Sprint is set to release its first WiMAX/3G phone, the HTC Evo 4G, on June 4, 2010.It's got set of advanced capabilities but it also comes with a hefty price tag if you want to take advantage of all it has to offer.
The Evo has a 4.3-inch touch screen display, an 8-megapixel camera on the back, a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front, HD video capture, Android 2.1, HTC's Sense UI, and a hotspot capability whereby it can broadcast a WiFi signal for up to eight devices.
The problem is WiMAX still has a ways to go for a solid footprint and coverage to be seamlessly available.
One has to pay $200 with a two-year contract and the standard $100 rebate. Device will require an Everything Data Plan, which begins at $70 per month, along with a $10 "Premium Data Add-on" for WiMAX, regardless of whether you live in an area where WiMAX is available. The idea is for subscribers to take advantage of WiMAX if they happen to travel to a WiMAX market. In all, you would pay at a minimum of $110 per month if you also opt for the hotspot capability that costs another $30 per month.
Sprint believes that the Evo 4G can hold its own against the updated version of the iPhone, which is expected to be introduced in June.
Will subscribers balk at paying an extra $10 month if they aren't going to use WiMAX?
This should be an interesting test for other operators looking to roll out 3G/4G devices when 4G coverage isn't so optimal.
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