Today, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announced Sprint ID, and its availability on two devices launching Oct. 10 — Samsung Transform and Sanyo Zio, and one coming later this year, LG Optimus S.
Sprint ID allows users to instantly download ID “packs” that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. Packs are designed to meet customers’ interests, allow users to easily switch between English- or Spanish-language, or they are specifically tailored to the customers’ business or line of work. The marketplace of Sprint ID experiences is growing and customers can have one or up to five on their device.
Initial partners include Amazon, Blackboard, Comcast, Disney, E!, Electronic Arts, eBay, ESPN, Home Shopping Network, LatCel, MTV, Notre Dame, Oprah Winfrey Network, RadioShack, Weather Channel, Where and Yahoo!
Think of this as a one-stop shop for personalizing your Android experience. It is certainly something that makes Android less intimidating for the not-so-tech-savvy customer or someone who is a fan of one of the partners.
Also, Sprint has officially announced the addition of the LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio, and Samsung Transform to its Android handset lineup.
The LG Optimus S in an Android 2.2 device that boasts a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, Wi-Fi (with hotspot capabilities), GPS, 1500 mAh battery, and micro-SD card slot. The device will retail for $49.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available beginning on October 31.
The Sanyo Zio is an Android 2.1 device with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi b/g, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, GPS, 1140 mAh battery, and micro-SD card slot. The device will retail for $99.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available for purchase on October 10.
The Samsung Transform is an Android 2.1 device with a 3.5-inch HVGA display, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera with flash, front-facing VGA camera, Sprint ID, 800 MHz processor, 256 MB of RAM and 1500 mAh battery. Samsung has said they will update the operating system to Android 2.2 “later this year.” The device will retail for $149.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available on October 10.
Here’s the release on Sprint ID…..
Sprint Revolutionizes the Mobile Wireless Experience with Sprint ID – A New Way to
Personalize Mobile Phones in an Instant
Sprint ID combines and integrates apps, widgets and more into a “total experience,” relevant to
specific needs and interests, with just one simple click; Available on three new Android phones –
Sanyo Zio™, Samsung Transform™ and LG Optimus S™
Initial partners include Amazon, Blackboard, Comcast, Disney, E!, Electronic Arts, eBay, ESPN,
Home Shopping Network, LatCel, MTV, Notre Dame, Oprah Winfrey Network, RadioShack, Weather
Channel, Where and Yahoo!
SAN FRANCISCO – With more than 80,000 apps available in Android Market, have
you ever wondered which are just right for you? Have you wanted a mobile phone so personalized,
it has bundles of apps, widgets, wallpapers and ringtones all tailored to fit your lifestyle? As a small
business owner or entrepreneur have you needed a simplified way of offering your employees a
portable toolkit of the resources they use on their computer, or need to get their job done, on their
mobile phone, that also allows them to easily switch to fun, entertaining features on their phone
when not on-the-clock? The wait is over.
Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced Sprint ID, allowing consumers and business customers, on three
just-announced Sprint smartphones, to instantly customize their mobile experience with an ID pack,
complete with apps, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers. Whether they’re an avid sports fan, a casual
gamer, a fitness fanatic, a shopaholic, a music lover, an auto enthusiast, a social butterfly, or they
rely on their phone to improve their business efficiency, customers can now easily discover just what
they want, bundled together and available with virtually one simple click.
Sprint has teamed up with some of the most recognizable brands in the country to bring this
revolutionary experience to customers – brands including Amazon, Blackboard, Comcast, Disney,
E!, Electronic Arts, eBay, ESPN, Home Shopping Network, LatCel, MTV, Notre Dame, Oprah Winfrey
Network, RadioShack, Weather Channel, Where and Yahoo!
Sprint customers can customize their device with up to five ID packs. Once an ID is loaded – easily
in one quick step and free with a select service plan – users can further customize it with additional
apps and content. ID packs can be easily switched out without customers losing the apps and
content they value most. Because Sprint ID packs are built using the Android platform, the ID
packs work across various manufacturers and will launch on three Android handsets – Sanyo Zio™,
Samsung Transform™ and LG Optimus S™. A range of lifestyle packs, plus Yahoo!, game packs from
Electronic Arts and business packs, will be immediately available with more packs rolling out in this
quarter and beyond.
“Sprint ID is another innovative Sprint ‘first’ which revolutionizes the wireless customer experience,
and it’s a new way to leverage our open mobile strategy,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint. “As
the market for mobile applications expands, mobile users want a simpler way to access the data
most relevant to their needs at that time. Sprint ID offers unprecedented customization and
personalization. Businesses will be able to deliver innovative, customized resources on mobile
devices to their employees. We have an outstanding group of partners – some of the best brands in
the U.S. – helping us deliver this new mobile experience to consumers.”…….
