Mobile operator Sprint is expanding its collection of Android smartphones, announcing today that the Samsung Intercept will go on sale July 11. The Intercept uses the design of a dedicated messaging phone with a slide-out QWERTY keypad, but also packs a 3.2-inch touch screen display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and runs Android 2.1 to users can tap into a variety of smartphone services and—of course—load up on apps.
“The Intercept is a perfect example of Samsung’s commitment to bring the latest Google mobile services, social applications, and popular features to smart phones for the mass market,” said Samsung Mobile chief strategy officer Omar Khan, in a statement. “Users will enjoy the Intercept’s stylish design, full QWERTY keyboard, and access to full Web browsing and Google services for a full-featured smart phone experience.”
The Intercept runs on Sprint’s EVDO-Rev.0 3G network—no 4G WiMax here, sorry—and includes integrated Wi-Fi, assisted GPS, stereo Bluetooth, microSD removable storage (supports up to 32 GB), and an accelerometer. In addition to being able to tap into a wealth of Google services (Google Maps, GMail, YouTube, etc.) it can also access sharing services like Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook, access corporate email, view Microsoft Office documents, and (this is Sprint, after all) access Sprint’s panoply of content offerings, like Sprint TV, Sprint Football Live, and NASCAR. The Intercept will be running Android 2.1; Sprint hasn’t said, but presumably an Android 2.2 update will be in the offing.
The Samsung Intercept goes on sale July 11 for $99.99—although that’s after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year service agreement. The Intercept will be available in grey or pink.
