In light of
Verizon's recent decision (or was that Google's decision?) to say goodnight to the
Nexus One in favor of the
Droid Incredible, we thought it might be wise to reach out to Sprint and get a comment on its own version -- the
EVO 4G is just around the corner, of course, and it's lying in wait to cast a long, long shadow over any other Android device in Sprint's lineup. Sure enough, the carrier says that it's now taking a pass on Google's first "superphone," seeing how the EVO 4G is basically better in every respect: WiMAX support, larger screen, better camera, and so on. Of course, this might peeve a few folks who'd prefer stock Android over HTC's
Sense UI -- if for no other reason than the fact that Sense-powered devices tend to have wildly longer firmware upgrade lag times than stock ones do -- but otherwise, the move seems to be a perfectly logical one. Oh, and as for that EVO? No update on a launch window, but Sprint says that it's still targeting Summer, thank goodness.
posted May 10th 2010 3:39PM
You know what would make Sprint awesome? If they kept both.
DAMN!!!! I was going to buy the N1 over the Evo. No 4G in Milwaukee. I fail sprint for this.
i actually didnt knew about Android phones since Nexus appeared.. ( my country does not sell android phones)
so yeah.. Android needs lots of advertising..
Nexus did a good job.. the phone is awesome also =)
They should sell it on Virgin mobile usa with the new cheap prepaid plans. Then we would see a true game changer in the market over here in the States.
Hopefully this means that Google has decided to fix the hardware issues with the Nexus One and make the Nexus Two (or at least Nexus 1.5) sooner.
I am wondering though, how can HTC, that has such a long experience building GSM, Touchscreen, Android phones, build a phone for Google with a bunch of problems precisely in these areas.
Almost makes it seem they deliberately cut corners on the Nexus One to guarantee they wouldn't cannibalize sales of their own SenseUI phones.
Though, why they would care whether they sell a Nexus One or a Sense UI phone I don't know.
ok so pretty much i found out that sprint is going to offer free 4g and free mobile wifi hotspot!!!!!
You are on a secure session with a Sprint Specialist.
Session ID: 329171
16:09:55 : Connected to sprint.ehosts.net
16:09:55 : Session ID: 329171
16:09:55 : hassib tleiji: Initial Question/Comment: new phone
16:10:00 : Please wait and the next available specialist will be with you shortly.
16:10:00 : Lisa M has joined this session!
16:10:00 : Connected with Lisa M. Your Reference Number for this chat session is 329171.
16:10:00 : Thank you for contacting Sprint. My name is Lisa M.
16:10:12 : Lisa M: Hi Hassib,
16:10:22 : Lisa M: May I have your concern in detail?
16:10:37 : hassib tleiji: i need a new smart phone, what phone should i get
16:11:17 : Lisa M: Do you wish to add a new line?
16:11:56 : hassib tleiji: no...taking my sisters upgrade
16:12:33 : Lisa M: Alright. May I confirm your sisters phone number?
16:12:56 : hassib tleiji: 2094629
16:13:17 : Lisa M: Let me check this. Please allow me a few moments to get you the details.
16:13:37 : Lisa M: Thank you for waiting.
16:13:42 : Lisa M: we are launching BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 smart phone for the Direct Ship Channels on May 16,2010. This device will replace the current BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smart phone.
16:13:47 : Lisa M: The Key Features of this phopne are:
· Sleek Design
· EV-DO Rev-A
· Track-pad interface with full QWERTY keyboard
· Half VGA+480x360 Screen
· True Global Roaming Support
· CDMA 800/1900 MHz
· 2100 MHz HSPA
· Quad Band Edge
· 3.2 MP camera / camcorder to capture the moments instantly
· Media Player with MicroSD slot for expandable memory
· Wi-Fi Capable and Stereo Bluetooth® technology
· GPS Navigation capable
· 256 MB Internal Flash Memory
· 1400 mAH Battery
· Speakerphone
· Threaded SMS
· Virtual Pre-loads such as Pandora, Sprint Football Mobile, Sprint Nav, NASCAR Mobile, and so on
· Device Based User Rules in Ensemble.
16:14:27 : Lisa M: Your phone #4629 has qualified for all the rebates including the $150.00 instant rebate. You can buy any phone at the online price which is equivalent to the cost of activating a new line.
16:14:37 : Lisa M: For example, The regular price of Blackberry Curve is $349.99; after instant saving of $200.00 and mail-in-rebate of $100.00, this phone will cost you $49.99.
16:15:09 : hassib tleiji: are there any good touchscreen phone that can compare to other carriers
16:15:53 : Lisa M: Plam Pixi , and HTCs phones are also good phones.
16:16:08 : Lisa M: We are also launching HTC EVO this May.
16:16:53 : hassib tleiji: i know but i need a phone now and if im getting a pixi.i might as well move to verizon because it has wifi and it is now free
16:17:53 : Lisa M: For example, The regular price of Blackberry Curve is $349.99; after instant saving of $200.00 and mail-in-rebate of $100.00, this phone will cost you $49.99.
16:18:19 : hassib tleiji: yeah but i want a touchscreen..i dont like any blackberry UI
16:18:21 : Lisa M: As you are on the Data share plan, you will not get charged for any data charges.
16:18:33 : Lisa M: Let me check this.
16:20:33 : Lisa M: You can also opt for HTC Touch Pro 2.
16:21:01 : hassib tleiji: yeah but y are all the sprint phones so much more than other carriers
16:21:08 : Lisa M: Palm Pixi is a touch screen phone and you will get this phone at online price i.e. at $0.00
16:21:51 : Lisa M: Please know that each company has their own pricing criteria so we cannot match the price.
16:21:54 : hassib tleiji: yeah but i geet more on verizone for same price
16:22:28 : Lisa M: We offer 30 days return policy.
16:22:41 : Lisa M: The Sprint 30-Day Risk-Free Guarantee allows you to return a like-new phone to a Sprint store or by mail. Phones purchased at other retailers, such as Radio Shack, can be returned to that store.
16:22:48 : hassib tleiji: the new att palm pre is a pre plus and has a touchstone with it
16:22:54 : hassib tleiji: and
16:23:20 : hassib tleiji: what is going to come with the sprint evo 4g
16:24:16 : hassib tleiji: ?
16:24:38 : Lisa M: Let me check this.
16:24:58 : Lisa M: The HTC EVO™ 4G offers a multimedia experience unlike any other, all at 4G speeds.
· Download music, pictures, files or videos in seconds and watch streaming video on the go with one of the largest pinch-to-zoom displays in the industry.
16:25:17 : Lisa M: With features like dual cameras and a 1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor for a smooth and quick user experience, the HTC EVO 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream and watch video that will redefine what phones can do today.
16:25:25 : hassib tleiji: i know...but i mean accessories
16:25:30 : hassib tleiji: and is 4g free?
16:25:39 : hassib tleiji: and is the mobile wifi free?
16:25:43 : Lisa M: Yes.
16:26:14 : hassib tleiji: both of those are free?!??!
16:27:03 : Lisa M: We cannot comment on this. You can pre-register at www.sprint.com/evo.
16:27:27 : Lisa M: This phone has Integrated HD video capture and 4G speeds, HTC EVO 4G makes slow uploads and grainy video a thing of the past
16:27:47 : Lisa M: It has:Dual cameras - an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera
Built-in mobile hotspot functionality, HTC EVO 4G allows up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to share the 4G experience
16:27:55 : hassib tleiji: cmon...y not i need to make a decision now...to wait or to get...i want the evo if atleast one of those are free
16:28:48 : Lisa M: Let me check this.
16:30:18 : Lisa M: Wifi is included in this phone and you can use it.
16:30:56 : hassib tleiji: well i know wifi is but is the mobile wifi hot-spot?
16:31:59 : hassib tleiji: ?
16:32:56 : hassib tleiji: ?
16:33:38 : Lisa M: I am sorry it has only wifi enable.
16:34:13 : Lisa M: If you want wifi hot spot then you can check our network cards on the website.
16:34:58 : hassib tleiji: no...yes it does...even on the spec sheet and the commercial...supports upto 8 or 9 devices
16:38:24 : hassib tleiji: .....
16:39:28 : Lisa M: I appreciate your patience. I am still researching that information for you.
16:40:53 : Lisa M: I am sorry. The HTC EVO 4G allows up to eight WiFi-enabled devices to share the 3G/4G experience.
16:41:13 : Lisa M: HTC EVO™ 4G includes Mobile Hotspot, you get connected mobility at home, at work or on the go.
16:41:25 : hassib tleiji: i know...thats what i said, is it going to be free
16:41:33 : Lisa M: Yes.
16:41:53 : Lisa M: Yes, it is free.
16:42:52 : hassib tleiji: is 4g...and is 4g going to be availibe in albany ny
16:43:08 : Lisa M: let me check that.
16:44:38 : Lisa M: Right now we only have 3g coverage in this area.
16:45:04 : hassib tleiji: ok...if i go to the city...will it be free
16:45:18 : Lisa M: Correct.
16:45:31 : hassib tleiji: so 4g is also free?
16:45:48 : Lisa M: Yes.
16:46:06 : hassib tleiji: how much is the phone going in to be
16:47:09 : hassib tleiji: ?
16:47:28 : Lisa M: I am sorry we do not have any price detail right now.
16:47:48 : Lisa M: Once it is launched, you will find product and pricing details on Sprint.com and in promotional information at our retail stores.
16:48:21 : hassib tleiji: r u guys still getting the nexus 1
16:48:53 : Lisa M: this device is not available to our customers, I am unable provide the details you requested.
16:49:01 : hassib tleiji: o and can i trade in my hero for the evo for a discount at a local sprint store?
16:49:03 : Lisa M: I encourage you to watch news reports or monitor our web site to see if a change in availability occurs.
16:49:38 : Lisa M: We offer Buy back program, This program is a part of Sprint’s Wireless Recycling initiative. Under this program, you can return your eligible used Sprint or Nextel wireless phones for an account credit of up to $50.00.
16:49:48 : Lisa M: For program details and to check your phone’s eligibility for this plan, please click on the following hyperlink:
https://secure.sprintbuyback.com/rbb/overview.php
16:50:14 : hassib tleiji: ok thanx
16:50:23 : Lisa M: You're welcome.
16:51:08 : Lisa M: Please let me know if I can be of any more help to you.
16:51:34 : hassib tleiji: yeah...r u guys going to get the pre and pixi plus?
16:52:33 : Lisa M: Right now we only offer Palm pre and Palm Pixi .
16:52:52 : hassib tleiji: what about later on?
16:53:53 : Lisa M: Should we offer it in the future, you will find product details and pricing information on Sprint.com and promotional information in our retail stores.
16:54:13 : hassib tleiji: ok thanx
16:54:28 : Lisa M: You're welcome.
16:54:38 : Lisa M: Thank you for chatting with us.
@hassit can i call yo sister? :3
Either way, ANDROID WINS, so ultimately Google wins. I see no problem with that. Plus the HTC Evo is probably the best smartphone coming the to market.
Everyone should have known that the Nexus One was going to have a short android life.
You can still purchase it unsubsidized, right?
Didn't see Google really pushing to sell these so not surprised. Once the other carriers decided to back off, what was the real market? Also, the phone's success has been in driving the growth of Android. Phone makers really started developing and introducing phones with the Android OS because N1 was there and gave them the backing they needed to break through the OS freezeout that wireless carriers have been behind. Palm, Nokia, and others have had limited success because they couldn't last long enough to thaw the freeze. I just think Google scared everyone into accepting Android as a viable OS.
Now, it will be Google Android head-to-head with WPS7 with the focus being on what the OS can offer. I would not want to be MSFT knowing that Google may not be as distracted by hardware pushing now.
Uh, you can turn off Sense UI.
Within Android 2.1 and beyond, no you can't. HTC has gone out of their way to actually remove stock Android's shell and apps.
@hated one
RTFA, troll.
Seriously, why isn't he banned yet, Engadget?
I also like the idea of the Nexus One
andddddddddddddd itsgone!
@hated one
RTFA, troll.
Seriously, why isn't he banned, Engadget?
They waited too long to bring it to Sprint and Verizon.
It also has stock Android OS.
HTC Incredible and EVO 4G are stuck with non-removable SenseUI.
I think it's a slight shame, the one thing the Nexus One does have that is amazing is the noise cancellation chip. I read some pretty awesome commentary on how well it worked. I really wish HTC would incorporate this into their phones as well because that is my main beef with phones in calls. It may sound silly, but with the Nexus One not moving any units that feature may not be noticed by the other manufacturers and go the way of the dinosaur.
EVO 4G owns all!
@jagox5 agreed, one sick mofo phone.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Sprint-EVO-4G-LTE-3G,news-6729.html
I still think the EVO needs an optical trackpad.
Any capacitive phone benefits from having secondary granular navigation... it also makes it familiar for RIM users and something that the iPhone doesn't have.
@BigNerd
I think I would have liked an optical trackpad, also.
@SCB Yea the track pad and slideout keyboard on the moment really standout when compared to the EVO.. The moment is a great phone a step behind the Droid but Imma still have to jump on the Evo..
Atleast sprint has some common sense.
Google fail.
Wait a second. There are actually people who prefer stock Android over Sense?
Can I please meet these people so I can ask them they they hate themselves?
Uh, well duh...
I honestly don't see what the big deal is here.
Two carriers have dropped carrying the Nexus One in favor of better versions of the Nexus One. Nothing out of the ordinary to me, makes sense. What I don't understand is why people are calling the Nexus One "Google's Smartphone"? Obviously we know that Google makes the Android operating system but giving it that label makes people think that they actually made the phone themselves, which is not true. The Nexus One is built by HTC It's an HTC phone running the Android operating system. It really should be called the HTC Nexus One.
People are making it sound like Google is going to suffer a great loss here because there won't be Nexus Ones on Sprint and Verizon. The reality here is that HTC and Google are the winners here. HTC is the maker of three of the hottest phones right now (EVO, Incredible and the Desire) and they all run on Google's Android operating system, which will now see an increase in users.
Google is making money selling android not nexus 1
@furiousgtz They don't sell Android it's open source, they make $$$ from ads.
Nexus 2 coming soon.. No Comments...
mmm, now I wonder how HTC feels about this. LOL
@frz1 they probably didn't want to bother to make a cdma version that competes with their top end products.
Another "iPhone Killer" bites the dust.
My God, will someone step up and provide some proper competition for more than 7 weeks?
The fire under Apple needs to remain alight to continue the innovation across all companies. If Google can't do it, who can?
@arei huh?
the nexus one was a developer phone, it was never ment to be a mass market phone. It served it's purpose, aka show HTC what they can do with android.
Google decided to say fuck off to making a cdma version.
The incredible and the evo are basically the nexus one with improvements. I fail to see how this is a bad thing.
HTC gets one more try with me when the EVO comes out. The Nexus one running on at&t was terrible for me, and the incredible has a ton of bugs ranging from bad call quality to random resets. So HTC better bring there A game with the EVO. Don't blame sprint it vzw for passing on the Nexus at this point in time...
Why can't google sell their own phone with their own OS, and google ain't fixing the 3G issues.........google's on a roll lolololololololo
I think people tend to forget that one of the main reasons Google decided to release its own phones was to keep the Android market from growing stagnant. By producing a new flagship each year, Google continually raises the bar that other manufacturers must meet or exceed.
There sure is a lot of news about cellular telephones on Engadget these days. Where's the USB flash drive news?