Review: Sprint® Wireless Internet

Covering more than 40 million people, the Sprint 4G network has some of the most widely used devices connecting to it. Sprint offers 4G/3G phone services, mobile hotspot wireless Internet devices, and of course smartphones. Sprint is home to the first 4G phone, the HTC EVO, and the network is set to handle many other phones like it.

Daily Use
Like many other 4G or next generation wireless networks, Sprint’s 4G network is still expanding. It’s currently available in over 30 cities with more to come. If you purchase a 4G phone and don’t have access to the 4G network, your phone will revert to a 3G connection.

PC Mag (pcmag.com) wasn’t too keen on Sprint’s 4G plans in the spring of 2010:

“But given Sprint’s spotty history with WiMAX, who knows if the company will deliver on those promises? Since we don’t know for sure, we would strongly recommend prospective customers who don’t already have 4G coverage to look at Sprint’s data coverage map. Assume for a moment that your city won’t get 4G, and the HTC EVO 4G becomes a less interesting prospect.”

If you do have 4G coverage, you’ll be in for some lightning fast speeds on the go, as Walt Mossberg from All Things Digital (ptech.allthingsd.com) says:

“My verdict: The HTC EVO 4G, when used on Sprint’s 4G network, offers the highest consistent downstream data speeds I have ever seen on a cellular network.”

Devices
The flagship exclusive devices for Sprint’s 4G network right now are the HTC EVO and the HTC EVO Shift. The EVO is packed with features, like a massive 4.3-inch capacitive touch screen, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera, HDMI out port, and more. The EVO Shift is a bit smaller but includes a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

Coverage
Sprint’s 4G coverage area is still growing. If you live in a large metropolitan area on the east or west coast, or Texas, you’re good to go. Northern and Midwestern states are out of luck though. Places like Minnesota, Kansas, Wyoming and Idaho still lack coverage, as do western states like New Mexico and Arizona. Since most of the early 4G phones like the EVO and EVO Shift will include 3G technology, you can always purchase the phone now and hope that 4G coverage comes to your area before your two year contract runs out.