Sprint appeals to Android developers, wants to be their carrier of choice

posted by Alex I. / Mar 23, 2011, 11:23 AM

Sprint appeals to Android developers, wants to be their carrier of choice

It has been a few days since AT&T announced its plans to acquire T-Mobile. After the news broke, countless analysis were published, and the general agreement is that this deal, if approved by the FCC, will signal a profound change in the wireless industry in the States. Some of the points made in these analysis are that AT&T will be the largest US carrier by some distance (with all the possible consequences from this fact), and that there would be a vacuum because T-Mobile offers something unique - affordable data plans and plenty of Android phones.

Seems like many of these claims ring true in the Sprint executives' ears, and senior officials at the third-largest US carrier used the CTIA 2011's stage to make an appeal to the Android developers. The Google Nexus S 4G (our hands-on is here) is the first of the so-called "developer phones" to be released by the carrier, and Kevin Cordes, general manager of device product management for Sprint, says the company hopes it will be able to attract Android devs:

"Yes, we want to be able to attract developers just like T-Mobile has. You'll see Sprint definitely evaluate these opportunities and continue to be interested [in developer phones]."

Sprint doesn't seem too happy with the possible AT&T - T-Mobile merger, and is indeed making all the right noises to Android developers. Can we expect a flood of Sprint-branded Android phones in the near future?

source: PCMag

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28 Comments

1. Fallout

Posts: 20; Member since: Apr 22, 2010

Because developing on a CDMA platform makes sense

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 11:37 AM 0

5. BaiGanyo

Posts: 308; Member since: Feb 07, 2011

You really don't get it do you?

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 12:50 PM 1

2. wow unregistered

Yea good luck with that one Sprint. Verizon is the main reason why Android grew to as big as it did, so why would they choose you now over Verizon? It is because of you huge customer base? Your 4G network? Or how about you coverage? Yea, you have no chance.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 11:41 AM 0

4. "wow?" unregistered

Why is that so far fetched, when previously, Google's company of choice for releasing developer phones was T-Mobile? I'm not debating that Verizon certainly furthered the Android brand, but Verizon has yet to carry a developer phone.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 12:00 PM 2

6. Moron?? unregistered

You don't understabd a thing. They want to be the carrier that gets the best Android phones when they come out. You really think they are begging for developer phones?? That part didn't go so well with T-mobile, so why would it change?

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 12:54 PM 0

15. Honeycomb_FTW unregistered

Seems you missed the point. Sprint isn't saying "they want all the best phones first." They are saying they want to fill the void left by T-Mobile as the carrier for Google's Android developer phone--you know the Nexus One & Nexus S? There are many reasons to do this especially considering the growth of Android. I'm sure they will continue to work with hardware partners to get what they believe are the best devices just as every other carrier does. That won't change and has nothing to do with anything here.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 3:32 PM 2

16. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

wow.. no. sprint is saying they want to be the android development community's choice for phones. that doesnt nessisarily mean the "best phones first".. though that does help.. it means "the least locked down and open for development", which is currently Tmobile's arena. Cyanogen and all the main developers are almost all Tmobile customers. Heck, Tmobile openly encourages Cyanogenmod development and threw him a tmo sponsored party. Go look at the XDA boards for the vibrant and for the fascinate. Same phone, but the vibrant community is booming while the fascinate community is much smaller. Thats what Sprint wants. Ask VZW or ATT to do that. lol.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 4:06 PM 4

11. thephoneguru unregistered

DID you just say Verizon was the main reason why Android grew to as big as it is? Learn your history boy before you start making dumb accusations about who made what. And no, I am not talking about who had Android first you idiot...

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 2:06 PM 2

21. DroidCLH unregistered

The Droid was the first extremely popular android phone dude and it released on verizon followed by the very successful sequels in the Droid line so yeah Verizon furthered android the most T-mobile was just the start

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 5:54 PM 0

25. >=( unregistered

yeah and now every retard thinks every android phone is a droid

posted on Mar 24, 2011, 5:30 AM 2

27. lds44

Posts: 1; Member since: Mar 25, 2011

That bugz the hell out of me i thought i was the only one

posted on Mar 25, 2011, 4:08 AM 0

3. Allday28

Posts: 327; Member since: Nov 19, 2010

Google just needs to buy sprint and change the way the cell phone industry works..

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 11:48 AM 7

7. Gcombs unregistered

That may be in the cards as it seems. I wouldn't be surprised if Google and Sprint come into a major agreement.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 12:54 PM 3

8. Spear unregistered

I agree. Look at the recent Sprint/Google Voice agreement. The bells of change are ringing, can you hear them?

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 1:06 PM 4

9. biglebronski

Posts: 22; Member since: Mar 18, 2011

I agree with all these points, but what would that mean for Android phones on Verizon/AT&T? Seems like a conflict of interests.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 1:20 PM 0

17. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

not nessisarily. though it would never happen in real life, sprint being bought by Google would be great. They would throw their money n weight into their network and have LTE up n running faster than you can say 4g. Think of all the cool base google phones and tablets they would have with carrier restrictions, bloatware, or anything like that. I would jump on that in heartbeat. They would still allow other carriers to sell the phones and lock em down n be stupid. So there is no conflict of interest. Come to think of it. Google should buy sprint (or buy Tmobile instead of ATT) :) lol.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 4:14 PM 2

10. snowgator

Posts: 3614; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

Of all the "Sprint needs to..." comments out there since T-Mobile got acquired by the evil giant, I am not offended by the thought of Google running Sprint. So long as Sprint can remain a viable third option, maybe with reception indoors, I am kinda digging that idea.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 1:23 PM 2

14. Honeycomb_FTW unregistered

They just need to partner. Allow handsets to access WiFi and use the internet to carry as much traffic as possible then data only plans for the rest of it. This would decrease Sprint's costs and allow them to offer customers killer deals. It's sort of what they are doing with the GV agreement but the handsets need to be adjusted to take advantage of WiFi when available instead of relying on Sprint's network. I know I could live with that deal and I'm around WiFi 90% of the time. The other carriers could follow suit or not.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 3:26 PM 1

12. E.N.

Posts: 2610; Member since: Jan 25, 2009

Google running Sprint? Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 2:28 PM 2

13. Honeycomb_ftw unregistered

Sprint could gain some ground with Android by being the first carrier to really work with hardware manufacturers & Google to ensure updates happen asap and to give the best Android experience without all the crap the other carriers try to push on Android. Don't underestimate developers influence on normal user purchases. Many of us check the dev community to see what they are working with ;) And to have a carrier that really supports the open nature of Android without mucking it up would be a big plus--I know I would be considering them especially now that T-Mo is toast.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 3:19 PM 1

18. BaiGanyo

Posts: 308; Member since: Feb 07, 2011

People act like Sprint has 50,000 customers instead of 50 million lol. The ship has been righted and they'll be fine on their own.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 4:31 PM 3

19. snowgator

Posts: 3614; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

Actually, I agree. Sprint is building loyalty, and building a good network while they are also recovering from past mistakes. But a Sprint/Google partnership is just kinda fun to debate about, ain't it?

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 4:52 PM 1

20. BaiGanyo

Posts: 308; Member since: Feb 07, 2011

No, it is heresy. J/k.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 5:06 PM 1

22. tm6248

Posts: 12; Member since: Feb 03, 2011

Sprint needs more android phones no doubt because just having the evo 4g the shift 4g and the samsung epic is not going to cutt it.

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 7:31 PM 0

23. Ghost unregistered

commence laughing out loud what about sprint makes any smartphone to go to their network they have loyal customers who wait an extra 3 months to get android 2.2 on their premier phone, when their's already phones on 2.3 and their coverage is 1/2 the size of verizon

posted on Mar 23, 2011, 9:01 PM 0

24. belovedson

Posts: 1060; Member since: Nov 30, 2010

if most of my calls are made locally what different does it make to me about places like in nevada. I think it's a safe assumption that most people follow in suit with what I am saying. Local calls and in rare occasions long.

posted on Mar 24, 2011, 2:15 AM 0

26. N.O. unregistered

Everyone argues about which company is the best. I use to have Verizon and the service sucked and customer service was even worse. I switched to sprint and never looked back. Just because Verizon constantly shows you a commercial saying they are the best it doesn't mean they are the best its called brain washing. People get with the company that best suits them. With sprint I have the cheapest and best plan only paying 82 dollars a month after taxes and including insurance for the unlimited data plan. You should go with what's best for you don't get caught up in the hype of what people think

posted on Mar 24, 2011, 9:04 AM 2

29. richardyarrell2011

Posts: 510; Member since: Mar 16, 2011

I really believe that in the NEAR FUTURE Google and Sprint will be getting together much more often for many other things that people are unaware of...I personally don't believe this merger will happen but one thing i do know is sprint is much stronger than many people want to realize and yes they do have the best android devices on one network as of today with the motorola atrix4g as well as some kind of galaxy s2 coming along soon as well. Sleep on sprint all you want but look now the best 4g devices on any network 1. Evo 3d, Nexus s4g, Evo 4g, Evo shift 4g, Epic 4g, plus tablets Evo view 4g, Galaxy tab 4g, Blackberry playbook 4g, as well as next months announced Xoom 4g, WHO IS BETTER TELL ME THAT...Definately not Verizon or At&t or neither tmobile for that matter...