Sprint Nextel has unveiled pricing plans for its new Android-based 4G smartphone, which promises to deliver data up to 10 times faster than today's 3G phones. Under the plans announced Thursday, small businesses will be able to deploy the forthcoming HTC EVO 4G to workers under a pricing structure that starts at $44.99 per month, excluding taxes and surcharges.

When businesses tap the power of next-generation 4G, e-mails arrive quicker, files download sooner, multiple applications stream smoother, and web browsing becomes blazing fast, said Tom Shaughnessy, director of small business at Sprint. "For small businesses, 4G makes sense," said Shaughnessy. "It's all about working faster, boosting productivity, cutting costs, and, ultimately, improving profits."

Working Faster, Boosting Productivity

Slated to take its inaugural bows exclusively on Sprint's network beginning June 4, the HTC EVO 4G integrates a 4.3-inch color display, a one-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of ROM and 512MB of RAM, an 8GB microSD memory card, and plug-and-play USB. And to enable video chat, the smartphone has two cameras: An eight-megapixel autofocus unit featuring an HD-capable video camcorder and dual LED flash, plus a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel sensor.

Beyond 3G and 4G, the handset's wireless communications capabilities include Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) andBluetooth 2.1 with A2DP Stereo and EDR functionality. Also on tap is an HDMI output for connecting the smartphone to video entertainment platforms.

Even better, HTC EVO 4G buyers will be able to convert their devices into mobile hot spots for an additional monthly fee, allowing the user's other Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets to enjoy 3G/4G speeds, including laptops, cameras, music players, and video players. Yet another option is to share the smartphone's built-in roving hot-spot platform from Novatel Wireless with up to five persons on the fly.

On the software side, the HTC EVO 4G incorporates the full spectrum of Google mobile services compatible with Android 2.1, including Google Search, Maps, Talk, Gmail, browser and YouTube videos. Additionally, Sprint Navigation is aboard to provide users with turn-by-turn driving directions and access to 3-D maps. TheHTC Sense user experience featured on the device includes a Friend Stream capability for integratingFacebook and Twitter updates into a single flow.

A Multimedia Powerhouse

Sprint CEO Han Hesse said the HTC EVO 4G is a fantastic 3G device on its own, but when used over Sprint's growing 4G coverage area, it becomes a multimedia powerhouse.

"The EVO 4G experience is much like going from TV to HDTV," Hesse said. "But EVO has more than just an impressive list of features -- it is also fun to use with remarkable gaming, video and web-browsing capabilities."

Sprint 4G is currently available in 32 markets across the nation -- and with more markets slated to go live later this year. Clearwire, Comcast and Sprint announced last month that they will launch their 4G mobile Internet services in additional U.S. cities this summer.

For Sprint, this means being able to offer 4G services in a wide range of new markets, including Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Sprint said it expects that up to 120 million people in the United States will potentially have access to its 4G network by the end of the year.

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Prince Malachi is the founder of The Oracle Network and the Streetwear brand Y.A.H. Apparel

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