Sprint EVO 4G Hits Shelves

Sprint EVO 4G Hits Shelves

Sprint EVO 4G Hits Shelves

The prolonged wait for a 4G smartphone is officially over as the third-largest U.S. carrier Sprint Nextel (S) has made history by unveiling the nation's first 4G handset "EVO 4G" on Friday, June 4, 2010. The feature-rich, state-of-the-art device is now available across the carrier's nationwide retail locations as well as from its retail partners RadioShack (RSH), Best Buy (BBY) and Wal-Mart (WMT). Sprint also has launched the first TV commercial for EVO 4G.

Sprint unveiled the EVO 4G at the CTIA wireless conference in Las Vegas on March 23, 2010. Made by Taiwanese handset giant HTC, the world's first dual-mode (3G/4G capable) smartphone runs on Google's (GOOG) most recent version of the Android operating system.

EVO 4G features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, dual cameras (8 and 1.3 megapixel), HD video-streaming, HTC sense user interface, Wi-Fi (wireless broadband) connectivity as well as Qualcomm's (QCOM) 1 gigabertz (GHz) Snapdragon processor. Sprint plans to make video chat a unique selling point of EVO 4G leveraging the phone's dual cameras, large touch-sensitive screen and blazing-fast network speeds. However, the device's low battery life is a concern.

Sprint has set a price tag of $199.99 (after a $100 mail-in-rebate) for EVO 4G with a 2-year service contract. The device comes with the carrier's popular Simply Everything Plan that starts at $69.99 per month and offers unlimited voice, text and data.

However, subscribers have to shell out an extra $29.99 per month for using the phone's in-built Wi-Fi (wireless broadband) hotspot that allows them to connect up to 8 Wi-Fi capable devices. Moreover, there is a mandatory $10 monthly charge for premium data services like two-way video chat enabled by the "Qik" video-streaming service.

Sprint has been a trailblazer in 4G having leapfrogged over its larger peers Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) by becoming the first carrier to deploy 4G services in the U.S. Sprint offers its 4G service leveraging the WiMax (a wireless broadband technology) network operated by Clearwire (CLWR) in which it holds a 51% stake.

EVO 4G has given Sprint a headstart over Verizon and AT&T who are yet to launch their 4G networks 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 offers Sprint an edge over Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 4G which is expected to be introduced on June 7, 2010. The device boasts a screen which is 30% larger than the iPhone.

EVO 4G will enable Sprint to boost its 4G WiMax network as the device will foster the effective use of 4G bandwidth for data-rich applications. Leveraging Sprint's blazing-fast 4G network, the novel smartphone will offer the fastest data speeds among the devices presently available on the market.

Expansion of 4G network is crucial to Sprint's survival in the U.S. wireless market given its continued market share losses to larger rivals. The carrier's 4G services now cover 33 markets in the U.S. addressing 43 million people. Sprint promises that 2010 will be the year of WiMax and EVO 4G will help it draw in more users to its network.

POST COMMENT

Search Engine Optimization – What Does It Really Mean Chile Vacations: Arica and Lauca National Park Pc Audio Drivers - Secure Download ! 2010 Lincoln Navigator Engine Gets Flex Fuel Technology Watch Italy vs Paraguay Live Streaming FIFA World Cup 2010 Online Broadcast tv coverage, June 11,2010 Watch Serbia vs Ghana Live Streaming FIFA World Cup 2010 Online Broadcast tv coverage, June 11,2010 Watch South Korea vs Greece Live Streaming FIFA World Cup 2010 Online Broadcast tv coverage, June 11,2010 Watch Argentina vs Nigeria Live Streaming FIFA World Cup 2010 Online Broadcast tv coverage, June 12, 2010 Watch Uruguay vs France Live Streaming FIFA World Cup 2010 Online Broadcast tv coverage, June 11,2010 Watch South Africa vs Mexico Live Streaming FIFA World Cup 2010 Online Broadcast tv coverage, June 11,2010 Free Cars For Single Moms Off Road Techniques and Places to Go Feel Your Situation Is Hopeless and You Can Never Get Your Ex Back? - You Are Wrong And Here Is Why