Stores open early June 4th for EVO 4G with mobile hotspot loophole

When you've got the world's most desired** handset, you don't keep people waiting. As such, Sprint is recommending that its "preferred retailers" open extra early on June 4th. That should give you a bit of time to grab the new EVO 4G on the way to the office for some good ol' fashioned bragging rights in the cubicle farm. At least until you remember that one-third of your life is spent working inside of a beige box. Oh and here's a pro tip: according to the official EVO 4G Launch Guide we're staring at, the mobile hotspot functionality that turns your EVO into a WiMax hotspot for up to 8 devices will initially work without paying the $29.99 monthly fee if you're happy with using it on 4G only (no 3G). Sprint expects to correct this sometime in July after which the Sprint Mobile Hotspot add-on will require activation. Read the details for yourself after the break.

** assuming you have WiMax coverage

[Leindurstit Posted May 28th 2010 8:10AM]

How cute, they actually think Android has enough of a rabid following as to warrant this. Not saying that it's a bad device or such, but Android's mind share is not what they think it is, and whatever mind share it has is thanks to Verizon.

[awesomerobot Posted May 28th 2010 8:15AM]

@Leindurstit They do. My local Best Buy and Radio Shack actually took more pre-ordered than they are getting units - and I'm not even in a huge city.

[prowler63 Posted May 28th 2010 8:28AM]

@Leindurstit I think you'll be surprised. I worked at bestbuy mobile and android handsets in total were definitely outselling the iphone in total. I think verizons droid campaign really boosted android's mind share.Just ask around. "Most" people have at least heard of a droid phone (in the US).

Also, the hero and moment managed to sell pretty well on sprint with almost no marketing. I'm sure EVO will do pretty well.

[sl86 Posted May 28th 2010 8:32AM]

@awesomerobot Thats probably coz they had about 20 units to sell. Seriously whonare you android fanboys trying to kid?

[BigJayDogg3 Posted May 28th 2010 8:43AM]

@sl86

I think the question is why are iPhone fanboys so ready to assume no other mobile operating system stands a snowball's chance in Hell of being moderately successful. Nobody's saying your beloved iPhone will cease to exist.

[drksilenc Posted May 28th 2010 9:11AM]

@sl86 u mean the 200,000k units that just radioshack pre ordered?

[thezero4 Posted May 28th 2010 10:03AM]

@Leindurstit other than the fact more Android phone shipped q4 than iPhones? I know people are waiting for the 4th iPhone and Verizon is offering buy one get one. But still more shipped out none the less. Android is taking off and the iPhone has competition finally, get used to it.

[EL MAESTRO Posted May 28th 2010 10:59AM]

@thezero4 Finally!!! I'm an iPhone user but I am really glad someone finally stepped up their game and now there's real competition. I like google software so it should be interesting to see what's gonna happen. Maybe wm7 will take the cake. Lol

[mellyahrobs Posted May 29th 2010 7:49AM]

@awesomerobot This will be the beast. June 4 will be like the D day of android's new super phone. http://j.mp/evo-4g-june-review

[dark star Posted May 28th 2010 8:12AM]

wooohooooo!!

[TomSawyer Posted May 28th 2010 9:01AM]

@dark star
hooray for zero battery life!

[rhomaion Posted May 28th 2010 9:49AM]

@TomSawyer Jack ass.

[SteveyAyo Posted May 28th 2010 10:06AM]

@TomSawyer didnt read the engadget review of this thing? just decided, oh steve jobs tells me if i have freedom to choose it will destroy my batteries, i better get on engadget and say that the EVO battery is crap with zero facts to support my claim so steve jobs will be my bff

[spookymonster Posted May 28th 2010 12:53PM]

@SteveyAyo He's too busy enjoying his Freedom from Porn.

[daas786saad Posted May 28th 2010 8:12AM]

Sweeeeeeet! :)

[PigeonAssassin Posted May 28th 2010 8:13AM]

I think I will be choosing the third party apps. Thanks but no thanks Sprint!

[sl86 Posted May 28th 2010 8:13AM]

LOL, world's most desired device?? A typo right...I think u mean the NERD world's most desired device.

[Starfleet Captain Posted May 28th 2010 9:04AM]

@sl86

at least I won't have to jail break my Evo like jealous iPhone users do just th get features that us Android guys enjoy natively.

[Bshaw1090 Posted May 28th 2010 10:03AM]

@sl86 Your point douche bag? I own an iPhone right now and I CANNOT wait to ditch this POS for the evo. Apparently a large sum of other people can't wait either, troll elsewhere.

[4u2nv Posted May 28th 2010 12:25PM]

@sl86 So u would rather desire the smart phone for dumb people?

[jedil1c1ous Posted May 28th 2010 1:50PM]

@Bshaw1090

Same here, bye bye 3GS - after finding out the next iPhone's screen size is the same or smaller, plus OS 4 is blah.

[sl86 Posted May 28th 2010 8:59PM]

@Bshaw1090 My point is that I find it funny how engadget are trying so hard to get into bed with android fanboys like yourself, in order to get away from this image of alleged apple bias, also cooked up by the engadget fandroids. Comments like the 'worlds most desired handset' only prove that.

Anyway back to your nerd world, yes I'm sure in that world of fantasy you live in everyone is going to give up their device for the EVO, because it's the greatest thing to ever be invented...right?!! I'm sure in your fantasy world it'll break all kinds of sales records.

It's funny all three of u who replied brought the iPhone into this conversation even though I didn't mention it once. Does it hurt u fandroids that much?

I find something else strange. I have been travelling in america for the past 4 weeks, the supposed land of the android (because lets face it the rest of the world are still wondering WTF android is). I have been going around the north east - MA, Philly, NYC, DC and NJ. Let me tell you I have noticed less than 10 android phones, most were Droids, a couple of G1s and 1 HTC phone, possibly the nexus one, not really sure. My question is where exactly are you android fanboys hiding?!?! Ooooooooo of course you're all in your basement, jerking off mercilessly to one monitor playing vic gunhotra at google I/o (he's hot right??) and a HUGE image of your beloved EVO on another. I suppose I answered my own question.

[njbianco96 Posted May 28th 2010 9:50PM]

@sl86 You obviously have a sad sad life im not a android fanboy or a iphone fanboy but you sir are just sad.

[Mcowan Posted May 28th 2010 8:17AM]

Why do you all put so much effort into bashing somthing,if you like it get it , if not then dont. But dont bash android or ssprint cause you dont like one or the other.

[Motlee Posted May 28th 2010 8:55AM]

@Mcowan You do know this is Engadget right? If you wanna see bashing head on over to any Apple post. The majority of the commenters would never own anything Apple yet still find time to wish Steve Jobs a slow painful death.

[zeroinfinity2 Posted May 28th 2010 9:41AM]

@Mcowan

I learned a long time ago that comments like yours containing logic will fall on deaf ears and will probably be downranked.. And in fact make you look less educated for even attempting to argue opinions.

To put it bluntly. :)

[ultraret Posted May 28th 2010 8:19AM]

There are plenty of tethering alternatives for those who do not want to pay 30 for the sprint hotspot. Sprint is bleeding customers and I dont know why they dont offer this for free and avoid that bullshyt 10 add on fee at least give people a break for the first few months. Sprint has a history for screwing things ups and the fact I haven't seen a single commercial on the EVO is scray, I mean the only way they will survive is by beating verizon on their own "DRIOD" hype because 4g lets all face it is non-existent and even those that have 4G always complain doesnt work that fast or indoors well. Anyways they have better value and good 3G coverage so im going EVO.

[TomSawyer Posted May 28th 2010 9:03AM]

@ultraret
i guess sprint should just give away the billions of dollars they spent upgrading their networks, right? They shouldn't charge for anything, even premium services like 4g speeds. Gotcha.

[Madcat Posted May 28th 2010 9:51AM]

@TomSawyer
If it means that you attract customers you would have otherwise missed, and lock even more back into a one or (ideally) two year agreement, then yes, it is worth it. Giving away free data will not hurt Sprint one bit - pushing away customers because of poor pricing/service options will..

[Ezye1313 Posted May 28th 2010 8:19AM]

Bulletproof hotspot functionality........

[whySoSerious Posted May 28th 2010 8:20AM]

Um, it's recommended or encouraged that they open early on launch day - it's not definitive like your title kind of implies. I can see a bunch of people walking up to a locked store door on Friday morning...

If you've got one on preorder, I would call your Best Buy or Radio Shack Thursday night to find out if they've decided to open early ONE WEEK FROM TODAY FOR YOUR FREAKIN EVO (sorry, I could only hold my excitement in for two paragraphs).

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

@whySoSerious I have one on pre-order from Best Buy and they called me over a week ago to give me an appointment time to come and pick mine up. I waltz in at the appointed time and I don't have to wait in line. That's the theory anyway...

I think I will be well pleased with the device. I just found out that I am eligible for a friends & family discount from my wife's company that will balance out the extra $10 bucks for the premium data surcharge. Even more win for me!

[cdf74dc9 Posted May 28th 2010 8:23AM]

Stupid Shadow, why does it have to come up when I'm thinking Evil?

[whySoSerious Posted May 28th 2010 8:40AM]

@cdf74dc9
?? Are you referring to your conscience? As in, you feel like something is lurking in the shadows ready to pounce you when you feel like doing evil?

[malexandria1 Posted May 28th 2010 8:24AM]

I wouldn't mind getting this, but I'm kind of stuck with AT&T, so I want to see if the iPhone 4.0 comes with Mobile Hotspot capability (I doubt AT&T would allow it even if it does - just like tethering).

[Scubasteve03 Posted May 28th 2010 8:33AM]

@malexandria1
You're not trapped with AT&T. I also have the iPhone, but I am only $175 away from saying goodbye to them. I am going to try the evo along with my iPhone, if the Evo is as good as I think it will be then goodbye iPhone!

[Hardworker14 Posted May 28th 2010 8:57AM]

@Scubasteve03

I am waiting for the iPhone 4.0... It's goin to be cool just like the beta 4.0 software. I'm like you tho if there is a better phone out there I want it! I don't care if it's an apple or not... It's gotta do everything my iPhone does tho ;)

[Scubasteve03 Posted May 28th 2010 9:18AM]

@Hardworker14 Oh yeah understand. If this phone does what the iPhone can and more I will definitely keep the evo. I really want that big sexy screen. I am so tired at looking at the same iPhone design/ screen everyday. It has just got old and stale, i am ready for change lol. Hope you enjoy it man, let me know what you think when you get it.

[NaeemTHM Posted May 28th 2010 9:21AM]

@malexandria1

I'm with you. I'm all for the Evo, in fact I will MOST likely pick one up on Friday, but I figure it doesn't hurt to see what Apple has to offer on Monday. I mean it's only a few more days, right?

[NaeemTHM Posted May 28th 2010 9:22AM]

@Scubasteve03

Same here! One of the biggest draws for me (besides Android) is the big beautiful screen.

Is it wrong that I'm more interested in that than 4G?

[zeroinfinity2 Posted May 28th 2010 9:45AM]

@Scubasteve03

I agree. The UI and phone just feels dated to me now. I'm ready for a change. Never owned an Android phone.

[JUSTQUAN2 Posted May 28th 2010 11:31AM]

@Scubasteve03

you are not stuck, you have like 4-6 months to totally close out your bill. so what you do is while starting your account with sprint, port your number but call at&t and tell then u dont want to cancel your account just yet. so have a number change with at&t, then suspend your at&t service. once suspended start a nice low cost payment plan to pay off a bill(if any), then eventually kill the service. easy as that. i done it twice last year with verizon and at&t.

[Simba501 Posted May 28th 2010 8:31AM]

I want one!

[Robhimself Posted May 28th 2010 8:38AM]

Im gonna go out on a limb here and say that even with the extra charges the built in hotspot feature in fryo should allow people to use it as a 3g hotspot. At least that is wishful thinking.

[genesis Posted May 28th 2010 8:59AM]

@Robhimself
Rooting the phone can give you access to the hotspot feature, it did with the hero

[Robhimself Posted May 28th 2010 9:08AM]

@genesis

True but I have a theory about google and android. It sees like googles OS updates are in response to people rooting, and they are trying to give users what they want without having to go beyond the devices abiliies. Jailbreaking seems to be a way to escape the clutches of the turtleneck.

[munir Posted May 28th 2010 8:42AM]

i already have one...got it from the google i/o conference. i can tell you guys it is absolutely beautiful. as much as i love the potential of webOS, the pre has just become too dated.

[sfox8 Posted May 28th 2010 8:56AM]

@munir does yours have that backlight leakage that engadget reported about in their review? I can't wait to get one but I've been curious about whether or not its an issue on all devices.

[munir Posted May 28th 2010 10:46PM]

@sfox8 nope, havent noticed any leaking whatsoever. maybe im not looking at it with the same magnifying glass as the engadget folks, but im pretty happy with the phone from top to bottom :)

[feardunn Posted May 29th 2010 2:22PM]

@munir I feel the same way about WebOs. I'll be lining up early, just as I did 1 year earlier.