New Sprint Stuff

Since I am a Sprint "homer" or "fan boy" take your pick as to which nickname you'd like to use, I found this information on phonearena.com pretty interesting. First is that there is supposed to be a launch of the next generation "push-to-talk" functionality on the Sprint network utilizing the QChat product that is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Push-to-Talk technology developed by Qualcomm in mid April. You might remember back in Oct. 2006 Sprint had a press release announcing that QChat would be deployed and would be interoperable to the Nextel iDEN network; and in 2005 Qualcomm demonstrated QChat at the CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association) trade show as it worked with Nextel iDEN network.

Finally after three years the product is set to be launched, or at least four phones featuring QChat capabilities are rumored to be released on April 16.

The first phone is long rumored and even photographed LG device called the LX400 (pictured below). The next two phones are Sanyo models the PRO 700 and PRO 200. Thanks to phonescoop.com for the FCC links for these two devices. The 700 looks to be a "rugged" phone. A fourth phone rumored to be hitting the market place is the Samsung Z400 (picture below) also a "rugged" phone, thanks engadgetmobile.com.



So that's four new devices all utilizing the new QChat functionality and Sprint just in the last few weeks has really been touting the "push-to-x" product family, remember the press release on Feb. 19. It makes me think these new devices will launch with Nextel branding and not just Sprint branding. It only took Sprint 18 months to launch this new capability even though it was demonstrated back in 2005? Why so long you might ask. Well first Sprint had to have EVDO RevA network infrastructure built out to all the towers in the major markets. Then it was tested in each market by employees and select customers. Sprint could not afford to roll out a flop. Sprint has lost so many Nextel customers due to network issues they couldn't afford another network failure. Here we are on the brink of a new era in mobile communication and which company is at the front? Not only that but with Xohm services launching by the end of 2008 I really think Sprint will be turning around and will show growth by Q1 2009.

I almost forgot to mention the other device rumored to be launching on April 16 is the new BlackBerry Curve 8330. AT&T and TMobile offer this device for the GSM crowd, but unlike the GSM version this one will have EVDO which is true 3G. Check out the link here to bbgeeks.com for some pictures of the device. I think I might need to try one of these.... Then again I don't want to pay for the additional blackberry data plan. I'll just stick to my Palm 755.