HTC Shift EVO 4G: Android Smartphone for Sprint WiMAX

Its announcement was anticipated for the CES 2011 show, but the carrier Sprint has released the WiMAX compatible HTC Shift EVO 4G Smartphone with a slide out keyboard ahead of schedule.

HTC has already stood out by launching the first WiMAX compatible Smartphone in the United States for Sprint Nextel’s Clearwire network with the HTC EVO 4G. With the competing carrier Verizon having just launched their LTE mobile network (which should also have its own compatible HTC Smartphone released at the CES 2011 show), a response was anticipated from Sprint.

It comes in the form of the HTC Shift EVO 4G, an Android 2.2 Smartphone with 3.6" tactile display operating a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels – smaller than the HTC EVO 4G, although coming with a complete slide out keyboard. The handset is still heavily oriented towards multimedia entertainment and high speed mobile data consumption and is powered by an 800 MHz Qualcomm MSM7630 processor with 512 MB of RAM, 2 GB of ROM and a microSDHC card port.


Specifications
We find Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options along with GPS and FM Radio modules. The phone is compatible with both Sprints CDMA2000 and WiMAX networks. The HTC Shift EVO 4G Smartphone also benefits from the latest HTC Sense interface and onboard Google applications.

On the back you will find a 5 Mega pixel camera lens capable of recording 720p video. The carrier has also added their own mobile applications like Sprint TV and Nascar Sprint Cup Mobile, although users will also be able to customise their handsets with applications downloaded from the Android Market.

The HTC Shift EVO 4G provides 6 hours of battery life in communication thanks to its 1500 mAh battery and will retail for $149.99 with a subscription. The handset will be available from the 9th of January.