Sprint selling HTC EVO 4G on June 4 for $199
By Chris Ziegler 
posted May 12th 2010 6:13PM
posted May 12th 2010 6:13PM
Unfortunately, there's a downside to all this: customers will be paying a mandatory (as confirmed to us by Sprint reps) $10 per month "Premium Data add-on" on top of their plan -- ostensibly for the privilege of enjoying WiMAX when they're in a Sprint 4G market -- and the 8-device WiFi hotspot feature runs an extra $29.99 a month, which Sprint is quick to point out is half what you'd pay for a dedicated mobile broadband account. As we saw at CTIA, the phone is the first to offer on-phone YouTube high quality video, a feature that automatically kicks in when you're in the sweet confines of a WiMAX tower. Oh, and check this out: Sprint was hesitant to commit to offering simultaneous voice and data before, but HTC must've worked out the kinks, because it's all systems go -- you'll be able to yap and browse on 4G at the same time.
We're at the EVO 4G's announcement in New York as we type, and we can tell you that everything Sprint is demoing is crazy fast -- we'd expect no less from an WiMAX device with a 1GHz Snapdragon -- and we're particularly stoked to see them demo Need For Speed Shift on it, which will be launching on Android around the same time as the device. Follow the break for Sprint's full press release!
Update: According to Phone Scoop, that $10 premium add-on has the benefit of no data cap for either WiMAX or 3G connections. Since we're on the subject of updates, have you seen our bevy of new EVO 4G videos yet?
Update 2: Starting today, Best Buy is accepting pre-orders for the device, and per usual, they won't require you to wait for the mail-in rebate -- it's just $199.99 straight-up on contract. Thanks, all!
America's First 4G Phone, HTC EVOTM 4G, Debuts on June 4 Packed with Industry-Leading Features Including Access to Mobile Video Chat, Simultaneous Voice and Data and HD Video Capture
Sprint leads the 4G revolution with the highly anticipated, award-winning HTC EVO 4G priced at just $199.99; add mobile hotspot capability for up to eight devices for just $29.99
NEW YORK, May 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --If you were creating your dream wireless device what would it look like? Two cameras and video chat so you can say goodnight to your children when you are away on a business trip? Simultaneous voice and data, so you can call in your take-out order while you look at their menu on the Internet? The ability to plug your phone into your HDTV, so you can let your children finish the movie they started watching in the car's backseat when you get home? And a huge screen for watching the videos you download in seconds - not minutes - with the fastest wireless data speeds available in America today? Stop daydreaming and get ready for Sprint (NYSE: S) to make your dreams come true on June 4 when the highly anticipated HTC EVO 4G debuts.
The critics agree that HTC EVO 4G is this summer's must-have wireless experience as it continues to win their accolades and endorsements. CNET, LAPTOP and eWeek gave HTC EVO 4G awards for Best of Show when it was announced at CTIA this spring. Engadget said, "It's easily the best specced phone we've ever witnessed." The Financial Times cooed, "The first 4G phone in the U.S., the HTC EVO ... ticks just about all the boxes for my ideal phone."
"HTC EVO 4G is a fantastic 3G device, but when you use it in our growing 4G coverage area, it becomes a multimedia powerhouse," said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. "The EVO 4G experience is much like going from TV to HDTV. But EVO has more than just an impressive list of features - it is also fun to use with remarkable gaming, video and web-browsing capabilities."
With the launch of HTC EVO 4G, Sprint customers will be able to enjoy capabilities they have never experienced before with a new video chat service from Qik. The two-way voice and video capability will be available as an upgrade to the preloaded Qik app on HTC EVO 4G to enable conversational, interactive, real-time sharing between mobile devices or from mobile-to-desktop.
Amazing Features, Beautiful Design
HTC EVO 4G features the latest version of the increasingly popular Android platform, Android 2.1, offering more than 35,000 apps, as well as a mind-blowing list of features, including:
* Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while the conversation continues.
* Offering a new way to search with pictures instead of words, Google Goggles(TM) works with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and wine labels.
* Superfast 1GHz Qualcomm(R) Snapdragon(TM) processor, ensuring a smooth and quick movement within phone menus.
* Two cameras - an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.
* Built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G or 4G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.
* Integrated HD video capture with the ability to capture and share live video via the Qik Web site, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter(TM).
* Ability to easily watch video with the device on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately).
* Custom Web browser optimized for the 4.3 inch display and Sprint 4G speeds to deliver a full, no-compromise Internet experience.
* A handy kickstand built into the back, making it easy to watch videos on-the-go.
* Adobe Flash technology ensures that rich Internet content, such as embedded video and animation, are displayed the way they are meant to be seen.
* Pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing provide easy Web page views.
HTC EVO 4G boasts the newest version of the highly acclaimed HTC Sense user experience. With HTC Sense, HTC EVO 4G users can use Friend Stream to aggregate multiple social communication channels, including Facebook and Twitter into one organized flow of updates; a "Leap" thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen "panels;" the ability to download new, interactive widgets; and a "polite" ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.
While the performance of currently available Android applications will be enhanced by access to 4G data speeds, a Sprint 4G developer guide is available today from the Sprint ADP Web site at http://developer.sprint.com. The Sprint 4G developer guide provides details on developing for an Android 2.1 handset and how to take advantage of HTC EVO 4G's unique hardware and software capabilities and the Sprint 4G network. The Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.
Worry-Free Pricing
HTC EVO 4G will be available in all Sprint retail channels, including Sprint.com and national retail partners, RadioShack, Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Sprint will price the award-winning device at $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes excluded) with a new line activation or eligible upgrade. Pre-registration is available now at www.sprint.com/evo.
In order to provide the best experience, HTC EVO 4G will use Sprint's industry-leading Everything Data or Business Advantage Messaging and Data plans that include unlimited Web, texting and calling on the Sprint Network to every mobile in America with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Everything Data plans start at $69.99 per month. A $10 per month Premium Data add-on will apply allowing customers to take advantage of a richer data experience than ever before.
Additionally, an optional pricing add-on will turn HTC EVO 4G into a mobile hotspot connecting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, gaming devices and digital cameras, simultaneously at 4G speeds where available and at 3G speeds anywhere on the Sprint 3G network for just $29.99 per month - half the monthly cost of the current Mobile Broadband plan (pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).
With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can take advantage of HTC EVO 4G for 30 days and if not completely satisfied, may return the device within 30 days to get reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get both the early termination and restocking fees waived, and receive a full refund for the monthly service plan charges.1
Blazing trails with Sprint 4G
Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 32 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G2,giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today.
As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Today, Sprint 4G covers 41 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010.
Sprint currently offers 4G service in 32 markets: Georgia - Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii - Honolulu, Maui; Idaho - Boise; Illinois - Chicago; Maryland - Baltimore; Nevada - Las Vegas; North Carolina - Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon - Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania - Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, York; Texas - Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington - Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.
In 2010, Sprint expects to launch 4G service in multiple markets, including but not limited to, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, and the first and only wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile and Assurance Wireless and instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
@Myst3ry NO you don't see the point. AT&Twants you to walk into starbucks buy a coffee and use the wifi there to video conference
@Myst3ry
Don't think video chat on the new Iphone will be on 3G, could be wrong. Will probably be wifi only. We all no of AT&T's system problems. Still think no one does ease of use like Apple.
@Damendash
iChat on the mac is a broadband hog. Unless they dummy it down. the 4gen iphone will probably takes pics in the front but i highly doubt you will be able to do video ATT will need more broadband.
@Seven2k
We'll see, but for all the crap thrown at AT&T( a lot of it deserved ) it was the original BELL, any companies network would buckle to the deluge of customers the iPhone brought. I think video chat will be a feature of the new phone, and let's hope we can get system upgrades faster to cope.
@Damendash
wait...wait..its going to be Wifi only for ichat it just came to me.
Is it coming to Canada?
This is made of so much damn win.
FREAKEN FINALLY!!!
I've been waiting for this news for months!!!!
GOOD BYE APPLE and GOOD RIDDANCE AT&T with your horrible service!!!!
$10 xtra a month and I won't have 4G till later this yr...hmmm hopefully there is something they can do.
Is the extra $10/month only if you want 4g? I'd be perfectly content to use this only on 3g and stick with the price I pay now
so my $70 plan just jumped to $110. go figure. as if i can't afford the bille already. now i won't be able to afford one of them usb wifi sticks. cuz the wifi mobility sure would come in handy. the last compuer i had to fix was still on dialup. and using my 3g blackberry wasn't much faster for downloading updates.
@snowwy66 Look at it this way: if you're moving from a Blackberry to this, you get to drop RIM-job's $19.99 "make my internet slower" monthly charge.
@greylurk Sprint dropped Rim's surcharge years ago.
@donatom3
*looks at my monthly bill* Nope, they're still charging to slow down my internet connection.
@greylurk
They changed new plans over a year ago and removed the charge. You probably are using a legacy plan with your add-on.
Might be worthwhile to check out the newer plan offerings from Sprint, might get more bang for your buck.
YES!!!! iPhone will Have Wi-Fi only video Chat!lmao!!
Wow what a great combination!! A company with non-existent service is selling a phone made by a copycat manufacturer and some people are willing to buy this crap.
@assb10yr
Where do these douche bags come from. If I don't like a piece of equipment, I don't troll into an article, then read through 4 pages of comments just so I can make a sorry ass excuse for a comment that has no chance of changing anyone's mind that reads it. stfu and go read gizmodo.
Damn you sprint!!! LMAO!!!
$10 for 4G and $30 extra for mobile hotspot??? is sprint nuts??? holy cow.
On the side note.....video chat is a bad idea for people who have multiple girlfriends.
@m3nphls
Great hardware + greedy carrier = EVO on Sprint.
(not that Sprint is any more greedy than other US carriers... they are ALL screwing the US public)
@Hazdaz
I'm with sprint because I preferred to be screwed less hard.
I wish they brought the EVO to other carriers... even if it was a 3G version instead (since lets be honest 3G is still the norm and will remain so for quite some time)
If you go to http://now.sprint.com/evo/ you'll notice that the $199 price is after a $100 mail in rebate, so you'll be out $300 up front.
@Guy Unless you buy at Radio Shack or Best Buy which give you the $199 price upfront.
@Guy The $100 mail in rebate is an instant rebate if you are getting the phone at a store where you're area code is 'in market.' Since this phone requires a data plan and being on a data plan converts the mail in rebate to an instant rebate you'll only pay $300 in the store if you are outside of your area code. Otherwise if you are at a store inside your area code and are starting a new plan or doing a two year upgrade you will only pay the $199 plus tax.
All you iphone HD users good luck with video calling over AT&T's spotty 3G connection while i will be enjoying my insane data speeds with WimAX..and as soon as cyanogen roots it, free tethering will be available...Nexus One i love you but im seriously thinking about replacing you next month!
@Android4Eva
With the ifone 4thG, video chat works only at hot-spots or wifi.
I wonder how they're planning to safeguard the mobile hotspot capability against rooting?
Hahaha!
@Johnny Rockets By voiding your warranty when you root? So far phones like the nexus one can't have that root lock removed once you've unlocked it.
@donatom3
I meant for people who don't care about warranties. There sure are plenty of us on the N1 :)
And also many many people have reported HTC not charging for servicing phones that have had the bootloader unlocked.
@Johnny Rockets Well technically they can't void your warranty if the software had nothing to do with why your phone broke anyway. I forget the court case that proved that but anyway that's the case. Beyond the fear of voiding your warranty there really is no way to stop it. Besides the amount of people who will root for free hotspot won't even be 1/4 the amount of people who will actually pay for it.
So will the monthly $29 hotspot be optional?
@craggie4ever probably, i couldnt see them forcing people to pay for that if they don't use it...but then again they are making us pay 10 extra for 4g
10 dollar add on isn't really that bad if you think about it...wait...yes it is..i'm a broke college student :-(
@Android4Eva
http://www.studentrate.com/StudentRate/School/Deals/dealsummary.aspx?school=fccj&vendor=Sprint&title=National_Deals
if you have school email address, sign up here, 15% off recurring credit EVERY MONTH. =D trying to help out fellow college students.
Well that sucks. $10 a month extra even if you aren't in a 4G market? And have they not seen Verizon's offering tethering for free on the Pre?
Gah, Sprint. You're killing me. I want to stay with you, I really do. But you make it annoying.
@andysexton
I just called sprint on this. Apparently they know nothing about the plans.
@andysexton
I'd guess that you're billing address would determine this... If ur in a 4G city then it's prob. req. but I doubt they'll make everyone bc there's a lot more people going to bitch about this than it's work to Sprint in $ & bad PR.
btw, who are you going to switch to that's cheaper???
@KULawHawk Read it and Sprint's site. Doesn't look to be market dependent at all.
As to the "who would I switch to that's cheaper" comment, I think Sprint's subscriber bleed over the last few years proves the point that it's not as simple as being cheap. Sprint has an opportunity here to make a name for itself as having one of the best phone/plan packages out there to try to stop that bleed, and they go and make me, a 10 year Sprint customer question them because of this stuff.
But there's always t-mobile for cheaper, and they've got some nice android phones as well.
@andysexton Well it does mean that you have no data cap so even in a 3G market you could tear through quite a bit of data...Sprint's 3G is actually pretty clippy in a lot of markets-the upload speed is actually about the same 1mbit on 3G and downloads can get up to almost 2mbps. Ping times are also excellent even on 3G-in fact I don't think the 4G ping times they're citing are really any better than what I usually see on 3G.
Is there an Android equivalent to JoikuSpot? If so, why would anyone pay the $29.99 fee per month as opposed to a small one-time fee for the software?
@inept
Try Barnacle Wifi Tether for android
EVO Cheap plastic phone + crap carrier = fail
Hmm...according to my eyes, which just watched at a "high quality" video of kittens, the Nexus One has a "high quality" option for YouTube. I'm pretty sure it only kicks in automatically on wi-fi, but I watched the kittens over 3G.
BEST PHONE EVA...EVO!
CLAP CLAP EVO!
Will wait and see what apple brings to the table with the new iPhone.
kind of disappointed about the $10 add on...but i guess ill just have to get it. Hopefully i can get comped at work
Is that Hotspot feature unlimited or 5 Gig Cap? I'm so ready for any excuse to pay the ETF to get out of my ATT contract.