Sprint’s HTC Evo, their WiMAX smartphone, will get Android 2.2 (Froyo) updates starting Tuesday, Sprint confirmed in a blog. The free update enables support for Flash video and external storage of applications, among other things.

The Evo smartphone will be the first to get the Froyo update, though the OS update is expected soon on other recently-released Android devices such as the Droid X. Its rollout has been followed with excitement by Android early-adopters on forums and blogs.

Sprint is the first wireless carrier to offer Android 2.2, but Android 2.2 began rolling out to the Nexus One more than a month ago. Sprint said the Froyo update will begin with wireless notifications to users sent in waves starting Tuesday, with the upgrade available to all users by mid-August.

For those who don’t want to wait, Froyo can be downloaded after next Tuesday by going to the Setting Menu on the Evo, then System Updates, then HTC Software Update to initiate the process.

The Evo, which shipped with Android 2.1, works on 4G cellular over Wimax where available and then reverts to 3G if a 4G network is not available. Evo has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, an HDMI output jack, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a number of other features.

In other news, the FCC has approved the first LTE smart phone destined for MetroPCS. The Samsung SCH-R900 features a sliding QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, 802.11b/g WiFi radio, dual-band 1700/1900 dual-mode LTE/EVDO support and microSDHC expansion slot. It uses the 1700/1900MHz spectrum that MetroPCS owns for LTE, standard CDMA voice technology, and also has Wi-Fi.

Verizon Wireless has committed to launching LTE in 25 to 30 markets later this year, though the first devices to be available are more likely to be laptop dongles than phones.

View full post on dailywireless.org

Sprint’s HTC Evo, their WiMAX smartphone, will get Android 2.2 (Froyo) updates starting Tuesday, Sprint confirmed in a blog. The free update enables support for Flash video and external storage of applications, among other things.

The Evo smartphone will be the first to get the Froyo update, though the OS update is expected soon on other recently-released Android devices such as the Droid X. Its rollout has been followed with excitement by Android early-adopters on forums and blogs.

Sprint is the first wireless carrier to offer Android 2.2, but Android 2.2 began rolling out to the Nexus One more than a month ago. Sprint said the Froyo update will begin with wireless notifications to users sent in waves starting Tuesday, with the upgrade available to all users by mid-August.

For those who don’t want to wait, Froyo can be downloaded after next Tuesday by going to the Setting Menu on the Evo, then System Updates, then HTC Software Update to initiate the process.

The Evo, which shipped with Android 2.1, works on 4G cellular over Wimax where available and then reverts to 3G if a 4G network is not available. Evo has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, an HDMI output jack, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a number of other features.

In other news, the FCC has approved the first LTE smart phone destined for MetroPCS. The Samsung SCH-R900 features a sliding QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, 802.11b/g WiFi radio, dual-band 1700/1900 dual-mode LTE/EVDO support and microSDHC expansion slot. It uses the 1700/1900MHz spectrum that MetroPCS owns for LTE, standard CDMA voice technology, and also has Wi-Fi.

Verizon Wireless has committed to launching LTE in 25 to 30 markets later this year, though the first devices to be available are more likely to be laptop dongles than phones.

View full post on dailywireless.org