Rumor Mill: Sprint to partner with Samsung, RIM on summer launches

Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) is gearing up to launch two new Samsung devices running Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform as well as launch at least two new BlackBerry gadgets from Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) as part of its summer device roadmap, according to the blog This is my next.

The blog, citing an unnamed source, said that Sprint will introduce the Samsung Epic 2, a sequel to last year's WiMAX-capable Epic 4G. The device is said to have a 4-inch display, slide-out Qwerty keyboard, 1.2 GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor and 8-megapixel camera. Additionally, the blog said Sprint will also introduce a touch-only Samsung device with WiMAX, which might be a variant of the Galaxy S II.

In addition to the Samsung devices, Sprint is also rumored to be partnering with RIM on two new devices, codenamed the BlackBerry Bold Touch and the BlackBerry Monaco, though those names are likely to change before the devices are launched. Both are rumored to have global roaming capabilities. Additionally, Sprint is also rumored to be cooking up a new push-to-talk BlackBerry.

A Sprint spokesman declined to comment.

If the rumors turn out to be true, Sprint will have a busy device rollout schedule for the summer. The carrier just launched the HTC Evo 3D and HTC View 4G tablet, both of which run on Clearwire's (NASDAQ:CLWR) mobile WiMAX network. Additionally, Sprint plans to launch the Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) Photon 4G this summer, Motorola's first WiMAX-capable Android smartphone. 

For more:
- see this This is my next post

Related Articles:
Sprint teams with Motorola to launch 10 smartphones in 2011
Sprint launching HTC Evo 3D, View tablet June 24
RIM posts weak Q1 BlackBerry shipments, plans job cuts
Sprint launches HTC's Evo 3D smartphone, View 4G tablet