Sprint will finally be selling Windows Phone 8 devices after its well known rebuke of Redmond’s mobile operating system at the launch of Windows Phone 8. Though not officially announced, two smartphones – the HTC Tiara and the Samsung ATIV S are expected to be available on Sprint this summer (May or June). The carrier had previously released the Windows Phone 7 based HTC Arrive in 2011, but decided to publicly shun Windows Phone 8 at the time of its launch. The company had earlier stated that it would carry Windows Phone devices only after analysing the market response to the OS. It seems to have changed its mind and decided to go ahead with Windows Phones.
The Samsung ATIV S will be introduced into the U.S. market by Sprint. The device features a 4.8 inch 1280×720 Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GB of expandable storage, 1GB RAM, an 8MP rear camera capable of capturing 1080p video, NFC, and a 1.9 MP front facing camera. There are rumours that the version released by Sprint will be an externally modified variant of the same that is now available outside US.
On the other hand, the HTC Tiara is an unannounced phone whose official name may change before its launch. The specifications are expected to be in the mid-tier range with a 4.3 inch WVGA (480×800 resolution) Super LCD2 screen. Sprint is one of the last of the major US carriers to get a Windows Phone 8 device in their line-up. This decision will be a good sign for Microsoft and will make Windows Phone accessible to most customers throughout the US irrespective of the carrier. Of course, this allows the platform to compete more effectively with Android and Apple as well.
Though the decision to introduce Windows Phone devices was bound to take place sometime, Sprint’s avoidance of Nokia, which boasts of the best Windows Phone smartphones, is intriguing. Nokia’s Lumia series are popular throughout the world and are available with almost all the major carriers in US. Instead, Sprint has opted for manufacturers that have admitted that they will not be supporting Windows Phone as much. An official announcement has not been made yet, so Nokia Lumia devices may still make it to the list of Windows Phone smartphones on Sprint.
April 2, 2013 at 10:46 am
Nokia uses a CDMA decryption that sprint does not suppose. Unless Nokia changes this decryption, Sprint wont use their devices.
April 2, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Windows 8 phone information
April 3, 2013 at 12:50 pm
The HTC Tiara Better have a MicroSD Card Slot or its Worthless. With 8GB of internal Memory. 1.75GB will be used for the OS which leaves almost Nothing for anything else, 10 Songs 20 pictures and 3 Videos.
COME ONE SPRINT!!! GET A REAL PHONE!!!
April 5, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Sprint has opted for manufacturers that have admitted that they will not be supporting Windows Phone as much.
Sprint is LAME!!! they make statements like this and then wonder why Sales Suck, or they know and are doin it intentionally. I think they have been Bought by iCrap!!!