Sprint Expands Android Family with Samsung Moment

Sprint has launched the Samsung Moment, a new Android-based phone with an AMOLED display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a 3.2 megapixel camera.

U.S. mobile operator Sprint is jumping into the Android pool, putting the Samsung Moment on sale today for $179 after rebate with a new two-year service agreement. Although the Moment is not the much-anticipated Droid debuting soon on Verizon, the Moment does pack some key features, including a slide-out QWERTY keypad, a gorgeous 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, and a 3.2 megapixel camera, all driven by a sprightly 800 MHz CPU.

“The launch of Samsung Moment is an exciting realization of our commitment to providing consumers open, powerful, and versatile devices,” said Samsung Mobile’s senior VP for product management and strategy Omar Khan, in a statement. “With the combination of the Android platform, applications, Web browser, and a powerful 800 MHz processor, the user experience options are unlimited.”

The Samsung Moment features a video-capable 3.2 megapixel camera, expandable storage up to 32 GB, Wi-Fi and stereo Bluetooth wireless networking, an an integrated GPS receiver; the device also features an optical joystick just below the touchscreen display for simple navigation. Of course, the Moment packs all of Google’s lauded Android features, including Google Maps, YouTube, Google search, a full HTML Web browser, and more, along with access to the growing Android market for new applications and entertainment—and that includes services like Flickr, Pandora, Twitter, Facebook, and many more. Being from Sprint, of course the Moment can tap into Sprint’s exclusive content services like Sprint TV plus NFL and NASCAR content.

The Samsung Moment is available now for $179 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year service contract.