more. Let Opera help you design the optimal solution for you and your customers. "

"Available in Java or BREW
The vast majority of mobile devices are either Java or BREW enabled. This means that with Opera Mini you can pre-install and deliver the full Web to almost everyone with a mobile phone. With a tiny footprint of approximately 120Kb, Opera Mini functions smoothly on even the most basic handset. "

For now, I would be happy if we get Opera Mini 4.1 working on Instinct without locking up (after the Java Keyboard LCDUI update)


A mobile operator in India (Tata Indicom) seems to have provided Opera Mini on their handsets according to this:
http://www.tech2.com/india/news/mobile-phones/opera-mini-now-on-tata-indicom-handsets/22673/0

How to view photo slideshow on your Instinct phone

A number of people haven't tried this but it is cool. Check it out:

• Go to Fun --> My Photos
• Tap the "CAMERA" or "SAVED" folder icon (whereever you have your photos)
• You should see thumbnails of your pictures.
• Click on the Play button on the left side and wait a couple of minutes.
• It will start the slideshow. Enjoy!
• To go back to the thumbnail screen, just tap on a picture in the slideshow.

Another cool thing to try from the thumbnail screen is the icon that has double (overlapping) windows. Try it and then use finger gesture to slide the photos.

AT&T asks FCC to deny Sprint-Clearwire WiMax deal

Source:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9110762
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807241913DOWJONESDJONLINE000908_FORTUNE5.htm

"Although a September launch of a WiMax mobile wireless network in Baltimore is still expected, the future of a national WiMax network remains in question.

Yesterday, AT&T Inc. asked the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to deny a request by Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. for radio spectrum licenses that are needed for their proposed joint venture to offer nationwide WiMax service.

The fate of that petition remains unclear, but it demonstrates how intensely AT&T, and possibly other carriers, intend to fight WiMax technology."

"Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), another giant in the wireless market, didn't file a comment on the proposed merger between Sprint and Clearwire. "

It would be a big loss to US consumers if AT&T succeeds in this request. WiMax (if it works as promised) would be a great technology for everyone except AT&T and other mobile operator shareholders.

It is also possible that AT&T might be playing the delaying tactic so that they can catch up with their LTE technology.

How to receive phone calls on Instinct while watching TV

If you are annoyed by the fact that you can not receive phone calls (they go to voicemail) on your Instinct phone while watching TV, there is a solution (thanks to autoprime of ringerpost.com).

I waited to hear from Sprint before I post it here (to prevent tech support calls to Sprint) but they haven't responded yet (see here: http://developer.sprint.com/SeeHere).

CAUTION:

• Some people have reported that their phone locked up in certain rare instances (might be due to timeout of data session application?). If that happens to you, you might have to power it off and restart or might even need to take the battery out for 30 seconds.
• Using MSL code to change phone settings is risky and I am not responsible for any direct or indirect damage to your phone.

Steps to enable receiving the phone calls while watching TV or during an active data session:

• You will need your phone's six-digit MSL (master subsidy lock) code to do this. See below on how to obtain your MSL code if you don't already have it.
• On your phone, go to the Phone dialer (the phone handset button on the bottom right of phone).
• Instead of keying in a phone number, key in the numbers for ##DEBUGMENU# (that is: ##332846368#).
• You will see a screen that says "Enter Current Code".
• Key in your six-digit MSL code and tap Done button.
• You will now be at the "Debug Menu" screen. Be extremely careful here not to change any other settings.
• Select "Toggle DDTM" option from the list. You will be taken to the Toggle DDTM screen.
• Select "Off DDTM" on this screen and you will be taken to the previous screen.
• Click on the Done button on this screen.
• You should now be at your speed dial screen.
• Turn your phone off and turn it back on.
• Test it by starting Live TV and making a phone call to your Instinct phone. Your phone call should be able to interrupt your TV or an active data session. I have read somewhere about an issue when you get a second call that it doesn't give you the option but odds of this happening are small for most people.

How to obtain your MSL code:

There are a few ways that you can get your MSL code:

• Call Sprint Tech support and request your MSL code. Your mileage may vary. I obtained my phone's MSL code this way and had no problem. The tech support person was very nice. (In fact, I have always received great customer support from Sprint, contrary to what some people would like you to believe!)
• Log into your online Sprint account and chat with a support person and request your MSL code. Some people had success with this and others did not.
• Use one of the hacks (search Google) available to get your MSL code without contacting Sprint. This is by far the most risky procedure and I haven't tried it so I can not vouch for it.

How to resolve S7112 error on Instinct's email program

If you are seeing the error S7112 (Unable to initiate a network connection. Please check your data connection and try again. (S7112)) on your Instinct email intermittently, you could try some of these:

• Go to Main -> Settings -> General ->Update Data Profile OR
• Try powering off your phone and powering it back on OR
• Take battery out for 1 minute (I left the battery out for 1 hour and it seems to be working fine since, but you never know. It is possibly because I set my email settings to Auto-receive "On" this time while it was "Off" earlier and I was doing manual refresh. Setting Auto-receive to "on" is probably keeping the connection alive.)

One of these should resolve the issue (at least temporarily). It might be a problem at Sprint's end or Seven's servers or could be that the email application doesn't always successfully initiate a data connection. Let's see if the software update from Sprint will fix it.

UPDATE: According to our reader "murphyrulez" there is one more temporary solution -"opening the navigation program and letting it communicate, then closing navigation and going back to email will fix the problem"

See a related thread here:
http://developer.sprint.com/seehere

Sprint sells most of its cell towers to TowerCo

Source:
http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=127149&p=irol-newsArticle_newsroom&ID=1178501
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-9998824-94.html

"Sprint Nextel today announced an agreement to sell approximately 3,300 towers to TowerCo for approximately $670 million in cash. Additionally, the two companies have entered into a long term leasing agreement where TowerCo will provide Sprint Nextel with wireless communications towers to support the company's CDMA, iDEN and WiMAX networks.

"By leasing rather than owning these network facilities, we can better focus on our core business of providing communications services to consumers, businesses and government customers," said Bob Azzi, senior vice president, Field Engineering and Operations, Sprint Nextel.

"Significantly, this transaction provides Sprint Nextel with additional liquidity which gives us greater flexibility in managing our company."
...
"The cash Sprint gets from the sale of these towers will likely go toward paying down the company's $24 billion debt. But even at a price tag of $670 million, this is still a drop in the bucket. The sale does signify, however, Sprint's willingness to shed nonstrategic assets in an effort to get back on its feet, said Chris King, a principal analyst with Stifel Nicolaus."

"King said the sale of the cell phone towers is not unusual. Over the past five years, most of the big wireless operators, including AT&T and Verizon Wireless, have sold their cell phone towers to companies, such as American Tower, Crown Castle International, and TowerCo., which specialize in cell phone tower management. These companies typically allow different carriers to lease access to the same tower, especially in densely populated areas where it's difficult to build new towers."

"This is a pretty standard industry-wide practice," he said. "From a service provider standpoint, it doesn't make sense for wireless operators to own these assets. It's really more of a real estate holding."

"Some experts have speculated that the company is looking to sell its Nextel business unit, which was acquired in 2005."

Looks like Sprint is trying to get its finances in order after the expensive acquisition of Nextel that put it under massive debt (something like $24 billion of debt still outstanding!). With a tight US credit market, they might need cash infusion from overseas (such as from companies like SK Telecom or Deutsche Telekom) or from private equity firms.

Walt Mossberg says "Apple’s MobileMe Is Far Too Flawed To Be Reliable"

Source:
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20080723/apples-mobileme-is-far-too-flawed-to-be-reliable/



"So it was a big deal when Apple (AAPL) announced a new service that, for $100 a year, would bring corporate-type synchronization of email, calendars and contacts to anyone."
...
"Unfortunately, after a week of intense testing of the service, I can’t recommend it, at least not in its current state. It’s a great idea, but, as of now, MobileMe has too many flaws to keep its promises.
...
I am not referring to the launch glitches that plagued MobileMe earlier this month, such as servers that couldn’t keep up with the traffic and email outages that, for some users, persist as I write this. Those were bad, but they have eased considerably... The problems I am citing are systemic."
...
"But in my tests, using two Macs, two Dell (DELL) computers and two iPhones, I ran into problem after problem. "

I have seen a lot of people complain about Sprint's mobile sync (included free with many Sprint Instinct plans) only limited to emails and there is no calendar sync. However, just looking at the challenges faced by Apple in trying to make this work, you can tell that it is no easy task. I am happy that with Sprint Instinct, you can get push-emails without many issues and also get the contact sync to work using mobile sync service. Yes, calendar sync would be real nice to have but not having to pay extra for exchange push-email (or OWA) and contact sync via sprint's website is pretty good if you ask me!

Check out the "Test Your Instinct" website

Check out this site:

http://www.testyourinstincts.com/

(brought to you by Samsung Instinct)

AT&T adds 894,000 net new customers and Verizon adds 1.5 million

Source:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807231157DOWJONESDJONLINE000724_FORTUNE5.htm

AT&T added 894,000 net new customers and Verizon added 1.5 million in the second quarter. I wonder where these customers came from? Were these the new customers from an already saturated market or if these were defections from Sprint and T-mobile...

This also shows that Verizon's marketing worked much better than Sprint's marketing during the second quarter of this year.

SK Telecom says it doesn't plan on buying Sprint

Source:
http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=159366

"In a move meant to quell speculation, SK Telecom said Thursday it was not planning to buy a controlling stake in any U.S. wireless company.
The rumors began to swirl Tuesday after business channel CNBC reported that the Korean wireless company was seeking to purchase Sprint Nextel Corp. But later reports indicated that the two companies discussing a strategic partnership to develop new handsets and services.

"We are studying various business opportunities in the United States but are not seeking to take control in (any) major U.S. mobile operator," SK Telecom said in a filing with a Korean stock exchange. Additionally, SK Telecom is believed to be seeking to make a minority investment in the U.S. wireless company. Sprint had previously rejected a $5 billion investment offer from SK Telecom last fall.

A potential deal could benefit both companies, which use CDMA technology to run their networks, making a potential collaboration easier. "

Well, that's what they are saying now. But Sprint's stock is cheap and it has millions of US customers...So there is always a possibility of some stake!

Apple's MobileMe email sync service problems!

Source:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyId=89&articleId=9110400&intsrc=hm_topic

"Apple Inc.'s MobileMe online service continued to tick off customers today as users blasted the service for outages that have kept them from accessing e-mail for several days."

"Last week, others blasted Apple for touting all of MobileMe's synchronization as "push," or nearly instant, when it wasn't immediate to and from Macs and PCs on the one hand, and the iPhone and MobileMe servers on the other. Apple issued an apology to users and credited them with an additional 30 days of service for their troubles. "

"Others pointed out that MobileMe is a cornerstone of the iPhone's push to compete head to head with business-oriented smart phones like Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry, but that the reality doesn't match Apple's promises. "You know, when BlackBerry goes down that stuff hits the news, the world stops and they fix it lickity split," said "Vanaman" on the same thread. "This is ridiculous and offensive to those who rely on Apple for a serious service — 'Enterprise for the rest of us.' Yeah, right."

"MobileMe was touted as "Exchange for the rest of us" by Apple executives, including CEO Steve Jobs, when it was unveiled in June."

So it looks like even Steve Jobs' Apple isn't immune to technical problems!

Sprint employees contact Mac-centric site about Java developer's contest

Source:
http://www.palluxo.com/2008/07/20/sprint-counters-apple-with-samsung-instinct-java-developers/

"Sprint has launched first ever application developer contest, the Instinct Java Developer Contest, which is focused on the recently announced, new Samsung Instinct. This news has largely been ignored by fellow Apple-centric web sites. Several Sprint/Nextel employees contacted us and asked us could we go ahead and publish this news. Absolutely! That’s the whole point of Palluxo!’s news tip submitions."

"...To create your MIDlets to run on Sprint mobile devices, you must first write the application code, set the appropriate permissions required by any limited capabilities used by the application, compile it with an appropriate compiler, e.g. free Sprint NetBeans plug-in, Sprint WTK, etc., and finally upload/install OTA. Sprint offers a free plug-in for the NetBeans Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that provides specific functionality for mobile development. However, for those who would rather use a text editor, Sprint offers freely the Sprint Wireless Toolkit (WTK), which has tools for compiling and changing program settings as well as emulators for testing over dozens of Sprint devices supporting Java development.
...
Devices with restricted APIs have a developer mode and production mode. The latter is always active while the former must be explicitly activated, a.k.a. activating developer test/root certificate"

Good to see Sprint employees making an effort to make this more known. Now Sprint needs a TV commercial highlighting the contest! This will mean more developers and more buyers (hey, I would buy a phone if I knew it was well marketed to the developers!)

Samsung takes Instinct users to virtual tour of ballparks

Source:
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/nontraditional/e3idc8a1fe56256201e0009b5832d43f04b

"Samsung, in an effort to interest the male, 18-34 demographic in its new Instinct handset device, has partnered with Break.com to create a three-part series providing virtual tours of three Major League Baseball stadiums.
The "Ballpark Invasion," as the series is known, is available exclusively on the handset, which displays video footage of Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago's Wrigley field and San Francisco's AT&T Park.

The campaign will run for the next three weeks, and additional installments are a possibility."

UPDATE: This might be one of those videos (video segment at 01:32 and 02:25 recorded on Instinct's camera:


Ballpark Invasion Ep. 1: San Francisco - Watch more free videos

Sprint Instinct software update possible this month

The dates can change based on testing results but this is very possible:

Source:
http://forums.buzzaboutwireless.com/baw/board/message?board.id=Samsung_Instinct&thread.id=2170&page=3

wengla02 Sprint AdministratorPosts: 752Registered: 11-21-2006

In a small nutshell, if we tell you we're releasing a software update on a certain date, then testing fails and we have to push the release back, you're going to be twice as upset. (you should *see* the hatemail we get - and that's from our managers! )
It's this month. It's got some great fixes. It's Over The Air. Be patient.
(and I agree - Doug should post the full buglist. He isn't familiar with otaku culture. )
Will England
Buzz About Wireless Admin
Sprint Nextel

Sprint Instinct Webcast

Here are the links to Sprint Instinct's Java Development webcast materials:

Webcast Chat:
http://developer.sprint.com/getDocument.do?docId=98452

Presentation Slides:
http://webcast.streamlogics.com/customer/sprint/Jul9_08/auditorium/resources/Sprint_Instinct_Webcast_July_09_2008_slides.pdf

Streaming Audio:
http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/auditorium/player/asxgen.asp?eventid=40163&lang=english&rndkey=&profile_id=9&rndkey1=1
Or
Download Audio: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/customer/sprint/Jul9_08/auditorium/resources/Sprint_080709-u-16.mp3

Presentation Details:

Time: 1:00PM EDT / 12:00PM CDT
Date: July 9, 2008
Format: Audio (90 minutes)
Speaker / Presenters:
Michael Adeniji, Technical Manager, ADP
Brandon Annan, Product Development Engineer III
Chandra Fender, Program Manager, ADP
John Hale, Program Manager, ADP
Raymond Reeves, Technical Manager, ADP
Ryan Wick, Senior Engineer, ADP
Laukik Watve, Software Engineer, LiveWire Mobile

Synopsis:
Sprint recently announced the public launch of the Samsung Instinct™. The first full Java Mobile touch-screen device, which gives millions of Java developers around the world the opportunity to create applications for the amazing touch-screen with the network to back it up, the Now Network. The Sprint Instinct™ Java Developer and business applications optimized for the new Samsung Instinct™ and has a $20K grand prize. Join us to learn more about this great device, development tools and the contest.

WiMax finally coming to Sprint in September

Source:
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/38394/103/

"Xohm president Barry West announced that Sprint and the companies that saved the company's WiMax network in May will be offering the high-speed wireless technology in September of this year on a very limited basis. "

"Sprint will hold 51% of the new venture called Clearwire, representing a $7.4 billion stake. Clearwire’s participation is valued at $3.9 billion and a 28% stake. The remaining 22% will go to Comcast, which invested $1.05 billion, Intel ($1.0 billion), Time Warner Cable ($550 million), Google ($500 million) and Brighthouse ($100 million). The complete company was valued at $14.5 billion at founding. Next to Sprint and Clearwire, Intel is the largest stakeholder due to its previous investment in Clearwire, which gave the chip manufacturer a share of more than 20% in the communications company. "

I guess WiMax isn't dead yet. These companies wouldn't just write-off their investments! Devices like Nokia N810 would rock on WiMax.

South Korean company wants to Buy Sprint!

Source:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25691970

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-9991928-94.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121615300294655639.html

SK Telecom, the largest provider of wireless phone service in South Korea, is in talks to acquire Sprint Nextel, the troubled U.S. wireless carrier, according to people familiar with the talks.
SK Telecom, which is smaller than Sprint would be joined in any deal by private equity firms that would contribute cash towards the purchase, sources told CNBC.

A deal is not imminent and while the talks are on-going, participants caution that any agreement would at best be weeks away. The board of Sprint, which has been struggling with significant subscriber losses, is divided about whether to sell the company as some of them hold a belief that a turnaround for the company may not be far off, according to people briefed on its position. "
...
"Again, that does not mean a deal is imminent. Sprint briefly entertained takeover talks a few months back with Deutsche Telekom"


If Sprint is indeed acquired, I wonder what impact would that have on Sprint's voice and data plans and prices...

Popular Mechanics compares iPhones with Instinct

Check this out:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4273287.html

Video: http://video.popularmechanics.com/services/link/bcpid1659866506/bctid1667925659

AIM client for Java

Looks like there is some sample code available here to create AIM Client in Java. Don't know if this can be used with mobile Java or not.

http://dev.aol.com/aim/code

And here is the Java code:
http://dev.aol.com/aimclient/client/sdk/1_5/samples/accjsample/AccJSample.java
http://dev.aol.com//aimclient/client/sdk/1_5/samples/accjsample/Prefs.java
http://dev.aol.com//aimclient/client/sdk/1_5/samples/accjsample/README.txt
http://dev.aol.com/aimclient/client/sdk/1_5/samples/accjsample/build.xml

One of these days I might feel brave enough to look at it to see if it will work on Instinct if no one else does it by then.

Here is a link to AOL Open Mobile Platform page:
http://dev.aol.com/api/openmobile
and
AOL Open Mobile Platform FAQs:
http://dev.aol.com/openmobile/faqs

And here is a link to someone's site who had built the AIM client for Nokia J2ME phones:
http://www.buildhigh.com/jonnychat/index.php4

AIM for iPhone developer speaks in a forum

Just happen to come across this post on slashdot:

http://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=612665&cid=24175471

"It's not going anywhere as far as I know. I'm one of the developers of AIM for iPhone, and frankly we're glad that it's been discovered and slashdotted :)
Sending IMs to a mobile number is a feature of the AIM service, and there's no reason that we shouldn't have it for the iPhone. In fact, our data API (which is open sourced here [google.com]) doesn't distinguish between mobile numbers and buddies. "

The reason this is interesting is that there are dedicated developers working on AIM for iPhone. Not so sure about Sprint Instinct!

No SERO Plan for Instinct - you can get EPRP

Source:

http://delivery.sprint.com/m/p/sprint/epc/epclanding.asp

http://rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/FREE/338793353/1078

"Sprint Nextel Corp.’s under-the-table Sprint Employee Referral Option has seen its final days. SERO was a plan Sprint Nextel introduced a few years ago that offered cheaper rates through an employee referral. And it wasn’t as though you had to have a blood relation to an employee; an e-mail address sufficed."

"...SERO has waved goodbye and the replacement, Everything Plus Referral Program, has said hello. But when SERO said adieu so did the cheap prices. The new program continues to offer three rate plans, though most of the pricing has increased across the board. The 500 minute plans now cost $60 per month and 1,000 minute plans will run you $80 per month. The unlimited plan continues at $100 per month. "

"And the other catch? It’s not as easy as finding an employee e-mail and logging in anymore. Prospective EPRP members must have an employee I.D. number to sign up for the plans. Sprint Nextel added that customers on a SERO plan will be able to maintain their current offering, unless they upgrade their handset to the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Instinct, which will require an EPRP plan. "

Battery Life comparison of leading phones

(Image courtsey: PC World)

Source:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/148348/3g_iphones_mediocre_battery_life_still_beats_rivals.html

"PC World's Test Center ran it (iPhone 3G) through ...standard talk-time battery life test, and found that on average it ran 5 hours and 38 minutes"

"...Of other handsets that support AT&T's HSDPA/UMTS network, only the HTC Touch Dual came close, with average talk time of 5 hours, 18 minutes. The AT&T Tilt pooped out at 4 hours, 47 minutes, trailed by the Pantech Duo at 4:46; the Motorola Q9 Global at 4:43; and the Palm Treo 750 at an abysmal 3:53. The iPhone 3G also beat out competitors on Sprint and Verizon's EVDO mobile broadband networks, including the Palm Centro (4:19) and the Samsung Instinct (5:33)."

"The good news for AT&T and other HSDPA/UMTS customers is that they can make voice calls while using their phones for data (i.e. browsing the Web or reading e-mail); Sprint and Verizon users cannot simultaneously do both."

iPhone 3G software crashing too

Just saw a number of people reporting problems with iPhone 3G! Here's an example:

http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-3g/photo-viewer-crashes-a-lot-31661.html


Today, 03:29 AM
#1 (permalink)
ice_0408

Join Date: Jul 2008
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photo viewer crashes... A LOT
Hi guys, this is my first time posting and my first iphone. I have the 16gb white and I am loving it right now. Just today, when I was testing out the photo viewer app, I download a picture from a random site using safari and I went to the picture viewer to play around with the zoom in, zoom out feature... and apparently, everytime I tried to zoom in and move around to different part of a picture, the view app would freeze and "reboot" my iphone, the viewer can handle the picture taken from the camera it seems as I could zoom in and out without crashing. does anyone have the same problem? did i get a faulty phone? thanks


Today, 04:46 AM
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daddyd302

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I had a few crashes relating to what you describe, but I don't remember really what it was. I'm not sure what's wrong with my phone but it seems to crash at random times, surfing the web or just checking out the free apps I d/l from itunes. It might just be that the software isn't ironed out fully yet.

More Examples of iPhone 3G crashing:

http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-3g/is-it-just-me-31725.html#post300002

http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-3g/iphone-3g-crashing-31643.html

http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-3g/one-problem-after-another-31199.html

UPDATE:
This is from Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071401996.html
"I downloaded about 50 applications onto my iPhone 3G throughout the weekend and still want so much more. The results: the device crashed after trying to open some of the applications; some worked without a hitch, and those that crashed the system in earlier attempts worked fine at other times. I'm not alone?many users are reporting significant problems with the stability of Apple's revamped mobile operating system after installing applications on their iPhones. "

Skype Beta for Java Mobile Phones

Skype has a beta version for Java Mobile phones. I am hoping that it will work after LCDUI keyboard fix on Instinct. I guess we will find out in a month or two. I will keep you posted.

Here's the announcement page:
http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2008/04/another_way_to_connect_skype_f.html

and here's the download page:

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/mobile/

Here's the direct link for download of Samsung SPH-A900 phone. It doesn't install on Instinct (app authorization failure):
http://mobiledownload.skype.com/download.aspx?country=US&msisdn=+441234567890&language=en-GB&phoneid=33

Exclusive - Touch-Free Scrolling on Instinct's Browser

I have been testing this for a few weeks now and I am happy to report that this UNDOCUMENTED trick is even better than the documented "press camera button for scrolling" in some cases.

Here's is how the documented scrolling/panning works. You can press the camera button on any web page in Sprint Instinct's browser and move/tilt your phone and the web page will pan and scroll as if you were doing it by touching the screen.

This is a useful feature but it is a pain sometimes on big sites because you just have to hold the camera button pressed to scan the site. I found a little trick a couple of weeks ago and here it is:

Freedom from holding down the camera button

Here are the steps for Touch-Free Scrolling and Panning on Instinct's browser:

• This requires enough light in the room to create a good background for Instinct's camera.
• Just load your webpage as usual in Sprint Instinct's web browser.
• Make sure to wait until the page load is complete (I know, I know, browser is slow in displaying some complex web pages)
• Double click the camera button (on the side of phone) fairly quickly and let go of the camera button. Wait for a couple of seconds.
• Now you will notice that your browser is in camera panning/scrolling mode. This is indicated by the arrows on the top right of the screen.
• Now just tilt your phone up/down and sideways and you will see that you can scroll and pan on the website just by tilting/moving your phone. You don't have to hold the camera button down!
• You can disable this anytime by single clicking the camera button.

NOTE:

• This somehow gets deactivated after some time and you have to reactivate it by double clicking the camera but it gives you plenty of time to scan the web page.
• It takes a little getting used to in controlling the motion and is not perfect.

Technology Used: RealEyes3D

SAN FRANCISCO, Jul 08, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Realeyes3D, a pioneer in mobile imaging applications and services for camera phones, and a trusted player in mobile document scanning with the award-winning Qipit service, today announced that its camera-based motion browsing technology ("tilt navigation") has been incorporated into the Samsung Instinct, Sprint Nextel's new smart phone now selling out in stores in the U.S. Motion browsing lets users tilt their phone to pan a webpage before clicking on a desired link.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/telecom/teaming-touch-tilt-realeyesd-powers-motion-based-navigation-samsung-instinct/

More iPhone 3G launch problems than Instinct

Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/07/11/iphone.sales.ap/index.html

"The launch of Apple Inc.'s much-anticipated new iPhone turned into an information-technology meltdown on Friday, as customers were unable to get their phones working."

"It's such grief and aggravation," said Frederick Smalls, an insurance broker in Whitman, Massachusetts, after spending two hours on the phone with Apple and AT&T Inc., trying to get his new iPhone to work.

In stores, people waited at counters to get the phones activated, as lines built behind them. "

"However, the iTunes servers were equally hard to reach from home, leaving the phones unusable except for emergency calls."

"The problem extended to owners of the previous iPhone model. A software update released for that phone on Friday morning required the phone to be reactivated through iTunes.

"It's a mess," said freelance photographer Giovanni Cipriano, who updated his first-generation iPhone only to find it unusable."

What I am reading here is that iPhones were rendered unusable for some time. That's some serious stuff. This shows that even Apple/AT&T can't always have a perfect launch. Sprint Instinct launch was much smoother.

After seeing the problems with iPhone 3G launch, Sprint needs to make sure that its servers can handle the OTA (over the air) update load from all the Instinct users because most of them are likely to update their phones as soon as the update is available!

Some analyst estimates 150,000 Instincts sold since launch

This is just an estimate of some analyst so it could be widely off! But here it is:

Source:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2008/tc20080710_481651.htm

"As popular as the iPhone is—as of the end of March, it had sold 5.3 million units globally—developers are hedging their bets and not confining themselves to a single device. "Anybody that's serious about the mobile market needs to develop for many [devices] out there," says Dan Gilmartin, vice-president for marketing at uLocate, a Boston-based maker of software that lets users find friends nearby. "We see the success that Sprint is having with the Instinct and we want to be part of that success." So uLocate has tailored its application for both the iPhone and the Instinct, which according to Sprint has been the company's best-selling handset of its peer group. Avian Securities analyst Matt Thornton estimates that Sprint has sold 150,000 units since its June 19 debut.

Details of Sprint Mobile Work Email on Instinct

Source:
http://www.seven.com/press_releases/2008/SPRINTMobileEmail.html

Sprint Mobile Email Work Gives Sprint Customers Access to Business Email on Instinct by Samsung and Other Non-PDA Phones

Access to Microsoft Exchange Server and IBM Lotus Notes Through Sprint Mobile Email Work Gives Sprint Customers More Device Choices for Checking Corporate Email on the Go

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)—June 19, 2008—Customers of Sprint (NYSE:S) can soon get mobile access to their corporate email accounts on select non-PDA Sprint phones such as the new Instinct by Samsung. Easy access to Microsoft Exchange Server and IBM Lotus Notes accounts will be available through Sprint Mobile Email Work, as an extension of Sprint Mobile Email's existing access to personal email accounts from popular Web-based providers such as AOL, Gmail, Windows Live and Yahoo! Mail. Sprint Mobile Email Work will allow users of the Instinct and other non-PDA phones, such as flip phones with more consumer-oriented features, to access both their corporate and personal email in one easy-to-use application, included at no additional charge in several Sprint pricing plans.

"Sprint Mobile Email Work will allow customers to read and respond to their business email and look up work contacts from a wider variety of Sprint phones, including the new Instinct," said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product and technology development for Sprint. "With combined access to corporate and personal email in a single application on popular consumer-friendly phones, Sprint customers can increase productivity and stay connected whenever and wherever they want."

Sprint worked with SEVEN to create Sprint Mobile Email Work, which allows customers to access Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, 2003 or 2007 accounts, or IBM Lotus Domino accounts. The service features an easy, one-time setup process: Sprint Mobile Email Work is preloaded on the Instinct, so customers simply select Email on the main Menu to get to Sprint Mobile Email, then click the Work tab and enter their server information, user name and password. Emails are then pushed to the user's phone as they arrive in their desktop mailbox. Users can read, delete, respond to and compose new emails. All changes made via the Sprint phone are automatically synchronized with the user's desktop mailbox.

Sprint Mobile Email Work is included at no additional charge in Everything plans starting at $69.99, Talk/Message/Data Share plans starting at $129.99 for two lines, and the $30 Sprint Pro Pack data plan. With all other plans, Sprint Mobile Email Work is available for $9.99 per month, in addition to voice and data charges (taxes and surcharges excluded).

In addition to the Instinct by Samsung, Sprint Mobile Email Work will be available in the coming weeks on 11 other popular Sprint phones, including the Rumor(TM) and Fusic(TM) by LG(R); the RAZR, RAZR2 and KRZR by Motorola; the A900, A900M and M500 by Samsung(R); and the Katana(R), Katana(R) II and 8400 by Sanyo(R). Sprint plans to extend the service to additional phones in the future.

Sprint Mobile Email Work will be provided as a software update in the coming weeks to customers with Sprint Mobile Email on compatible phones. To download Sprint Mobile Email, customers should go to the mobile Web on their phone and select Downloads, then type "email" in the search box. Once Sprint Mobile Email is downloaded, compatible phones will allow the customer to install Sprint Mobile Email Work through a software update when available. Customers should check with their IT department prior to accessing Sprint Mobile Email Work to verify company policies.

About Sprint Mobile EmailSprint Mobile Email provides easy access to multiple email accounts in one place, from well-known providers such as AOL (includes AOL and AIM Mail), Windows Live (includes MSN and Hotmail), Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and more. Sprint Mobile Email is available on more than 35 Sprint phones as a free download for Sprint data subscribers. With Sprint Mobile Email, customers can:

• Compose, read and manage email on their phone from anywhere, with the ability to work in off-network situations - even on airplanes
• Get alerts when new emails arrive
• Automatically synchronize email on their mobile phone with online mail accounts
• Look up online contacts and address books

For more information on Sprint Mobile Email, please visit www.sprint.com/mobileemail.

How to receive work email (Outlook) on your Sprint Instinct

There are a couple of ways to receive your work email on your Sprint Instinct phone. Both of these should be included FREE of charge on most of the currently available Sprint Instinct data plans.

1. Use Outlook Web Access (OWA) if your organization has enabled this service. OR
2. Use push-email from your work email (Outlook) via your work PC.

I will explain option 2 here. This is how it works:

Your company's email server --> Your Work PC --> Sprint's server --> Sprint Instinct Phone

(your work PC has to be on at all times for this to work)

Steps to receive your work email (Outlook/Exchange) to your Sprint Instinct phone (push email method):

1. Get permission from your IT department or security group to install Sprint Mobile Email Desktop Connector on your work PC (I believe that the desktop connector encrypts your email messages but you can confirm this with Sprint)


2. Go to this site to register for a Sprint Desktop connector account: https://sprintce.sprintpcs.com/subscriber/create_slingshot_user.stp


3. Follow the instructions in the registration wizard to create an account to access your work email and make sure that you remember the user name and password.


4. Download the Sprint Desktop Connector to your work PC from this location (or the link provided in the registration wizard): https://sprintce.sprintpcs.com/downloads/DesktopConnectorSetup.exe?ver=6.6.8.236&file=DesktopConnectorSetup.exe


5. Install the Desktop Connector on your work PC and enter the Sprint Mobile Email user name and password (the one you created in the steps above) when prompted.


6. This should connect your Desktop connector to Sprint's server. Verify that it says connected as "Your Name" otherwise the following steps will not work.


7. Now go to your Sprint instinct phone and click on Email and go to Email Home page. Click on Add New Email Account at the bottom of the screen. You will see a list of email accounts (such as AOL Mail, AIM Mail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, Gmail and Work) to choose from.


8. Select "Work" from this list. It will ask you "Do you have Outlook Web Access (OWA)?"


9. Answer "NO" to this question.


10. It will then say "Did you already install the Sprint Mobile Email connector so you can sign in directly?"


11. Answer "YES" to this question. It will take you to "Setup New Account" screen. Enter the user name and password you created in the steps above and click Next.


12. You can enter a name for your account (such as My work email or anything you like) on this screen.


13. Click Next on this screen (it will tell you upto 25 emails from your inbox will be brought to your phone but you can increase this upto 100 emails). Follow the instructions and it should pull the emails from your work PC to your Sprint Instinct!


14. If you want to increase the number of emails pulled from your work PC to your Sprint Instinct phone, go to Instinct's Email Home Page and click on the envelope with Gear next to the name of your work email account.


15. This will take you to the Account Details screen and click Settings button on the bottom of the screen.


16. Then click on where it says "Get 25 most recent". Now you can select from 25, 50, 75 or 100 emails.


17. There other options like notification settings that you can choose from as you like. You are all set!

UPDATE: According to Sprint's website, this method might work on any of these supported corporate email accounts:

• Microsoft Exchange 2000/2003/2007 or
• Lotus Domino 6.0/6.5/7.0