A listing for an unannounced and previously unknown HTC Windows Phone smartphone with dual-mode GSM/CDMA support for Sprint has appeared on ebay. The phone, listed as the HTC Maaza had been used for 5 months before being listed for sale, which means that Sprint had intended the phone to be the successor to the currently available but long in the tooth HTC Arrive, which has been updated to Mango, but has yet to be confirmed for the Tango update.
The Maaza was also to feature a 3.8 inch 800×480 resolution display, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8GB of internal flash storage (5GB available to the user) with 576 MB RAM / 512 MB ROM to match the increased requirements for Windows Phone Mango, FM radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi N, GPS/A-GPS support and the aforementioned GSM/CDMA support. The listing mentions that SIM cards from AT&T and T-Mobile function with no issue despite the listing for international roaming support only mentioning European bands for network access. For this phone to be listed and sold on ebay represents Sprint’s current feelings regarding Windows Phone, as the operating system languishes on the marketplace compared to Android and the iPhone.
Even with HTC’s above average commitment to Windows Phone, carriers are actively shying away from supporting the platform unless there’s enough manufacturer assistance in terms of marketing in order to make the development expense worthwhile, as evidenced by AT&T and T-Mobile being the only US carriers to actively promote the platform since its official launch in late 2010 with phones from various manufacturers such as Nokia and HTC, while Sprint and Verizon are content to tout Android and the iPhone while carrying token HTC Windows Phone models that have yet toreceive major updates, to the detriment of the platform on those carriers.
The five months of usage as claimed in the listing also means that Sprint was planning to take another chance on Windows Phone, but may have decided that the investment was not worth it this time around as it shifts focus to its LTE network and ramps up promotion of its version of the Galaxy Nexus with LTE, which will launch in mid-summer simultaneously with the LTE network. HTC may have also refused to provide additional assistance in terms of marketing and promotion for the phone, making the phone less important to Sprint compared to other phones that were in development at the time.
The listed $800 price for the phone also reflects its rarity as a development model, as the phone was never officially listed as a future model slated for release on roadmaps but did complete the necessary carrier testing before being officially submitted for FCC testing, which is necessary in order for the device to be commercially launched to the public.
For Sprint to cancel development on the Maaza means that it does not see the need to offer the platform to its customers after the relative failure of the Arrive, which may also explain why the vast majority of HTC Arrive stock is now being sold through virtual operators such as PrePayd Wireless, complete with Sprint branding and packaging.
Correction: The HTC Arrive is able to get the Mango update. I’ve done this to two phones we have for work email. Support is terrible of course. Most minimum wage Sprint store employees had no idea it was for sale in the first place.
In that case you’re right, support is terrible. I could find no official evidence of any updates for the Arrive before I published this other than anecdotes. No changelogs, no listings on either Sprint or HTC’s site.
ALL WINDOWS PHONES GET ALL UPDATES!!! Case closed… Now you are informed and should not get this wrong again…
Actually, McAulay that isn’t the case anymore. Microsoft is now allowing carriers to skip major and minor updates as they see fit instead of having a uniform update schedule for all devices. Such is the result of being in a distant third place.
@ McAulay
SPRINT PALM PRO 850 WINDOWS MOBILE 5.0,
Number of UPDATES or ANY SUPPORT since it’s 2009 INTRODUCTION to this DATE:
“Z E R O”
Another reason why NO ONE on SPRINT, would even CONSIDER “WINDOWS” EVER AGAIN! You said best:
“Case closed… Now you are informed and should not get this wrong again…”
Thank You
Wow this is a pointless article. Windows Phone 7 is what’s being discussed. And this article is clearly opinion and short-sighted. I work in the industry and had to say something. AT&T and T-Mobile have big plans with Windows Phone for 2012 & 2013. I’ve even spoken with Nokia marketing directors and they tease with all the incredible devices coming to market this year. After CES 2012, marketing analytical firms project Windows Phone to overtake iOS as the #2 by 2015. Microsoft has committed to a massive push for Windows Phone this year. You’ll see a lot of it as the year progresses. And with Windows Phone 8 putting the finishing touches on device integration with Xbox and PCs running Windows 8, it will be the most fully functioning family of products on the market, presenting a true competitor to the iPad and Android tablet market with functionable consumer & business tablets and mobile OS devices. The Nokia line that’s up and coming is incredible and will drive a LOT of sales. I’ve spoken to so many consumers who are holding off buying Windows Phone devices just because they know the Lumia 900 is near a release point. Plus the Titan 2 is dropping soon. And though they aren’t saying it, Verizon has plans to join the building Windows Phone momentum at the end of the year with the launch of Apollo (Win Phone 8). Sprint will likely do the same.
There just hasn’t been much marketing behind Windows Phone yet. The market share it does have is largely due to word-of-mouth promotion and people seeing it in every day life and asking “what phone/OS is that?” It’s highly rated by critics and hailed as a truly unique and fresh OS experience by nearly every major review source and even independent reviewers/bloggers. Jeers to the people who are so off on saying “no one on Sprint (or any other carrier for that matter) will even consider Windows ever again”. Clearly that’s not the case since people still buy the HTC Arrive on Sprint that just want any device that runs the OS. Do some homework people!
This article is really just plain wrong, the Mazaa was a promotional device given away to encourage developers to get on board with WP7. It was never intended for mass production for sprint or anyone else.
The HTC Mazaa was known about since April 2011.