Sprint and Google announced a partnership
aimed at more deeply integrating Google applications and services into
Sprint customers’ mobile experience. As part
of the deal, Google will become Sprint’s
preferred mobile search provider and Sprint users will have easier
access to Google Maps for mobile, YouTube
and more.
“Our partnership with Google is a great
example of how Sprint is making the mobile Internet experience even more
customer-friendly and useful to our customers,”
said Kevin Packingham, vice president of product management at Sprint. “Sprint
looks forward to extending its partnership with Google, and to bringing
customers a mobile experience enhanced by the speed of the Now Network,
complimented by the services of Google.”
“Google and Sprint have a lot in common when it comes to our vision for
the mobile web,” said Doug Garland, vice president of product management
at Google. “We both believe in openness and providing compelling,
easy-to-use mobile services that consumers can use every day. We look
forward to working together to deliver a great experience.”
With some capabilities available as soon as this summer, the partnership
with Google and Sprint offers Sprint customers:
-
Google mobile search: Google will become the default search
provider for web search and local search (GPS-enabled) on the Sprint
portal on customers’ current web-enabled
Sprint phones as well as new devices. On select new devices later this
year, Sprint customers will be able to bring up a Google search box on
their device’s home screen, providing them with one-click access to
Google mobile search. -
Google Maps for mobile: Also featured on new Sprint handsets and
available on some current smart phones will be Google Maps for mobile,
an application that enables users to view maps and satellite imagery,
find local businesses, get driving directions and view real-time
traffic information when they’re on the go. -
YouTube: With this new partnership, millions of fun and interesting
YouTube videos — as well as all the user’s favorites, videos and
channels — will be accessible from select new Sprint handsets. -
Location-enabled search and maps: Sprint will also enable users to
take advantage of location data for Google search and Google Maps for
mobile, making it even easier for users to discover what’s around them
and then figure out how to get there.
Going forward, Sprint and Google will continue to explore ways to
provide users with compelling mobile experiences and more application
choices.
<p>
Today's announcement extends the two companies' collaborative history.
In November 2006, Sprint and Google made Gmail<span id="bwanpa25"></span>
available from the Sprint portal. Late last year, Sprint joined Google
as a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance<span id="bwanpa26"></span>,
which is currently developing the Android<span id="bwanpa27"></span>
open mobile platform. And earlier today, the two companies announced
that they would contribute to the formation of Clearwire, a company
focused on building the first nationwide mobile WiMAX network.
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