Lets see if you passed this year...

To be completely honest grading a wireless provider is hard, as we have all know they have many pros over each other as well as having many cons. AT&T and Verizon Wireless can be an example of what I mean! VZW has a HUGE 3G coverage area across the US, but with AT&T you can do multiple actions while on a call (if your device supports multitasking). At DroidHead we are an Android community blog, so why not make it easier and narrow down all the coverages and handsets to one simple thing. . . who treats Android with more respect. Some of you may not be surprised as to who will get the best grade out of the four major US carriers.

T-Mobile was first out of the gate with the G1 so it makes sense to start with them first. T-Mobile introduced the world market place to the Google Android OS with the T-Mobile G1 and later released the MyTouch 3G, Motorola Cliq, and Samsung Behold II. This carrier is a GSM carrier looking to upgrade their signal and strength to HSPA 7.2. With T-Mobile, because they are GSM you can talk, and play with your apps at the same time (apparently that is important). Selection wise, TMo has the most Android devices doubling any other carrier in the US. The problem is the devices they choose to have. . . The G1 is out dated (sorry), the predecessor to it, the MyTouch 3G, is no match for the Hero, or Droid, the Cliq is not a front runner with it's toy'ish feel and adolescent UI, and the Behold II has been bashed in the head with a blunt object by reviewers. There have been many rumors telling us that HTC and Sony-Ericsson is looking to drop two VERY NICE devices Tmo's way, but those are only rumors and we have to grade today. Tmo will get credit for starting the Android race, but will fall a little for not being up to snuff with their hardware. If you have root you can plan to have an "A" here because Tmo has all of the rooted phones (besides the Cliq). As far as stock devices go, Tmo will receive a "B-". For those who have T-Mobile lets all hope they step it up next year with hardware and marketing.

Sprint, being the second carrier to snag an Android device will be second on our list to grade. Sprint brought the US the long awaited HTC Hero with HTC's Sense UI, only Sprint gave us a different look. They also have the Samsung Moment (which I always forget...lol), which runs stock Android and rocks a full QWERTY. Sprint has a CDMA network and trying to push out WiMax which is their version of 4G. As far as Sprint is concerned, they have the Palm Pre with WebOS, we all just saw a commercial (finally) with the Hero in it. Sprint is one of the low men on the totem pole in the US and you would think they would push the Hero and Moment out for those wanting Android on the "Now" network... oh well. For rooted devices you could give them a "B" easy. As far as stock devices go I would have to give Sprint a "C" for the year. Come on Sprint, give us the Android... We don't want the Pre or Pixi!!!

Then comes Verizon Wireless, big red gave us the most anticipated Android device of the year with the coverage to handle it. It also gave the community the best marketing campaign for it as well. VZW has the Droid Eris by HTC (Hero like) and the Motorola Droid (the front runner of Android devices). I have said MANY of times on my Twitter account that the Droid will only be held back by the network it is on,. . . and it is. Unfortunately, Verizon is CDMA (like Sprint) and will not allow you to do anything in the middle of a call, like it's a BIG deal. That is NOT a deal breaker to me. Verizon has also given us the "hands down" best marketing out of all of the carriers with the slogan "In the world of Don't, Droid Does". To the rooters and hackers the world has just began so we will give it a "C" for now. To the common person we will have to give VZW an "A" for the most respect towards Android. I couldn't tell you enough, how much VZW makes me mad with showing up late to the party, but they ran away with it!!!


AT&T, you get an "F" for fail, you know why. Get your heads out of the iPhone's ass and get an Android device!!


So again, our grades for the carriers;
-T-Mobile .......... B
- Sprint ............... C-
- Verizon ............ A
- AT&T ............... F
All I can say is this is the first real good year for Android and the handset makers running them. Let's all hope for an even better one for next year.



If you agree with me on this let me know in the comments below, if you don't agree with me leave a comment on another blog's page. To be serious I would love to hear what you have to say about it, and the only way I will know is if you leave a comment about how you feel below