Samsung UpStage announced by Sprint

Mar 26 2007 - 03:06 PM ET | CTIA, Samsung, Sprint Nextel

CTIA 2007 -- The Samsung UpStage is Sprint Nextel's latest effort in the expanding music phone niche. We first saw this handset at CES when it was called the Samsung Ultra Music F300, but since that was a GSM device there have been a few changes. The UpStage keeps the unique 2-face styling in an iPod nano-esque shape. Executives for Sprint joked that the name UpStage comes from Sprint's desire to steal Apple's iPhone thunder. Though the spec sheet shows the UpStage is not made to compete with a high-end product like the iPhone.

Features of the Samsung UpStage include:

• EV-DO 3G data
• Stereo Bluetooth 2.0 with spoken caller ID
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 45MB built-in memory plus microSD card slot, 64MB card included
• Petite size, 4.07" × 1.73" × 0.37"
• Sprint Music Store for OTA downloads, new lower priced $.99 downloads
• Sprint Music Manager application to load music onto device

Sprint expects to begin selling the Upstage in the first week of April. It will be priced at $149.99 with a new 2-year contract. Sprint looks to be betting big on the Upstage and will be aggressively marketing it.