Sprint Nextel (S) has officially introduced the world’s first 4G handset at the CTIA wireless conference in Las Vegas on Mar 23, 2010. Made by Taiwanese handset giant HTC, the feature-rich device, dubbed “HTC EVO 4G”, will be exclusively launched on the carrier’s 4G network in the summer of 2010, culminating the prolonged wait for a 4G handset. Sprint will reveal pricing information later.
The dual-mode (3G/4G capable) smartphone, originally codenamed HTC Supersonic, will run using Google’s (GOOG) latest version of the Android operating system. The phone features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, an 8 megapixel camera, a camcorder, a second 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, HD video-streaming, Wi-Fi (wireless broadband) connectivity and Qualcomm’s (QCOM) 1 gigahertz (GHz) Snapdragon processor.
EVO 4G will be loaded with “Qik”, a video-streaming service, which will enable users to broadcast live video feeds to the web using the phone camera. Sprint plans to make video calling a unique selling point of EVO 4G leveraging the phone’s dual cameras, large touch-sensitive screen and blazing-fast network speeds.
The second camera on the device enables video chat application. EVO 4G also has a kick-stand that facilitates video viewing. Besides, the phone’s in-built Wi-Fi hotspot allows users to seamlessly connect with up to 8 Wi-Fi capable devices.
Sprint offers its 4G service under the “Sprint 4G” brand 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 EVO 4G to offer the fastest data speeds among the devices available on the market.
Sprint has been a trailblazer in 4G having leapfrogged over its larger US peers Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) by becoming the first carrier to deploy 4G services in the US. The company’s 4G services now cover 27 markets in the US. The carrier plans to add 15 new markets (including 7 new cities announced on March 23) to its 4G footprint in 2010 addressing 120 million Americans.
Following its 4G network launch, Sprint has introduced an array of 4G devices such as dual-mode modems, mobile hotspots and PC cards. However, the carrier has been constantly under pressure as customers clamor for a 4G phone.
The much-awaited 4G phone will enable Sprint to boost its 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 and AT&T who are yet to launch their 4G network based on the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard.
Verizon, the closest contender, is not expected to roll out a 4G phone until mid-2011. Moreover, EVO 4G is a serious threat to Apple’s (AAPL) iconic iPhone marketed by AT&T in the US. The device boasts a screen which is 30% bigger than the iPhone.
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 to lure more users to its network.
Sprint’s shares leapt 24 cents (or 6.27%) to $4.07 in after-hours trading on Mar 23, 2010.
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