Ting, a US-based MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator - similar to Giffgaff in the UK), makes use of Sprint's network to offer their service to consumers. The company is working closely with Sprint to allow customers from the popular US carrier to move over to Ting with its BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). It has been rather quiet with Windows Phone, until now.
It seems both companies will be stocking Windows Phones. We're not sure if it was intentional, but Ting has revealed plans for (or the view to) both itself and Spring to support Windows Phone in the future.
In a blog post, a Ting employee went into some detail about future plans for Ting - Windows Phone was mentioned:
"We’re looking ahead to the device lineup for the first half of 2013. We’ll be adding a Windows Phone device running the latest version of the mobile OS within this time. Worst case scenario for Windows Phone on Ting: We’ll have the latest WP device sixty days after Sprint begins offering it. Best case: We’ll have it at the same time as it becomes available in Sprint’s lineup."
What's interesting is the post talks about Sprint. 'Best case' scenario would be for Ting to have Windows Phone hardware the same time as Sprint, while 'worst case' would see them launch a month or two after Sprint releases said handsets. Now, as far as we're aware, Sprint has no immediate plans for Microsoft's platform.
The network said goodbye to its HTC Arrive earlier this year and revealed no upcoming devices we'd be able to see in its stores. A leaked documentation confirmed there were no distant Windows Phones in Sprint's plan for US domination, but should what Ting announce be true then we could well be seeing new hardware from the carrier, but it's just reluctant to officially announce anything.
We'll look out for more information, should any arise, over the course of the Windows Phone 8 launch. In the meantime, feel free to jump in on this WPCentral Forum discussion on Ting.
Source: Ting; thanks, sphenodont, for the heads up!
