Sprint poised to debut first Android device?

Sprint's annual Application Developer Conference begins today, and with the list of keynoters including Google vice president of mobile technology Rich Miner, there is growing speculation the operator is poised to formally announce its first device based on Google's Android mobile operating system. Sprint is a founding member of the Google-led Open Handset Alliance [1], the industry group formed late last year in conjunction with Android's launch. However, in late October 2008, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse told [2] the National Press Club he doesn't believe Android in its present form is "good enough to put the Sprint brand on it." Still, Hesse hedged his bets by promising the operator would introduce an Android-powered device "at some time in the future."

Google is a Sprint partner, of course--in May, the two firms announced [3] an agreement to more deeply integrate the web services giant's applications into the mobile user experience. Per terms of the agreement, Google was named Sprint's default mobile search provider, with a search box enabling one-click access to Google search; some devices also feature the Google Maps for Mobile application, and Sprint and Google promised new mobile experiences and applications would follow.

On Tuesday, another Sprint partner, handset maker Sony Ericsson, announced its own membership in the Open Handset Alliance, confirming the move signals its intention to develop an Android device. According to Sony Ericsson, joining the ranks of the Open Handset Alliance complements the handset maker's existing Open OS strategy, which is based on the Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms. Sony Ericsson introduced its first WinMo device, the Xperia X1 [4], earlier this year.

Days after Google formally announced the Open Handset Alliance in November 2007, Sony Ericsson said it was invited to join the group but declined in favor of concentrating on its UIQ interface. At that time, Sony Ericsson's U.K. and Ireland marketing director David Hilton told Pocket-lint [5] the company "had a number of horses it could back and UIQ was the one we chose." However, he said Sony Ericsson had not ruled out a future deal with Google, adding "Never say never." In June, Sony Ericsson announced [6] it would team with Nokia, Motorola and NTT DoCoMo to establish the Symbian Foundation, a non-profit initiative to unite the UIQ, Symbian OS, S60 and MOAP technologies as part of a single open mobile software platform.

For more on Sony Ericsson's Android plans:
- read this release [7]