Smartphone carriers fighting for Phoenix market

Park Ji-Hwana/AFP/Getty Images In the highly saturated, highly consolidated wireless industry, the top companies are aggressively restrategizing the way they lure customers.

More than 93 percent of American adults own a cellphone today.

Only 28 percent have smartphones.

There lies the business opportunity for cellphone-carrier giants such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc., companies that will wage an intense war for customers in the next several months in metro Phoenix and around the nation.

In the highly saturated, highly consolidated wireless industry, the top companies are aggressively restrategizing the way they lure customers. One-third of subscribers switch carriers every year, according to industry research. While carriers' biggest focus will be on the quality and variety of wireless devices they offer, cheaper service plans and faster networks also are part of the equation.

The type of phone, not the carrier, typically drives consumers' decisions for which contract they sign. Today, iPhones, Androids, and BlackBerrys are driving trend. These mini handheld computers called smartphones have made once-novel text and picture messages almost passe, and the growth of the devices has made waves in the industry.

Since 2007, AT&T's exclusive contract to sell Apple Inc.'s iPhone has helped it gain market share and remain the nation's second-largest carrier despite its reputation for a poor network.

News reports and blog posts, however, speculate that the iPhone soon will be available through Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest carrier, as early as January. It could be a boost for Verizon - and brings into question how lasting AT&T's recent rise in the market will be.

Meanwhile, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA are fighting for an expanded share of the marketplace. Neither carrier sells the iPhone, but Google Inc.'s Android technology, common in the phones they offer, has been drawing customers in droves. Windows Phone 7, Microsoft's newest operating system, also will be available through all carriers and has received strong reviews in advance of its launch this month.

Getting ahead of the competition also means offering a better variety of subscription plans, especially those that are prepaid, at cheaper prices. Carriers won't bring in as much revenue per user, but they hope it keeps customers from switching to competitors.

Along with inexpensive plans, consumers are now demanding faster network speeds. Each of the major carriers is racing to be the first to deploy the largest and most reliable superfast 4G - or fourth-generation technology -network.

Although Arizona may not be known for its "early adopter" crowd like California, its technology-hub neighbor to the west, wireless competition in the next year could shape the market in the state for years to come.

Modern necessity

Consumers aren't willing to give up their mobile phones, even during a recession. The average U.S. wireless subscriber used about 824 minutes per month last year, compared with 160 minutes in Europe, according to international group CTIA-the Wireless Association.

One in every four U.S. households - 24.5 percent - used only wireless phones in the last half of 2009, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of more than 630 wireless models in the U.S., according to CTIA, the growth trend is being driven by popular smartphones such as iPhones, BlackBerrys and, more recently, Android models.

In the third quarter, 28 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers owned smartphones, up 3 percent from the previous quarter, and 41 percent of those who bought a new mobile device were smartphones, according to The Nielsen Co.

Casey Thormahlen, an analyst with IBIS World, said that ever since the iPhone launched, carriers knew that consumers usually sign contracts based off which device they want, not carrier.

"AT&T has benefited the most because of its exclusivity with Apple," he said.

The iPhone saw explosive growth after its summer 2007 debut. It had 28 percent market share last quarter, according to Nielsen, which was 2 percentage points shy of dethroning Research in Motion Ltd. BlackBerry's long-standing lead. AT&T also reported a record 5.2 million iPhone activations out of a total 8 million for the same quarter.

But it's likely consumers won't see carriers with similar exclusive contracts in the future, Thormahlen said.

"Manufacturers can sell more devices if they're sold through everyone," he said.

Newcomer Android, Google's operating system that debuted in late 2008 with the T-Mobile G1 by HTC, is a prime example. Made by nearly all major manufacturers and sold by most carriers, Android eclipsed both the iPhone and BlackBerry, who nearly tied for second place, in unit sales to new users in the third quarter, Nielsen said.

But with speculation that a Verizon iPhone will happen early next year, which neither Verizon or Apple have confirmed, Credit Suisse predicted last month that Verizon could gain about 4 million new subscribers next year and that roughly 1.4 million AT&T customers would make the switch.

It wouldn't necessarily be a hit to other platforms, said Roger Entner, a Nielsen analyst.

"It's choice and variety," Entner said. "Apple is a very admired brand, but not everyone wants to have an iPhone."

Entner said Android would keep up, especially because consumers have their pick among different models, carriers and prices. In contrast, there's only one model iPhone on one carrier today.

Windows Phone 7, an upgrade from the Windows Mobile operating system, also should not be underestimated, said Chris Percy, vice president of AT&T's Southwest region headquarters based in Phoenix.

People should take the disappointing Windows Mobile and "erase it from your memory banks," Percy said. "I think they're going to hit a home run with this one."

Consumers will also see big improvements in phones compatible with super-fast 4G networks as carriers roll them out, said Chris Nicoll, analyst at Yankee Group.

Users will experience speeds that allow faster downloads and uploads, high-definition video streaming, video-conference calling and devices acting as WiFi hotspots for multiple devices at one time.

"They'll be entertainment powerhouses in your hand," Nicoll said. "With 3G, all the pieces weren't in place for the multimedia experience it promised."

Thormahlen said carriers would also expand the types of wireless devices offered, such as tablet computers - Apple's iPad went on sale through Verizon last month - and e-book readers such as the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook.

Carrier competition

Mergers and acquisitions used to be a key way for carriers to gain subscribers. Verizon became the largest carrier when it merged with Alltel last year. AT&T grew to the size it is today after acquiring Cingular Wireless in 2005.

Now, most of the dealmaking is done. Smaller carriers are scarce, and because nearly everyone has a cellphone, the battle for subscribers is getting more ferocious.

Nearly one-third of wireless subscribers switch providers each year, according to IBIS, meaning carriers will continue to drop prices of monthly bills and handsets, offer more variety of package deals and especially push prepaid plans.

With more than 93.2 million subscribers, Verizon Wireless is the nation's largest carrier. In Arizona, the company has invested nearly $1 billion - $60 billion nationally - in its network in the past decade, according to Verizon spokeswoman Jenny Weaver.

With about 2,700 employees, a Southwest region headquarters and customer-service center in Chandler, Verizon, based in Basking Ridge, N.J., ranked 50 in this year's Arizona Republic 100, which is a list of the state's largest employers.

Dallas-based AT&T, however, has invested $375 million in its network between 2007 and 2009 in the state. It ranked 99 in this year's Arizona Republic 100, with 950 employees statewide.

"We've seen tremendous growth in the last three years," Percy said. "In my opinion, we get a really bad rap about our network, but we're proud of what we've done."

AT&T has been making serious gains on Verizon. In the third quarter, it added 2.6 million subscribers, bringing its total to 92.8 million and $31.6 billion in revenue, a nearly 3 percent increase from last year.

Verizon added less than 1 million subscribers with revenue at $26.5 billion.

Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint, the third-largest carrier with 48.8 million subscribers, and Bellevue, Wash.-based T-Mobile, fourth largest with 33.8 million customers, have smaller networks and a less tech-savvy customer base, making it hard to get ahead, Thormahlen said.

"Only one or two carriers can really dominate in this industry," he said.

Together, these top four carriers will make up 90 percent of industry revenue this year, an IBIS annual report said.

The CTIA said that the average monthly wireless bill in the U.S., including voice and data, was about $48 in June. The number of prepaid users has grown more than 5 percent since 2007 and accounted for $13.9 billion of more than $155 billion total for the industry in 2009, CTIA said.

The 4G effect

Besides the handsets and the carriers' deals, network quality matters to potential customers.

Phoenix will be one of the first markets to get Verizon's 4G network this year, and the upgrade is expected to be fully deployed by the end of 2013. AT&T, in turn, promises improved network speeds nationwide by year's end, followed by a 4G rollout starting in mid-2011.

Sprint's was the country's first 4G network. Its rollout is still under way, although T-Mobile beat it to the Phoenix market last month with a network upgrade offering comparable 4G speeds.

If the term "4G" sounds confusing, that's because it is.

Simply put, it means faster service for more complex smartphone activities. Current 4G speeds seen so far range roughly between 5 and 21 megabits per second, Nicoll said. He said 4G was largely a marketing term right now.

"It's an upgraded speed from 3G standards and it requires a new network, so they're just calling it 4G," Nicoll said.

Advertisements have been tossing around terms such as LTE, WiMax and HSPA+, with little explanation, Nicoll said. Simply put, they're terms for different 4G technologies. Carriers also use different technologies for 3G - Verizon and Sprint currently use CDMA, while AT&T and T-Mobile run on GSM.

Sprint's WiMax network, through its Clearwire subsidiary, was the first 4G network in the country. Its rollout, which started in late 2008, has been slower than expected, and its Phoenix arrival date is anyone's guess.

"Consumers will see a quicker rollout of the Verizon network and also AT&T," Nicoll said.

In Las Vegas, regional carrier MetroPCS Communications Inc. this year launched the first LTE network, which is projected to become the dominant technology worldwide.

AT&T is expected to launch its LTE network in mid-2011 but in the meantime will boost 3G speeds through a nationwide software upgrade to HSPA+ technology.

Because its speeds are comparable to those of WiMax and LTE, T-Mobile recently started calling its HSPA+ network "4G" instead of "4G-like," Nicoll said.

LTE and WiMax will mature over time, Thormahlen said, eventually far surpassing HSPA+ speeds.

Sprint adds a $10 monthly surcharge for those who own 4G devices - such as the HTC Evo, the nation's first 4G phone - regardless if users have access to the new network. Verizon has not yet announced prices for its LTE network.

Analysts say prices will drop as it becomes the mainstay technology and is adopted by all carriers by the end of 2012, essentially replacing 3G.

How successful each carrier's rollout will be in attracting customers remains a toss-up, Entner said.

"How will it all change the ballgame?" he asked. "That's the big question."

by Kristena Hansen The Arizona Republic Nov. 7, 2010 12:00 AM



Smartphone carriers fighting for Phoenix market

Valley chosen to test fast wireless network

The Valley will soon become the nation's first and only test site for the fastest wireless technology entering the marketplace, a leap in cellphone and Internet service that could drive down prices for consumers.

Think seamless movie streaming on mobile devices, multiple-player gaming on smartphones and crystal-clear videoconferencing.

Clearwire, the wireless Internet-service provider behind the technology, will start the tests this fall and hopes to offer the service throughout the Valley next year. For months, the company has been seeking permits from cities to put up poles to transmit its microwave signal.

The tests are part of an intense competition in Arizona and elsewhere between Clearwire and its competitors to provide fourth-generation, long-term-evolution, or 4G LTE, technology. The emerging wireless technology is expected to provide download and upload speeds equal to cable Internet and exponentially faster than the third-generation, or 3G, technology used by cellphone-service providers now.

As with any new product that rivals its competition, consumer prices should come down, experts say.

"This could change a lot of things for people," said Retha Hill, director of the New Media Innovation Lab at Arizona State University. Consumers may scrap their cable, phone and Internet service and switch to wireless if the costs are significantly lower, she said.

"When you're paying $135 to $156 a month for bundled cable, phone and Internet service and could switch for $30 or $50 - where can I sign up?" Hill said.

Arizona currently doesn't have access to 4G, which exists under two competing technology standards: LTE and WiMax. Clearwire launched the first 4G service in the United States last year using the WiMax standard, and its service is now in 20 states.

However, every major U.S. cellphone carrier is gearing up to offer 4G. Most will be using LTE, which is faster than WiMax.

Officials from Clearwire and several cellphone companies would not disclose fees for their planned 4G LTE services, but some conceded that the competition and large-scale usage could bring down prices.

Clearwire, based in Kirkland, Wash., is the eighth-largest data provider in the nation. It markets wireless Internet outside of Arizona under its own brand, Clear, and through wholesale relationships with cellphone and cable-TV companies. Sprint, which is part owner of Clearwire, and Comcast deliver the WiMax wireless Internet service in a partnership with Clearwire.

Clearwire spokeswoman Debra Havins said the company will not reveal details about its tests or which cellphone carriers might offer the service but confirmed that the Valley is the only location where the company is trying out its new wireless network.

The ability of any carrier to wirelessly transmit e-mail, photos, video, music and TV shows to smartphones and laptops depends on the speed and reliability of its network. Speed is usually expressed as Mbps, megabits per second. Most 3G networks deliver data at 1 to 2 Mbps. The WiMax technology available in other states delivers speeds up to 12 Mbps. Clearwire's LTE network will be testing speeds of 20 to 70 Mbps, which will be even faster than competitors' planned LTE networks, Havins said.

In practical applications, it takes about two minutes to download a five-minute video on a 3G network; existing 4G networks can do it in less than a minute. Clearwire's speeds promise to do it in seconds or split seconds.

Havins said Clearwire is able to offer data transmission at such high speeds because the amount of broadcast spectrum it owns is "unmatched."

Every broadcast-television station, radio station and cellphone provider operates on its own particular slice of the airwaves, or broadcast spectrum. The larger a share of the spectrum one company owns, the more data it can transmit.

Jonathan Wells, a wireless-technology expert based in Pleasanton, Calif., said that LTE will soon be the dominant network technology and that Clearwire is building a nationwide presence. The Phoenix test, he said, "is an experiment, but a very significant one, because of what we call the iPhone effect: People are downloading massive amounts of data on their handheld devices, and many are using it as their primary connection to the Internet."

The speeds promised by Clearwire are "remarkable," Wells said, and could pave the way for high-speed multiplayer gaming and two-way videoconferencing for businesses.

Chris Conrey, vice president of Integrum, a Chandler software company that develops Web and mobile applications, said he is not convinced Clearwire can deliver the promised speeds.

"4G is going to be great, but Clearwire's numbers sound too good to be true," he said.

AT&T is getting ready to launch its 4G LTE system next year, spokesman Erika Ulring said. AT&T also is embarking on an aggressive plan to build more wireless-transmission poles to improve coverage, she said.

Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier, will roll out its LTE service before the end of this year in 25 to 30 market areas, spokeswoman Jenny Weaver said. She would not say if cities in Arizona are among them. By 2013, Verizon will have nationwide LTE coverage, Weaver said.

For months, Clearwire has been secretive about its Arizona plans, declining to answer questions about the spate of permit applications for wireless towers in several Valley cities. Planning and zoning offices in Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Tempe and Peoria have been getting an influx of Clearwire requests, municipal officials said. Phoenix is seeing significant increases in requests for cell-tower permits but could not immediately provide information about which providers were applicants.

City officials said they were not told by Clearwire representatives what the company was planning for the area.

"We knew they were bulking up to do something here," said Steven Philbrick, a technology official for Chandler.

by Edythe Jensen The Arizona Republic Sept. 4, 2010 12:00 AM

Valley chosen to test fast wireless network

Smartphone makers see chip shortage

NEW YORK - The seemingly recession-proof smartphone is suffering from a side effect of the rough economy: Manufacturers simply can't build enough of the gadgets because chip makers that rolled back production last year are now scrambling to play catch-up.

The chip shortage means Apple Inc.'s rivals are having trouble making enough phones to compete with the iPhone, a problem expected to persist through the holidays. It's also affecting wireless carriers, some of which are seeing delays in improving their networks, and it could even raise computer prices.

There isn't an across-the-board shortage of chips, but if just one of the 20 to 30 critical chips that go into a smartphone is unavailable, the whole production line screeches to a halt.

Sprint Nextel Corp., for instance, couldn't satisfy demand for HTC Corp.'s EVO 4G, the first phone to use a faster "4G" network, in parts of the country.

The chips that go into smartphones compete for production capacity with other chips at the gigantic factories. Makers of a vast array of electronics, from TVs to data-center switches, also depend on the factories.

The chip-making industry had a tough start to 2009. February sales were only $14.2 billion, down 30 percent from the year before, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Although sales sprang back later in the year, manufacturers were spooked and reined in investment in chip factories. Capital spending plunged 41 percent to $25.9 billion in 2009, after dropping 31 percent the year before, according to research firm Gartner Inc.

Now the factories are having trouble scaling up production fast enough. The chip factories, or "foundries," are running at 96 percent capacity, up from 56 percent at the depth of the recession, according to the SIA.

Gartner predicts worldwide investment in the chip industry zooming 84 percent this year to $47.5 billion.

While investment is recovering, it takes months to set up new production lines and upgrade existing ones. That's why executives see shortages lasting until next year. Research firm iSuppli warns that prices for PCs could rise this year because of short supplies of memory chips. The prices for these commodity chips are highly volatile.

by Peter Svensson Associated Press August 20, 2010 04:34 PM


Smartphone makers see chip shortage

Assembling Droids For Dollars - Yahoo! News

Peter Chou, chief executive of cell phone maker HTC, says the Taiwan-based company is no risk- taker. But to a casual observer, that might hardly seem the case.

HTC was the first handset maker to introduce a cell phone based on the Google (NMS:GOOG)-backed Android operating system, the G1 by T-Mobile. It was the first to roll out a phone using the advanced broadband 4G platform, the Evo by Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S - News). In fact, its track record of innovation, including touch-screen technology and innovative software, dates all the way back to 1999 when HTC introduced the first color-screen palm-sized device.

"They've done a really good job over the last decade making the transition from a maker of electronics for other firms to building a global brand and becoming a major player in smart phones," said Michael Gartenberg, partner at research firm Altimeter Group. "They're not afraid to innovate and push the envelope forward."

The result is a company that is steamrolling ahead with the fastest growth in the cell-phone market, better than even Apple (NMS:AAPL).

"I don't see us as a big risk-taker, but we are committed to taking up a challenge and doing new things," Chou said.

HTC wants to be careful about betting the farm to protect its employees, partners and investors.

"But we are never afraid to bring to the market something different," Chou said. "If we make mistakes, we admit that and fix it quickly instead of blaming someone for this or that. We are humble and passionate about innovation."

It's a strategy that clearly works. HTC is now the world's fourth- largest maker of smart phones, according to research firm IDC, with a 7.6% market share. Nokia (NYSE:NOK - News) is first with 38%, followed by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (NMS:RIMM) at 17.8% and Apple at 13.3%.

Including all handsets, HTC broke into the top 10 during the second quarter, says researcher Gartner. HTC shipments rose 139% to 5.9 million units, making it the eighth-largest global vendor. Its growth was more than double that of Apple, which had the second-fastest growth and is in seventh place.

In its second quarter ended July 29, revenue of HTC, whose shares trade on the Taiwan exchange, grew 59% from a year earlier to $1.9 billion. Net profit rose 73% to $269 million. Its stock is up 44% since June 30.

In the third quarter, HTC expects revenue of $2.2 billion, up 106% from a year earlier. It also expects device shipments to soar 132%.

Humble Beginnings

There was a time when HTC was a nobody. Chou co-founded HTC in 1997 with Cher Wang, the daughter of one of Taiwan's richest entrepreneurs. A Taiwan native, Chou has a degree in electronic engineering from National Taiwan Ocean University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

In 1999 when HTC was just getting its feet wet and working with telecom carrier British Telecom (NYSE:BT - News), it needed help, Chou said.

"At the time, we were a small and inexperienced company and the only thing we had was an idea," Chou said. He approached BT executives and said plainly, "You guys need to help and support us and teach us what areas are critical and important," Chou said.

Chou also reached out to cell phone chipmaker Qualcomm (NMS:QCOM) for tips on how to develop the best phones. Both answered HTC's call.

"They taught us a lot," he said.

HTC's first focus was to build phones that telecom carriers sold under their own label. Then, four years ago, it got ready to sell phones bearing the HTC label instead. Two years ago, HTC launched a branding campaign, adopting the slogan "Quietly Brilliant."

"More than 90% of our phones today are HTC-branded," Chou said.

Its carrier partners include all the majors, including AT&T (NYSE:T - News), Verizon (NYSE:VZ - News), Sprint and T-Mobile.

"Their transition from a design manufacturer (for other companies) to a branded manufacturer paid off," said Brian White, an analyst at Ticonderoga Securities. "Their products have been a big success. They've clearly entered the big leagues and are gaining share."

HTC's rise is also notable in that its rivals are much larger with roots in design and engineering: Nokia, Samsung, Apple, RIM, LG, Motorola (NYSE:MOT - News) and Sony Ericsson (NYSE:SNE - News) (NMS:ERIC).

Gambling On Droids

"One of the biggest risks they took was committing to Android so early," said Avi Greengart, an analyst with researcher Current Analysis. "They made a big bet on Android before the operating system was fully finished and it paid off extraordinarily well."

HTC was also an early and strong supporter, and still is, of the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform, which has been sputtering in the market the past few years. HTC will also be introducing phones based on Microsoft's (NMS:MSFT) new operating system for mobile, which has been rebranded as Windows Phone.

"If HTC had stuck to its knitting and just stuck with Windows Mobile without diversifying into Android, they'd be in real trouble right now," said Greengart.

HTC has introduced a slew of Android devices. Its Web site currently lists 27 various cell phone models. These include Droid Incredible, Evo 4G, MyTouch 3G Slide and HD2.

Chou credits HTC's success to many things. It started with what has traditionally been a mainstay of Taiwan-based companies: highly competitive manufacturing, excellent engineering and strong customer partnerships.

Other ingredients for long-term success are innovation and marketing, which many Taiwan firms lack, most analysts say. Taiwan players are said to have traditionally relied on clients for help in those areas.

"HTC wanted to create that kind of innovation to achieve greater success," said Chou.

Innovation is something Chou learned early on as an executive with computer pioneer Digital Equipment Corp., later acquired by Compaq, which was then acquired by Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ - News).

During his time at DEC, Chou spent lots of time in Silicon Valley, rubbing elbows with engineers at Intel (NMS:INTC), Microsoft and others.

"I've been working on innovation for a long time," he said.

He's worked hard to instill that culture into HTC, hiring top individuals, embracing them and setting them free to innovate.

"A lot of companies say they focus on innovation but they lack the talent and involvement," said Chou. "When they face difficulty, it can be easy to compromise. We encourage people to take risk and encourage and challenge them to create something exciting. You need to have passion and set high standards to achieve that."

"HTC innovated very quickly," said Ken Dulaney, a Gartner analyst. "They innovate very well and understand what customers want."

by Yahoo News, August 13, 2010

Assembling Droids For Dollars - Yahoo! News

Sprint HTC EVO 4G offers great multimedia power

by Louie Villalobos The Arizona Republic Jul. 2, 2010 04:00 PM




Verizon and Sprint are doing everything they can to eat away at the stronghold the iPhone currently has on the smartphone market by jumping head-first into supporting Android-powered phones.

Sprint's HTC EVO 4G is currently among the leaders in the increasingly powerful Android army.

The phone costs $199 with a new two-year agreement, after a $100 rebate. The data plans start at $69.99 per month and there is a $10 month add-on fee for "premium data."

A review unit was temporarily provided to azcentral.com by Sprint. Here are the highlights.

Android

The EVO is currently running the Android 2.1 software, skinned with HTC's Sense build. It's the same setup that Droid Incredible users get.

A new version of the platform was recently announced, but there is no official word on if the EVO will be getting the update.

The result of the existing software is a very quick and sleek operating system. There is virtually zero lag while swapping between widgets, apps, or features. It has the standard feature of multiple screens running at the same time. A simple pinch of the screen or push of the home-button will reveal the seven screens, which can combine to run just about every major widget the phone has to offer.

The software also does true multi-tasking.

Because the Android software is supported by Google, all of the search engine giant's features are strongly integrated into the phone.

Then there is the ever-growing Android market, which Sprint said features more than 60,000 applications. Though, it's not as developed as the Apple market, Droid's offering has a great variety of applications available.

Design

The EVO is big and heavy. There's no getting around that. The 4.3 inch LCD screen and six ounce weight is substantial in a market where phones are pushing to be lighter. But smaller isn't always better. In the case of the EVO, the large screen offers up a very good Internet browsing experience.

Turning the phone on its side, in landscape mode, means that full-fledge websites have room to be displayed. A visit to azcentral.com's non-mobile site, for instance, does almost nothing to take away from the layout users will see on a computer.

But the screen is most noticeable when loading videos. YouTube clips take up the entire display and make it easy to drop the phone's kick-stand to watch a video.

The display area also allows for more room to the touch keyboard and to apps.

With a big screen comes a large phone. It will prove difficult to handle with one hand. That's especially true when trying to unlock the phone by pushing the power button. It's virtually impossible to hold the phone and push the button with one hand.

So EVO users will have to accept that the phone comes with size and weight and know that it can translate into a satisfying visual experience.

Battery life

The biggest problem with the phone is how quickly the battery will drain. But that is true of most current generation smartphones. They're essentially pocket computers that have Wi-Fi, notifications, and GPS running at all times. The EVO, though, can drain alarmingly fast.

One way to preserve the battery life, especially for power users, is to turn off Wi-Fi unless it's needed and to disable GPS. The battery lasted considerably longer with those features off.

The camera

The EVO is a multimedia powerhouse. The 8 megapixel, duel LED flash, camera on the back, and the 1.3 megapixel camera on the front, combine to create a very solid experience. Every picture in the slideshow included in this review was taken with the EVO. As was the video embedded that shows a Sprint employee demonstrating the phone.

There is no question that the camera can replace most point-and-click cameras. The 720p capable video camera is more than enough to make pocket cameras obsolete.

4G

Sprint is touting the EVO as the nation's first cell phone able to handle both the 3G and 4G networks. The problem is that Arizona hasn't been given access to Sprint's 4G, which boasts dramatically faster speeds than the 3G network.

Sprint has announced 4G in 36 markets but has not said when or if Arizona will get it.

Until then, at least two of the phone's major features will be weakened in Arizona.

That doesn't mean that Arizona's residents shouldn't by the phone or feel cheated if they did. It's just a fact that 4G hasn't arrived here. When it does, the phone will be able to connect by simply pushing the 4G button found on one of the phone's default screens.

Mobile WiFi

Perhaps the most useful feature on this phone is the ability to turn it into a Wi-Fi spot for up to eight devices. The feature costs $30 extra a month but it is well worth the cost for frequent travelers or for anybody who owns the phone in a 4G market.

Setting up the Wi-Fi feature is fast and the 3G download speeds were very solid throughout the Phoenix area. There was a noticeable drop in speeds, however, when multiple devices were connected and running high-bandwidth websites.

Video calling

Sprint's partnered with Qik, a mobile streaming video service, to provide video calling. Qik allows users with most smartphones to stream live video and store it online through user accounts.

In the EVO, Qik has created an exclusive video calling application. It's the EVO's version of the iPhone 4's Facetime application.

The problem in Arizona is that the quality is horrible over 3G. So using a Wi-Fi connection is the best way to go. Once running on a quality Internet connection, the video-calling is still a little buggy but works as advertised. Qik has already released an updated application that added stability to the calls. The one drawback is that users will need a Qik account to make or receive video calls.

Overall

Sprint's HTC EVO 4G is one beast of a phone. It runs on a mobile platform that is picking up steam, features some of the best multi-media hardware currently on the market and runs on a reliable network.

But not having 4G in Arizona is currently limiting what the phone can do. Sprint users should still flock to this phone because both of what it can do now and what it promises to do if the 4G flood-gates are opened locally.




Sprint HTC EVO 4G offers great multimedia power

4G wireless: It's fast, but outstripped by hype

by Peter Svensson Associated Press Jun. 3, 2010 12:00 AM

NEW YORK - Cellphone companies are about to barrage consumers with advertising for the next advance in wireless network technology: "4G" access. The companies are promising faster speeds and the thrill of being the first on the block to use a new acronym.

But there's less to 4G than meets the eye, and there's little reason for people to scramble for it, at least for the next few years.

Sprint Nextel Corp. is the first carrier to beat the drum for fourth-generation wireless technology. It's releasing its first 4G phone, the EVO, on June 4.

In the fall, Verizon Wireless will be firing up its 4G network in 25 to 30 cities and probably will make a big deal of that. A smaller provider, MetroPCS Communications Inc., is scheduled to introduce its first 4G phone around the same time.

So what is 4G?

Broadly speaking, it's a new way to use the airwaves, designed from the start for the transmission of data rather than phone calls. To do that, it borrows aspects of the latest generation of Wi-Fi, the short-range wireless technology.

For consumers, 4G means, in the ideal case, faster access to data. For instance, streaming video might work better, with less stuttering and higher resolution. Videoconferencing is difficult on 3G and might work better on 4G. Multiplayer video games may benefit, too.

Other than that, it's difficult to point to completely new uses for 4G phones - things they can do that 3G phones can't.

Instead, the upgrade to 4G is more likely to enhance the things you can already do with 3G, said Matt Carter, president of Sprint's 4G division.

"View it as the difference between watching regular TV and high-definition TV," Carter said. "Once you've experienced high-definition TV it's hard to go back to standard TV. It's the same sort of thing here."

So the improvement from 3G to 4G is not as dramatic as the step from 2G to 3G, which for the first time made real Web browsing, video and music downloads practical on phones. The introduction of 3G started in earnest about five years ago, but it isn't complete - AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA still have little rural 3G coverage, for instance.

There's an important caveat to the claim that 4G will be faster, as well. It will definitely be faster than the 3G networks of Sprint and Verizon Wireless - about four times faster, initially. But the other two national carriers, AT&T and T-Mobile, are upgrading their 3G networks to offer data-transfer speeds that will actually be higher than the speeds 4G networks will reach this year or next.

That means that rather than focusing on real speeds, Sprint and Verizon will try to frame their marketing around the "4G" term, said Dan Hays, who focuses on telecommunications at management consulting firm PRTM.

"It's a terrible story from a consumer standpoint, because it's tremendously confusing," he said.

AT&T and T-Mobile are able to upgrade their 3G networks because they use a different 3G technology than Verizon and Sprint, which have maxed out their 3G speeds. Taking the step to 4G is natural for Verizon and Sprint, especially because they have new chunks of the radio spectrum that they want to take advantage of.

The fact that Verizon Wireless and Sprint are adding fresh spectrum may be more important than the fact that they are using it for 4G service. No matter if used for 4G or 3G, new spectrum means the companies can accommodate more data-hungry devices such as smartphones.

AT&T's network is already staggering under data congestion caused by the iPhone in New York and San Francisco. The carrier has made relieving the congestion a top priority this year, and its 3G upgrades are part of that process. (As an aside, there is a lot of talk of a coming "iPhone 4G." Apple Inc. will most likely release the fourth generation of the iPhone for AT&T's network this summer, but it's virtually certain that it will not be able to use a 4G wireless network. It likely won't be called the "iPhone 4G" either.)

There's another, more subtle benefit to 4G. While it's not always faster than the best 3G when it comes to helping you download a big file in less time, it is definitely faster in the sense that it takes less time to initiate the flow of data to you. What that means is that 4G is faster for quick back-and-forth communications. You wouldn't notice this when surfing the Web or doing e-mail: We're talking delays of 0.03 second rather than 0.15 second. But it could mean that 4G will work better for multiplayer gaming, where split-second timing is important. Even phone calls could benefit from shorter audio delays.

Sprint and Verizon are taking different routes in 4G. Sprint owns a majority of Clearwire Corp., which is building a network using WiMax technology. Once seen as very promising, WiMax looks set to be a niche technology, and WiMax devices like the Sprint EVO phone won't be able to use networks built using the dominant 4G standard, called LTE, for Long Term Evolution. Verizon and MetroPCS plan to use LTE, as does AT&T, starting next year. T-Mobile says it will probably use LTE eventually. Even Sprint hasn't ruled out using LTE eventually, because the technology has huge momentum.

In five years or so, many phones are likely to have 4G capabilities, but they'll complement it with 3G. Rather than a sudden revolution, consumers are likely to experience a gradual transition to the new technology, with increasing speeds. But for now, 4G is no magic bullet.

"It's an important thing for the industry," said Bill Davidson, senior vice president of marketing and investor relations at wireless technology developer Qualcomm Inc. "It's absolutely needed. . . . But I just think some of this has gotten a bit ahead of itself in terms of expectations for consumers."


4G wireless: It's fast, but outstripped by hype

Sprint Battles Bugs As It Launches EVO 4G Phone | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

By: Mark Hachman PC Magazine June 4, 2010



Sprint officially launched the HTC EVO 4G smartphone on Friday with some interesting social tweaks, although users had already reported at least one bug with the phone's software.

The Sprint EVO 4G phone goes on sale today at Sprint stores for $199 after a $100 mail-in-rebate, new contract, and premium data plan. Wal-mart and Best Buy, at press time, said the two retailers would waive the need to mail in the rebate, offering the phone for a register price of $199.

Sprint's HTC EVO 4G customers can pay $69.99 for Sprint's Everything Data 450 plan, plus the $10 Premium Data add-on, totaling just $79.99 per month for unlimited Web, texting and calling. An optional charge of just $29.99 per month turns on HTC EVO 4G's mobile hotspot, allowing users to connect their laptop via Wi-Fi. But there will also be an additional $4.99 per month subscription fee will apply for a new range of advanced premium features, Sprint said, including unlimited video archiving, downloading files to a computer, and Video Mail.

The Sprint EVO 4G has already won a PCMag.com Editor's Choice award, which characterized the phone as a "big, beautiful, and powerful window to the world", capped off by its 800-by-480 TFT LCD capacitive touch screen spread across 4.3 diagonal inches of screen real estate. The "4G" designation refers to the phone's capability to pick up WiMAX signals, which Sprint provides to 33 markets, but aren't available in areas including major metropolitan markets like the San Francisco Bay Area and the New York city metropolitan area.

"4G let me do more things on the Internet at once, with improved response times," reviewer Sascha Segan wrote. "You can pretty much assume that streaming anything on the phone won't have to buffer. I streamed Rhapsody music while resolving a Google Earth page and using the phone as a hotspot with my laptop to check my e-mail.

For those that do live in a WiMAX or 4G-enabled area, however, Sprint is offering the chance for new EVO users to "claim" 4G feats via what the company is calling "firsts": the first 4G video posted from the back of a motorcycle, for example, as well as more whimsical offerings such as the first banana peeled in under four seconds, shared via 4G. Each feat offers the user a chance to add their name and share the feat, which Sprint may later highlight.

Interestingly, this reporter noticed a bug over the weekend that prevented some photos taken with the included camera phone from being saved to the included SD card. Rebooting the phone solved the problem. That glitch is now being considered a bug, one that Sprint could fix with an over-the-air update released Friday, Wired reported.

Android Central also noticed that the second, front-facing camera on the EVo 4G shoots images in reverse.

Sprint officials could not be reached for comment at press time.
In other Sprint news, the company said it would stream 56 live World Cup matches via ESPN Mobile TV at both 3G and 4G speeds.


Sprint Battles Bugs As It Launches EVO 4G Phone News & Opinion PCMag.com

Silicon Valley takes lead as wireless carriers falter

Silicon Valley takes lead as wireless carriers falter

by Peter Svensson Associated Press Feb. 19, 2010 12:00 AM

BARCELONA, Spain - Silicon Valley is looking like a winner in the tug-of-war with wireless carriers over who will control the new world of Internet-connected phones.

The tension between the largely U.S.-based PC and Internet industry and the world's wireless carriers was palpable this week at the world's largest cellphone trade show, Mobile World Congress. Google Inc. was one of the headliners, and Apple Inc. was the ghost hovering over it all. While many wireless carriers are cooperating or working with Google and Apple, many are also signaling that they don't want to cede power and be reduced to simple utilities.

For consumers, the reduced power of wireless carriers could mean more choices. Traditionally the network operators tried to limit the content people could access on their devices, before the rise of "app stores" and Web-based services dramatically expanded ways to customize phones.

Phones are becoming more sophisticated and wireless intrnet access is spreading across the globe. These trends play to Silicon Valley's strengths in software and the Internet. Voice service, the mainstay of the wireless carriers, is becoming less lucrative and less important.

Advertising keyed to Web searches is a small but growing business, and one Google dominates, along with Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. This worries the CEO of British-based Vodafone Group PLC, part owner of Verizon Wireless and one of the largest carriers in the world. Vittorio Colao said in a speech at the show that regulators such as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission should examine Google's power over this market.

Sales of downloadable programs known as applications for smartphones are also growing - and forcing carriers to struggle to stay relevant. When Apple took skills honed in the computer industry to create the iconic iPhone, it also created an application store where it gets a 30 percent cut of the sales, and the carrier gets nothing. Google has followed the same path with its application store for phones that run the Android software it's created.

Two dozen of the world's largest wireless carriers struck back at the show, announcing that they would create a "Wholesale Applications Community." The idea is that software developers will write their applications once, following a standard set by the community, which can then distribute them to carrier-run applications stores.

U.S. carriers Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA are part of the group, which has 3 billion customers globally. Phone makers LG Electronics Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Sony Ericsson also said they would support the group.