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Sprint's $199 HTC EVO 4G Gets Release Date of June 4
Chameleon Man writes "The first 4G phone ever to be released, the HTC EVO 4G, announced back in March, has finally been given a release date of June 4. Along with the release date, Sprint has provided information on phone plans and pricing. From Engadget: 'Unfortunately, there's a downside to all this: customers will be paying a mandatory (as confirmed to us by Sprint reps) $10 per month "Premium Data add-on" on top of their plan — ostensibly for the privilege of enjoying WiMAX when they're in a Sprint 4G market — and the 8-device Wi-Fi hotspot feature runs an extra $29.99 a month, which Sprint is quick to point out is half what you'd pay for a dedicated mobile broadband account.' In 4G areas, it might be a formidable option for anyone who hates their ISP *ehem* Comcast *ehem.*"
In 4G areas, it might be a formidable option for anyone who hates their ISP *ehem* Comcast *ehem.*"
While paying for 4G might allow you to get rid of Comcast for "ordinary" browsing, mobile phone providers are going to be a lot more strict about caps and such than Comcast most likely because bandwidth is more limited.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
HTC has released the Max 4G more than a year ago.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
They only think they're charging for the wifi hotspot functionality. You can already do this with current Android phones with a little work, and someone will hack the Evo to do it natively for free within a reasonably short period.
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A Sprint "Everything" data plan, even with a $10 tariff for 4G, is still ridiculously cheaper than the crazy high prices that AT&T gouges from its Apple-dazed captive masses.
If you decide to swing an employee referral plan for the Evo then you are really coming out ahead.
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When will someone get the Evo rooted and able to have custom ROMs. This is my biggest decision maker on what phone I select. If the phone has hidden obstacles (partitions that can't be mounted rw even with root, fastboot issues, etc.), or have other gotchas (such as the radio ROM upgrade on the Cliq), then I'll pass, even if it has a fast Internet connection.
I can think of a lot of very useful things that could be useful with a device offering a fast connection and with a custom ROM. A quick and dirty failover connection on a LAN, to plugging into a server and running some firewall/VPN software on the Android level for a fast remote access ability, to load balancing (if someone has a slow, but low latency DSL connection, the packets for games go through that, while the video streaming and such will go through the high bandwidth, high latency 4g connection).
Of course, I wonder how well this will perform if not on a Clear/4G network. How well will it failover to 3G gracefully if I'm in the sticks and able to get a "generic" CDMA signal?
The summary states it's $199. Not really true.
Not just the $10/mo fee for data.. but..
A) $100 Mail-In Rebate (so $299). And remember how much fun trying to claim a Mail-In Rebate is (and the lengths that they'll go to deny such claims?)
B) You have to be able to switch phones.. for those of you who still have an agreement length date.. if you really want it.. throw in an early termination fee.. ($449)
C) Plus you're locked in for two years.
People Talking in Movie shows.. people smoking in bed.. people voting republican.. GIVE THEM A BOOT TO THE HEAD!
30 dollars just to turn on a feature of the mobile phone? Who are they kidding? Will anybody pay that price? And how long until somebody hacks the device to turn it on? Or maybe they are just relying on some businesses and rich people that don't care about 30 dollars a month?
Personally I think it's a ridiculous amount - and I do think they simply disable it because they are afraid of large downloads. Ultimately, I do think that is ungrounded, it will be some time before wireless beats wired internet for continuous downloads.
That said, at least there is the option. I am happily using my android phone as 3G modem while on the road. I've got only 128kbit, but for browsing while I'm in a train, it's just perfect. But there's no way I'm going to pay 30 dollars for that kind of infrequent use.
(in June there will be Android 2.1 for the Hero, I'm looking forward to using bluetooth instead of the USB cable, although that will drain the phones battery instead of charging it)
SERO usually doesn't get any of the good phones.
The new UK government doesnt screw over the mobile companies like they did for 3G, mabye we can finally get a decent deal.
SERO is old employee referral plan which is no longer available for new sign ups and restricted from using any Android or WebOS phones. The new employee referral plan called EPRP which is about 2x the cost of SERO (still cheaper than any other plan out there) has no phone restrictions.
What high prices? It's $10 more for AT&T service that is at least top two in the country. SERO "used to be" good when it was $30, now it's no better than anywhere else.
Sprint on the other hand has tons of trouble and I can't find anyone happy with it where I am.
Let me fix this for you...
"Why is it every time I'm really excited about a telecom device, companies IN THE UNITED STATES find a way to make me completely lose interest? Why is it that telecom companies IN THE UNITED STATES in particular try so hard to make sure you can't get excited about anything they do HERE?"
My friends in the UK and other countries have told me they don't pull any of this shit over there. Buying the handset and the service are completely separate, and once you have them you can use any feature you wish on the handset. The only restriction is staying under a monthly data limit (which tends to be higher than what they offer here).
We here in the US get a raw deal when it comes to communications. Regional monopolies and poor choice in providers make that a fact.
That link isn't for SERO, it is Everything Plus. SERO has been closed down for new signups and is only for those who had it while it was around and have been grandfathered in.
SERO users are stuck with WinMo phones, but for $30 a month ($34.14 after taxes for me) it is hard to think any phone is worth the nearly $400 additional annual cost of service.
This may seem obvious to some, but I spent an hour or so looking into this phone as my next upgrade last week. It uses CDMA, which is new to me (as a UK consumer), which means that it has no sim card, and instead the phone itself logs onto your network provider - as such, you have no way of importing and using it. There are no stated plans to bring it across the pond :O(
Which is a shame, as it blows the current android crop available in the UK out of the water.
Apple charges $30 for data ... since when did sprint start charging $20 for unlimited data?
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
ClearWire is $40 per month here, with a USB stick for your laptop... Or $30 per month with a netbook-sized modem and a lantern battery in a fanny pack.
Your friends would be liars, as we've noticed with all the iPhone buzz more of the time it turns out that you get the same contract style offers there OR the option to buy the phone outright for a lot more money.
Ok, so they aren't really lying, but you certainly aren't presenting the full story.
Go ask them how many buy $600 smart phones without a contract rather than $100 phones with a contract.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Hardly. I just just checked prices (because I'm out of contract with AT&T and thinking of upgrading to a smart phone), and AT&T will charge me $130/mo for two iPhones while Sprint will charge me $128/mo for two Droid phones - and that's without the 4G tariff.
While it's a fact that nothing exists until Google invents it, Palm has the Wi-Fi hotspot feature integrated into their Pre and Pixi handsets today. Not only that, Verizon is offering that feature at no additional cost for as long as you have the phone activated on your plan. I have one. It works great.
$29.99 per month to flip a bit? I'm in the wrong business.
No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
"In 4G areas, it might be a formidable option for anyone who hates their ISP *ehem* Comcast *ehem.*"
Not really... I tried a 4G service out last week and the latency was so horrible that it wouldn't matter if it had a 100Mbit transport, it'd still be slow as all hell and basically useless.
Latency to the gateway was between 75 and 125ms. That's horrible every day of the week.
I'm afraid you're comparing apples and oranges here. Educate yourself on hard facts such as specs on these phones and you will come away little more enlightened than you already are using Jobs' money machine.
I tried the HTC desire a few hours ago running android 2.1. BTH its is no where near as polished and intutitive as the iPhone. I've never tried the Palm Pre. Palm has no traction in England. But I think that Windows Phone 7 will be the true challenger to iPhone. And I can't wait for it to be paired with the craftmanship of Toshiba, Sony or Panasonic.
So where the fuck does it say that Google invented this? Palm wasn't the first to do this either, but they did a great job, and a very useful function it is.
Maybe you should stop being so sensitive, and stop applying that red lipstick, it is making you angry.
I'm waiting for the actual cost data. I really want this phone, but I saw the "fine print" in the e-mail announcement, and now I'm not so sure.
$199 - after rebate, Ok. It's tolerable. ... and whatever else they want to throw in.
$69 for "Anything" basic service - which does or does not include SMS? I tend to text more than call, lately.
$30 for "wireless hub" service - ouch.
$? for a data plan -- ?
Truth, Justice. Or the American Way.
Go ask them how many buy $600 smart phones without a contract rather than $100 phones with a contract.
At least in Finland, most of the people. Why would you want to buy a more expensive (in the end) locked down phone than cheaper phone and freedom to go with any operator? (or change operator after 6 months or change phone whenever you want). I've seen a few friends buy a phone with contract but that's usually a combination of poorness and lower education.
should be investigated by Congress -- just my opinion, but to force customers to pay an extra surcharge per month to buy the product should be illegal but only if it can be proved that all of the wireless providers colluded to force the customer into this racket. I think the odds of this being the case are high since every provider is perpetuating this scam.
Case in point: I already have a work provided wireless device that provides a data plan, I don't need to pay an extra monthly fee on my personal mobile phone for another data plan.
All of the wireless providers are requiring compulsary data plans in order to activate a smartphone or PDA now. It's my opinion that this should be illegal, but then I guess if it was a real lawyer would've started a class action lawsuit by now. I definately believe it enriches a small few and is not in the interest of consumers.
It's true no man is an island, but if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie 'em together, they make a good raft.
I did HTC Hero, 650USD ( when it was brand new), and most of my friends do.
Norway.
The consumer agencies has let us know how buttfucked we get by the telcos who offer such contracts.
Holy wow relax. I was alluding to how it's suddenly big news that ANDROID IS GOING TO HAVE A WI-FI HOTSPOT FEATURE SOON when others already have it on the market, and also pointing out that it's available for free today while this next-generation product listed here will offer it for $30 bucks a month.
The consumer agencies has let us know how **** we get by the telcos who offer such contracts.
You needed "consumer agencies" to do simple math for you? I can't wait for this logic to be imported to the US at educated persons' expense.
Yeap, with then new regulations in place, like they have to type out how much the total cost is ( in at letters no smaller then 1/3rd of the largest letter in ad etc), you can buyout at any time, minus the money you've payed so far ( if you are 1/3rd into your contract, you subtract 1/3 of your original price ). Consumer agencies let us know about the possibilites and educate the dumb.
We all know that most slashdotters can do simple math, but not everyone cares about technology or contracts. Or the fact that 2+2=5.
(inb4, you must be new here)
Well, I've bought the HTC HD2 this week, for EUR 450. Even after the current Euro crash that is still $565.
Wouldn't pay the same for an iPhone, though, so you are partially right.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
ok, but that's apples and oranges
that price with AT&T is for 550 minutes of talk, sprint gives 1500
sprint also gives all mobile class (to any carrier) free and nights/weekend from 7pm
you'd also need to add $30 to AT&T for unlimited texting and $10 a month per phone
for navigation. Then if you have more than 2 lines AT&T charges $10
for the extra line but then would still need the $30 data and $10 nav fees
where Sprint just charges $20 with all data/text/nav/any other feature included
Actually it's more like:
- £450 SIM Free
- £243 with the £25/month, 100 minutes a month, 2 years contract (i.e. £843 total)
That said, depending on the contract you take you can even get the phone "free" (with the £45/month 2 years contract, so it really costs you £1080).
That is not really exceptional. You will have the same issue in a 3G network, owing to how the internal network is structured.
Radio Access Networks (RANs) are by and large still constructed with voice in mind, so you get low latency in voice communication, where you set up a permanent circut throughout the RAN and Core Network, whereas data packets need to be routed individually.
Newer technologies are focusing on lowering latency on data, LTE for instance is designed for data rather than voice, and the goal is to lower latency to the 5 - 10 ms range. It is possible that the WiMax standard is old enough that it was optimized for voice as well, which would explain some of the latency problems.
mov ax, 4c00h
int 21h
because except for a business need which is paid for by work, I do not waste money on plans like these.
In a day and age when people are complaining about not having enough money for this and that or worse, demanding government take money from others to relieve themselves of expenses they could help pay for in total or part, we have people who throw over a thousand at a cell phone. I know a few myself who spend a fortune and the phone does what most of the day, sit dormant, but they are so cool, I guess
My personal cell phone is paid by the minute, I don't care what work pays for the other one.
I guess I have not arrived at the point of cannot live without texting or e-mail while I am away from home or work.
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
He wasn't comparing it to 3G. He was comparing it to a cable modem. What he's saying is that anybody who does gaming had better not switch from cable or DSL to Sprint's 4G just yet.
I have a five year old Sprint plan that they are surely trying to kill off. Instead of paying $55 like I currently do for talk + unlimited text and data, they want me to pay $80 / mo to own the first decent phone Sprint has released since the Pre. For the same exact plan.
No wonder they nixed the Nexus One - if I could buy the phone to own it outright, then how else could they force an additional $25 / month into my plan?
TMobile, please bring 3G to my area!
I went to eat some animal crackers and the box said, "Do not eat if seal is broken." I opened the box and sure enough..
True - although we are (mostly) at liberty to buy the phone and contract separately. That makes ebay a viable phone shop, although in truth, it's probably still cheaper to get the subsidised phone+contract, if you take an 18 or 24 month contract and want to keep the phone that long. YMMV - every time I look at this sort of thing, it gets more complicated, and significantly different from the time before
Separate phone/contract makes sense for people that just phone/text - those sorts of phones are ten-a-penny, and the contracts are getting really cheap, and then of course, there's PAYG or the one month contracts, which a lot of people opt for if they have simple requirements.
Back to all things 4G... My Nokia N900 is 3G. The first time I consciously saw it actually say it was in 3G mode was in Canada. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything other than 2 or 2.5 here in the UK (where I have unlimited data). I'd argue that the data speeds I get are really pretty bad (ie. select web page bookmark, put phone in pocket, walk to the shops, have web page loaded, select next one, go into shops, etc). I have no idea if real 3G would be better (presumably it would), but 4G seems like an impossibility (at least for 02 here in London).
Still, that's not to say I'm not looking forward to some un-crippled 4G phones in the UK sometime soon ;-)
The Evo is not the first 4G phone to be ever released. HTC released a WiMAX phone for Russian market back in 2008. http://www.htc.com/www/product/max4g/specification.html
Hardly. I just just checked prices (because I'm out of contract with AT&T and thinking of upgrading to a smart phone), and AT&T will charge me $130/mo for two iPhones while Sprint will charge me $128/mo for two Droid phones - and that's without the 4G tariff.
I don't see how you can price a comparable plan on AT&T for $130.
I have 4 phones on my family plan and everyone in my family would sure like an iPhone, but the value is just not there when you compare AT&T prices to Sprint.
You would have to find an AT&T plan that charges $40 for 2 lines since you need to add at least $90 in add-ons ($60 (2x$30) for iPhone data plan + $30 for family messaging) to match the Sprint plan.
The "Sprint Everything Data Family - with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM" get you, for $129/month:
1500 anytime minutes
free nights and weekends (7PM-7AM)
'unlimited' pda internet
Free anytime Mobile to ANY Mobile (this is huge!)
The closest similar AT&T plan would be the "Nation 1400 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes" plan, for a total $179/month and:
nights and weekends are 9PM to 6AM
free mobile to mobile only to other AT&T phones "from within your calling area".
I've had Sprint for almost 10 years with no problems. Customer service is decent, and reception is better than AT&T (I have a company phone with AT&T service and I use them side-by side).
Sprint's rate plans are much cheaper than the competition, at least when you have more than one phone. I have two phones, one for me and one for my wife. I pay $129 a month for two phones to share 1500 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text, no restrictions on GPS (google maps or Sprint's navigation SW which I think is crap), unlimited calling to any mobile phone, and unlimited nights and weekends (beginning at 7PM). With taxes it comes out to be around $145. Comparable plans on Verizon and AT&T are $179-$189, before tax.
I've thought of getting an iPhone, and i've considered switching carriers, but I see no point when my current service works well and is $50 less per month.
I like the idea of 4G phones and banishing Comcast & Verizon to the netherworld... (actually I'd probably be happy with just the 4G service to a USB/Ethernet port -- forget the pricey "phone") Points 1 to Sprint for promoting competition and offering alternatives.
However, to view the sprint.com evo announcement requires that ones browser have Javascript enabled and Flash 9 installed. And yet the web page is lots of "text" which requires only simple HTML to display [1]. A lot of people don't want to browse the web that way because because it isn't Green (requires more user CPU power, router overhead betwixt server and user, generates more CO2 emissions, is more likely to crash ones browser [like Javascript | Flash would *never* do that], etc.). So the marketing people at Sprint get -5 for not selling their product on the merits rather than how it looks.
1. The Javascript/Flash requirement is so they can display a fancy Sprint Logo and allow one to rotate the phone on the screen (both things that are for people who love to be marketed to and are incapable of judging technology on the merits of the pricing or its actual capabilities).
Ive never had any isssues with them and had them for four years. As far as pricing sprint is by far cheaper than att. I know just comparing my current plan with the one my SO was on before she switched to a sprint data plan. Just for 450min+texting att was already 30$ more expensive, then tag on the extra 15$ or so in fees that att pulls out of its ass while sprint only pulls out 5. It starts to add up pretty quick in a comparison.
Not everyone spends hours and hours a day on their mobile while sending hundreds of texts, every situations is different.
So... you do know how Sprint has this 4G network, right? They haven't built it, this little company Sprint invested in called "Clearwire" actually built and maintains the 4G network Sprint handsets use.
Guess who else is a minority owner of Clearwire? Comcast.
Do you really believe that Sprint and Comcast view each other as competitors?
4G from sprint would be great in the area were I live at home I can only get 56Kbps dial-up because i am in a area that is rural, and the only landline provider in my area is Verizon and it is still all copper lines. Verizon has basicly the monopoly of my whole town and they don't want to update my area to add more DSL slots. basicly any one just moving to the area can only get Dial-up no matter were they are in the city even if they move 300 feet from the switching station they can only get dial-up.
keep in mind 4G would be great in areas that can ONLY get Dial-up because broadband is not available at all. Also 4G is cheaper then satellite internet to were for Satellite is about 1.5Mbps download 17GB cap and near $80 for wildblue and you can't do Video Game at all because it does not do realtime transfers at all.
What high prices? It's $10 more for AT&T service that is at least top two in the country.
Actually, AT&T is the bottom 1 service in the country.
They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you fucked up. --Chris Rock
I just got off the phone with sprint. They flat out said "The premium data plan is optional." 5GB limit without it. Unlimited with it.
I find being offended by me offensive.
Same here =) Still using my Mogul after 2.5 years.
Unless you want to lose all of the Apple phone's pretensions towards being a data-centric "smart" phone, you're going to have to add a $30 Apple Tax onto each of those lines. Also, does that plan include 1500 minutes, unlimited texts and t-b-t navigation? Also, you have to deal with AT&T's provably sub-par connection and data rates. Finally, you are really not following the employee referral link in my original post. Who pays retail?
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