Sprint marketing exec talks Android, WiMAX, WinMo 7, and more
Posted Nov 3rd 2009 6:13AM by Chris Ziegler
Sprint's vice president of consumer marketing David Owens sat down with the community at large last week to answer a few burning questions about Sprint's current and future lineup, and there were a few juicy tidbits, reaffirmations, and rumor confirmations that came out of it worth mentioning:
- There will be a WiFi-enabled Tour (the phone we know as the Essex) along with other WiFi BlackBerrys in the future.
- Sprint's 2010 HTC lineup is said to be "robust" with a number of additional Android-powered models in the pipe.
- WiMAX phones are apparently on track for 2010, which would put them head-to-head with MetroPCS' goal of a Samsung handset for its new LTE network next year.
- Windows Mobile 7 phones are "planned for 2010" but the ball is in Microsoft's court to deliver on the software.
- He mentions that upgrades to Android 1.6 and 2.0 (presumably for the Hero and Moment, both of which are currently running 1.5) would likely not be over-the-air due to their size -- this sounds bogus considering that T-Mobile has had no problem going from 1.0 all the way up to 1.6 on the G1, but we'll need to see how this shakes out.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WiiFTW @ Nov 3rd 2009 9:28AM
"HTC-sourced WiMAX Android phone with the Moment's AMOLED display."
plz?kthxbye
gandhisfist @ Nov 3rd 2009 10:01AM
Is it really that bogus that Sprint can't do OTA updates when it has more subscribers than T-Mobile? I'm not really sure how it works, so I am just wondering if that could be a factor.
cocoviper @ Nov 3rd 2009 5:00PM
It's not an issue of the number of subscribers but rather the limitations of the OTA updating system.
Besides, worst case scenario is they email users a web link to a file that they just run on their PC at home. I think any user wanting to update their Android device can handle a web download and an executable.
JustIncredible @ Nov 3rd 2009 10:12AM
its not bogus...with cdma you can do data and voice at the same time...if you attempt to download the whole update ota the customer wouldnt be able to say call 011 in a emergency...which would leave them open to massive litigation if someone couldnt use their phone to make an emergency call because they had to turn off the phone to kill a firmware update, wait for the phone to reboot (in the case of android is 40 some secs to a minute and a half) and someone kicks the ol bucket because of it...
they just need a notification system on when an update is avaliable and an easy upgrade process...for "avg joe"customers
cocoviper @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:36PM
That's not true- if you try to make a phone call while in a data session on CDMA it will just drop the data session. E911 is ALWAYS available if you have some level of service and a battery.
Convergenista @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:37PM
Urk. I'm a bit annoyed that there aren't more Windows phones coming out in 2009. I've got a Vogue that's lost it's screen sensitivity, and nothing to upgrade to... don't really want the Touch Pro 2: too rich for my blood. I don't really need the super snappy Snapdragon processor and WinMo 7, I just need something good enough NOW to spend my upgrade credit on (and, yeah, I'm SERO, so I've got to stick with WinMo, no Android or Palm for me)...
Miguel @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:01PM
Cmon Sprint, Give me a reason to Get Rid of this TP2! Give me the Same size screen, same size keyboard, just with Android, GSM capable(Just Because), and WiMax capable....tho ill probably have Grey hair by then.
Scarhawk @ Nov 4th 2009 4:16AM
HTC Wimax Android 2.0 phone that can do TETHERING. Yes please!