Android not "good enough" for Sprint, CEO says
Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:14PM EDT
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Bad news for Sprint subscribers hoping to get their own Android phone: The big cheese at Sprint apparently doesn't think that Google's mobile OS is up to snuff yet.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. last week, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse told reporters (according to Reuters) that Android is not yet "good enough to put the Sprint brand on it," although he added that Sprint will roll out an Android phone "some time in the future."
Hesse's comments put a damper on rumors that Sprint—the only U.S. carrier besides T-Mobile that's a member of Google's Android alliance—might have its own Android handset ready for early 2009.
Hesse didn't say why, exactly, Android still fails to meet Sprint's standards—indeed, I'm pretty puzzled myself, especially given the high marks I gave to T-Mobile's just-released, Android-powered G1.
Sprint was reportedly second in line for a U.S. Android phone, although its Android plans were apparently put on hold so Google and HTC engineers could concentrate on the T-Mobile G1.
Meanwhile, neither AT&T nor Verizon Wireless are members of Google's Open Handset Alliance, which would seem to put the kibosh on any AT&T- or Verizon-branded Android phones. That said. AT&T has previously said it's open to the idea of an Android phone, so ... who knows.
Anyway, short of some surprise from AT&T or Verizon, it looks like the T-Mobile G1 will—for better or worse—have the Android playing field (in the U.S., at least) all to itself for the next several months.
So, Sprint subscribers: From what you've seen of the G1, do you agree that Android's not up to Sprint's standards yet? Or would you buy a Sprint-branded Android phone, like, yesterday?
Related:
Sprint: Android not good enough yet [Reuters]
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2 Posted by seawav26 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:11PM EDT Report Abuse
That's Laughable, I wonder what Sprint's standards are since I do not know any one who can make a call on their network and not have the call dropped, especically in buildings! I wish AT&T would get a G1 phone!!! I would much rather have that then an Iphone.. I I'd switch to TMobile But i worry about there spotty network
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3 Posted by gjg1324 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse
Not up to sprints standards? as a sprint costumer i dont think to highly of sprints standards as seeing i miss calls, text messages and vocemails all the time i dont see how this phone could be worse
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4 Posted by kvstrobe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse
Once the Android proves that it will drop calls, miss text messages and fail at customer service it will be "good enough" for Sprint. I have Sprint. I forwrded my wife a voice mail I got on October 15th. She receivd it October 26th! Apparently Sprint thought it could wait.
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5 Posted by w.shakeya on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse
so how do you do that if you know
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1 Posted by gooddayz39 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse
Yeah... Dan Hesse would rather pay thousands of employees to train customers how to use sprint phones. Rather than adapt a software platform like apple or android which are easy enough to learn without instruction He is a hero in times when technology is ever faster at eliminating jobs!