Sprint To Launch First 4G Smartphone HTC EVO in June

Sprint's 4G network, built by Clearwire, up to now has been a data communications play for mobile computing. The company has sold PC cards that let laptops tap into the high-speed network rather than needing a Wi-Fi hotspot.

But now Sprint is about to release its first WiMAX smartphone, the HTC EVO 4G, on June 4. HTC introduced the phone at CES this past January. The full price is $450 but a $200 mail-in discount is available. Retail giant Best Buy will apply the rebate immediately if you purchase the phone at one of its stores.

Powerful Mobile Computing Feature Set

The Android-powered WiMAX phone runs a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, an ARM derivative made by Qualcomm. It has a front-facing, 1.3 megapixel camera for video conferencing and an 8 megapixel camera for regular use. It sports a sizable screen for a smartphone, 4.3 inches in length (vs.3.5 inches for the iPhone). There's even a stand on the back of the phone, so it can be set up for viewing video hands-free.

The data plan is $10 more than the 3G plan but it's also unlimited. Sprint's 3G data plan limits the user to 5GB of data per month.

Sprint promises a 10-fold increase in performance over 3G networks, with 3G averaging 600 kilobits per second on average of through-put compared to Clearwire's six megabits per second on average. The EVO can also act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, feeding Internet connectivity to up to eight other devices. This ability will cost an extra $30 per month.

Along with the smartphone, Sprint announced 4G Mobile Broadband Connection plans for small businesses with one through five or six or more employees, starting at $44.99 per month, excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges.

"Sprint 4G is about offering high speed and high capacity at a low cost--especially to small businesses on a budget," Tom Shaughnessy,director of the small business unit at Sprint said in a statement. "Sprint's 3G and 3G/4G data plans are priced with value in mind so 4G customers get the data capacity they need at a price that works."

Sprint's 4G network now covers 32 markets, and is scheduled to expand to cover 120 million Americans by year-end. This year, Clearwire expects to roll out 4G coverage in Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

Clearwire had been building a WiMAX-only network, but recently renegotiated its deal with Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), a major investor in the company, which allows it to add other protocols. The most obvious protocol for Clearwire to embrace is LTE, the same one being adopted by Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

Andy Patrizio is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.