Sprint to once again support Microsoft and Windows Phone with the Lumia 635

Sprint has today announced the US carrier has rekindled its partnership with Microsoft and Windows Phone. The company will be offering the Lumia 635 across multiple brands, including Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile. The device, running Windows Phone 8.1, will be available through those two brands from December 23, with Sprint postpaid customers having to wait until January 16.

According to Sprint's announcement published today, the company will offer the Lumia 635 in cyan at Boost Mobile and white on Virgin Mobile, both for $99.99. Sprint hasn't yet shared what the pricing will be for its own subscribers for the January launch.

Check the official announcement (main snippet published below) for more details on available plans and comparisons.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint and Microsoft will proudly showcase a renewed partnership with the announcement of Lumia 635 arriving across multiple Sprint brands beginning with Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile on Dec. 23. It will be available on Jan. 16 to Sprint postpaid customers. This is the first Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone to launch on Sprint's network and the first Lumia Windows Phone available to Sprint's prepaid customers.

Both Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA offer budget-conscious, no-contract wireless plans, including unlimited talk, text and data options. Lumia 635 will be available in cyan at www.boostmobile.com/lumia635 and in white at www.virginmobileusa.com for $99.99 (excludes taxes). Starting Jan. 9, Lumia 635 will also be available at Boost Mobile's exclusive retail stores, select independent wireless dealers nationwide and later in the month at select national retail locations. Sprint pricing will be shared at a later date.

Lumia 635 is a powerful device for the smart shopper looking for something new. Cortana, your personal digital assistant, helps manage daily tasks and can set reminders based on time, location and people – so you know if traffic is backed up before your appointment across town. The nimble Windows Phone 8.1 operating system combined with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 1.2GHz quad-core processor and enhanced LTE access (where available) make for fast browsing and multitasking capabilities on the Sprint 4G LTE network, currently serving 540 cities.

The Windows Phone home screen provides a smooth overview of your life, keeping all emails, upcoming appointments, websites and contacts front and center. Windows Phone 8.1 offers a revamped notification system, people can set up custom shortcuts within the Action Center for everything from Bluetooth to music to the camera, and certain alerts can easily be previewed without opening the app in question. Familiar Microsoft services are also available, including Office, Skype and OneDrive.

"We are excited to welcome Lumia 635 as our first Windows Phone on our two no-contract brands – Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA – providing customers the ultimate in financial flexibility and choice," said David Owens, senior vice president, Product Development. "This device is the showpiece for our reinvigorated relationship with Microsoft, and we know our customers will appreciate all they can do with the powerful Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. Our Sprint postpaid customers will experience this device right after the new year."

"We are pleased to partner with Sprint and offer even more U.S. customers the opportunity to choose Lumia smartphones," said Matt Rothschild, head of North America sales for Microsoft Mobile Devices. "The Sprint, Boost and Virgin brands have great synergy with the value represented by the Lumia 635 – a great, affordable smartphone that delivers uncompromised experiences to help people do more."

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.