Android smartphones are gaining traction. T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) USA will soon launch the Motorola CLIQ and is already home to two distinct Android handsets – the T-Mobile G1 and T-Mobile myTouch3G. Sprint (NYSE: S) is expected to go live with the HTC Hero next month. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is expected to welcome the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Sholes to its network in October. And, it looks like Sprint is looking to become the first wireless carrier to offer a 4G WiMAX Android handset. PC World speculates that Sprint is preparing to launch a 4G Android smartphone made by Samsung in 2010.
Sprint has a majority stake in Clearwire’s WiMAX business, and has been pushing to get the network up and running across the US. WiMAX can offer mobile broadband speeds several times faster than anything T-Mobile or AT&T (NYSE: T) can serve at the moment. So, it makes sense that Sprint wants to cash in on the Android movement with a WiMAX handset.
If Sprint can get this rumored 4G Android handset to market in time, they might just be able to clinch the “world’s first” title. But, Verizon Wireless is gunning to light up their national 4G LTE network in early 2010. LTE offers much faster mobile broadband speeds than WiMAX, and if Verizon launches an LTE Android handset, it could hurt Sprint.
For now, we don’t have much to go on. Just keep your eyes peeled for a 4G Android smartphone from Samsung going to Sprint in the near future.
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