Sprint's 2009 Product Roadmap Leaks Out

Those who want to know what smartphone Sprint's going to be offering later this year can stop wondering -- the wireless service provider's entire product lineup has apparently leaked out.

Among the highlights are the HTC Touch Pro2 on the docket for Q3 and an Android-based model for Q4.

April-June
According to this unconfirmed roadmap, during the second quarter, Sprint is going to release the previously announced Palm Pre, but it's also going to launch a device codenamed either the HTC Willow or the HTC Cedar, which will be a low-cost, Windows Mobile messaging-oriented model.

• HTC Cedar Product Overview

July-September
Sprint's schedule will heat up in the third quarter, starting with the device code-named BlackBerry Niagara but better known as this carrier's version of the BlackBerry Bold.

Also supposedly coming in Q3 is the HTC Rhodium, better known as the HTC Touch Pro2. Sprint's version of this high-end Windows phone with a WVGA screen will offer international roaming, as it will include both CDMA and GSM support: EV-DO Rev. A and HSDPA.

• HTC Rhodium Product Overview

In this same quarter will be a model apparently code-named Samsung Dash that will be the replacement for the Samsung Instinct. Highlights of this phone will be a 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen and EV-DO Rev. A.

• Samsung Dash Product Overview

Also on the docket is the Samsung Ace II, which will obviously be the replacement for the current Samsung Ace. Like its predecessor, this Windows Mobile device will have a small keyboard and support for international roaming, including mobile broadband.

• Samsung Ace II Product Overview

October-December
This leaked roadmap doesn't give many details about models coming the fourth quarter of this year, but it does reveal that Sprint will introduce its first smartphone running Google's Android OS during this period.

While today's source gives no details on this device, a Samsung spokesperson revealed last month that her company is creating this phone for Sprint, and that it will have a touchscreen. 

Summary Charts
The primary basis for this unconfirmed report is a pair of charts giving approximate release times for two different classes of phones:

• Sprint's 2009 Smartphone Roadmap
• Sprint's 2009 Handset Roadmap

Source: Phone News