Boost and Virgin Mobile will launch 4G WiMAX handsets May 31 for $299
Few weeks ago, Sprint has confirmed its plan to bring 4G WiMAX network to its prepaid brands. There was a rumor as well that certain WiMAX-enabled handsets might become part of their lineups and that’s exactly what’s been announced today. Boost and Virgin Mobile will launch 4G WiMAX handsets on May 31st, HTC EVO Design 4G and HTC EVO V 4G, each for $299. In addition, Virgin Mobile has announced couple of WiMAX mobile broadband devices Overdrive Pro 3G/4G mobile hotspot and U600 3G/4G USB Stick.
Boost Mobile’s HTC EVO Design 4G (left) will operate on Sprint’s 3G and 4G WiMAX networks. In addition to being powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense UI, the phone features a 4-inch 960×540 display, 1.2GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera with HD video recording, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 2GB microSD card included and room for another 32GB of memory.
Boost Mobile’s HTC EVO Design 4G is also Wi-Fi hotspot capable, which is first handset with this ability on Boost. To be able to connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices, users will have to pay additional $10 fee per month. The phone is compatible with $55 Android Monthly Unlimited plan that can be shrank $5 every six months with total of 18 months or $15 off the original price. So, after year and a half, users might have unlimited nationwide talks, text messaging, Web, email and calls to 411 with HTC EVO Design 4G on WiMAX network for just $40 per month. In fact, Boost Mobile announced as well that they are planning to reduce the 3G/4G data speeds to 256kbps after reaching 2.5GB of data usage in a month, later this year.
Boost Mobile’s HTC EVO Design 4G will be available as of May 31, 2012 for $299 at Boost Mobile’s website, its exclusive retail stores and select independent dealers nationwide while in June, the phone will be accessible at Best Buy, Radio Shack and Walmart.
Virgin Mobile’s HTC EVO V 4G (right) is, in fact, a version of Sprint’s EVO 3D and even though it’s been around for a year now, still has respectable features to offer. The phone comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in addition to HTC’s Sense 3.6 UI, a 4.3-inch qHD (960×540) touchscreen, a pair of 5-megapixel cameras with 3D capabilities, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, 8GB microSD card included and a 1,730mAh battery.
Besides being HDMI and Bluetooth-enabled, the EVO V 4G is also capable of connecting up to five WiFi-enabled devices through mobile hotspot feature. However, to be able to use it, users will have to pay additional $15 per month, which will raise the data allotment from 2.5GB of high-speed data to 3.5GB. Virgin Mobile’s HTC EVO V 4G is compatible with all Beyond Talk plans starting with the cheapest one, $35 plan.
A 4G WiMAX mobile broadband devices, the Sierra Wireless Overdrive 3G/4G mobile hotspot, available for $149.99 and U600 3G/4G USB Stick for $99.99 will work with two Broadband2Go plans. First plan is for $35 per month and comes with unlimited 4G data or 2GB of 3G data if not in 4G area. The other plan is for $55 per month and offers unlimited 4G data or 5GB of 3G data.
Virgin Mobile’s HTC EVO V 4G ($299) as well as 4G WiMAX mobile broadband devices will be available as of May 31, 2012 at Virgin Mobile’s website while at major retailers and select independent dealers, it will be available in June.
