Qik charging $5 monthly for EVO 4G video chat (updated)

Last we thought, that mandatory $10 "premium data add-on" for Sprint's EVO 4G would additionally include YouTube and Qik video chat, and well, we may have been only half right. The gang at Android Guys have what's alleged to be a scan from Sprint's training materials, and according to one image, Qik's gonna cost you another $4.99 monthly via PayPal (not through the carrier) to use. We've reached out to see if we can confirm, but if true, it's a bit of a bummer to see the premiums continuing to add up. At least Fring's Skype video is still free, and as you can see in the video after the break, it works pretty well.

Update: We're now privy to the official May 26th edition of the Evo 4G launch guide and can confirm the $4.99 fee. While Sprint hasn't said anything publicly, it's looking like that fee will stick saving a last minute call from the governor.

Update 2: Qik has come out and clarified that the $5 fee will be for "advanced premium features," and two-way video calling will be completely and utterly free. That's what we like to hear.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Physicsguy89 Posted May 27th 2010 9:43PM]

FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Hopefully it's not true!

[dgtlber Posted May 27th 2010 10:11PM]

@Physicsguy89

if that's the case, i think I'll just get an incredible

[senormatt Posted May 27th 2010 10:13PM]

@dgtlber

if that's the case, I'll just go with a free option, which there will be.

[Physicsguy89 Posted May 27th 2010 10:18PM]

@dgtlber

If that's the case, I'll just use fring/skype

[TheEdge Posted May 27th 2010 10:27PM]

@dgtlber

get the incredible and have no video chat at all or just use skype...mmmmm....choices choices

[Btbessey Posted May 27th 2010 10:27PM]

@Physicsguy89
That is annoying that you have to go through paypal but that isn't that bad! Still cheaper than verizon AND AT&T. Sprint is da bomb on plans. I had sprint And moved to AT&T for (guess)... And the price difference is astounding. Sprint has a smartphone data family plan that includes unlimited texting (which IS data POS AT&T/verizon.) And 700 minutes I think. For 129.99 straight. Add 10 per evo and 5 per QIK subscription and it's still less than I pay for iPhone (you guessed correctly) WITHOUT any texting plan.

[Btbessey Posted May 27th 2010 10:33PM]

@Btbessey
Ok nevermind I think that is more than my iPhone... But still! It's 4G and unlimited texting and sprint and everyones beloved giant pocket hog that has god-specs.

[fowenati Posted May 27th 2010 10:39PM]

@Btbessey I get 3 Lines, Unlimited Data and Texting for ALL lines as well as 2200 minutes for less than 120 a month.... ON SPRINT! :)

[Toneglaso Posted May 27th 2010 11:15PM]

@dgtlber Horrible.

[pedmart Posted May 27th 2010 11:42PM]

@Toneglaso qik looks much better than fring... i hope this pricing is not true...
i also want good games on android... i might just wait what ms and apple brings to the table...

[sepherous Posted May 27th 2010 11:46PM]

@Physicsguy89

ummm verizon owns the exclusivity to skype. sooo yeah no skype.

[RLBurkes Posted May 28th 2010 12:05AM]

@pedmart If sprint/qik want $5 expect apple/AT&T to want $9.99 min

[JerzyIroc Posted May 28th 2010 12:55AM]

@Btbessey i have Sprints unlimited 450 plan. I have 450 land line minutes with unlimited minutes to cell phones. REAL unlimited data text multimedia and the other good stuff and the best part unlimited roaming through Verizon... i pay 69.99. When I get the Evo it'll be 79.99, or 119.99 including the tethering fee. There is not a plan in this country that can beat that. People can talk all the crap on Sprint they want, but they have by FAR the best plans. And with unlimited roaming through Verizon your coverage map in absolutely HUGE

[Reisa Posted May 28th 2010 1:55AM]

@senormatt

Yeah - Fring is here, and Google just bought up a company that does video chat. I'm betting it'll be part of Google Talk or Voice before long. And free.

[Tuan X Posted May 28th 2010 2:13AM]

@Physicsguy89 Yeah all of this 4G sh*t is just sounding like more & more money gouging. I don't want to pay $10 more for data to come to my phone at speeds we honestly should've seen about 3/4 years ago & f*ck naw if imma pay MONTHLY for a not so known video chat service when there are well established ones like Skype out there for free.

[Wesscoast Posted May 28th 2010 2:17AM]

@Physicsguy89

Haha. Droid FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[huzzlehoff Posted May 28th 2010 2:26AM]

@Physicsguy89

They'll f*ck up the sales if this keeps up. This COULD be a major seller.

[DrEngrish Posted May 28th 2010 4:31AM]

@Physicsguy89

Wow Sprint... that's so gangster...

[INsano Posted May 28th 2010 5:17AM]

@senormatt Lol, who do these noobs think Android users are? This isn't the iPhone.

[zeroinfinity2 Posted May 28th 2010 6:39AM]

@Physicsguy89

Relax, it's an android device.

Plus despite all the complaining, you gadget freaks all know you're getting the phone anyway.

[periniasolp Posted May 28th 2010 9:38AM]

@Physicsguy89 Should be free. I bet this was made to compete for that front-facing cam from that leaked viet-iPhone. http://j.mp/iphone-4g-vietnam

[steel Posted May 28th 2010 9:40AM]

@TheEdge

Holy crap, is this still Sprint? I thought they were the great black box, everything for 1 price. Now it's nickel and dime time it seems.

[liftedngifted1 Posted May 27th 2010 9:44PM]

No thanks qik... $5 monthly?? skype ftw

[Plazmic Flame Posted May 27th 2010 9:52PM]

@liftedngifted1

Fring with Skype ftw

[m3nphls Posted May 28th 2010 12:14AM]

@liftedngifted1
I'm sorry, but doesn't VZW has skype exclusively for their android and blackberry phones??

[cloud858rk Posted May 28th 2010 1:26AM]

@m3nphls That is only for the official Skype progs.

[husher Posted May 28th 2010 4:40AM]

@liftedngifted1 have to agree. all these little charges is getting out of hand.

[tklr08 Posted May 27th 2010 9:45PM]

Wtf..

[electron Posted May 27th 2010 9:45PM]

well, there goes that idea.

not like I really planed on using it much anyway...

[pwnstr Posted May 27th 2010 9:45PM]

dik.

[mrphillipawood Posted May 27th 2010 9:45PM]

If you have to pay for Qik, you blew it.

[MrHashbrown Posted May 28th 2010 6:03AM]

Oh man...Apple is going to have a field day rubbing this in to Sprint and HTC when they unveil iChat.

[whySoSerious Posted May 28th 2010 6:52AM]

@MrHashbrown
Right. Unless they require you to pay an extra $9.99 a month to use iChat, too. It's Apple, come on - how often have you ever seen them offer you more for less than someone else?

[Veraxus Posted May 28th 2010 10:40AM]

@whySoSerious

I agree, but it'll be AT&T doing the wallet-rape, not Apple. Tethering is a standard iPhone feature just about everywhere in the world... except in the US. My monthly bill for the "cheapest" 2-phone family plan + texting is an exorbitant $170/month... and I bought it on the promise that I'd be able to tether by Sep/Oct 2009. There's still no tethering option without a jailbreak (which I've done, btw - just to get the phone to a level of functionality it should already have), and with these greedy fuckbag carriers trying to nickel-and-dime their customers to death with skyrocketing rates, ETFs, and additional charges for features that ought to be standard - this pricing thing is out of fucking control.

[MrHashbrown Posted May 29th 2010 7:15AM]

@whySoSerious

you're right. for a moment i forgot how ridiculous AT&T's iPhone pricing plans are.

[Plazmic Flame Posted May 27th 2010 9:46PM]

No Sprint

[tekdemon Posted May 27th 2010 10:39PM]

@Plazmic Flame And what does Sprint have to do with Qik deciding to charge people money to use their service? If other phones actually had this capability in the U.S. they'd charge them too.

[sfox8 Posted May 27th 2010 11:33PM]

@Plazmic Flame
What does Sprint have to do with anything? They don't own Qik.

[everyone does Posted May 27th 2010 9:48PM]

$10 premium for a data heavy phone on the only 4G network? Okay. It's still cheaper than everyone else for a great product. Can't bitch.


5 bucks for a Qik? A service I have never heard of until the EVO4G??
Hello skype! Even my mother already has skype on her computer, so that is more useful for me anyways.


Qik should have given low res for free and charged for high res.

[DoctarPeppar Posted May 27th 2010 10:20PM]

@everyone does
Isn't QiK free on any other device?
I don't get it.

[everyone does Posted May 27th 2010 10:23PM]

@DoctarPeppar

Yeah....


So, either this is a farce. Or perhaps they are all about to go paid....you know, now that they've hook 5 or 6 people in the hold world into using their service ;)

[deliteguy Posted May 27th 2010 9:48PM]

what else do you want me to pay for sprint? breathing too?

[dgtlber Posted May 27th 2010 10:12PM]

@deliteguy

lol

[akarol Posted May 27th 2010 10:14PM]

@deliteguy Don't even go there. Sprint is still the cheapest option for price. People with their Droids and iPhones start off paying almost 40% more than Sprint customers. Shush!

[deliteguy Posted May 27th 2010 10:47PM]

@akarol
So you like this?!?! wierd....

[osterzone Posted May 27th 2010 9:49PM]

I like how some of the people on this site accept the fact that companies commonly assjack you on pricing.

When the Evo 4G pricing was announced, so many people reconciled with Sprint by saying "well since it's next-gen, it's ok for them to charge".

Do you clowns not see what's going on? They are nickel and diming you for every single feature. There is NO FUCKING WAY that Wi-Fi tethering should be close to $30 a month. Now $5 for this video chat.

Oh wait- did I mention that you also have to pay an additional $10 for 4G coverage? What the fuck is 4G anyway?

[osterzone Posted May 27th 2010 9:50PM]

@osterzone

Forgot to add to my comment...4G is some bogus network made up by Sprint...they literally pulled it out of their ass and it's going to be surpassed by LTE in less than a year.

[everyone does Posted May 27th 2010 9:55PM]

@osterzone

Yawn. In 6 days I will be using a 4G phone while you are waiting for 18 months. I will be paying 80 (actually less since I have EPRP, but we'll go with the going rate) bucks a month for a plan that used to cost me 110 on At&t

You are whining and complaining, but sprint is charging what they are because they can. Why? Because they are still cheaper and offering a better data service. You can sit and bitch about 10 bucks extra when its STILL CHEAPER than the competition

[(Unverified) Posted May 27th 2010 10:03PM]

@osterzone
The market will sort it out. If enough people decide to pay $5/month then the service is obviously worth it. If enough people decide $5/month is too much they won't pay and they'll have to either reduce the cost or make it free. Either way people whining about needing to pay for stuff is kind of pathetic. Yes, *I* think everything should be free but I'm not morally hurt and shocked when it's not. That's real life.

[Axertion Posted May 27th 2010 9:49PM]

wow, $5 for something you'll hardly use. I only have one other friend getting an EVO....and I'm certainly not paying that premium just to talk to him.