More Google Apps in Sprint

“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:

• Google mobile search: Google will become the default search provider for web search and local search (GPS-enabled) on the Sprint portal on customers’ current web-enabled Sprint phones as well as new devices. On select new devices later this year, Sprint customers will be able to bring up a Google search box on their device’s home screen, providing them with one-click access to Google mobile search.
• Google Maps for mobile: Also featured on new Sprint handsets and available on some current smart phones will be Google Maps for mobile, an application that enables users to view maps and satellite imagery, find local businesses, get driving directions and view real-time traffic information when they’re on the go.
• YouTube: With this new partnership, millions of fun and interesting YouTube videos — as well as all the user’s favorites, videos and channels — will be accessible from select new Sprint handsets.
• Location-enabled search and maps: Sprint will also enable users to take advantage of location data for Google search and Google Maps for mobile, making it even easier for users to discover what’s around them and then figure out how to get there.

Going forward, Sprint and Google will continue to explore ways to provide users with compelling mobile experiences and more application choices.

<p>
  Today's announcement extends the two companies' collaborative history. 
  In November 2006, Sprint and Google made Gmail<span id="bwanpa25"></span> 
  available from the Sprint portal. Late last year, Sprint joined Google 
  as a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance<span id="bwanpa26"></span>, 
  which is currently developing the Android<span id="bwanpa27"></span> 
  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.
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