Sprint Vaguely Jumps on Windows Phone 8 Bandwagon

When the Windows Phone 8 launch lineup was coming together last fall, AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile were all on board with multiple devices, with Sprint conspicuously missing from the lineup. But as sources indicated at the time, Sprint has always intended to field Windows Phone 8 handsets, and this week the company dribbled out a bit of information about how and when that might happen.

I say “dribbled out” because Sprint, for some reason, isn’t just late to the party, it’s still withholding details.

According to Sprint, it will deliver two Windows Phone 8 handsets “by summer,” one each from Samsung and HTC. But the firm did not detail which handsets it will sell. “Additional device details, including pricing, will be shared closer to their availability dates,” the firm notes.

We can guess that the HTC model is the Windows Phone 8X, since that is the only Windows Phone 8 handset that HTC offers in the US market.

And the Samsung has to be the ATIV S or ATIV Odyssey, both of which I’ll soon be writing about separately.

“Sprint has had a strong relationship with Microsoft for many years so we are excited to reinforce our commitment to the Windows 8 platform by sharing the details and timing for our first Windows Phone 8 smartphones,” Sprint senior VP Fared Adib said in a prepared statement. “These smartphones combine a robust new operating platform with the benefit of Sprint’s unlimited data plans. There is no doubt these phones will quickly become an extension of your PC experience right in the palm of your hand.”

OK, so that says absolutely nothing of substance.

The Windows Phone Blog covers the announcement as well, but it too seems confused by Sprint’s lack of clarity. “Sprint … didn’t provide any other details on the phones,” the blog notes. “But it’s exciting news for Sprint customers and for everyone here at Windows Phone HQ.”

It sure could be.