Sprint has officially announced the HTC EVO 4G for June 4th for $199.99 after new 2 year agreement and rebate. The device will also support live two way video chat, simultaneous 3G voice and 4G/Wi-Fi data access.
Pricing for plans has been confirmed to consist of the current slate of Everything Data and Business Advantage Messaging and Data plans with an additional $10 premium for WiMax access on device per month, with the 4G mobile hotspot service set at an additional $29.99 per month on top of the monthly rate plan.
In order to ensure availability, the device will also be launched simultaneously across Sprint.com, RadioShack, Best Buy and Wal-Mart with pre-registration available now.
Update: Sprint has confirmed during its New York press event for the device that the additional $10 fee for data includes unlimited data access over EVDO and WiMax with no monthly caps, while the WiMax speeds are intentionally capped on the device to 4Mbps down/1Mbps up to ensure quality of service in 4G areas. The $10 premium access fee also applies to this and future dual-mode devices whether WiMax services are available or not in a particular market due to the lack of a monthly data cap for EVDO access on the device, though other data services will still fall under the 5GB cap. Â Sprint representatives have declined to specify which services are still subject to the 5GB cap at this time.
Its not crystal clear from the press release, but does the 10 dollar extra charge apply if you DO NOT live in a wimax area? What happens when wimax eventually comes to your area, do they start the 10 dollar charge automatically? How about if you life in a Wimax area and do not want Wimax?
Thats my question. I got an email from sprint and it says that it is a required $10 charge for premium data. I understand the charge if you live in a wimax area but what if you don’t? I guess we will see. Its actually not bad of a deal. It is just like vision going to power vision. Although the $30 charge for hotspot is kind of high when verizon offers it for free. Oh well Im sure there will be programs like pdanet and usbmodem that will make the $30 obsolete.
Yeah, well, VZW probably won’t offer the Palm Hotspot service for free indefinitely, it will be back to $40/mo before too long i imagine. And their tethering via usb/bt is $30 on consumer plans. But I think the whole tethering thing in the US is a travesty, as other countries in Europe amd Asia don’t charge for tethering or wifi hotspot apps.
#1: On a family plan with 4 Evo phones, would it cost $40 extra per month that I am paying right now or only $10 extra? Is the $10 per plan or per phone?
#2: Same as #1 except the hotspot fee. Is it per plan, or per Evo? Would a family plan with 4 Evo phnes cost $120 per month to use hotspot?
#3: If I am not even in a 4G area, do I still have to pay that ridiculous extra fee?
#4: How does this affect the EPRP plans? What do those plans have to pay to get 4 Evo phones on a family plan?
Just read that the evo will do voice and data simultaneously and will come with a video chat program and High Quality Youtube video. I also heard a rumor that the wimax capability is optional at $10 which I doubt. I think the 4g is what will allow the simultaneous use of voice and data. I guess we will see as more news breaks out.
Verizon doesn’t offer a hotspot for 4G so they should give their 3G hotspot away free.$10 is worth every dollar when you consider its like going from DSL to Cable
I find it absolutley helarious that people are already calling this plan too expensive haha. Keep in mind the hotspot (30) is optional. So 80 for the unlimited calling texting to any cell + 500 min for landline and unlimited 4g. How is that a bad deal. BTW the pre plus hotspot may be free but it is at a cost of around 160 for everything you are getting with sprint oh and it is not 4g. HAHA I have never laughed so hard in my entire life. People are saying these are too high and are going to verizon and att. Wait till yall see those prices. HAHAHA. Oh and I will make a friendly bet. I bet yall when verizon and ATT introduce the 4g along with the 4g phone, it will be way more expensive than what sprint is charging. Don’t expect the prices to go down. Im just warning ya’ll. GO SPRINT these are great deals. its funny people want a faster and bigger network, yet they dont want to pay for it. HAHAHA This is funny
T-Mobile’s HSPA+ data is faster than Sprint’s Wimax, has a bigger coverage area, and doesn’t cost any extra on T-Mobile’s plan (which are already as cheap or even cheaper than Sprint’s pre Wimax plans) plus they don’t even require a contract.
I think I’ll hold out and wait for T-Mobile to get a phone I want. They have already said they’ll have smartphones made for their HSPA+ network releasing this year. It sure beats the heck out of paying an extra $40 per month to Sprint (4 lines on my family plan).
SaltyDawg, T-Mobile HSPA+ has a theoretical maximum of 21 mbps. Just like 56k modems never really reached 56k, and most didn’t ever see half that speed for a decade. I remember investing $300+ for a 56k modem, only to still be stuck at 28k.
Actually, I had to pay that $300 tax twice, first for a modem that promised to be K56flex upgradable, and then for a second modem that actually did get 56k upgraded after the first one never did.
My point being, T-Mobile can’t assure you’ll get 4 mbps, or anything close to it on their network. QoS controls ensure that only broadband cards will ever have a chance of surpassing 4 mbps in most areas.
By the time T-Mobile speeds reach 4 mbps or faster in most areas, Sprint will have raised their WiMAX speeds far past that.
I am not happy about the extra fees. Yes, we all know Dan Hesse said 4G was so much cheaper to provide than 3G, and we know he said Sprint wouldn’t charge us extra for it on the Evo. We also know Sprint currently doesn’t charge extra for it on the mobile broadband plans. There is more to it than that though…
I keep seeing Sprint fanboys say ridiculous things like “It’s still the cheapest plan out there” and “It’s still the best deal…”
Lets put some facts to that bull. I have done the legwork for everyone. Here is the truth.
Sprint:
450 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited web: $70 right now + $10 for Evo so $80
1500 minutes 2 line family plan: $130 right now + $20 for Evo so $150
1500 minutes 4 line family plan: $170 right now + $40 for Evo so $210
T-Mobile:
Even More + (no contract, pay full price for device)
500 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited web: $70
1500 minutes 2 line family plan: $120
1500 minutes 4 line family plan: $180
Even More (2 year contract, subsidized device)
500 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited web: $80
1500 minute 2 line family plan: $160
1500 minutes 4 line family plan : $230
I know, I know, the fanboys will say, “But T-Mobile coverage sucks…”
Here is a fact:
“By the end of 2010, T-Mobile expects to have HSPA+ deployed across the breadth of its 3G footprint, covering more than 100 metropolitan areas and 185 million people.”
Source:
[url]http://www.t-mobile.com/company/PressReleases_Article.aspx?assetName=Prs_Prs_20100324&title=%20T-Mobile%20to%20Rollout%20the%20Nation’s%20Fastest%203G%20Wireless%20Network%20with%20HSPA+%20to%20More%20than%20100%20Metropolitan%20Areas%20in%202010[/url]
So how does T-Mobile’s HSPA+ compare to Sprint’s Wimax? Here are a couple of quotes from a test PC Mag did (both in Philly):
Wimax: “average of 2.25 megabits down and 628 kilobits up, with peaks of 5.13 down and 1.17 up.”
HSPA+: “average download speeds of 3.12 megabits/sec, with peaks of 7.65, and upload speeds of 1.26 megabits/sec with a peak of 2.02.”
Source:
[url]http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2359139,00.asp[/url]
And here is a video of the folks at Pocket Now doing a speed test on their T-Mobile HD2 and pulling almost 9 megs:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRlx3bsp0ho[/url]
Keep in mind, that HD2 isn’t even made for HSPA+. It just so happens that HSPA+ is backwards compatible with HSPA, so the HD2 benefits from it. However, T-Mobile will be launching at least one device to compete with the Evo this year, made specifically for their HSPA+ network. And T-Mobile is claiming it will be 3 times faster than Sprint’s 4G, as well as cover more people this year.
Source:
[url]http://androidandme.com/2010/03/news/t-mobile-will-launch-hspa-smartphone-in-h2-2010-3x-faster-than-sprint-htc-evo-4g/[/url]
I don’t have Wimax in my area right now anyway. But even if I did, assuming I could get T-Mobile coverage here, why the heck would I pay Sprint even more money? The CEO tells you one thing and then does another, so we can’t be surprised when their reps don’t know what the heck is going on.
As I stated the other day…do you recall “Powervision”?
“The $10 premium access fee also applies to this and future dual-mode devices whether WiMax services are available or not!”!
I find that fairly reasonable, however like SaltyDawg, I will await the T-mobile Android 4G phone line up as a potential secondary device….regardless, SPRINT 4G will not hit L.A. before the 4th quarter.
Thank You
If tmobile’s hspa data was really faster than wimax then why weren’t they included in that speed test that they ran on all the major cell phone companies? Its because its not that fast or reliable. You really can’t compare hspa with wimax. If HSPA was better then why isn’t everyone switching over to tmobile?
All I know is that sprint is the first company to introduce 4g and they have a great price setup for those who want it.
Like Christopher said, by the time tmobile starts speeding up their network, sprint will have surpassed them 10 times. I can’t believe people are comparing wimax to hspa. Unbelievable. Oh well. If you wan’t go ahead and stick with tmobile. As for me I will gladly pay sprint an extra $10/month and put my money on wimax.
Clearly Sprint is not aiming this phone for its current users. Look at the blog boards on other sites, there are a great deal of iPhone users who will ditch their iPhone for the EVO 4G. As for me, I think its stupid to charge for 4G when its not available in all areas. Here in NYC/NJ surrounding areas, 4G is not live yet. Once it is, you can make the argument, the $80 a month would be a good price compared the current competition. As for now, it should be optional, with a clause stating once 4G is up and running in your city, the $10 will automatically kick in. That would be fair to the user.
“…while the WiMax speeds are intentionally capped on the device to 4Mbps down/1Mbps up to ensure quality of service in 4G areas.”
The device is capped? I give it about a week after the Evo is released before there’s a workaround for that!
@F1 Have you gotten a confirmation from somewhere on the WiMAX launch date in L.A.?
Like its been mentioned before, the $10 mandatory charge is not only there for 4g. It is also there because 3g is not capped at 5gb on the evo like it is on all other phones. I know most people never get past 5gb and it might be a waste of money but its not that bad.
I’m sure that for some people if they complain enough sprint will do something to waive the fee or give a discount to those who don’t have wimax in their area. If sprint isn’t willing to do that then just stick with a hero or moment if you want android. Its as simple as that.
Just remember folks, with sprint you get unlimited calls to any mobile phone, unlmtd data and web,unlmtd text,unlmtd navigation and sprint tv for only 69.99. For only $80 you’ll get either wimax or uncapped data or both. Verizon will charge you $90 for just unlmtd text. So I don’t think sprint is going to change this pricing plan when they are already beating everyone else on the market.
How hard will it be getting Android 2.2 on this device? Has it been “hacked” yet? I’m sure Sprint will give it out eventually but I don’t feel like waiting till 2011 when the rest of the world will have 3.x by then. How has ROM development been on Android devices?
I wish everyone would stop saying the $10 fee is there because they removed the 5GB cap on data. Sprint never had a 5GB cap on data. Data plans on smartphones has ALWAYS been unlimited. The 5GB cap was only on data cards. And even then, 4G was always unlimited and the cap was only on 3G.
For some reason this didn’t post last night, so i’ll try to post it again:
I am not happy about the extra fees. Yes, we all know Dan Hesse said 4G was so much cheaper to provide than 3G, and we know he said Sprint wouldn’t charge us extra for it on the Evo. We also know Sprint currently doesn’t charge extra for it on the mobile broadband plans. There is more to it than that though…
I keep seeing Sprint fanboys say ridiculous things like “It’s still the cheapest plan out there” and “It’s still the best deal…”
Lets put some facts to that bull. I have done the legwork for everyone. Here is the truth.
Sprint:
450 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited web: $70 right now + $10 for Evo so $80
1500 minutes 2 line family plan: $130 right now + $20 for Evo so $150
1500 minutes 4 line family plan: $170 right now + $40 for Evo so $210
T-Mobile:
Even More + (no contract, pay full price for device)
500 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited web: $70
1500 minutes 2 line family plan: $120
1500 minutes 4 line family plan: $180
Even More (2 year contract, subsidized device)
500 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited web: $80
1500 minute 2 line family plan: $160
1500 minutes 4 line family plan : $230
I know, I know, the fanboys will say, “But T-Mobile coverage sucks…”
Here is a fact:
“By the end of 2010, T-Mobile expects to have HSPA+ deployed across the breadth of its 3G footprint, covering more than 100 metropolitan areas and 185 million people.”
Source:
http://www.t-mobile.com/company/PressReleases_Article.aspx?assetName=Prs_Prs_20100324&title=%20T-Mobile%20to%20Rollout%20the%20Nation's%20Fastest%203G%20Wireless%20Network%20with%20HSPA+%20to%20More%20than%20100%20Metropolitan%20Areas%20in%202010
So how does T-Mobile’s HSPA+ compare to Sprint’s Wimax? Here are a couple of quotes from a test PC Mag did (both in Philly):
Wimax: “average of 2.25 megabits down and 628 kilobits up, with peaks of 5.13 down and 1.17 up.”
HSPA+: “average download speeds of 3.12 megabits/sec, with peaks of 7.65, and upload speeds of 1.26 megabits/sec with a peak of 2.02.”
Source:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2359139,00.asp
And here is a video of the folks at Pocket Now doing a speed test on their T-Mobile HD2 and pulling almost 9 megs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRlx3bsp0ho
Keep in mind, that HD2 isn’t even made for HSPA+. It just so happens that HSPA+ is backwards compatible with HSPA, so the HD2 benefits from it. However, T-Mobile will be launching at least one device to compete with the Evo this year, made specifically for their HSPA+ network. And T-Mobile is claiming it will be 3 times faster than Sprint’s 4G, as well as cover more people this year.
Source:
http://androidandme.com/2010/03/news/t-mobile-will-launch-hspa-smartphone-in-h2-2010-3x-faster-than-sprint-htc-evo-4g/
I don’t have Wimax in my area right now anyway. But even if I did, assuming I could get T-Mobile coverage here, why the heck would I pay Sprint even more money? The CEO tells you one thing and then does another, so we can’t be surprised when their reps don’t know what the heck is going on.
A. the Tmo plans do not include unlimited calling to anymobile phone nor nights free after 7pm which theSprint plans do. Tmo’s coverage is the worst out of the big 4 carries in the U.S. (fact). And Hspa+ being a moblie technology will be capped at the same 5GB data restrictions as it is currently where as Sprint has stated that wimax data unlimited. So im still thinking Sprint would be the way to go.
I do like the any mobile anytime, but it is over rated. If you have a cell phone, chances are I’m going to text you rather than call you anyway. That is why I originally bought a smartphone back in the day- because it had a web browser and a keyboard so I could browse the web and send text messages.
All of my friends are the same way too- even the ones with dumb phones. We all text each other way more often than call each other. if I call someone, it is probably a business (which would count as my landline minutes).
And there is no point paying for Sprint TV and Sprint navigation on the Evo (or just about any other smartphone). There are way better free options out there. I’ll take my slingbox over Sprint tv any day of the week, and Google Navigation is as good or better than sprint navigation anyway.
Sprint includung all that stuff was a pretty cool thing a few years ago, before it was free on any smartphone anyway. But nowadays, I’d much prefer Sprint take all that stuff out and lower my bill, instead of raising my bill another $10 per phone.
They should just make the Evo plans cost the same amount as the current plans, but they don’t include Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, Nascar, and NFL Mobile.
I’ll stick with my sprint plan over tmobile anytime. I understand that tmobile is expanding and is making their network better but I live in the now and as of now sprint has better coverage and as for tmobile hspa+ being faster then wimax, when they get the amount of coverage sprint has then it will be worth it. Example: tests show that at&t has faster speeds than verizon and sprint but then the tests also show that sprint and verizon have a more reliable constant connection. Point being, what is the point of having a faster data speed when you can’t get coverage in a lot of areas?
Its like having the best car in the world and not being able to drive it.
Plus plenty of analysts have said that wimax is at its infancy and the speeds have just started to increase. Wimax has a long way to go. Just like the speds for evdo,evdo rev-0 and evdo rev-a. They all increased with time.
When they compare speeds, lots of times tmobile isn’t included. Reason for that is COVERAGE.
Don’t get me wrong I love the tmobile prices but when it comes to coverage tmobile just doesn’t have it yet. If I have a fast network I want to be able to take advantage of it as much as possible. That is just not possible with tmobile.
What tests show Verizon or Sprint having a more reliable or constant data connection than AT&T? I would love to see a current link for that. Let me help you out with that:
http://www.androidspin.com/2010/02/24/att-us-best-3g-network/
On another note, I see the fine print at the bottom of http://www.sprint.com/evo says, and I quote, “Sprint Mobile Hotspot add-on required to access Wi-Fi on device.”
Can anyone confirm that Wi-Fi is accessible without paying an extra $30 per month?
That appears to be a misprint, or, at least, not a long enough answer.
The EVO 4G will function as a Wi-Fi client for free. To act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, you’ll need the Mobile Hotspot add-on.
The test I was referring to is this one:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/167391/a_day_in_the_life_of_3g.html
The link you have is referring to a newer test done and the original article is here:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/189592/atandt_roars_back_in_pcworlds_second_3g_wireless_performance_test.html
I just noticed the article I was referring to is couple months old. Its good to see att improving their network. The good thing is att,sprint and tmobile all had around the same reliability now, don’t know what happened to Verizon. I guess their getting all high and mighty.
It brings me back to what I always say “use the network that works best where you use your phone the most”
In the end all this competition will be better for the consumer.
I see where it also mentions hspa+. They said it was the fastest but it is only in 1 or 2 cities and it is lacking in coverage. HSPA+ will be a good competitor in the near future. As of now wimax has a bigger footprint and is expanding rapidly.
So it will be very interesting to see what develops. The next 2 years will be interesting as more 4g networks are developed.
As for those who have access to hspa+ with tmobile and want fast speeds then go for it. But most people that I know of live in towns and cities where sprint has more footprint and that may be their best option. It all depends.
I called sprint this afternoon, because I have a family plan or share plan. The rep told me that the evo’s $10 charge and the $30 hotspot add-on are per phone. So, if my wife and I both get the evo and do the hotspot add-on it will cost a total of $80.
I was thinking about canceling my home internet, but if it is $30 per phone I will probably pass on the hotspot add-on and keep the dsl.
For those that want the hotspot… just remember that there are programs out there that will make your phone a hotspot without the extra $30. Unless sprint found a way to block any of these programs this is a better option. But again I doubt they will block due to the fcc net neutrality issue. Whoever gets an evo first try out these programs and let us know.
@ EP on May 13th, 2010, 8:35 am
No, I am afraid, I have no confirmation on the WiMAX launch date in L.A., just an “educated” guesstimate.
@ JJ
I am glad that SPRINT is working out for you, I wish I did not have half the issues I have with them, I was even looking forward to eliminate my cable bill, however I can not even send/receive an email/text without some kind of a problem, however I am not throwing in the towel on SPRINT yet, but I need a back up service and T-Mobile is the lesser evil of the remaining GSM choices, I can always force-roam on VZW, if need be.
@ SaltyDawg & JJ
Thank you both for all the legwork & up-to-date informative material, after all that is exactly what we need here.
I predict this is all going to clear up by mid next year, VZW & AT&T will have the same LTE system, SPRINT will see the light and change it”s 4G source from Wimax to LTE, hence reducing it’s operating and hardware expenses drastically, and once again there will be a merger, until that transpires we will have to make due with what is available now, no pun intended.
Thank You
I myself am looking for an alternative for my wife’s line. She’s on one of my 4 sero lines and even though the plan is supposedly outdated and “inocompatible” I still think it should be allowed to have android or webos. But since that is never going to happen I will probably get my wife that new plan with virgin mobile for only $25. So instead of Sprint getting around $35/month and have a signed contract now they will only get $25 and no contract. They are going to keep loosing postpaid customers left and right if they don’t make the right decisions. Verizon and ATT both manage to gain new postpaid customers all the time. Sprint is doing a whole lot better then they were year ago but they still have a long way to go. Who knows. The evo might be the start of a great thing for them…if they manage it correctly.
@ Christopher Price
I am seeing where some people emailed Sprint to get confirmation on the WiFi, and Sprint replied by saying yes, you do in fact have to add the hotspot feature in order to access WiFi on the device at all.
Perhaps Phonenews can get a definitive answer for us?
We’ll double check with Sprint on it, but it wouldn’t make much sense… Sprint wants users to offload data onto Wi-Fi so it keeps their 3G network in less demand. Charging to use the phone as a Wi-Fi client doesn’t add up.
We’re still waiting to hear back on WiMAX throughput caps, so I have no idea if we’ll actually get straight answers before launch.
I Called Sprint. Rep stated no Charge for the Wi-Fi. evo’s $10 per phone.