The kickstand is back.

Many of our customers have enjoyed their HTC EVO smartphones. It’s almost time to welcome HTC EVO™ 4G LTE, the next generation in the EVO family.

“Sprint has a long history of leading the wireless industry in innovation, and the debut of HTC EVO 4G LTE marks another chapter in that innovation story,” Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said today during an event in New York City. “Once again, we are partnering with HTC to deliver the benchmark Android device for the year with the next generation of our award-winning EVO brand. We know our customers will appreciate the focus on audio and voice quality with EVO 4G LTE, including the addition of Beats Audio and HD Voice capability.”

We know that you will want to learn more about the phone, but it’s also important to remember that HTC EVO 4G LTE customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans.

HTC EVO 4G LTE is a multimedia powerhouse with a long list of stand-out features, including Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, a vibrant 4.7-inch HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor and an advanced 8-megapixel camera.

It also offers crystal clear mobile voice quality as the first HD voice-capable phone announced by any U.S. wireless carrier.

And not to be overlooked, it also brings back the fan-favorite kickstand. The multi-position kickstand built into the smartphone’s refined, slim design makes it easy to watch videos hands-free.

HTC EVO 4G LTE is Sprint’s first device with HTC’s Authentic Sound experience integrating Beats Audio™.  The smartphone has other advanced features that make mobile photography and video easy and intuitive.

We are excited about adding this phone to our lineup and expect that many customers will want to check it out.

“The partnership between HTC and Sprint has resulted in one of the most popular and successful smartphone brands of all time with 7 million EVO devices sold to date,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Corporation. “With HTC EVO 4G LTE, we've created a desirable successor that is sure to excite the millions of current EVO customers and beyond with HTC’s distinct design, amazing camera and authentic sound.”

We’ll share more soon about the audio, photography and video features. Let us know which ones intrigue you the most. What questions do you have about this smartphone?

When can I get HTC EVO™ 4G LTE?

HTC EVO 4G LTE will be available in the second quarter for $199.99 (excludes taxes and surcharges). The availability date will be announced later.

Sign up for updates

Customers can sign-up for updates today at www.sprint.com/evo4glte and pre-order will begin Monday, May 7, at www.sprint.com.

More information:

Sprint News Release: HTC EVO 4G LTE, Exclusively from Sprint, First HD Voice-capable Smartphone available in the U.S.; Offers Best-in-Class Features, including Beats Audio,  Amazing Camera and HD Display

Sprint will begin to rollout Google's latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, to our customers in early 2012. Ice Cream Sandwich will be available via an over-the-air update to a variety of devices including HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and other key products in our line-up. Stay tuned for more details and exact timing.

Who says white is out after Labor Day? Beginning September 9 Sprint customers can add one more item to the list of things they love about HTC EVO™ 3D, when the award-winning device becomes available in white. The white color version will be available at participating RadioShack stores nationwide.

HTC EVO 3D is available for $199.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade or two-year service agreement, (taxes excluded).

Experience ‘Glasses-free’ 3D

HTC EVO 3D follows in the footsteps of the award-winning HTC EVO™ 4G bringing customers America’s first glasses-free 3D device with a QHD 3D 4.3-inch display and powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5 megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.

With integrated 3D HD video capture, 4G speeds, and the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience, HTC EVO 3D makes it possible to become part of the action and then easily and seamlessly post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik.

[Note: If you have questions about the update, please head over to the discussion thread, where we can provide answers.]

HTC EVO Shift 4G from Sprint will receive the Android 2.3, Gingerbread, update through an over-the-air maintenance release beginning on Monday, June 20.

Sprint will send update notifications to users in waves. The notification will let users know the update is available and provide the simple two-step, over-the-air download instructions.

1. Users will receive a notification that Android 2.3 is available for download.
2. Once the user has downloaded the update, they will be prompted to install the update. The user will be notified that their device will be disabled during the installation process. The phone will be ready to use once the process completes.

For those who just can’t wait to get Android 2.3, there will be an easy user initiated option to download the upgrade starting today. To access the update – from the home screen/Menu/Settings/System updates/HTC software Update. This will initiate the upgrade process.

The software release upgrades HTC EVO Shift 4G to Android 2.3, Gingerbread. This version of Android improves download management through the Downloads application, offering the user easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email or another application. It also fixes the devices ability to stream media through certain applications for the device.

It also adds SWYPE text entry capabilities for HTC EVO Shift 4G.

If you have questions about the update, please head over to the discussion thread, where we can provide answers.

Related Links:

Community discussion thread

News Release: Sprint’s 4G Leadership Extends into 2011 with Introduction of Second Generation of Industry-Leading 4G-Capable Devices

HTC EVO Shift 4G fact sheet

News Release: Sprint Introduces HTC EVO Shift(tm) 4G in New Advertising Campaign

New Windows Phone 7 phone brings the Start screen to life with
Live Tiles for a glance-and-go experience; offers Xbox LIVE and Zune integration with Microsoft Office Mobile

Starting today, customers can pre-order HTC Arrive at any Sprint Store;

For more information, visit www.sprint.com/arrive

Available from Sprint on March 20, the HTC Arrive™ smartphone (announced by HTC globally as HTC 7 Pro) offers the Windows Phone 7, glance-and-go experience combined with an innovative design that features a sliding full QWERTY keyboard and tilt-up display. Its unique Start screen with Hubs gives easy access to the user’s most valuable content and customizable Live Tiles come to life with real-time updates from the Web. Depending on the app, the Live Tiles might show pending messages and appointments, news and weather, or game notifications and friend status – all continuously refreshed. It also lets the user customize people, apps, playlists, pictures, and other favorites to the Start screen, so they’re available at a single touch.

Windows Phone 7 Hubs

Bring together related content from the Web, applications and services into a single view and offers quick and easy access to the users’ most valuable content. The six Hubs are built on specific themes, including:

• People Hub brings together relevant content based on the person, including photos and live feeds from social networks. People Hub provides a central place from which to update status or change profile pictures across multiple social networking sites. Skim Facebook^®, Windows^® Live feeds & photos, then call, text or post to friends and get directions to their place.





• Games Hub is an on-the-go arcade and the first and only official Xbox LIVE experience on a phone.  Play solo, or use the free Xbox LIVE service to match wits with friends wherever they are and view player avatars, profiles and achievements.



• Pictures Hub houses your entire collection and makes it easy to share pictures to a social network in one step. It can also bring together a user’s photos by integrating with the Web and PC, making the phone the ideal place to view an entire picture and video collection, including photos saved to the phone and pictures friends posted on Facebook or Windows Live. You can even send favorites to friends, or post them to Facebook or Windows Live, all from one place.



• Music + Videos Hub is an anytime entertainment center. Play a music collection – synced wirelessly from a PC – or stream or download new tunes. There’s even a built-in FM radio and high-resolution screen that’s perfect for watching TV shows, movies or your own video clips. Add an optional Zune Pass subscription to get millions of songs for one low monthly fee. Users can turn their media experience into a social one with Zune Social on a PC and share their media recommendations with like-minded music lovers.



• Marketplace Hub allows the user to easily discover and load the phone with certified applications and games.



• Office Hub brings the familiar experience of the world’s leading productivity software to your phone.  With access to Microsoft Office, OneNote and SharePoint Workspace all in one place, users can easily read, edit and      share documents.

HTC Arrive key features include:

• Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon Processor
• 3.6-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch capability
• Full HTML Web browser with Bing Search and Maps for turn by turn directions, address mapping and even street level views via voice search or typing
• Windows Phone Marketplace offers a single view to showcase apps, games, music and premium Xbox LIVE games
• Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync^®), personal (POP & IMAP) email and text messaging
• 5MP camera with flash, autofocus and digital zoom and 720p HD camcorder. The camera button will snap photos fast, even if the phone is locked.
• 16GB internal memory for storing pictures, videos and large files
• Wi-Fi^® (802.11 b/g/n)

Availability

HTC Arrive will be available beginning March 20, for $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes not included) in all Sprint retail channels, including the Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).

Beginning today, customers can pre-order HTC Arrive at any participating Sprint Store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint gift card. Customers who pre-order HTC Arrive will have their name added to the Device Wait List and be contacted to set up an appointment to complete their purchase beginning on Sunday, March 20. Through the pre-order process, customers will have peace of mind knowing they are able to get the device they want and receive the full retail experience, including Sprint’s Ready Now customer service experience.

Sprint Data Plans

Sprint customers get more with unlimited data plans on the Sprint Network. Sprint offers real simplicity, value and savings versus competitors, making it easy for customers to get the most out of their phones without using a calculator to tally up costs or worrying about how much data they’ve used.

HTC Arrive requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans, plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month vs. Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and Web (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Sprint Everything Data plans qualify for automatic enrollment in the Sprint Premier^SM loyalty program¹. Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

¹To qualify for Sprint Premier Silver customers must have a three-month average monthly recurring charge (MRC) of individual plans of $69.99 - $89.98

Android 2.2 offers HTC EVO 4G feature enhancements including Bluetooth® voice dialing, built-in Flash, the ability to store apps to the memory card and much, much more

The award-winning HTC EVO 4G just got that much better. We are excited to announce that beginning the week of Aug. 1; Sprint will begin rolling out the Android 2.2 upgrade to its HTC EVO 4G customers.

Sprint will be the first wireless carrier to bring¹ the latest version of Android to its customers. The Android 2.2 software release provides a significant number of feature enhancements, including:

• Voice Dialing Over Bluetooth.
• Application Storage on External Memory, giving users more storage room for all their apps.
• Camera 4-way rotation allows the camera icons to rotate with the camera.
• Improved Browser Performance including a faster JavaScript engine and Flash 10x Support improving the user’s ability to view videos and available content associated with web pages.

"Sprint is thrilled with our customers' response to HTC EVO 4G and the innovative and exciting experience it offers,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development for Sprint. “It is exciting for us to lead the industry in bringing the Android 2.2 update to these customers and improve on the amazing experience they receive with America's first 4G capable phone.”

Easy Downloading

Sprint will begin sending update notifications to users in waves beginning Tuesday, Aug. 3 and the upgrade should be available for all HTC EVO 4G users by the middle of August.

The notification will let the users know that the update is available and it will provide the simple two-step over-the-air download process.

1. Users will receive a notification that Android 2.2 is available for download.
2. Once the user has downloaded the update, they will be prompted to install the update. The user will be notified that their device will be disabled during the installation process. The phone will be ready to use once the process completes.

For those who just can’t wait to get Android 2.2, there will be an easy user initiated option to download the upgrade. Customers can access the software update through their HTC EVO 4G under the Settings Menu > System Updates > HTC Software Update. This will initiate the three-step process also.

UPDATE - The Android 2.2 update will not wipe your personal data (contacts, apps, settings, photos, etc.).  That said, it is always prudent to back up your device before any major software update.  There are many backup utilities available in Android Market.

Rave Reviews and Accolades for EVO

Check out what the top tech reviewers are saying about the device.

Walt Mossberg with the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) says:
"The HTC EVO 4G, when used on Sprint's 4G network, offers the highest consistent downstream data speeds I have ever seen on a cellular network. It also has a number of other strong features: a front-facing camera for video chatting, and the ability to serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot (for an extra fee of $30 a month) that can simultaneously connect up to eight laptops or other devices to the Internet."

Chris Ziegler with Engadget says:

"Let us be crystal clear: we love this phone. Nay, we adore it. ...truly one of the best smartphones ever made..."

Sascha Segan with PC Magazine says:

"...if you live online, the EVO offers a big, beautiful, and powerful window to the world."

"The EVO starts with a world-class 3G smartphone and adds 4G as a "turbo boost" option. If you're an intensive Web user, you'll like it even without 4G."

Bonnie Cha with CNET says:

"Overall, the HTC Evo 4G is, hands-down, the best smartphone that Sprint has to offer and certainly ranks as one of the best Android phones on the market today."

Jessica Mintz with the Associated Press says:

"HTC's Evo 4G phone is fast, powerful and fun to use — as long as your heart isn't set on tapping into the speedier new network it was designed for."

Mark Spoonauer with Laptop Magazine says:

"Even if 4G hasn’t yet reached your neck of the woods, the Evo 4G is a killer device thanks to its zippy processor, huge display, and an interface that makes Android more intuitive and user-friendly. While the keyboard could be better and the battery life longer, the Evo 4G richly deserves our Editors’ Choice award. It’s a no-brainer for Sprint customers, and a tempting choice for those on other carriers."

Matt Buchanan with Gizmodo says:

"It's actually staggering how different the experience is of using a phone that has over 4 inches of display, diagonally, versus more conventional screens, which run closer to 3.5 inches. Even when you're using the same OS at the same resolution—in this case, Android 2.1 with HTC's Sense UI at 800x480, seen on their last few Android phones.

It's kind of like when the jeans you've been wearing forever start to fit a little too snugly because you've been eating a little too well, and you finally cave and buy a bigger pair of jeans, there's a mindblowing moment when you close the button for the first time of how much freedom you suddenly have to breathe. So you kind of hyperventilate."

CNET, LAPTOP Magazine and eWeek gave HTC EVO 4G awards for Best of Show when it was announced at CTIA this spring. It was also recently cited on MobileTechReview’s Best Smartphones and Best Touch Screen Phones lists.

Customer favorites on HTC EVO 4G’s long list of features include the 4.3-inch screen, dual 8MP video camera capable of capturing HD quality and front-facing 1.3MP camera. They also appreciate the HDMI output jack making it simple to start a movie for your children in the backseat of the car with the phone and then connect to an HDTV to finish it when you arrive at home.¹ Business customers highlight its super-fast 1GHz processor, simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G or Wi-Fi coverage areas enabling Web surfing and more during conversation, and built-in mobile hotspot for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices.²

For HTC EVO 4G images visit Sprint’s image gallery.

Amazing at 3G, Unbelievable at 4G

Sprint is the first national carrier offering the next generation of broadband technology today in 43 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G from any other wireless carrier³, giving HTC EVO 4G a faster data speeds than any U.S. wireless device available today. HTC EVO 4G’s exciting features and applications are compelling and powerful in a 3G world, but they become even more amazing when experienced with 4G speeds.

###

Visit www.sprint.com/newswroom or www.sprint.com/presskits for more information and images.

¹Users of Google’s Nexus One may currently use Android 2.2. Sprint is the first carrier to offer Android 2.2 to its customers.

² HDMI cable sold separately.

³ An optional charge of $29.99 per month required to access Wi-Fi mobile hotspot.

⁴ “Up to 10x faster” based on download speed comparison of 3G’s 600 kbps vs. 4G’s 6 Mbps. Industry published 3G avg. speeds (600 kbps-1.7 Mbps); 4G avg. speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary. Sprint 4G currently available in over 40 markets and counting, and on select devices. See www.sprint.com/4G for details. Not all services available on 4G and coverage may default to 3G/separate network where 4G unavailable.

Sprint leads the 4G revolution with the highly anticipated, 

award-winning HTC EVO 4G priced at just $199.99; add mobile hotspot capability for up to eight devices for just $29.99

Dreams Do Come True

If you were creating your dream wireless device what would it look like?

·       Two cameras and video chat so you can say goodnight to your children when you are away on a business trip?

·       Simultaneous voice and data, so you can call in your take-out order while you look at their menu on the Internet? The ability to plug your phone into your HDTV, so you can let your children finish the movie they started watching in the car’s backseat when you get home?

·       And a huge screen for watching the videos you download in seconds – not minutes – with the fastest wireless data speeds available in America today?

Stop daydreaming and get ready.  On Friday, June 4, Sprint will make your dreams come true with the debut of the highly anticipated HTC EVO 4G™.

Brand New Features

With the launch of HTC EVO 4G, Sprint customers will be able to enjoy capabilities they have never experienced before with a new video chat service from Qik. The two-way voice and video capability will be available as an upgrade to the preloaded Qik app on HTC EVO 4G to enable conversational, interactive, real-time sharing between mobile devices or from mobile-to-desktop. 

The Critics Have Spoken…And The Winner Is…

The critics agree HTC EVO 4G is this summer’s must-have wireless experience as it continues to win their accolades and endorsements.

• CNET, LAPTOP and eWeek gave HTC EVO 4G awards for Best      of Show when it was announced at CTIA this spring.
• Engadget said, “It's      easily the best specced phone we've ever witnessed.”

·       Financial Times cooed, “The first 4G phone in the U.S., the HTC EVO … ticks just about all the boxes for my ideal phone.” 

See how HTC EVO 4G compares to some of the industry’s most talked about devices including, iPhone, Droid, Incredible and iPad using HTC EVO 4G Mobile Hotspot capabilities –

to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3UD4M3aUlY .

Amazing Features, Beautiful Design

HTC EVO 4G features the latest version of the increasingly popular Android platform, Android 2.1, offering more than 35,000 apps, as well as a mind-blowing list of features, including:

·       Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while the conversation continues

·       Offering a new way to search with pictures instead of words, Google Goggles™ works with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and wine labels

·       Superfast 1GHz Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ processor, ensuring a smooth and quick movement within phone menus

·       Two cameras – an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera

·       Built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G or 4G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device

·       Integrated HD video capture with the ability to capture and share live video via the Qik Web site, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter™

·       Ability to easily watch video with the device on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately)

·       Custom Web browser optimized for the 4.3-inch display and Sprint 4G speeds to deliver a full, no-compromise Internet experience

·       A handy kickstand built into the back, making it easy to watch videos on-the-go

·       Adobe Flash technology ensures that rich Internet content, such as embedded video and animation, are displayed the way they are meant to be seen

·       Pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing provide easy Web page views

HTC EVO 4G boasts the newest version of the highly acclaimed HTC Sense user experience. With HTC Sense, HTC EVO 4G users can use Friend Stream to aggregate multiple social communication channels, including Facebook and Twitter into one organized flow of updates; a “Leap” thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen “panels;” the ability to download new, interactive widgets; and a “polite” ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.

Worry-Free Pricing

HTC EVO 4G will be available in all Sprint retail channels, including Sprint.com and national retail partners, RadioShack, Best Buy and Wal-Mart for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes excluded) with a new line activation or eligible upgrade. Pre-registration is available at www.sprint.com/evo.

In order to provide the best experience, HTC EVO 4G will use Sprint’s industry-leading Everything Data or Business Advantage Messaging and Data plans that include unlimited Web, texting and calling on the Sprint Network to every mobile in America with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM. Everything Data plans start at $69.99 per month. A $10 per month Premium Data add-on will apply allowing customers to take advantage of a richer data experience than ever before.

Additionally, an optional pricing add-on will turn HTC EVO 4G into a mobile hotspot connecting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, gaming devices and digital cameras, simultaneously at 4G speeds where available and at 3G speeds anywhere on the Sprint 3G network for just $29.99 per month – half the monthly cost of the current Mobile Broadband plan (pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Great Developer Tools

While the performance of currently available Android applications will be enhanced by access to 4G data speeds, a Sprint 4G developer guide is available today from the Sprint ADP Web site at http://developer.sprint.com. The Sprint 4G developer guide provides details on developing for an Android 2.1 handset and how to take advantage of HTC EVO 4G’s unique hardware and software capabilities and the Sprint 4G network. The Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can take advantage of HTC EVO 4G for 30 days and if not completely satisfied, may return the device within 30 days to get reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get both the early termination and restocking fees waived, and receive a full refund for the monthly service plan charges¹.

Blazing Trails with Sprint 4G  

Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 32 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G², giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Today, Sprint 4G covers 41 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010. 

Sprint currently offers 4G service in 32 markets: 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 – Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, York; Texas – Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington – Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch service in multiple markets, including but not limited to, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

What Sprint CEO Dan Hesse Has to Say about HTC EVO 4G

“HTC EVO 4G is a fantastic 3G device, but when you use it in our growing 4G coverage area, it becomes a multimedia powerhouse.”

“The EVO 4G experience is much like going from TV to HDTV.

HTC EVO 4G has more than just an impressive list of features – it is also fun to use with remarkable gaming, video and web-browsing capabilities.”

##¹ Refund excludes usage not included in plan, premium content, third-party billing, international charges and associated taxes and Sprint surcharges.

² “Up to 10x faster” based on download speed comparison of 3G’s 600 kbps vs. 4G’s 6 Mbps. Industry published 3G avg. speeds (600 kbps-1.7 Mbps); 4G avg. speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary. Sprint 4G currently available in over 30 markets and counting, and on select devices.  See www.sprint.com/4G for details. Not all services available on 4G and coverage may default to 3G/separate network where 4G unavailable.