Cricket carrier Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP) said it has discontinued its plan to offer a Wi-Fi-only ViewSonic Android tablet with a 7-inch screen.
"We have decided not to deploy it at this time," Leap spokesman Greg Lund told FierceWireless. Lund explained that Leap instead plans to focus its efforts on its Muve Music service and its growing lineup of smartphones.
Lund declined to say whether Leap would release a tablet sometime in the future.
In March, Leap said it planned to release a 7-inch ViewSonic Android tablet, likely in July. The gadget was intended to support only sport Wi-Fi connections and would not have built-in connections to the carrier's CDMA network. The ViewSonic tablet was to run the Gingerbread version of Android, 2.3, and was to be "merchandized" with Leap's Crosswave portable hotspot from Huawei (for a connection to Leap's network). The offering was intended as a way for Leap to test out the tablet market.
Though Leap is backing away from the tablet market, other carriers continue to rush in. Most recently, AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) announced it will sell the LTE-capable HTC Jetstream Android tablet for $700 with a two-year contract or $850 without a contract.
Despite its tablet kinks, Leap continues to expand its device lineup. The carrier offers a range of Android phones, and recently announced the Samsung Vitality, the carrier's first Android phone to support its Muve Music unlimited music download service.
Leap reported a gain of 29,000 voice customers in its second quarter and a loss of around 132,000 broadband customers.
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