Dan Hesse sez Android "not yet good enough" for Sprint brand
By Darren Murph 
posted October 25th 2008 4:33PM
posted October 25th 2008 4:33PM
[Via Android Authority]
posted October 25th 2008 4:33PM
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The impression I got from reading about Android is that even its fans admit that it is somewhat beta-ish. So I see nothing wrong with a big company deciding to wait a bit before committing itself to a new platform. Speaking of which, with all the hype surrounding Android, it has yet to actually prove itself. I'm a big fan of Google and I'm rooting for Android but it's only now starting to get into the hands of people, I feel some of the assertions of greatness directed towards it are a bit premature.
I've got a G1, and it's great. It's "beat-ish" in the same way the first iPhone was beta-ish: It works stunningly well, but there ar a few things missing. Not a huge problem, since applications have already been released that supply most of the functionality I thought was missing.
Not good enough for last place?
That's funny, I don't think Sprint is a good enough brand to put on Android.
i like all the paragraphs posted here, they are all longer than the original post
Is it just me, or did the title look like it was in a different language, like German, on your first glance?
I see hope for Sprint if they switch to GSM. UMTS whatever. Just away from "we get the cool phones last, if at all" CDMA.
That's like the pot calling the kettle black. The sprint brand really isn't good enough to put on any device. Sprint's lack of signal strength in any structure more dense than cardboard really doesn't have much room to talk. Then when you consider the notoriously restrictive proprietary devices sprint has forced their customers to use, I'm not surprised by his comments. It's only good business to trash anything that opens up a device to be taken to another carrier. I remember the days when sprint used to brick your phone when you had the nerve to complain about service quality, and continue to bill you for a service they denied you access to. The only reason sprint is even in business still is because of the stranglehold hold they have on cellular technology patents licensed to people who deliver a vastly superior level of service at a lower price.
just found out sprint getting rid of email dec 31st 2008 WTF is it not 2008 too bad I have sero Im not going anywhere
$1 a day for everything I need well, except for email. Since its in my agreement and I pay for it guess ill witte them to see what kind of discount I get since I do pay for it,
They're not taking away email, just the xxxxxx@sprintpcs.com email address that no one used.
I guess he figures he can't drive his company any further into the ground.
will someone be able to write something so android can encrypt voice calls, thats the only new feature im interested in seeing in a cell phone encrypted voice calls
Are you serious? Take the tin foil hat off. Unless you are calling in launch codes, the cellular networks are still more resistant to evesdropping than a land line. Perhaps a stronger encryption for that walkie talkie in your ear you call a bluetooth headset. If you use the phone with a wired headset, you are more than secure. I mean really...... It's not like john doe or jane smith are doing something so secrative they need a hyper secure line.
OOOOhhhhhh I'm so afraid someone is going to spy on me calling in my order of sesame chicken.
There are ultra secure forms of portable communications, but there is no rational reason the general public needs it.
No! I've been waiting long enough. I've been sticking with the same phone I've had for 2 years and the sensor that tells it when the flip is open doesn't even work anymore. I want my Android!
at this point we woud all rather suck on cardboard than continue paying attention to this moron. Sprint is complete garbage and he knows it. But hey if i got his payroll check i would LOVE SPRINT too lol
Remember that most people do want to just do the things they want to do with there phones. IE, make phone calls, text, light web surfing. The don't want to develop apps for it, change the configuration of the phone, defrag the hard drive, try out a new word processor, ect.... People just wanna turn it on an do what they gotta do. Maybe this is Sprint's rational here, after all they are not marketing cell phones to budding application developers or those that want a mini phone laptop, maybe the wanna make sure it intuitive.
The G1 already does all of that stuff quite well. It's got the best mobile browser I've ever used, including all the versions of Opera and Safari Mobile. Text messaging is great, calling is easy, and voice quality is good. The only stuff that's "missing" is the stuff you're talking about--the stuff you say people don't even want.
Google Android = Good. BUT... HTC Dream hardware (200MHz cpu?) = 1st version = Jethro Bodine version.
Is this the same guy who says "impressive, ha" in one of his commercials?
CDMA. FRAIL.
It's ok Sprint... maybe one day you'll get an "iPhone killer". One day...
Seriously. Before Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile wasn't ready for prime time and Sprint still carried that. There were plenty of lame palm phones that were hacked together as half palm half phone and the sides didn't talk to each other. They carried that.
Get real.
This is a completely different market though. People have choice and good alternatives now. When earlier versions of Windows Mobile came out, smartphones were still somewhat rare. They jumped on them basically because it was what was available at the time. Now smartphones are taking over the cell phone market very quickly, and there are a lot of good choices out there. Now they CAN be picky.
And also, don't think that the modern day Sprint is the same as your mom and dad's Sprint. Sprint is doing everything they can now to make changes to keep themselves afloat. Putting time and money into a phone that, really right now is mainly going to be for enthusiasts, isn't in their best interest. Give the platform a year or so to mature and appeal to more customers, and I'm sure they'll jump on it too.
I wouldn't mind at all if someone explained the Tony_Toni_Tone reference.
In all honesty, he's right.
Android is great, but the current form is for EARLY ADOPTERS ONLY.
Google needs to brand a Touch Pro for hardware, and indie developers need to get their asses in gear!
Some of my coworkers have coded games on their G1s, already... I believe these phone ready for mass market within six months.
Honestly, I'm waiting for a Android-Nuvifone for either the Sprint or T-Mobile network. (I've got an HTC Touch with 8 mos before I'm eligible for an upgrade... so I hope to see it within that timeframe!)
So Sprint doesn't have any Windows Mobile devices on its network, then?
Engadget sure has a hard-on for this phone. I work in telecom and had to privilege to play with the Android a few weeks before launch. Garbage. The open source is nice but nothing else is. It will never have an audience close to the iPhone in its current form.
Sprint Fails
I think everyone who's agreeing with this is either on the sprint network, and/or is still wearing rose-tinted glasses looking at their HTC touch * or iPhone...
Android is the future folks...
Yet the Instinct with its non-OS BS and craptacular interface is good enough for the "Sprint brand."
Keep trying to stay relevant on your CDMA bandwagon, Hesse.
Because the Instinct and Diamond are really doing good your Sprint........AMIRITE!!?!?!?
English much?
English A Lot!
Yeah, seriously.... You're fucking SPRINT, you should take what they offer you and kiss their feet for it. Let's hope your dumb ass doesn't get thrown out of the OHA. Oh, and once someone comes up with a pretty skin for Android and it looks pretty and shiny, people will be all over this, whether on the G1 or another handset. As for Dan, he can jump off a cliff, and presumably will when he realizes Sprint jumped first. Oh and for people who criticized the Instinct, I completely agree. That ugly ass design, proprietary OS, and fucking fail web browser wasn't even as good as a Chinese iPhone ripoff, if you're still counting on that and the Simply Everything plan, well, once again, there's the cliff.
Am I the only one who got annoyed by OP spelling "says" as sez?
...I just bought a Sprint phone off ebay simply because I can run Android on it.... what does this tell you Dan?
I live on that street.
Android is an overhyped product.
Hi, my name is BJ DeHut, and I'm a representative for Sprint. We appreciate the discussions that Dan Hesse’s comments have caused, but we believe his words were taken out of context about Android. Here is a statement from James Fisher, a member of Sprint's communications organization, who was in the room at the National Press Club for Dan Hesse's speech:
"I’m in Sprint’s communications organization, and I actually was in the room at the National Press Club for Dan Hesse’s speech. As with any single comment from a speech, it’s important to understand the context. Rather than criticize Google, Sprint is a partner with Google (it’s the default search provider on Sprint phones) and we are a very strong supporter of the Android community as a charter member of the Open Handset Alliance. We are interested in developing an Android-based handset, but we would want to make sure it fully leverages all of the advances of Sprint’s current handsets and the data strength of our wireless network. We have a unique approach to making data use easy, intuitive and simply priced. I think what Dan meant is that, only when we are certain we have fully leveraged all the advantages of Android with the advantages we’re known for, that’s when we’d introduce our Android handset. And as for speculation from anonymous folks about our plans, industry folks always trade gossip, but it’s not always true. "
Source: http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/10/sprint-ceo-disses-google-s-android-phone-wishes-he-had-one-s-/page/1#comment-4905d5d314b9b932003811a4
If you have any further questions about Dan Hesse's comments about the Android phone, feel free to email me at BJD@Sprint.com