Sprint HTC EVO 4G Announced... <sadtrombone>

AlexDeGruvenAlexDeGruven Wut?Meechigan Icrontian
edited May 2010 in Science & Tech
Yesterday was the big announcement of the EVO 4G, arguably the most advanced smartphone on the planet (yep, even including some of those crazy devices running around in the wild out there in Japan and Korea).

The big marketing point with the EVO is the fact that it contains 4G WiMax radios, capable of ridicufast data and incredible range when compared with existing 3G technologies.

A fantastic device, data rates that nobody else offers (in select areas, of course), it seemed like a home run for Sprint, until they announced it. Amid all the fanfare and oohs and ahhs of the device, there was a little statement that made many of us groan: To get the device, you need to have a $10/month add-on for your account for 4G service. Even if you don't have 4G available in your area (even if it's not available within your 2-year contract window).

So, for the privilege of owning the top-end device, even if you can't use the highest-tier features, you get to pay an additional $120/year, bringing the effective 2-year price on the $199 (after rebates, etc) device to $539.

I'm hoping that the next few weeks will see enough PR backlash from the nerd crowd that they'll rescind the extra charge. Or maybe it's an entirely marketing-driven statement that they plan to retract immediately after the iPhone announcement in June.

Here's hoping.

Comments

  • lmorchardlmorchard {web,mad,computer} scientist Portland, OR Icrontian
    edited May 2010
    Really? The sad trombone comes out for an extra $10/mo? :) It looks like a really awesome phone, especially for Sprint.

    If you're going to bust out the calculator, I'd rather see the full total for device, 4G charge, and unlimited data plan over 2 years. Then, compare that to other devices / carriers. I think my bill ends up being around $1820 over 2 years including a new $200 phone. So, that goes up to $2060 with with 4G charge.

    I've heard of iPhone TCO running up to $2500-3500 over 2 years, but feel free to correct that guess

    As for the WiMax coverage... well, since I spend at least 1/3 of the year in the SF / bay area, I'm not all that sad about the fee personally
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited May 2010
    Hopefully the screen doesn't suck like every other HTC AMOLED phone.
  • lmorchardlmorchard {web,mad,computer} scientist Portland, OR Icrontian
    edited May 2010
    Thrax wrote:
    Hopefully the screen doesn't suck like every other HTC AMOLED phone.

    Yeah... :/ Now, that's the kind of thing I'm worried about. Hoping to replace my beat-up Pre with an EVO, hoping it won't be angry-making
  • AlexDeGruvenAlexDeGruven Wut? Meechigan Icrontian
    edited May 2010
    The sad trombone comes out because, over the last few years, Sprint has been touting itself as the carrier of value. Bringing out the Simply Everything plans at prices that blow all the other carriers out of the water for equivalent services. But adding $10/month for a service that 99% of its consumers are not yet able to use is bad.

    I would have no problem with paying an additional $10/month for 4G if it was going to be available in either of the two areas I spend most of my days within the next 2 years, but it's very unlikely. That makes the $10/month simply a surcharge for having the device, which I don't like.

    I'm still holding out hopes that the charge announcement is actually a marketing ploy, and that they will announce that they have changed their minds the day before they launch (2 days before WWDC).
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