Number-three mobile operator Sprint has announced it will be offering the Samsung Conquer 4G starting August 21, and Android-powered smartphone that will mark Sprint’s 25th WiMax 4G-capable device. However the Conquer will bear another important distinction: it will be the company’s 4G smartphone to launch with a price under $100.
“The price of Samsung Conquer 4G makes Sprint’s 4G speeds accessible to more customers than ever,” said Sprint VP of product development Fared Adib, in a statement. “We are proud to deliver this dynamic device at a great value without sacrificing must-have technology. Our customers can really do more for less when this ultra-affordable 4G device is paired with the great value of our unlimited data calling plans.”
Of course, the $99.99 price tag comes with some caveats: it’s only available with a new two-year service contract (or a qualifying upgrade), and the price reflects a $50 mail-in rebate, so customers will be out-of-pocket around $150 until a rebate check reaches them via ultra-slow delivery.
The Conquer 4G sports Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and sports a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.5-inch touchscreen display, a 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera for photography and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat. The device also sports a microSD slot for up to 32 GB of removable storage (the phone comes with a 2 GB card), along with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth, and assisted GPS. The Conquer 4G offers dual-mode 3G and 4G service—so if users travel outside WiMax service areas they can still use Sprint’s nationwide 3G network—and (for an additional $29.99 per month) the Conquer 4G can also serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot, sharing its data connection with up to five other Wi-Fi devices. Sprint says the phone will get up to six hours of talk time on a single battery charge.
The Samsung Conquer 4G will go on sale at Sprint retail locations and online store on August 21.
