Confirmed: Sprint Samsung Instinct HD dropping Sept. 27

INSTINCTHD-zoolanderCircumstantial rumor > confirmed rumor > official confirmation. Such is the storied life of a mobile gadget these days. It was just last week when word of a September 27 launch date for Sprint’s Samsung Instinct HD leaked onto the Internethers, and today that rumor became substantiated.

Sprint has officially announced the availability of the Samsung Instinct HD. The high-def mobile will be available from Best Buy on Sept. 27 and all other Sprint retail channels on Oct. 11. As for the features:

Samsung Instinct HD boasts an attractive and intuitive user interface as well as the high-speed connectivity of America’s most dependable 3G network3 (EVDO Rev. A).With Samsung and Sprint’s first high-definition 5-megapixel camera and camcorder and TV-out HD connection, it allows photo and video playback on an HD capable auxiliary device but it does not provide HD playback directly on the handset.

Samsung Instinct HD further improves on the original with an enhanced Web browsing experience, including a full Opera Mobile 9.7 browser, WiFi capabilities, an Ambient Light Sensor and Accelerometer. It also features a Proximity Sensor with haptic feedback that gives users a gentle vibration as they experience the virtual QWERTY keyboard.

While the phone looks pretty decent and clearly is packin’ some impressive features and hardware, the newly revealed price, $249.99 with a new two-year service agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes and service charges excluded), still seems a bit steep. Either way, we’re lovin’ Samsung’s humorous? choice of color – Blue Steel. So hot right now!

Samsung Instinct® HD™
Living in High Definition
Samsung Instinct® HD, exclusively from Sprint, is the latest addition to the award-winning Samsung Instinct touch-screen phone product line, offering an attractive and familiar interface while adding a larger and brighter touch-screen, enhanced Web browsing experience, Sprint’s first high-definition camera and camcorder and TV-out HD connection, which allows photo and video playback on an HD capable auxiliary device but it does not provide HD playback directly on the handset.1

Samsung Instinct HD is powered by the high-speed connectivity of America’s most dependable 3G network2 (EVDO Rev. A). Samsung Instinct HD boasts all of the must-have features of its predecessors including Live Search for Sprint, Visual Voicemail, Sprint TV®, localized haptic feedback, Advanced stereo Bluetooth® 2.0, SMS voice and text messaging with threaded text and true HTML Web experience from both the enhanced embedded browser and the addition of Opera Mobile 9.7 with a desktop-like browsing experience and WiFi capabilities. This sleek handset comes in Blue Steel.

Entertainment/Personalization
• 5.0 megapixel camera and video camcorder with HD video out and flash (This
handset allows photo and video playback on an HD capable auxiliary device but it
does not provide HD playback directly on the handset.)
• Accelerometer, Ambient Light Sensor and Proximity Sensor enhancing the user
experience
• 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
• Customizable Favorites menu

Productivity
• Access to Corporate and POP3 email including AOL, Gmail, Yahoo! and
MSN/Windows Live Hotmail
• Calendar synchronization access to Microsoft Exchange Server and IBM Lotus
Notes
• 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
• Visual Voicemail
• Built-in instant messaging with threaded text
• Opera Mobile 9.7 Web and True HTML Browser
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• Advanced Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
• Mobile Sync to restore contacts if the device is lost, stolen or damaged

Specifications
• Dimensions: 4.63 x 2.28 x 0.50 inches; 4.01 ounces
• Display: 1.78 x 2.66 inches TFT (320 x 480 pixels and 16M vibrant colors)
• Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 5.8 hours continuous talk time3