HTC 4G Evo smashes previous sales records

HTC's Evo has broken sales records for Sprint

Sprint has announced that sales of the HTC Evo handset over the weekend have set a new on-day sales record for the company.

The carrier did not release sales figures, but claimed that it ran out of stock in some branches. However, there were none of the obvious queues seen for recent iPhone launches.

"The HTC EVO 4G is a clear winner for customers with 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," said Dan Hesse, chief executive of Sprint.

The WiMax phone has a 4.3in screen compared to the iPhone 4's 3.5in display, weighs 20 per cent more and is significantly larger, but is going more for the consumer entertainment user than Apple's handset.

Nevertheless, HTC is looking to establish a firm hold in the US premium smartphone market and has the unique selling point of WiMax coverage.

"It will certainly fly off the shelves as one of the most advanced 3G smartphones available," said Berge Ayvazian, an analyst at Heavy Reading.

"With a 4.3in, 480 x 800 LCD display and a rear kick stand, the EVO looks more like a mobile TV than a phone. I would not mind watching the Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals on this screen in a pinch."