Late last month Sprint announced that Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile would soon be offering 4G WiMAX service, and now more details on Virgin and Boost's plans have been revealed. This morning Virgin Mobile announced that it plans to launch the HTC EVO V 4G (above, left) along with a pair of WiMAX mobile broadband devices on May 31st. The EVO V 4G is Virgin's version of Sprint's EVO 3D, featuring 5-megapixel cameras with 3D capabilities, a 4.3-inch 960x540 touchscreen, 4GB storage, 8GB microSD card and a 1,730mAh battery. The EVO V 4G also packs mobile hotspot support for up to five devices and Android 4.0 beneath HTC's Sense 3.6 UI. Expect the EVO V 4G to be available on Virgin Mobile's website starting May 31st for $299.99, with a launch at major retailers and select independent dealers in June.
Also launching online on May 31st and then at retailers in June are the Overdrive Pro 3G/4G mobile hotspot (below, left) and U600 3G/4G USB stick (below, right). The Overdrive Pro can connect with up to five Wi-Fi devices at once and also features a 1.7-inch LCD screen and microSD slot. Meanwhile, the U600 USB stick includes support for both Mac and Windows machines. The OverDrive Pro will be priced at $149.99 and the U600 USB stick will carry a price tag of $99.99.
As far as WiMAX plans go, the EVO V 4G will be compatible with Beyond Talk plans that start a $35 per month and include 300 minutes and unlimited messaging and data (2.5GB of high-speed data). EVO V 4G owners can also add a mobile hotspot plan that'll bump their data allotment to 3.5GB for $15 per month. On the mobile broadband side of things, customers can select a $35 plan that'll include unlimited 4G data or 2GB of 3G data if 4G connectivity is not available in their area. Moving up to the $55 plan will bring unlimited 4G data and 5GB of 3G data.
If you'd prefer to get your 4G WiMAX from Boost Mobile, you'll soon have the option to pick up the HTC EVO Design 4G (above, right). The handset is similar to the Sprint model of the same name and features a 4-inch 960x540 display, 1.2GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, 2GB microSD card and Android 4.0. It's also the first Boost handset with mobile hotspot support. The EVO Design 4G will launch at Boost on May 31st for $299.99 and at Best Buy, Radio Shack and Walmart in June. The device can be paired with Boost's $55 Android Monthly Unlimited (unlimited talk, text and data) plan, which can eventually be brought down $40 per month with six on-time payments. Boost also revealed that, later this year, it'll begin reducing the 3G/4G speeds of users to speeds of 256/kbps when a customer exceeds 2.5GB of data usage in a month.
So there you go, Virgin and Boost customers. It's great to see 4G WiMAX connectivity finally making its way into devices offered by these two carriers, and the EVO V 4G and EVO Design 4G look like great additions to Virgin and Boost's lineups, even if you don't live in one of the 71 markets where WiMAX coverage is available. What do you Virgin and Boost folk make of today's announcements? Any of you planning on jumping onto the WiMAX airwaves once these new devices go on sale?
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