Sprint exec David Owens confirms ICS for HTC EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G in “June timeframe”
In an interview with Myriam Joire from Engadget, Sprint executive David Owns confirmed that the HTC EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G would be getting their fabled Ice Cream Sandwich updates sometime in the June timeframe.
Straight from the horse's mouth:
You'll see updates, you'll see Ice Cream Sandwich move to the 3D and Design in the June timeframe. We'll launch it for our customers there. Now, the idea is that these products will actually move out of the postpaid lineup, into the prepaid lineup. It's really good for – the way we think about it, it's good for Sprint, because we're able to offer these in prepaid. And it's good for HTC, because they can extend the life of a product. And it's great for the consumer, because they get a great product, really at a great value price point.
This is interesting timing, given the EVO 3D is launching on Virgin Mobile and the EVO Design 4G is launching on Boost, both at the end of this month, and both with Ice Cream Sandwich already on board. However, perhaps Owens simply got his timing wrong, and the update is expected to come at the same time that Sprint's prepaid divisions get their hands on these devices. Execs have been known to mess up in the past.
Later in the interview, Joire asked Owens what the motivations would be for customers to buy an LTE device when the network isn't even deployed yet. He responded by stating that these devices are a great way to "future-proof" your phone, and that Sprint is currently focusing on the biggest markets first, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and San Francisco; 120 million people will be covered with LTE by the end of this year.
Although a bit long, the full interview is definitely worth watching and sheds some additional light onto Sprint's strategy going forward.
[Engadget] Thanks, Jojo and Tony!
