14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone carrier Sprint is set to make available on its airwaves a 4G-enabled tablet PC starting with the next year, while aiming at offering customers the possibility to choose from different mobile operating systems.
In short, 2011 should bring on Sprint's airwaves tablet PC devices that won't run only under Google's Android operating system even if the general trend lately would be the release of such devices.
The wireless services provider already has an Android slate on its offering, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but this device offers support only for the carrier's 3G network.
According to a recent article on Forbes, Sprint's Paget Alves, president of business markets, confirmed that the company had in plan the launch of a 4G tablet.
Sprint was the first operator in the US to provide users with 4G services back in 2008, and it currently offers the connectivity in a number of 68 markets around the United States.
However, this might not be the only slate that Sprint has in store for its customers for the next year. More OS options means that devices running under Windows might be added to the carrier's lineup, or even the RIM BlackBerry PlayBook, or an HP slate running under Palm’s webOS.
Officially, Sprint is mum on the devices that might arrive on its shelves next year, though the availability of a 4G-enabled slate seems a certainty.
The wireless carrier already offers a nice range of 4G devices, including two Android smartphones, the HTC EVO 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G, as well as laptops and USB modems. Most of these products offer support for the company's 3G network as well.
“You will see 4G across our portfolio even more next year,” said Teresa Kellett, Sprint’s director of 4G, Forbes reports. “We want our consumers to have more choice in 4G devices.”
4G technologies have seen great adoption around the world, and should emerge in most markets soon. The market of tablet PCs is expected to expand significantly during the next few years, taking advantage of a helpful hand that wireless carriers would offer in their attempt to increase revenues.