Sprint announced partnerships which it said “make it even easier for developers to create innovative applications and wireless solutions for both consumers and enterprise customers.” It is working with its new “solution enabler partners” – LOC-AID, Neustar, OpenMarket and TechnoCom – who will have direct access to all of Sprint’s application programming interfaces. In “a first among carriers,” this direct access will enable approved developers to access location, messaging, presence, geofencing, payments and additional APIs through one partner platform. The new process is also said to “simplify and accelerate” the certification and on-boarding process for applications and solutions.

According to Kevin McGinnis, VP, Product at Sprint, “by giving our solution enabler partners access to multiple APIs, developers can now easily build richer apps and do not have to reach out to each partner separately. Also, through the Sprint Services Framework, developers have a choice to work directly with Sprint or one of our partners to optimise and go to market with their application.”

With regard to its partners, Sprint describes LOC-AID as “the world’s first and largest location as a service company;” Neustar is “a leader in providing carriers and enterprises with solutions for sending calls, messages, and content across networks worldwide;” OpenMarket is a “global mobile transaction hub;” and Technocom is “a leading provider of enterprise location solutions is expanding its capabilities to deliver location-based and messaging services to businesses.”

The new partnerships builds on an announcement made last year, when the operator announced its Sprint Services Framework. This provides a single web interface for developers to access APIs directly from Sprint, providing them with “seamless capabilities across most Sprint devices including mobile handsets and embedded devices, operating systems and development environments including Web pages and applications.