Qik two-way video calling on the Sprint EVO 4G is free, premium service is not

Qik has lived up to its name in clarifying some leaks indicating that future EVO 4G owners on Sprint will be charged $5 a month to make use of its video chat services. As it turns out, that subscription fee will be for a new range of "advanced premium features," which will be elucidated on June 4 alongside the EVO's retail launch. The core two-way video calling will come absolutely free, we're promised, and only those yearning for extra features will have to pay up. It seems clear from the wording of that statement that multi-party conversations will figure prominently in the premium set, though we're left guessing at what other ways Qik has for seducing us to part with our cash. Either way, good news if you wanted to keep things simple... and cheap.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Scape3d Posted May 29th 2010 11:56AM]

You guys think there will be lines at Sprint stores on June 4th for this bad ass phone?

[coolkams03 Posted May 29th 2010 12:00PM]

@Scape3d
may be. may be not.
coz this phone can be bought from best buy, radio shack etc. too, unlike some phones.

[gabato Posted May 29th 2010 12:00PM]

@Scape3d yes... I plan to be at my favorite Sprint store at 6:30 am for the 8:00 am opening. I may stupid for doing this but I can't miss it. Last year, I did same thing for the Sprint Palm Pre (which I still love and plan on keeping as my work & back up phone).

[clay113 Posted May 29th 2010 12:19PM]

@coolkams03 Agreed I'm due to pick up my Evo at Best Buy at 11:30 next friday.

[HipHopIsLyfe37 Posted May 29th 2010 3:17PM]

@Scape3d Yeah...a line for people who didn't pre-order lol. I pre ordered last night from my local Sprint store. Didn't have to pay anything upfront for pre ordering. He also said that I was one of the first to pre order so I'll be in there bright and early on Friday and I also get a free accessory of my choice =O

[neonext Posted May 29th 2010 11:59AM]

less than one week to go...... MUST .... HAVE.... EVO....!

[Btbessey Posted May 29th 2010 9:53PM]

@neonext
http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/29/htc-evo-4g/

[mrcodyd Posted May 29th 2010 12:01PM]

I still will use fring until skype officially comes to the Evo.

[rhomaion Posted May 29th 2010 9:17PM]

@mrcodyd Skype is on Android and the EVO 4G runs Android. What the hell are you talking about?

[shuref00t Posted May 29th 2010 12:09PM]

Yes! Free!

Okay, now lets back-track on the $10 4G premium and the $30 hotspot functionality, and make them free as well.

Too much wishful thinking, I know!

[stegdagne Posted May 29th 2010 12:57PM]

Premium service is for 3D video conference

[Maroonfree Posted May 29th 2010 1:27PM]

Free? $90 a month is not free. This device costs as much as an Apple Laptop by the time your contract is up. If I can't utilize every feature for that premium, there is no way in the kindled world I am going to put up an arm and a leg for this thing. Heck, I'll carry around a Dell Streak that covers up half my face.

[IAMKITTY Posted May 29th 2010 1:45PM]

@Maroonfree

have you seen other carriers rates? You're getting a bargain, an iPhone with At&t coverage costs about two apple laptops when its complete.

p.s. a laptop cant get internet access without a 3rd party accessory if you're out of wifi range

[JW Posted May 29th 2010 1:46PM]

@Maroonfree
And an iPhone or any other smartphone for that matter? How much do those cost after your contract is up?
Get with the times.

[MarqBland Posted May 29th 2010 1:28PM]

@hated one

What are you talking about? I know you're an annoying troll, but at least have your random, useless rants make a little bit of sense.

[bwl Posted May 29th 2010 1:31PM]

@hated one You might be the biggest idiot on the interweb. Every single Evo post you say it is 75 for data only and every post 10 people tell you that you are mistaken. The evo plan is 80 for UNLIMITED EVERYTHING not just data. To tether it is 30 more, so 110 for everthing. Now which phone/plan even comes close to that?

[bolezhinkov Posted May 29th 2010 1:40PM]

premium features . . . video calls above 96x96 resolution?

[lyrik08 Posted May 29th 2010 1:46PM]

Hey guys I got my Evo lastweek in san fran anyways I have been doing video calls just fine over 3g with fring so you don't need 4g makes me wonder why the us is just now getting front cameras so late.....???

[Syon Posted May 29th 2010 1:55PM]

I want this phone so bad, I will get on my knees for it and give happy endings.

[SYGIGH Posted May 29th 2010 2:09PM]

niiiiiiiiiiccccceeeeeeeeee.
and my guess is the $5 fee is for hd stream like everyone is saying.

[slipdisc Posted May 29th 2010 2:10PM]

@hated one I think most Engadget readers feel you are a troll and a dumbass. Agree?

[jcontursi Posted May 29th 2010 2:45PM]

Ok here's my current set up. I have a broadband card/ router. $60.00 / mo. Unlimited (I was an early adoptee) I'm replacing that w/ the evo. ($10.00 + $30.00 + $10.00 [ shared plan fee]= $50.00. I'm saving $10.00 and get to carry my hot spot in my pocket! I just hope the 3g speeds are good as we don't have 4g 'till late this year?;-/$)

[scorpeo Posted May 29th 2010 2:55PM]

@jcontursi, I'd say you're all set, a lot of folks who have the EVO are saying the 3G experience on the EVO is much-much better than that of any other Sprint device.

[Jack Posted May 29th 2010 3:14PM]

Extra money for features that should be free = fail.

[THJ Posted May 29th 2010 7:25PM]

Awesome. Behold my nose hairs and glorious double chin.

[Toshiba Posted May 29th 2010 7:35PM]

AT LEAST HTC ISN'T UP ON STAGE TELLING US THAT WE DO NOT NEED MULTITASKING OR FLASH.

[Broncsx3 Posted May 29th 2010 11:26PM]

I have preordered four (four!!!) Evos for Friday. We are signing up for a family plan. $120 for first line, 2nd line is free, 3rd anf 4th are $20 each. Add in $10 a phone and you get $50 a line for unlimited everything except anytime minutes (only 1500).

but... Since nights, weekends and mobile to mobile calls are free it's basically unlimited minutes too. I use 2300 minutes a month with my Pre plan and only 150 or so each month are anytime.

beat that with your overpriced, $hitty network AT&T!

note: we actually get 20% off because gf is a HP employee but not including that in rates above. Probably add Mobile Hotspots to 2 of the lines for our Wifi iPads.

[TexasTrout Posted May 30th 2010 1:12AM]

I overheard some of the Sprint workers saying in Houston that they would probably open at 7:30 a.m. on June 4th

[xeren Posted May 30th 2010 1:20PM]

@ddddd Please, don't give that idiot more page hits- I already did by accident, but, to offset that, I've decided that I just won't read techcrunch anymore.

The Apple fanboyism is sickening- the review runs counter to the other 20 reviews out there for the Evo- not just subjective stuff, but facts about the phone are twisted into outright lies, and the when people pointed them out, he wrote another article about android fanboys.