Full Press Release:

”Transform” Your Communications with the new Android-Powered Slide-Out QWERTY Phone from Boost Mobile and Samsung
 
The new Samsung Transform Ultra marks another industry first with Boost Mobile as the first no-contract smartphone to include the innovative Mobile ID platform
 
IRVINE, Calif. – Boost Mobile, ranked Highest in Customer Service Performance and Purchase Experience among Non-Contract Wireless Providers by J.D. Power and Associates1, once again enhances its smartphone lineup of Android™ devices with the launch of the Samsung Transform™ Ultra. The Transform Ultra complements the existing Samsung Galaxy Prevail™, which in four months has become the best-selling no-contract smartphone in Samsung’s history. The Transform Ultra is the perfect device for the consumer who desires an Android touchscreen along with a text-friendly full QWERTY keypad.
 
“If you have been sitting on the sidelines considering no-contract plans or Android smartphones, it’s time to upgrade with the latest Samsung Android devices paired with the award-winning Boost Mobile plans and customer experience,” said Andre Smith, vice president-Boost Mobile. “The Transform Ultra device includes the innovative Mobile ID platform, allowing customers to get a running start in exploring Android applications and widgets based on their personal interest.”
 
The Transform Ultra, powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, features access to Google Mobile™ services and more than 250,000 applications through Android Market. The device has a 1GHz processor, a 3MP rear-facing camera, and VGA front-facing camera for video chat while on the go. 

Mobile ID
The Transform Ultra is Boost’s first Android-powered smartphone to come preloaded with Mobile ID, an exclusive service from Boost that allows customers to download and install “ID packs.” The packs deliver a complete mobile experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, in a couple simple clicks. ID packs are designed to meet a customer’s individual lifestyle or interests, such as sports, entertainment, fitness and music.
 
As only one example, the MTV Music pack is a complete music experience, bringing together the best music and pop culture apps, widgets and content on your Boost smartphone. The MTV Music pack gives customers access to the biggest stars and newest artists around the clock. Plus MTV has selected the best music apps to stream, download, identify, search and discover all your favorite music.
 
Other ID packs that can be loaded on the device include: E!, Socially Connected, Professional, Entertainment, Lo2Yo Latino, Lo2Yo Mujer and Lo2Yo Futbol.
 
Other Transform Ultra features include:

• Android 2.3 with Access to Android Market™
• Touchscreen
• Full QWERTY Keypad
• 3MP camera with video
• Wi-Fi®, GPS and Wireless Web enabled
• Front-facing VGA camera
• Easy access to Gmail™ and Google Talk™
• Bluetooth® capable
• Speakerphone with voice-activated dialing
• Supports microSD® cards up to 32GB (2GB card included)
• Voice mail, caller ID, call waiting and three-way calling

 
Samsung Transform Ultra will be available Oct. 7 for $229.99 (excluding taxes) at Boost Mobile’s exclusive retail stores, select independent wireless dealer locations across the country and at www.boostmobile.com with free shipping. The Transform will be rolling out in select retails nationwide later this year.
 
Android Monthly Unlimited with Shrinkage Offer Coming Oct. 6
Effective Oct. 6, Boost Mobile will add an additional $5 monthly charge for unlimited data and messaging services offered on Android-powered devices. Like the existing Monthly Unlimited plan, the new Android plan includes unlimited nationwide talk, text, Web, email and calls to 411. In addition, the new Android Monthly Unlimited plan will still come with shrinking payments where the longer you stay, the less you pay. For every six on-time payments, the cost of a new customer’s Android Monthly Unlimited plan will shrink by $5, eventually getting down to as low as $40 a month, only $5 more than the current Monthly Unlimited with Shrinkage. Payments do not need to be consecutive to qualify for the next savings milestone.
 
For our current Monthly Unlimited customers, we hear you! Existing $50 Monthly Unlimited customers with Android devices as of Oct. 6 can keep their current price plan as long as they don’t let their account expire. Existing Monthly Unlimited customers upgrading to a CDMA Android-powered device on or after Oct. 6, will add a $5 monthly charge on their current monthly payment without losing any of their accrued Shrinkage savings.
 
Phone Insurance
Customers can also protect their Samsung Transform Ultra with Phone Insurance that is now available for Boost Monthly Unlimited customers. For $5 per month customers are covered if their device breaks, is lost, stolen or damaged – even by liquid. Go to www.boostmobile.com for more information.

Last.fm, Yahoo Mail (for those that still use it), Digg, Gizmodo, Gawker, Mint, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Travel Channel, MTV and Amazon’s MP3 Store, QuickOffice, Telenav, as well as the normal array of Google apps, and much more are preloaded on the Moto CLIQ. A lot of these apps are already on the Android platform and I personally use some of them. But is this really more incentive to buy the Motorola CLIQ or an indication of the type of consumer market they are shooting for? And a return to the mid 90′s preinstall bloatware that many PC manufacturers got into. It doesn’t really impress me, since most of the apps that are new will be available to other phones in time. But don’t get me wrong, the CLIQ is a great handset, and probably my next Android purchase. And granted, many of these apps probably contribute to Motorola’s MOTOBLUR experience. I just don’t see a point to loading all these apps on the phone, taking up space. That’s the purpose of the Android market, let the consumer decide what they want to use. Or if you must, go the T-Mobile route and have an app package with recommended applications.

Does anyone desire the Motorola CLIQ more knowing it comes preloaded with these apps?

[Read] [via Phandroid]