HTC EVO 4G WiMAX phone from Sprint

Sprint brings in WiMAX  with launch of HTC EVO 4G that runs Android 2.1; price not announced yet

HTC EVO 4G photo

The first ever WiMAX phone has been unveiled at the CTIA. The HTC EVO 4G will ride the Sprint network and comes powered by a 1GHz processor. We had earlier talked about a rumoured HTC Supersonic – well, the Supersonic IS the EVO 4G.

Take a look at the photos of the HTC EVO 4G we have here for you. More than a passing resemblance to the HTC HD2 Windows Mobile phone? You are right – a lot of the underlying hardware are the same, but there are significant improvements added on.

Photo: The HTC EVO 4G has a kickstand

Going by the specs, the new HTC EVO 4G comes across as an innovation that would spur many a player to toe its line. A 4.3-inch screen, Snapdragon processor, 1GB built-in memory, 512MB RAM, Wi-Fi – up to here, it sounds like the HTC HD2. But you also get Google’s latest Android 2.1 flavor with HTC’s Sense UI on top, 720p video recording and playback, HDMI out to play content on your TV, 8-megapixel camera (compared to the 5 megapixel one on the HTC HD2) with flash and a lower resolution front-facing camera for videoconferencing – all these make the HTC EVO 4G a device that is a first. The 8 MP camera is in fact awesomely huge for a phone, and that in itself would bring in the best of image and video recording.

Physically the main difference from the HD2 is that this has four buttons in front as you can see in the HTC EVO 4G photos here. That is the first thing you notice – the HD2 has five. The rest of the changes are noticeable only when you handle the phone for a while.

The EVO 4G phone will run Google Android 2.1 open-source OS and is the first ever smartphone to support the next-generation 4G WiMAX network. This could mean that you will have access to fast paced data. It is true that WiMAX is not available everywhere, but Sprint has made major investments and plans to expand it in the future. Where WiMAX is not available, the EVO 4G works like a 3G phone.

Once you get your hands on the HTC EVO 4G phone, you will know you will be able to connect to other devices to broadband Internet speeds using the EVO 4G as a Wi-Fi hotspot. The specifications reveal that it would have something like a MiFi capability that has been built in.

Apart from the WiMax radio, the HTC EVO 4G will also have the CDMA EVDO Rev. A for 3G fallback. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a mini HDMI port for plugging into a TV complete the remaining requirements. The phone will be able to offer Wi-Fi wireless functionalities for up to five other devices. The device is all set to hit retailers’ racks this summer. An exact date has not been let out as yet. But we guess we will wait till summer to know more. And, yes we will come back to you with more on what is on the pricing front.

So where does the Sprint HTC EVO 4G leave AT&T and Verizon? The carriers are exploring 3G space and are looking at the LTE or Long Term Evolution space too. LTE promises similar speed and throughput gains. However, the technology might take a while before it arrives on the telecommunications scene for real.

Sprint, by any count, has now taken the leap. The HTC EVO 4G is a charmer and it is quite appealing to be the first one on the WiMAX. ship, if you are the early adopter type. If you like to have Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G in a nutshell, here goes:

Sprint EVO 4G Specifications

3G/4G capability

Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8650 (1GHz) processor

4.3” capacitive display with pinch-to-zoom and tactile feedback

Android 2.1

Access to more than 30,000 apps on Android Market

Google mobile services

Sprint Navigation

Updated HTC Sense

Friend Stream that brings in social networking sites

Visual Voicemail Messaging

Capability to connect up to 8 Wi-Fi-enabled devices

4G data speeds (WiMAX)

Download speeds of more than 10 Mbps

Upload speeds of 1 Mbps

8MP autofocus camera

Camera comes with dual LED flash and 1.3MP front-facing camera

High-quality video streaming

Video downloads at 3G and 4G data speeds

HD-quality video (720p)

Live video sharing with Quick

Built-in kickstand for hands-free viewing

Media player with 3.5mm stereo headset jack

FM radio and Amazon MP3 store

Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP Stereo and EDR

Built-in WiFi 802.11 b/g

Digital compass

G-Sensor

Proximity sensor

Light sensor

GPS

Expandable memory: 8GB microSD card

Dimensions: 4.8″ x 2.6″ x .5″

Weight: 6 ounces

Standard removable 1500mAh Li-on battery