Samsung Announces Sleeker, More “Open” Instinct s30 (Instinct 2.0)

At its press conference in Las Vegas during CTIA tonight, Samsung unveiled the successor to Sprint’s original Instinct phone, the Instinct s30. With its sleeker design and improved features, we expect many touchscreen phone fans will want to scoop this device up for $129. For starters, Samsung says the new S30 is more “open,” which means developers will be able to control more features within the phone while creating applications for it (like having access to the camera, for example). Instinct s30 also includes built-in instant messaging, and an improved Web browser in Opera Mini 4.2 for faster surfing. Samsung also bundles two gamees, Guitar Hero – World Tour and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. The design is supposedly thinner and comes in two colors: Cobalt Metal or Touch of Copper. Like its predecessor, the Instinct s30 offers a Speech to Action that provides quick access to everything from news and search to GPS navigation. The Instinct s30 will be available from Sprint on April 19th for $129 with a 2-year contract and $100 mail-in-rebate. Full specs after the jump.Samsung Instinct S30 Specs ENTERTAINMENT/PERSONALIZATION Sprint TV® with an extensive selection of live and on-demand programming Sprint Music StoreSM allowing users to wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone for just 99 cents each Several streaming-radio applications, including Sprint Radio with more than 150 channels “Guitar Hero – World Tour” and “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” demo games Customizable Favorites menu PRODUCTIVITY Built-in instant messaging Opera 4.2 Web and True HTML Browser Sprint Navigation with GPS-enabled turn-by-turn driving directions, traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings Live Search for Sprint, powered by Microsoft, provides easy access to directory information, integrated GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access Speech to Action button providing many functions using voice activation including call, text, traffic, movie, sports, news and search. Calendar synchronization access to Microsoft Exchange Server and IBM Lotus Notes Visual Voicemail 2.0 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom and video camcorder Advanced Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology with audio caller ID Access to Corporate and POP3 email including AOL, Gmail and Yahoo! Mobile Sync to restore contacts if the device is lost, stolen or damaged SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions: 2.1 x 4.6 x 0.5 inches; 3.9 ounces Display: 3.2” TFT (240 x 432 pixels and 262K vibrant colors) Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 4.6 hours continuous talk time*