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"Like any money-hungry corporation, Sprint's branching out to pursue greener (as in the color of dolla dolla bills) pastures. The Hesse-led co's just announced the creation of its New Ventures unit, an overseas- and wholesale-focused entity which is set to expand upon Android's rapidly growing user base to generate some lucrative B2B handshakes with manufacturers and foreign operators. First up on the organization's plate is the white labeled extension of the company's branded apps, now nestled under the carrier agnostic Mobile ID and Mobile Zone monikers. Those software packs will function much like they do here in the US, offering subs a pre-selected assortment of skins containing applications, ringtones and wallpapers, in addition to a centralized hub for account management. No word yet on what international partners have signed up for the licensed service, but with Mobile World Congress only a few days away, we're sure those necessary details will be forthcoming.Show full PR text   23 February 2012  Sprint Expands Global Reach with Creation of New Ventures Organization    New organization drives open platform expansion into the international marketplace, including Mobile ID and Mobile Zone for international customers    Sprint New Ventures Team will be on site at Mobile World Congress    OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), February 23, 2012 - Looking for innovative ways to share the success of its existing mobile platforms and services, Sprint (NYSE:S) has created a New Ventures organization to focus on opportunities and new solutions with successful open ecosystems platforms to the wholesale and global marketplace.    In the spirit of Sprint's continued commitment to an \"open\" mobile ecosystem, the group today unveiled open platforms Mobile ID and Mobile Zone, which are white-labeled variations of the popular Sprint ID and Sprint Zone applications. These platforms enable Sprint's International and Wholesale customers to replicate Sprint's success with the retail versions of the same services &amp;ndash; driving enhanced customer engagement and revenue growth opportunities.    The New Ventures goal is to deliver new business models and emerging opportunities that tap into the growth of the Android platform and the popularity of new applications and premium services to both drive revenue and increase overall customer satisfaction.    \"New Ventures, in partnership with Sprint's Product, Marketing and International teams, intends to help international carriers, OEM's and other partners improve efficiency, cut costs and drive revenue, while improving customer experience and satisfaction,\" said Mike Cooley, vice president, New Ventures - Sprint. \"Sprint's Mobile ID and Mobile Zone platforms are just the beginning of the introduction of new capabilities specifically designed to accelerate and deepen consumer engagement with our partners, while encouraging consumers to purchase and interact with content and associate with brands.\"    Mobile ID &amp;ndash; Mobile ID delivers a complete mobile experience &amp;ndash; centered on consumers', students' or businesses' interests or favorite brands &amp;ndash; including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all in a couple of simple clicks. With more than six million downloads in the U.S., Sprint smartphone users have already begun to harness the power of ID packs to create their own experiences while catering to different tastes and hobbies. Mobile ID enables personalization for the end user that offers access to a broad array of categories, allowing carriers around the world to deliver a successful customized application to defined markets and customer segments.  Mobile Zone &amp;ndash; Mobile Zone provides a messaging gateway for customers to access account information, learn about their device and discover new applications. Mobile Zone can enhance the user experience while improving carrier-to-customer interaction. An interactive and relevant mobile application, Mobile Zone allows users who are always on-the-go a way to manage their account and discover new content anywhere and at any time with news, suggestions, tips and tricks to getting the most out of their wireless service.    Executives from the Sprint New Ventures and Wholesale Solutions teams will be attending 2012 Mobile World Congress February 27 &amp;ndash; March 1 in Barcelona to showcase the aforementioned products. Please contact SprintWholesaleSolutions@sprint.com if you're interested in learning more about these solutions or other opportunities for partnership with Sprint.    Sprint's Wholesale Solutions Group has a full suite of customizable solutions, including Global MPLS, which offers a flexible and scalable network foundation that enables customers to move to next-generation technologies, such as Fixed Mobile Convergence or Unified Communications; and Mobile Broadband on Demand, enabling end-users to purchase prepaid broadband by the day, week or month. Also available to Sprint Wholesale Solutions Group customers is access to reselling 4G, with faster download speeds and more bandwidth. Customers can choose from two very easy ways to deliver an MVNO wireless offering to market - Traditional Wireless Resale and Turnkey Back-office Wireless Resale. Go to sprint.com/wholesale to view the complete product portfolio, customer testimonials and white paper downloads."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/sprint-launches-new-ventures-arm-adapts-id-and-zone-apps-for-fo/>