Sprint Nextel (S) has officially revealed the launch date of the world’s first 4G handset dubbed “EVO 4G”. The feature-rich state-of-the-art device will be exclusively launched on the carrier’s network starting Jun 4, 2010 ending the prolonged wait for a 4G handset. EVO 4G will be available across Sprint’s nationwide retail locations as well as from the carrier’s retail partners RadioShack (RSH), Best Buy (BBY) and Wal-Mart (WMT).
The third largest US carrier has also released the pricing information for EVO 4G. The device is available for $199.99 (after a $100 mail-in-rebate) under a two-year service contract. Moreover, EVO 4G comes with Sprint’s popular Simply Everything Plan that starts at $69.99 per month and offers unlimited voice, text and data.
However, subscribers have to shell out $29.99 a month extra for using the phone’s in-built Wi-Fi (wireless broadband) hotspot that allows them to connect up to 8 Wi-Fi capable devices. Additionally, there is a mandatory $10 monthly charge for premium data services like two-way video chat enabled by the “Qik” video-streaming service.
Sprint unveiled the EVO 4G at the CTIA wireless conference in Las Vegas on Mar 23, 2010. Made by Taiwanese handset giant HTC, the dual-mode (3G/4G capable) smartphone will run on Google’s (GOOG) latest version of the Android operating system.
The phone features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, dual cameras (8 and 1.3 megapixel), HD video-streaming, HTC sense user interface, Wi-Fi (wireless broadband) connectivity and Qualcomm’s (QCOM) 1 gigabertz (GHz) Snapdragon processor. Sprint plans to make video chat a unique selling point of EVO 4G leveraging the phone’s dual cameras, large touch-sensitive screen and blazing-fast network speeds.
Sprint offers its 4G service piggybacking the WiMax (a wireless broadband technology) network operated by Clearwire (CLWR) in which it holds a 51% stake. The network offers average download speeds of 3-6 megabits per second (Mbps) with peak speed exceeding 10 Mbps. This will enable the EVO 4G to offer the fastest data speeds among the devices available on the market.
The much-awaited EVO 4G will enable Sprint to boost its 4G WiMax network as the device will foster the effective use of 4G bandwidth for data-rich applications. Besides, EVO 4G will give Sprint a headstart over its bigger rivals Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) who are yet to launch their 4G network based on the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard. Moreover, the earlier-than-expected launch of EVO 4G will also offer Sprint an edge over Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 4G which is rumored to hit stores on Jun 21, 2010.
Expansion of 4G services is vital to Sprint’s survival in the US wireless market given its continued market share losses to larger rivals. Sprint promises that 2010 will be the year of WiMax and EVO 4G will help the carrier lure more users to its network.
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