Google's Pixel phones have notoriously always been exclusive to Verizon, at least if you wanted to buy it on a US carrier. Buying direct from the Google Store (and getting your phone factory unlocked) has been an option, but that's not for everyone, especially more casual buyers or something looking to finance hardware through their carrier of choice.
We've heard that T-Mobile will help break that streak this year, and now it looks like Sprint will be following suit.
Those two things aren't related to their merger, either, at least not that we can tell. Some new signage and fixtures is showing up in some Sprint corporate stores that makes it sound like they'll have a display for the Pixel 3 XL, which would be incredibly strange if they weren't also going to be selling it. Other details are scant, like if pricing will change or if it'll still be the same unlocked phone that just happens to be sold in a carrier store, but if they're already prepping displays I don't think we'll have to wait much further past the Pixel 3a launch to find out.
Verizon's strange monopoly on Google phones is finally coming to an end. That should be good news for the Pixel 4.
source: Android Police
