Note:Read why this site appears to be in plain text.
 View printer-friendly version |
| << Back |
| Sprint and Google Expand Relationship to Enable Richer Mobile Experience and More Choices for Sprint Customers |
Sprint Handsets to Feature Easy Access to Google Mobile Search, Google Maps for Mobile, YouTube and More OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 07, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sprint (NYSE:S) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) today announced a partnership aimed at more deeply integrating Google applications and services into Sprint customers' mobile experience. As part of the deal, Google(TM) will become Sprint's preferred mobile search provider and Sprint users will have easier access to Google Maps(TM) for mobile, YouTube(TM) and more. Sprint and Google are committed to providing users with the most dynamic mobile experience possible. Both companies have actively advocated the importance of an open mobile ecosystem and understand that users should have more choice when it comes to selecting and accessing content on a mobile phone. "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:
Going forward, Sprint and Google will continue to explore ways to provide users with compelling mobile experiences and more application choices. Today's announcement extends the two companies' collaborative history. In November 2006, Sprint and Google made Gmail(TM) available from the Sprint portal. Late last year, Sprint joined Google as a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance(TM), which is currently developing the Android(TM) 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. About Sprint Sprint offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving approximately 54 million customers at the end of 2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com. About Google Inc. Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com. Google, Google Maps, Android, Gmail, Open Handset Alliance and YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. in the United States and / or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SAFE HARBOR This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding the partnership between Sprint and Google and the benefits to Sprint and its customers, plans for the development and deployment of products and services, and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "would," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," "designed" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are projections reflecting management's judgment and assumptions based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the uncertainties related to the implementation of the new products and services on Sprint's network and devices; the impact of adverse network performance; and other risks referenced from time to time in Sprint's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Forms 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors." Sprint is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. SOURCE: Sprint Nextel Corporation and Google Sprint Jennifer Walsh Kiefer, 913-794-2950 jennifer.r.walsh@sprint.com or Google Inc. Michael Kirkland, 415-793-5571 mkirkland@google.com |