Sprint (S) this week released a new commercial for its popular EVO smartphone with a special guest.  The Android Robot, which is often called Andy is skating around the commercial which shows off some glowing reviews of the product.

Verizon (VZ) uses its own, shortened Droid branding while T-Mobile seems to push its own sub-brands like MyTouch or glosses over any Google branding, while leaving the branding off of the equation.  AT&T (T) hardly markets its Android products.  But now Sprint is making a connection with the Android community with the following spot:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KusxPkP5WE&W=600&h=375]

I think this is a fantastic move on Sprint’s part.  Carriers have spent too much time trying to differentiate and change Android and not enough time extolling the Android platform and community.  It also may signal some changes in the upcoming Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform. The EVO was the first carrier phone to receive the prior Android 2.2 update.

Google’s (GOOG) branding guidelines allow for free use of the Android character.

01/ Android Robot

Can be used, reproduced, and modified freely in marketing communications. Our standard color value for print is PMS 376C. Our online hex color is #A4C639.

When using the Android Robot or any modification of it, proper attribution is required under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license. For more details on proper attribution, please see this page.