News

Sprint Developer Website Now With Android Support

10

The first meaningful chunk of information from the Sprint Developer Website came a few weeks ago when they used it to break the news of the Sprint HTC Hero. Now the developer portal has been filled out with a truckload of information for the developer-type. Don’t plan on going over there and enjoying yourself if you’re a consumer, but devs will have access to testing applications, provide detailed information and specs on Android devices on Sprint’s network and a bunch of developer tools to help in the creation of compelling apps.

sprint-dev

Sprint also used the opportunity to promote the Sprint Developer Conference that will be heavy on Android this year – it’s October 26th to 28th in Santa Clara, CA. You can register for the event here and keep in mind that HTC and Sprint will be giving away 400 handsets at the HTC Android hands on coding lab October 26th. I’m not sure how many people will be at the event in total… but that in and of itself could pay for the trip if you’re one of the 400.

Check out the full Press Release:

Sprint Launches Support for Android on Sprint Developer Web Site
Sprint Developer Conference to Feature Extensive Information for Creating Applications on the Android(TM) Platform HTC to Seed Developers with HTC Hero(TM) Devices at the Sprint Developer Conference Google to Address Attendees at Sprint Developer Conference on Oct. 28
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Sep 22, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Sprint (NYSE:S) announced today several additions to its Application Developer Web site — http://developer.sprint.com/android — designed to give developers the tools needed to create innovative applications for Android-powered devices. The updated site will include:

* Implementation information for Sprint’s Android-powered devices.
* Sprint network and product services (location-based services, messaging, Geofence and more) available through the Sprint Developer Sandbox.

Developers utilizing the site and tools will easily be able to create and test applications for the Android platform on the Sprint network. The enhanced Web site will include information about Sprint’s Android-powered devices and will feature compelling applications that are available in Android Market(TM).

In addition, the Sprint Open Developer Conference, Oct. 26-28 in Santa Clara, Calif., will include several sessions dedicated to Android development including information from HTC and Google(TM). The event is Sprint’s ninth annual developer conference. This year marks the first year the conference is open to the entire developer community. Developers should register at http://developer.sprint.com/devcon2009.

The Sprint Developer Conference will provide compelling and useful tools that attendees can use immediately to develop applications, content, machine-to-machine devices and unified communication solutions relevant to the market. Developers will learn about current Sprint capabilities across devices, networks and platforms.

“Sprint continues to demonstrate its leadership in providing an open environment for developers to create and bring to market innovative applications for business users and consumers,” said Len Barlik, vice president of wireless and wireline services for Sprint. “With robust Android support on our application developer Web site and the upcoming launch of HTC Hero, Sprint has opened the door for developers to create Android applications that take advantage of the speed and reliability of the Now Network.”

HTC premiere sponsor of the Sprint Developer Conference

HTC and Sprint will give developers at the Sprint Developer Conference the opportunity to be among the first to own a HTC Hero. The first 400 developers to arrive at the HTC coding lab on Oct. 26 will receive a HTC Hero with one month of Sprint service. To qualify, developers need to show their laptop with the Android development environment (1.5) installed and ready for the hands-on lab session. HTC will give away a number of additional HTC Hero devices at its booth throughout the conference. To be eligible to participate in the HTC coding lab and receive a HTC Hero, participants must register to attend the Sprint Developer Conference at http://developer.sprint.com/devcon2009.

During its evening coding lab, HTC is teaming with Mark Murphy of CommonsWare to lead an Android platform training session. Murphy has published three guides on Android development and writes the “Building ‘Droids” column for AndroidGuys and the “Android Angle” column for NetworkWorld. He has more than 25 years of application development experience and has delivered conference presentations and training sessions on a wide array of topics internationally.

Google participation

Google will be a featured presenter at the Sprint Developer Conference. Android team members and technical subject matter experts from Google will lead developers in an in-depth technical discussion from 8:30 – 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The day will start with an update on Android and Android Market, followed by the technical session, led by developers on the Android team at Google, which will include an introductory discussion about the Android platform, how to write Android applications and sharing best practices.

Mobile content and applications on Sprint

Sprint is committed to offering mobile content and applications to its customers when, where and how they want them:

* Sprint customers enjoy full HTML browsing on their phones, with Google as their search provider, experience personalized Web browsing with Sprint Web and can choose to download name-brand apps and services from the Internet – other carriers may limit applications to those sanctioned by the carrier.
* More than 300 different non-Sprint-branded devices, from machine-to-machine to telemetry, operate on the Sprint network through a widely respected device certification process.
* Sprint is a member of the Open Handset Alliance(TM), along with more than 30 other participating companies, supporting the free and open mobile applications platform named Android.

Who plans on attending?

Rob Jackson
I'm an Android and Tech lover, but first and foremost I consider myself a creative thinker and entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for ideas of all sizes. I'm a sports lover who cheers for the Orange (College), Ravens (NFL), (Orioles), and Yankees (long story). I live in Baltimore and wear it on my sleeve, with an Under Armour logo. I also love traveling... where do you want to go?

Phandroid Podcast: Episode 8

Previous article

Samsung Galaxy Lite Pictures Peak Out, Touchwiz Included?

Next article

You may also like

10 Comments

  1. It looks like it will ship with Android v1.5

  2. One of the interesting things I noticed looking over the docs they have is that it says the phone will be using Android 1.5.

  3. Also, an official reply from Sprint on the developer forums:

    “HTC Hero will ship with 1.5 but we will work on plans to support 1.6 when available from HTC for the Hero

    Thanks
    Sprint ADP”

  4. did you notice that it says:

    “Develop for Android version 1.5″…???? I thought the new Hero is coming out with version 1.6 installed? No?

    Can anyone answer that question? Thanks!

  5. The HTC Hero is launching with version 1.5 (Cupcake)

    Thanks
    Nathan
    Sprint ADP

  6. bummer. A couple of the sites were reporting that it’d be 1.6. oh well.

  7. @alexthearmo
    Since Hero is highly customized Android, they probably will apply donut changes to it later on, it will probably take some time, this is just a speculation

  8. The big question is will it have the updated firmware already installed so we don’t have to deal with the laggy UI that plagued the European version? Can Nathan or someone else confirm/deny the update will be pre-installed? Thanks.

  9. I’m going. If you’re a developer and would like to meet up at the conference and talk ideas, then post or give me a ring (925_640_2916). See ya, Rob.

  10. Hey guys, I know what it says up there, but according to Android.com (official site), Android 1.6 is the first build to suport CDMA. So… it would be kinda difficult for us to use the HTC Hero on Sprint’s network without 1.6 already on it, would it not be?

    Idk, maybe HTC worked around it somehow, but I don’t really see how if the core functionality of the OS doesn’t support it.

    Just saying…

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in News