Sprint: Smartphones Are Awesome

The smartphone-as-sales-messiah continues to be the story going into the Christmas season, with the latest positive expectation for moving the hot devices coming from none other than economically fissured Sprint-Nextel Corp..

First, the seemingly ubiquitous ads with Dan Hesse explaining the wonders of advanced handsets, and now a survey this week finding that smartphones will shine amid the economic downturn this Christmas season.

To wit: The survey found that a full one-third of wish lists contain a “smartphone, please?” line (no word if that actually says “iPhone, please”) and 35 percent of parents are considering a smartphone for their teenager.

Can I get a smartphone? Please?