Sprint Won't be Selling the Nexus One After All

Posted 05/10/2010 at 6:49pm | by Ryan Whitwam

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It was just a few months ago that Sprint got in on the Android action by claiming they too would be selling Google's superphone, the Nexus One. Now in the wake of Verizon's decision not to support the handset, Sprint too is nixing plans to allow it on their network. And just like that, the dream of a CDMA Nexus One was dead.

Sprint said when asked about the cancellation, they would be focusing on the upcoming HTC EVO 4G instead. Much as Big Red decided to avoid self-competition and focus on the HTC Incredible. The EVO 4G is looking like a nice handset though.  It will pack a 4.3-inch LCD touch screen, 8MP camera, WiMAX data, and HTC's Sense UI with Android 2.1. This is currently the newest build of Android, but Google may push out an update for stock Android that makes the EVO seem out of date.

CDMA carriers have more control over the phones that run on their network than GMS carriers do. Traditionally, CDMA phones have to be registered via an IMEI number, so it's no problem to simply refuse to support a phone. On GSM networks an activated SIM card can work in almost any GSM phone.

While it is true that Sense UI phones like the EVO 4G have to wait longer for OS updates, there aren't a lot of other reasons to hold off for Stock Android. Was anyone out there waiting on the Sprint Nexus?