Sprint Debuts HTC EVO 4G Smartphone

(click image for larger view)
Sprint HTC EVO 4G Smartphone

The first 3G/4G wireless phone, HTC EVO 4G, made its debut Friday at Sprint's Web site and retail stores, as well as at RadioShack, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart stores. The device costs $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

For the first time, smartphone users will have 4G capabilities that include a free video-chat service with two-way voice and video capability with the preloaded Qik app. Users can have interactive, real-time sharing with almost anyone through the Qik video chat app, regardless of whether the other person has Qik installed.

HTC EVO 4G runs on the Android 2.1 platform and has a custom Web browser designed for the 4.3-inch touchscreen. Other features include simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G or Wi-Fi coverage areas for Web surfing; Google Goggles, which provides the ability to search anything from books and DVDs to barcodes and logos using pictures instead of words; a 1-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor; and two cameras -- an 8.0-megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel camera.

The device also has built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices (such as laptops, cameras, music players, game units, or video players) to share the 3G or 4G speeds, and integrated HD video capture so users can share live video via the Qik Web site and social media sites.

The EVO 4G also comes with the ability to watch video with the device on an HDTV via a separate HDMI cable, a built-in rear kickstand to watch videos, Adobe Flash technology, and pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing for Web page views. The device comes in packaging that is 100% recyclable and made partially from sugar cane, according to the announcement.

Early impressions were generally favorable.

"It is very fast, HTC's Sense software is refined and the hardware is exceptional,'' said Avi Greengart, research director of consumer devices at Current Analysis, who said he has used the EVO 4G for a while. He said he especially likes the kickstand feature.

In terms of negatives, Greengart noted that the device's large size "may be too much phone for people with smaller hands." The battery life on 3G is unexceptional, he said, "and battery life on 4G is reportedly terrible. I was not able to test 4G battery life myself because I'm not in a 4G market, and when I traveled to a 4G market recently with the EVO 4G, I found 4G coverage spotty-to-nonexistent."

Overall, as a 3G phone it is terrific, Greengart said, but if consumers are looking at the EVO 4G primarily for access to the faster WiMax network, "I would caution them to check their coverage maps beforehand."

Customers will pay $69.99 for Sprint's Everything Data 450 plan along with a $10 per month premium data add-on required for the 4G usage.