Gizmodo
So it turns out the rumors were true. Samsung's two-faced phone, the music-playing Upstage, got a Ferrari-red paint job this morning.
The phone has a tiny LCD on one side (for making calls) and a bigger screen on its backside to show music info. Other features include Bluetooth 2.0 and access to Sprint's music store. The phone is out today on Sprint.
SamsungUpstageRed
UPSTAGETM BY SAMSUNG, EXCLUSIVELY FROM SPRINT,
NOW AVAILABLE WITH FASHIONABLE RED COLOR OPTION
Attractive and innovative dual-sided music phone
follows up its award-winning debut with a new, vibrant look
UpStage by Samsung brings customers quick and easy access to
Sprint's advanced music capabilities, including over-the-air song downloads
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and DALLAS - June 13, 2007 - Starting Monday, customers will have
a new choice to make when they purchase UpStage by Samsung as Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung
Telecommunications America (Samsung) debut a vibrant red color option. UpStage by Samsung is
the first dual-sided wireless phone in the U.S. designed to optimize music
capabilities with the look of an MP3 player on one side and a phone on the other.
Since its debut in late March, UpStage by Samsung sales have exceeded
expectations. In addition, UpStage has won the following industry awards:
• Best Cellphone in CNET's Cream of the Crop awards during CTIA 2007
• Best Multimedia Phone in LAPTOP's "Best of CTIA 2007" Awards
• Gadget of the Week from Popular Mechanics
• Coolest New Product at CTIA from Network World
• Mobiledia.com Editor's Choice Award
"Within its first few weeks of availability, UpStage became Sprint's best-selling
music phone and our leading Power Vision device. We are thrilled with the
overwhelming response to this innovative music phone," said Oliver Valente, senior
vice president for Product Management and Development for Sprint. "Our customers
appreciate that UpStage makes the mobile music experience fully wireless without
the need for cables or wires to download songs or listen to music on your phone."
Operating on the Sprint Mobile Broadband network, UpStage by Samsung provides
easy access to Sprint's exclusive multimedia content, including Sprint Music Store.
Sprint Music Store provides customers with quick over-the-air music downloads of
full-length songs for just 99 cents.
UpStage by Samsung is the first Sprint phone to offer the following features
designed to make mobile music more entertaining than ever:
• Sprint Music Manager, powered by Smith Micro, gives users the power to
quickly and simply transfer, or "sideload," unprotected songs from a PC to
the handset via a USB cable. Provided on an enclosed CD-ROM, Music Manager also allows
songs to be managed on the PC through an intuitive interface.
• Advanced Stereo Bluetooth 2.0 with Bluetooth caller ID enables the user to identify callers
with a spoken voice while they listen to music.
• UpStage by Samsung gives users the power to multitask with the ability to play music in
background mode while also using the phone for text messaging, playing games or surfing
the Internet.
"Samsung is excited to give our loyal customers a new look to this revolutionary union of voice,
form and music." said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president of Strategy at Samsung
Telecommunications America. "The red UpStage offers a bright display of color on the outside
combined with high-profile music access, messaging and multitasking capabilities on the inside."
Additional features available on UpStage by Samsung include a 1.3MP camera and camcorder,
MicroSD card slot that can support up to 2GB of external memory, an easy-to-access keyguard
switch to prevent accidental dialing, and Wireless Backup to quickly restore contact information if
your phone is lost or stolen.
An extended battery wallet is included with the phone to increase talk time up to approximately 6.3
hours or 16 hours of music listening. Dual battery gauges show remaining battery life in the
extended battery wallet and the internal battery. The phone also comes packaged with a 64MB
MicroSD memory card, USB cable, 3.5mm adapter with microphone for standard music headphones
and accessories, the Sprint Music Manager application on CD-ROM and a Quick Tips guide.
UpStage by Samsung measures 4.07" x 1.73" x 0.37" and weighs just 2.57 ounces. UpStage by
Samsung is currently priced at $99 with a two-year service agreement and $50 service credit. The
red color option joins black in Sprint retail stores, www.sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1 on June 18.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services
bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is
widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two
robust wireless networks serving more than 53.6 million customers at the end of the first quarter
2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie
capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products
throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media
and digital convergence technologies with 2006 parent company sales of US$63.4 billion and net
income of US$8.5 billion. Employing approximately 138,000 people in 124 offices in 56 countries,
the company consists of five main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business,
Semiconductor Business, Telecommunication Network Business and Digital Appliance Business.
Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer
of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit
www.samsung.com.
###
