To The WiMax: Sprint Launches HTC EVO 4G

Sprint and HTC became the first companies to unveil a 4G Android phone, the HTC EVO 4G, which should be available in June.

The phone uses Google's Android 2.1 platform and includes a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, HTC's Sense user experience, and an 8.0-megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel camera.

It features a 4.3-inch display, built-in kickstand, 3.5mm headset jack and HDMI output.

Then, of course, there's the 4G network, which Sprint claims allows for download speeds 10 times faster than 3G. It also has built-in hotspot functionality that lets up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to tap into the 4G network. In addition, Sprint promises HD video upload capability to sites such as YouTube and Facebook.

The 4G network is now available in the following markets, according to Sprint: Georgia: Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii: Honolulu, Maui; Idaho: Boise; Illinois: Chicago; Maryland: Baltimore; Nevada: Las Vegas; North Carolina: Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon: Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania: Philadelphia; Texas: Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington: Bellingham, Seattle.

The 4G network was launched in September 2008 and covers more than 30 million people. Sprint expects to increase that number to 120 million by the end of 2010, according to the company, by adding coverage in markets including Boston, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

"Sprint continues to lead the 4G revolution as we introduce HTC EVO 4G to give our customers an experience that is unlike anything available in wireless to date," said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO, in a statement. "Not only is this device incredible on our Sprint 3G network, but Sprint 4G speeds will take mobile multimedia, including live video streaming, gaming and picture downloads, to a whole new level."

Customers can preregister for the EVO 46 today, but pricing will be announced at a later date, according to Sprint.