Sprint 2010 plans include app store, WiMAX and more Android

Sprints financial results from the third quarter of this year show that the company is starting to turn it’s bad fortunes around. Losses are slowing, and mobile is picking up. The big question was “what will Sprint do next?” And with talk of application stores, WiMAX and more Android devices, Sprint is trying to answer some of those questions.

Mobile devices:

Sprint probably isn’t going to expand it’s current Android line-up (Hero and Moment) before Christmas. But the company has confirmed it will be releasing a broad array of Android devices, including a “robust” selection of HTC devices. This is part of the reason that Sprint has launched the unlimited Everything Data plan - the company plans to have a bevy of data-heavy devices on the market by the end of next year.

Along with the as-yet-unannounced Android devices, Sprint will continue to focus on Blackberry devices with Wi-Fi.

WiMAX:

Sprint has announced it will definitely be launching WiMAX enabled devices next year. This will almost certainly tie in with it’s data-intensive push, coupling with the data heavy devices and unlimited price plans. The operator has announced, though, that none of it’s smartphones will be capable of tethering. So you’ll need to buy a WiMAX dongle as well if you want to connect your computer.

App store:

The Sprint App Store is actually looking pretty interesting. Up until now, smartphones on the Sprint network have had access to an operator controlled app store, specifically geared towards the specific OS on the phone. WinMo phones access the Sprint WinMo apps, and Blackberrys accessed an entirely different set of apps for Sprint RIM devices.

It looks like Sprint is now looking at a cross-platform app store, that every device on the network can access. It also claimed that the approval process will be much more open then on the iTunes app store. According to Sprint’s general manager of wireless consumer applications J.P. Brocket, rather than having “10 people behind a desk… looking at every piece of content” Sprint is going to have a basic set of technical requirements. If your app meets those specs, you’re in. Then it’s up to the market to decide what’s acceptable or not.

What we think?

Ooh - I can’t help but think Sprint is asking for a bunch of trouble with it’s loose and easy approach to app approval. You could get all sorts of gruesome, controversial or malicious apps uploaded that way. Unless Sprint thinks that not all that many people will be bothered with its app store.. I also can’t help but notice it’s taking after Motorola to some extent. Oh, you like Androids and WiMAX huh?