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Nexus One from Google Coming to Sprint

2010-03-17T18:48:52Z

Nexus One, the first wireless phone sold through Google’s web store, is planned for Sprint’s 3G Mobile Broadband Network.

Pricing and an exact availability date will be announced soon.

Nexus One will benefit from Sprint’s 3G network with twice the coverage of AT&T and 10 times the coverage of T-Mobile, both based on square miles.(1)

“Nexus One is a powerful device that belongs on a powerful network. This is another step in our continued partnership of innovation with Google,” said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president of product development. “Sprint customers already have the option of two amazing Android devices with Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. It is a natural fit for us to add Nexus One to the list of choices available for Sprint customers who want the best value in wireless with the best in Android.”

We will keep everyone updated on all of the details about the phone and how Sprint subscribers can get one.

In the meantime, here are some specifications about the phone:

Nexus One runs on Android 2.1, a version of the platform's Eclair software, which offers advanced applications and features including:

• Google Maps Navigation: offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output.
• Email: multiple Gmail accounts; universal inbox and Exchange support.
• Phone book: aggregate contacts from multiple sources, including Facebook.
• Quick Contacts: easily switch between communication and social applications.
• Android Market: access to more than 30,000 applications.
Hardware features of Nexus One include:
• Display: 3.7" AMOLED 480x800 WVGA display
• Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g
• Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz
• Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging
• Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
• Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)
• Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
• Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control
• Battery: Removable 1400 mAh
• Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone
• Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive

In addition, Nexus One offers new functionality and software enhancements including:

• Enter text without typing.
• Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an email.
• Tell your phone what you want it to do.
• Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.
• Take personalization to the next level.
• Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger.
• More widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.
• Capture camera-quality pictures and video with your device.
• 5 megapixel camera includes LED flash, auto focus, zoom, white balance and color effects.
• View pictures and Picasa Web Albums in the new 3D Gallery.
• Record Hi-Res MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube with one click.
• Read your voicemail messages.
• Get transcribed voicemail with Google Voice integration, without changing your number.

Google

Google's online consumer channel was created to provide an efficient way to connect online users with selected Android phones. Nexus One will not be available in any Sprint retail channels. It will be available directly from Google at google.com/phone.

The online experience of Google’s web store is designed with a focus on simplicity allowing consumers to match a phone with the service plan that best meets their needs.

“While a pricing plan has not yet been determined for Nexus One, we are confident that it will be consistent with Sprint’s commitment to deliver more value than our competitors and keep pricing simple,” Adib said. “Right now, our Sprint Everything Data 450 plan with Any Mobile, Anytime gives customers unlimited calling with any mobile phone in America, unlimited text and unlimited Web for just $69.99 per month – the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for just unlimited talk. Our Everything Data plans include unlimited GPS Navigation at no extra charge and annual phone upgrades with Sprint Premier.”

More information

Visit www.Google.com/phone.
Follow Sprint on Twitter @sprint to keep up with news on Nexus One for Sprint’s 3G Mobile Broadband Network.

(1)Coverage comparisons based on publicly available information as of 1/01/10 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners.

Basketball fans: Keep your brackets and your Sprint phone handy

2010-03-17T13:21:53Z

Whether you are dreaming about a Wildcats vs. Jayhawks championship game, are eager to see which bracket-busting Cinderella can pull off an upset or just want to enjoy a bunch of basketball, you can use your Sprint phone to keep up with the action.

We found some downloadable apps that will let you follow your favorite college basketball teams as they march through this year’s tournament.

Plus, ESPN Mobile TV is available on Sprint TV. ESPN Mobile TV coverage during March and April will feature more than 100 live events and more than 250 hours of coverage for Sprint customers, including live college basketball games.

If you have Sprint phones such as HTC Hero with Google and Samsung Moment with Google you can browse the Android Market to find apps providing the latest scores, breaking news or just amusement.

Hoops fans also can find great apps in BlackBerry App World and others for Palm Pre and Palm Pixi.

Here are some basketball apps you might want to try:

• College SuperFans – access to up-to-the minute scores, schedules, news and live game results for Palm Pre and Palm Pixi users. Coming soon to the Android Market and BlackBerry App World.

• Sports Calendar – never miss a game with this app. Once you find the tip-off time, you can add it to the calendar on your Palm Pre or Palm Pixi.

• ScoreMobile for BlackBerry – the number one sports app in the BlackBerry App World catalog offering up-to-the-minute scores, stats, live blogs, original video content, previews and top stories to BlackBerry users.

• ESPN Mobile – easy access to sports news, information, commentary, analysis, statistics and ring tones, as well as streaming audio and video. Available on most Sprint devices.

And while you are waiting for that next tip-off, you can see how your virtual “J” is falling or put on a full-court press with your trivia knowledge.

• Mini Shot Basketball – practice your free throws and three-pointers with this fun gaming application. Available in the Android Market and BlackBerry App World.

• March Madness Mascot Quiz – take this quiz to find out how much you know about college sports and mascots. Available in the Android Market.

More information:

Mobile apps on the Sprint.com Community

Sprint Makes It Easy To Keep Up With Your Favorite College Basketball Team with Downloadable Apps

Social Media: A Gift for Business

2010-03-16T23:53:13Z

When it comes to social media and customer care the discussions on various panels at this year's SXSW Interactive talked about listening to customers, engaging with customers and giving up control to your customers. Often easier said then done. Engaging customers online that are angry with you or unhappy with your brand is not always one's first instinct. However, the speed and ease at which customers can share information online and help shape and define your brand has led to a shift in who controls brand reputation. As we often say at Sprint - the conversation is going to happen with or without you. It's up to you to decide if you want to be a part of the conversation and help shape the message.

At Sprint we often refer back to the stop, look, listen and respond process of social media engagement. During a SXSW panel on customer engagement one speaker provided his own guidelines.

H.E.A.R.

H = helpful

E = engaging

A = accessible

R = responsive

Customer engagement through social media can be a scary prospect for businesses. But when it comes to customer care and brand building, the explosion of social media may be the best gift any business has ever received.

Customer engagement helps empower customers and make them feel as though they are a truly a real part of the decision making process and that their opinions matter. If done successfully you build an army of brand evangelists - and who wouldn't want a gift like that?

The Sprint 4G Experience: Austin & Beyond...

2010-03-16T17:24:04Z

During SXSW it's about staying connected. Blog posts, Twitter updates, Facebook updates, Foursquare, Gowalla...getting connected and staying connected is critical to a productive convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. The services being used may change but to quote musical legend David Byrne, 'Same As it Ever Was.'

But this year SXSW attendees have something new: Sprint 4G and the Sprint Overdrive. The Overdrive is the first dual-mode shareable device of its kind-available only from Sprint and here is a sample of what we are hearing in Austin:

'This [Sprint Overdrive] is going to help sell a lot of WiFi enabled iPads. Apple should thank you.

-Guy Kawasaki, co-founder of Alltop and technology futurist

'The [Sprint Overdrive] is working well in my hotel room"

-MG Siegler, Techcrunch.com

Have you experienced Sprint 4G in Austin? If so, what has the experience been? We want to hear from you.

Some thoughts from SXSW panels - All about the context

2010-03-15T22:38:39Z

There seemed to be a recurring theme on several of the panels I attended Monday, and it had to do with how to manage the endless stream of information that comes at us every day, or how do we take all the endless headlines, blog articles, tweets, etc., and put them into context to make them more meaningful. At the "Future of Context: Getting the bigger picture online" panel, there was an interesting discussion about how lack of context online and a constant overload of headlines can actually be debilitating when trying to understand a topic, and can lead to confusion. Elise Hu from the Texas Tribune has a great summary. Also a tweetstream of the panel discussion.

While the panel primarily focused on journalism, I think there are some points that others can take from the discussion as well. Whenever we talk about Sprint, it is helpful for us, our customers, and the general public to put whatever we're talking about in a larger context.

Check out TechKaraoke Live Stream on UStream, 9p CDT

2010-03-15T20:30:09Z

Sprint is sponsoring TechKaraoke at South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi). View the live stream here - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pinqued-presents-techkaraoke-sxswi-2010 starting tonight around 9pm Central.

[edited time start]

Sprint Stands Ready to Help the FCC Expand Availability of Broadband

2010-03-15T14:12:03Z

On Tuesday, March 16th, the Federal Communication Commission will release a National Broadband Plan to provide affordable high-speed Internet services to all Americans.

Today, Vonya B. McCann, Sprint’s senior vice president for government affairs, released the following video statement commending the FCC for its months of work in creating this plan:

Transcript of her video remarks:

“In yesterday’s dialup world, it would have taken several minutes to download this video. Today, with broadband, it probably took you a few seconds.

Broadband is here, but it is not everywhere. In America we face a challenge: not all of us have access to high speed broadband at affordable prices. As the first and only national carrier to offer wireless 4G, Sprint is doing our part to change that, but we believe our industry can do more.

This week, the FCC, under the leadership of Chairman Julius Genachowski, will issue the country’s first National Broadband Plan. The plan is designed to give the country a roadmap to regain our position as the world’s leader in broadband technology and innovation.

At Sprint, we stand ready to help the FCC and Congress achieve this critical goal. Broadband is the engine of our future, growing our economy, our workforce, and our society, and its success rests on us all working together – connected.”

- Vonya B. McCann, senior vice president for government affairs, Sprint

Background on Sprint’s views about Broadband in America:

As the FCC developed the plan, it asked the public to submit comments on how the plan can best benefit all citizens. Here are some the key recommendations that Sprint presented on January 27, 2010: (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020357015):

• Preserving competitive access and rates among all broadband providers.

“Broadband competition cannot survive – much less thrive – unless the Commission releases the local exchange carriers’ chokehold on competitive broadband deployment that results from their monopoly on special access connections.” (Page 2)

• Ensuring that adequate spectrum is available to effectively deploy mobile broadband for commercial use in urban and rural areas.
“To enable the most efficient and intensive use of spectrum, Sprint recommends the FCC continue its move away from eligibility restrictions, service limitations and other calls for narrow spectrum set-asides. Instead, the Commission should encourage the deployment of fully flexible commercial wireless networks that use common internet protocol language to offer a wide array of performance, capacity and security options for every type of business imaginable.” (Page 13)

• Reform the cost structure for transferring voice traffic between wireless and wireline carriers.
“A vibrant broadband marketplace can only succeed if the Commission improves the enforcement of its existing rules and policies, and strengthens rules where necessary to ensure fair competition and prevent disruption to services.” (Page 22)

The following online resources are available to learn more about the FCC’s National Broadband Plan:

• http://www.youtube.com/citizentube - Immediately following the release of the national broadband plan on Tuesday, March 16, YouTube will feature an interview with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski about the plan’s details using questions and comments submitted by the public.

• http://www.broadband.gov - The official homepage of the FCC National Broadband Plan.

• http://reboot.fcc.gov/live - Videos and live broadcasts of the FCC discussing plans for national broadband and how it will benefit various populations and business industries.

Missed the 4G Customer Educational Series?

2010-03-15T14:07:50Z

No problem! We will be hosting a second session on March 22, 2010 at 1pm Eastern / 12 pm Central. Join the session to learn how your company can benefit from 4G Internet speeds. You can also access a recorded version of last week's session.

CBS Survivor Fans - Heroes vs. Villains Air Date 3/11/10

2010-03-13T12:09:12Z

Okay, it 's no secret that I am rooting for the Villains as a group and only a few individuals. I am amused that the Heroes lose challenges week after week and they play a numbers strategy this early in the game. I mean, voting off strong players and keeping weaker ones in the clique can only spell doomsday. It's nice to see that the Heroes did not disappoint this week. Even their overall persona is amusing.

I laughed when everyone on the Villains side took the sample chocolate before the Reward Challenge while the Heroes passed the plate around as if it were dried bugs. Apparently the Heroes were too "focused" on winning instead of enjoying. Well, James was injured, the Heroes lost and the Villains took a trip to a cozy get away and enjoyed a chocolate feast that would have made Willy Wonka jealous. Perhaps the fact Coach led the Villains that morning to some "Dragon Chi" helped. Also fitting during the Rewards Challenge was that Rupert throws Jerri into a support post, then she goes on to score the winning goal.

King Russell not heeding the group-treaty, eventually found the hidden immunity idol. He in turn makes Parvati his Queen of Hearts and annoits Coach as his knight. Seriously, he went through the whole knighting ritual. (Anthony Hopkins, sure, but Sir Coach? Sounds more like a Cir-Cus.)

There was some speculation about James' return and a tearful Amanda was glad to see him back. I wasn't.

During the Immunity Challenge, the Heroes again had a big lead on the Villains, but when it came to assemble the large puzzle, the Villains made a staggering comeback. Rob stood on top of the puzzle and with both feet, slammed down the final piece.

JT swore to his one alliance he would not turn on them again even though voting off James would make the most sense with his bum leg. Keeping Tom would have been better for the overall good, but JT sided with his original group and kept a hobbling James and sent Tom home. Now, I have no one but Colby left on the Heroes side to root for and before this season started I was not rooting for him at all.

Best Quote - "James, you're all mass and no class" said by Tom as he was writing James' name to be voted off.

Best Jeff Probst line showing how he controls when the challenges begin despite Colby wanting to start right now - "We'll go when I'm ready."

Destination: SXSW

2010-03-12T21:43:25Z

Every March, much of the Interactive, Music and Film communities descend upon Austin, TX for SXSW. This year Sprint will have an official presence at both the Interactive Festival and the Music and Media Conference. Check back for updates on the following official Sprint activities and all things SXSW.

Tech Karaoke, March 15th, 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. This invite only event has been dubbed a SXSW MUST DO event by many and promises to draw social media types and bloggers to Six Lounge in Austin. Sprint is co-sponsoring the event, and will have Overdrives on site for demos. The team members with the Overdrives will be wearing "I'm a Hotspot" T-shirts and will walk around encouraging guests to experience the Overdrive with any WiFi enabled device.

MMVs and Sweepstakes, throughout the music portion of the festival (17th-21st) - 2 MMVs will be stationed at SXSW throughout the music portion of the festival, one at the Auditorium Shores Stage, and one at a location to be determined. Visitors to the Sprint 4G Mobile Marketing Vehicle are able to enter for a chance to win 4G’s ($4,000) and an Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless. The prize will awarded on March 31st and SXSW visitors can enter at either MMV location.

Auditorium Stage Sponsorship. This will include Sprint branding and an MMV will be stationed there throughout the music festival (March 17th-21st).

"I'm a Hotspot" Street Teams - From the 17th-21st, street teams will be deployed with shirts that read "I'm a hotspot." They will roam the festival and invite users to actually experience it and see what 4G really means.

Billboard.com event sponsorship - Exclusive sponsorship of Billboard.com’s national online coverage of SXSW, including an invite only live concert on March 20th streamed using Sprint 4G technology! Current headliner performers are Astelle and Diane Birch.

• Billboard.com lounge offers additional experiential touchpoints with 4G-powered video/photo booths where consumers can upload content to various social networking sites via 4G mobile broadband

• Street team personnel will take photos of guests and help them post the photos to the official event Facebook page. Computers will be stationed in the 4G lounge area that will allow people to tag their photo to their personal website.

• Within the Billboard.com lounge, Sprint will host a blogger lounge where bloggers can talk about the 4G-powered experiences in the lounge and throughout the SXSW footprint