Sprint's Google Android phone by end of this year/early next year?

A number of reputable press sources are now reporting about the possible launch of Sprint's Google Android phone before the end of this year or early next year. Here are some of them:

According to mobile magazine:

"There is certainly a lot of hullabaloo surrounding the pending announcement and launch of the HTC Dream G1 Android smartphone, but T-Mobile isn't the only one getting in on the Android action. It has now been reported that Sprint is not only getting an Android phone of its own, but it is getting one before Santa makes his rounds this December!"

According to AP:

"Among U.S. carriers, Sprint Nextel Corp. has apparently taken the bait along with T-Mobile, and is a member of the Open Handset Alliance. Verizon Wireless has not ruled out Android phones, but is putting its energy into LiMo. AT&T is holding off on making decisions about Android."


According to electronista:

"Sprint's known plans to produce an Android phone are also included in the leak but suggest that the device won't simply be a copy of the G1; details are unmentioned but should include "other functionality" than what T-Mobile's device offers. The CDMA carrier's handset is widely known to be scheduled for a launch early next year."


According to InformationWeek:

"Sprint Nextel [is] also planning to unveil an Android phone and, if it follows tradition, subscribers will have to sign a two-year contract to get a phone."


According to Wall Street Journal:

"Other carriers such as China Mobile and Sprint have said they would develop Android-powered phones, but some have experienced delays in integrating Google's services with their own, people familiar with those companies' plans said."


Why Sprint's Google Android Phone was Delayed?

According to this WSJ article from June, 2008:

"Google now says that the handsets won't arrive until the fourth quarter. And some cellular carriers and makers of programs that work with Android are struggling to meet that schedule, people familiar with the situation say.

T-Mobile USA expects to deliver an Android-powered phone in the fourth period. But that launch is taking up so much of Google's attention and resources that Sprint Nextel Corp., which had hoped to launch an Android phone this year, won't be able to, a person familiar with the matter said.

China Mobile, the largest wireless carrier in the world with nearly 400 million subscriber accounts, had planned to launch an Android phone in the third quarter but it has run into issues that will likely delay the launch until late this year or early 2009, a person familiar with the matter says."


The last official announcement from Sprint regarding Android was in Nov, 2007.

Interesting tidbit about Sprint and Android

According to this:

"In July, Mr. Webster got an e-mail from Jake Orion, a Sprint Nextel executive, who wanted to talk about Google and Android. (Sprint hopes to offer a phone with Google’s Android software next year.)

Mr. Webster said he interviewed Mr. Orion via e-mail. Mr. Orion suggested Google needed to be more pragmatic in its approach, particularly when working with carriers. Later, after the interview was posted, Mr. Orion contacted Mr. Webster and asked him to take the interview down, saying his comments had ruffled feathers at Google. Mr. Webster complied. “I told Jamie, ‘I’m not going to go to bed thinking I lost this guy his job,’” said Mr. Webster."