14 DAY TRIAL // HTC EVO 4G, the first 3G/4G phone on the United States market, was put on sale on Friday, June 4, via wireless carrier Sprint, and it already managed to break the sales records for the operator. According to the company, thousands of consumers lined up to purchase the new device, and the sales figures were highest in most Sprint stores around the country.
“HTC EVO 4G is a clear winner for customers with the powerful combination of an amazing multimedia experience in 3G coverage areas that becomes even better in our growing number of 4G markets. It is terrific to see customers react so positively to this device and the innovative experience it brings to them,” Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO, commented.
The sales of HTC EVO 4G were the highest in Sprint's history for a single day. Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre held the previous record, yet the number of EVO 4G devices sold at Sprint during Friday was three times higher than the combined sales of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold on their first three days of availability.
According to the wireless carrier, the record sales registered by the 4G Android-based handset resulted in “temporary shortages of the device at some of the 22,000 sales locations across the United States.” Sprint retail stores were affected by this, as well as the company's direct partners RadioShack, Best Buy and Walmart, and indirect dealers. New shipments are being sent to retail channels as Sprint and HTC are working on resolving the stock issue.
“HTC EVO 4G has more than lived up to our expectations that it would be one of the most anticipated technology products of the year,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president - Product Development for Sprint. “We are working closely with our partners at HTC to increase the supply and get EVO 4G into the hands of everyone who wants one as quickly as possible.”
The HTC EVO 4G is available for purchase from Sprint's website too, featuring a price tag of $199.99 upon the signing of a two-year contract agreement with the carrier and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Additional details are available here.