Sprint Nextel reaches for '4G' device limelight

With Verizon Wireless (VZ) on deck to unveil a handful of LTE-equipped mobile devices at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show, Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) attempted to redirect some of that acclaim by announcing a third smart phone compatible with the carrier’s WiMAX-powered “4G” service.
The new device, HTC Corp.’s Evo Shift, looks to bring the name recognition of the carrier’s landmark Evo 4G device to a lower price point when it launches on Jan. 9. While the Evo 4G remains at $200 after all rebates, the Shift will be available for $150 after all rebates making it the lowest priced WiMAX-enabled smart phone in the carrier’s line up. Sprint Nextel also offers the $250 Samsung Telecommunications America’s Epic 4G.
Despite sharing the Evo name, the Shift is dramatically different from its higher-priced sibling. The new device sports a 3.6-inch capacitive touch screen compared with the 4.3-inches of real estate on the Evo 4G; a five-megapixel camera compared with eight-megapixels on the higher-priced model; and a slide out QWERTY keyboard as opposed to touch screen-only on the Evo 4G. Both devices run Google Inc.’s Android 2.2 operating system and include HTC’s Sense user interface.
Though Sprint Nextel did not provide details on the new device, published reports indicate that it will be powered by an 800 MHz processor instead of the 1 GHz processor in the Evo 4G.
In addition to the new smart phone, Sprint Nextel also said it will add a new 3G/4G mobile hot spot to its line up on Feb. 27 with the launch of Novatel Wireless Inc.’s oddly named “3G/4G Mobile Hotspot.” Sprint Nextel said the “credit card-sized” device will provide access for up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices, include a battery life of up to four hours and retail for $50 after all rebates.
Sprint Nextel did point out that it continues to offer “unlimited” data for its smart phones, which could remain a strong selling point depending on how Verizon Wireless prices access to its LTE services. (It should be added that Sprint Nextel does charge a $10 per month fee on top of its regular rate plans for WiMAX-capable devices to help offset access fees it pays to network provider Clearwire Corp.) Verizon Wireless currently offers capped data packages for its wireless modems priced at $50 per month for 5 gigabytes and $80 per month for 10 GB. Verizon Wireless is scheduled to unveil its new LTE devices on Thursday afternoon.