Shouldn't come as much surprise, but Sprint has announced that the HTC Evo 4G has taken over the top spot as its hottest one-day seller, beating out the Palm Pre (which just turned 1) and the Samsung Instinct.
Sprint didn't actually give any numbers (we've had retailers unofficially give us estimates between 25,000 and 50,000, and the developer of Radar Now! estimates as many as 45,000 to 60,000 devices activated over the weekend.
Sprint also acknowledged that some stores are having problems keeping the Evo in stock (that's a bad problem to have, huh?) and that Sprint and HTC are diligently working around the clock to increase inventory in all sales channels. Additional shipments are arriving in retail stores on a regular basis with many stores seeing daily deliveries.
Regardless, it's been quite the weekend for Sprint, HTC and -- judging by everything we see going on in our Evo 4G forums -- you, as well. Full presser after the break. [Sprint]
HTC EVOTM 4G Breaks Sales Records for Sprint on Launch Day; America's First 4G Phone is a Hit with Customers OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Jun 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Friday, June 4, was an early morning for thousands of customers who lined up several hours before Sprint (NYSE: S) stores opened their doors in anticipation of the first day of sales for America's first 3G/4G phone, HTC EVOTM 4G. Customers were anxious to get their hands on HTC EVO 4G providing record sales figures for Sprint stores around the country. Friday sales of HTC EVO 4G marked the largest quantity of a single phone sold in one day ever for Sprint - the record was previously held by both Samsung InstinctTM and Palm PreTM. In addition, the total number of HTC EVO 4G devices sold on launch day was three times the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined. "HTC EVO 4G is a clear winner for customers with the powerful combination of an amazing multimedia experience in 3G coverage areas that becomes even better in our growing number of 4G markets. It is terrific to see customers react so positively to this device and the innovative experience it brings to them," said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. The record pace of HTC EVO 4G sales led to temporary shortages of the device at some of the 22,000 sales locations across the United States, including Sprint retail stores, national retail partners including RadioShack, Best Buy and Walmart, and indirect dealers. Sprint and HTC are diligently working around the clock to increase inventory in all sales channels. Additional shipments are arriving in retail stores on a regular basis with many stores seeing daily deliveries. "HTC EVO 4G has more than lived up to our expectations that it would be one of the most anticipated technology products of the year," said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president - Product Development for Sprint. "We are working closely with our partners at HTC to increase the supply and get EVO 4G into the hands of everyone who wants one as quickly as possible." RAVE REVIEWS ROLLING IN Respected technology and telecommunications media and analysts lavished HTC EVO 4G with praise through its opening weekend: CNET, LAPTOP Magazine and eWeek gave HTC EVO 4G awards for Best of Show when it was announced at CTIA this spring. It was also recently cited on MobileTechReview's Best Smartphones and Best Touch Screen Phones lists. Sprint customers joined in the praise as well: Customer favorites on HTC EVO 4G's long list of features include the 4.3-inch screen, dual 8MP video camera capable of capturing HD quality and front-facing 1.3MP camera. They also appreciate the HDMI output jack making it simple to start a movie for your children in the backseat of the car with the phone and then connect to an HDTV to finish it when you arrive at home. 1 Business customers highlight its super-fast 1GHz processor, simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G or Wi-Fi coverage areas enabling Web surfing and more during conversation, and built-in mobile hotspot for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices.2 AMAZING AT 3G, UNBELIEVABLE AT 4G Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 33 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G2,giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today. HTC EVO 4G's exciting features and applications are compelling and powerful in a 3G world, but they become even more amazing when experienced with 4G speeds. Sprint 4G covers 43 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 33 markets: Georgia - Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii - Honolulu, Maui; Idaho - Boise; Illinois - Chicago; Maryland - Baltimore; Missouri - Kansas City; Nevada - Las Vegas; North Carolina - Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon - Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania - Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, York; Texas - Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington - Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G. In 2010, Sprint expects to launch 4G service in multiple markets, including but not limited to, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. For more details on HTC EVO 4G, please visit www.sprint.com/EVO.
Reader comments
Sprint says Evo 4G saw record one-day sales, working to ease shortages
I hope iPhone news will not take over Evo sales. Sprint needs to promote the Evo by comparing with iPhone. They screwed up with Pre and looks to me are going to do the same with Evo. Remember those instinck commercials anyone ? I want them now with Evo replacing the instinct.
The Instinct Vs iPhone commercials for your viewing pleasure
Some of them are not relevant today. Evo should replace them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhJxOG_2cuo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2usoRyT6P8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtP6ObPCTj8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zotw7CrXVyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyNvHTKPJc4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1t--KcUcY0
And the Classic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51YQURDizhE
They should SO bring back this add campaign with the EVO as soon as the new iPhone comes out.
That phone was such crap though.
Imagine how many more sales Sprint would have had if they actually advertised this phone with some commercials, maybe a month before the launch. Those numbers are without any ads at all.
I agree. I don't understand why they didn't do a big advert campaign for the phone at all, even after the launch. But to play devils advocate, I'm not sure it would matter anyway. Verizon has the Incredible/Droid, ATT has the soon to be released iphone HD, and T-mob has a new Mytouch and N1. I just don't think anyone is willing to switch carriers/brand, so I doubt a strong campaign would have brought any additional money anyway. You have the non-smart phone users, but I also doubt they are willing to switch carrier. I hate to say it, but I suspect the only big shake up will be the launch of a power house Android Device on ATT or the iphone coming to other carriers.
According to this Sprint has over 20,000 store selling Evo, most of them sold out. Only 65K are estimated sold? That would only be about 3 units per store. It's probably more like 200K+ sold.
One thing for sure, they didn't make enough for launch.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/07/htc-evo-4g-blows-away-sprints-fir...
Sprint said Evo sold 3X higher than Instinct or Pre. Pre sold about 35K first weekend, what did Instinct sell? Droid sold 100K its first weekend. Sprint/HTC screwed up not making enough.
http://moconews.net/article/419-sprint-says-4g-phone-experiencing-tempor...
Business Week says sprint likely sold 320K units first weekend.
[url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-07/sprint-says-evo-4g-phone-bre... Says Evo 4G Phone Breaks One-Day Sales Record (Update1) - BusinessWeek[/url]
I was just going to say something similar. The article states that there are 22,000 sales locations and they only had 45k - 65k activations? That isn't too damned impressive with only 2 to 3 sales PER store. I am assuming these activations are also including web orders as well. In any case it seems like the numbers are wrong.
There is no way the evo only sold 20-60k; devices over the weekend.
A sprint manager told me that the pre sold 153000 in its first weekend and the instinct sold 130000 in its first weekend.
Simple math shows that the evo sold around 850000+ on Friday alone.
((153000*3) + (130000*3))
Thats not even including the sales it may have made on Saturday and Sunday
Wow iPhone does those numbers on preorders alone. Reason this phone is a hit is it is the only thing is the only top phone they have.
Same can be said for the iPhone. It is the only thing on top that AT&T has. So what's your point?
Hey @moosc.....the iphone forum is at www.tipb.com .......but it is kind of funny how you couldnt resist but to look at the Android forums ;) have a nice day
Me thinks I smell a troll ...
@moosc ... you just got served
nvm
apperently reading the press release before reporting on it is nto required.
Friday sales of HTC EVO 4G marked the largest quantity of a single phone sold in one day ever for Sprint - the record was previously held by both Samsung InstinctTM and Palm PreTM. In addition, the total number of HTC EVO 4G devices sold on launch day was three times the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined.
That puts the total amount of Evos sold on friday alone around 850,000
Thats exactly what i just said. It's crazy to me that they aren't making this as much of a big deal. It's very likely that the total sales over the weekend are well over 1 million which is on the scale of the iphone 3gs.
I'm guessing that maybe the tech blogs are waiting for exact figures but with the given information its easy to come to a pretty good estimate.
I'm thinking those are definitely the wrong numbers. Every Best Buy and Sprint Store in town here sold out the first day. They weren't sure when they could get new stock either.
When's the last time we saw sales like this for a phone without an ad campaign?
EVO!!!!
Thats crazy stuff. Glad a phone this good is getting noticed.
45,000 to 60,000 sales?
Amazed you wrote that on two counts:
1) I can't believe you think thats good sales. iPhone 3GS sold million+ first weekend. Sounds like a fanboy talking if someone thinks 45,000 sales on an opening weekend will ever give the iPhone competition. I dislike fanboyism. Just tell it like it is. The truth will set you free.
2) I think the EVO sold WAY more than 45,000 to 60,000. Local checks in my area had all the Sprint stores selling like crazy. In the early afternoon they were still doing capacity control and limiting people who could come in. Another store had 2 left which sold while I was waiting.
Its received great buzz. The phone looks awesome.
I thought I had heard 400,000 were ordered. I wouldn't be surprised if they've sold out their initial supply. Sprint should publish the number. I think it would be impressive and give iPhone 4 potential customers pause and make then consider the EVO instead.
Are your sales estimates comparing one-day sales? Sprint is saying that "the total number of HTC EVO 4G devices sold on launch day was three times the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined."
The market analysts are saying that 3x the combined 3 days on day one would be 225,000-320,000 EVO's on day one.
During my commute home on Friday (launch day), I called every Best Buy, Shack and Sprint Corp store on the way home (about 24 stores over a 52-mile range) and had no luck. I did get on several wait lists for a "come first thing Saturday morning we will be releasing non-pickups". Store opened @ 11am and had my gear out by 12:15pm. Loving it.