EVO breaks Sprint sales records

June 4th was a huge day for Sprint. Not only did they launch the nation’s first 4G phone and the world’s hottest Android, the EVO sold more on launch day than the Palm Pre and Samsung Instinct – two previous sales record holders for Sprint – did in their first three days of availability… combined. Wow. It looks like America is stoked for 4G, and hot to trot for Android.

Early morning line ups lead to inventory shortages at 22,000 Sprint retail locations and partner outlets. Sprint and HTC are struggling to meet the demand of pre-order customers. Sprint published a news release to capitalize on EVO’s early popularity. It reads, in part:

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.”

In other EVO news, users are waiting on availability of Qik and using Fring for video calls in the meantime.


Via Sprint