Samsung Releases Other Killer Smartphone

LAS VEGAS -- Another day at the CTIA Wireless 2008 show -- and another Samsung smartphone that could threaten Apple's (AAPL Quote) iPhone.

In a huge formal announcement, Sprint(S Quote) and Samsung announced the imminent release of their Instinct handset.

This phone is very slick. It runs on Sprint's CDMA voice network as well as its EV-DO Rev A Mobile Broadband network for data.

A Killer Samsung Instinct

Instinct handles Sprint's multimedia content, business or personal email, built-in GPS navigation, live and on-demand TV content, music downloads and streaming radio.

The handset offers localized haptic feedback (in other words, the phone buzzes/shudders when you touch the screen) when you access an application with a single touch.

Instinct also comes loaded with Visual Voicemail, stereo Bluetooth, audible caller ID, expandable microSD memory cards (up to 8 GB) and a 2.0MP camera/camcorder.

All in all a formidable device.

The Samsung Instinct should be available later in the second quarter (meaning May/June). Sprint has yet to set a price -- but expect it to sell for something less than $300 with a two-year contract.

Sony Ericcson's Cool Phone

	Sony Ericsson X1

Sony Ericsson was showing its super-cool Xperia X1 phone. We got to see a very early beta of the phone, which has a unique front screen that lets you highlight and choose the program or programs on the screen -- and which ones you can open directly with a touch.

Sony Ericsson says it plans to market the phone in the U.S. in the second half of 2008. No prices have been set so far, but don't expect it to be cheap.

The phone also is one of the first announced to run on Microsoft's (MSFT Quote) upgraded Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone operating system.

The point-one at the end of the name means this release is a partial upgrade. From a brief look at a phone running the new system, the biggest change is with the home-screen layout -- a new interface called "Sliding Panel" updates the look of navigating the main menu system.

Centro Sales Hit a Million

Speaking of smartphones, Palm's (PALM Quote) Centro is officially a big success. At the show, Palm announced that it has sold one million of the smaller-form handsets. Form, function and price ($99) have all helped. Palm was also showing off new colors for its Sprint and AT&T (T Quote)offerings.

One of the hottest items at this year's show is Guitar Hero 3 Mobile for BlackBerry. It's available on a number of mobile platforms -- but was officially released for BlackBerrys at the show. Within hours, it became the No. 1 game for these phones.

It's priced at $14.95, and comes with a number of songs. Obviously there'll be more music downloads available in the future as well. I can tell you that it was the big talk on the show floor today.

Finally, I'd like to tell you about Garmin's (GRMN Quote) nuvifone. I'd like to -- but there's not much more I can say because Garmin isn't saying more than that.

In Barcelona, we showed you pictures of nuvifones under glass -- a whole bunch of them, each sitting in a bell jar. At this show there was only one under glass. We still haven't been allowed to get really close to a handset to see if it can do more than display one screen.

We'll tell you more when Garmin allows us to know more.