We have some important news for everyone planning to pick up the HTC EVO 4G handset from Sprint on June 4th, as it looks like you’ll need to pay an extra fee per month to make use of video chat features.
As reported from Android Guys, a screenshot of some Sprint training materials has been leaked, and reveals that customers who want video chat will have to pay an extra $4.99 per month, on top of the other fees.
That means that the $10 extra fee for 4G services does not include video calling, and furthermore, the $4.99 has to be paid directly to QIK via PayPal.
Does this mean that Sprint has nothing to do with this extra payment for their customers? Either way, that is $5 per month that Sprint customers shouldn’t really have to pay.
We’ll bring you more details on this soon – give us your reaction to the news. Would you still pay $4.99 for video chat?
No, I wouldn't pay for that. I'm also not a fan of Sprint & HTC advertising their 8-way hotspot, then charging $30 per month for it.
It costs $29/mo to activate the Hotspot feature. None of the extra charges are advertised by Sprint, and this is wrong.
Yeh, the htc evo..i own it. i’ve experced almost every phone on the market worth playing with. This phone is unreal. And the fees this article is talking about is a bunch of “bs”. With sprint you get unlimited everything, and tag on $10 more bc of 4g. Thats it… the video chat is NOT extra. Buy the EVO, u will be amazed at what it can do and actually does.
Do your research, no extra charge.
http://support.sprint.com/support/article/Know_if…
duh! you don't think sprint is getting an income from qik? especially if free services are available elsewhere which would increase the value of the evo. think folks think, follow the money.
Excellent……EVO……
Are you all REALLY that pissed about $4.99? Or even the $14.99 for both 4G and video chat? You do know that still TONS less than the plan needed on At&T or Verizon, and that Verizon and AT&T both CAP THEIR DATA. This charge is not from Sprint, but I doubt QIK is just going to give their service away.
Stop overreacting.
Everyone complaining is literally retarded. Even with the extra $10 for the 4G and the $29.99 for Wifi tethering ( which I'm sure we'll be able to do for free given some time ) you're still saving $20-30 over a comparitive AT&T or Verizon plan. Not to mention it's getting the Froyo 2.2 update with Flash 10.1 and Apps to SD… oh, and most of the iPhone developers are porting their apps to the Android platform so… yeah. Have fun hating Sprint while me and thousands of other customers will be happily enjoying the best, most feature full phone ever… Read more »
Ok, now as far as Qik goes, you have an optimized version installed on the EVO phone and it is believed to be a premium video chat service, so Qik can charge a premium if they want to. No one is forcing this on anyone and that does not mean you can't video chat on the EVO for free. You can by selecting a free video chat app from the Android market instead. To name two of them, Skype and Fring.
In case you noticed, I don't like misconceptions.
Now that I got that out of the way, an $80 Sprint plan for the EVO is still $20 cheaper than the most comparable ATT and Verizon plan with GPS that Sprint includes. That's as fair of a comparison as it gets. Sprint still gives you "any mobile" both to and from, on top of mobile to mobile, longer and unlimited night and weekends, 4G where applies with the most speed capable network and cell device to date and it's backed by the 2nd largest and arguably most consistent 3G network right now. Completely justified even in the case of… Read more »
Again this is a Qik service charge, not Sprint but as usual the internet will twist this into greedy Sprint charging first a $10 fee and now $5 for this. I am going to reiterate that the $10 is a good price for real unlimted data for both 3G and 4G. It is a combo of services you cannot get anywhere else on a cell device and if you could they would probably charge you that $10 fee just the same. The one who comes the closest still limits you once you exceed 5GB and I don't believe it applies… Read more »
How can you blame Sprint for charges by a 3rd party for an App. Does that make YOUR Company liable for any fees I may pay to advertisers on your website? I see Sprint is one of them so isn't this really a charge by PR News. Alan Ng needs to get his head out of his @ss. Does NG stand for "No Good" at reporting?!
Sprint is not charging any additional fees for video chat. Do some research before you make false accusations
Another ignorant Sprint basher. The fee is the cost for using a 3rd party app and has absolutely nothing to do with Sprint. If you think it is unfair for QIK to charge a fee for its program, you should be complaining to QIK. Sheesh.
500 Min Any Mobile Anytime = 69.99 + 10 for Evo = 79.99 total at Sprint which includes Web, email, GPS, Sprint TV, etc Comparable @ Verizon = 69.99 for unlimited talk + 20 for unlimited Text + 30 for Unlimited Web and personal email(extra 15 for business) = 119.99 minimum to even come close to Sprint's package Comparable @ ATT = 69.99 for unlimited talk + 50 for unlimited text and Web for PDA/Smartphone device = 119.99 minimum to even come close to Sprint's package Sprint hasn't even come close to nickel and diming you for anything. If you… Read more »
Everyone expects all these enhancements and the device itself to stay flat priced while the cost to make and stay ahead cost more. Like with any "newer" product that costs go up. You don't into a car dealership expecting your car not to have air bags yet you walk out with a much more expensive car and payment than you had before with no screaming and yelling about it. Lets think about what you actually spend $5 a month on and I bet you can find one thing you don't need any more that could cover this cost. Video mobile… Read more »
I believe skype is available too and that service is free. Everyone needs to calm down and stop with the silly excuses why Sprint has gone too far. Figure out what your talking about before you blame the carrier for all your problems. You've never had mobile video chat before and now before you've even had a chance to use it you are crying about it. Grow up I say and skip McDonalds or that pack of smokes one day out of the month and your $5 is recovered…Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!!!!
This is the doing of Qik, not Sprint. There are free, worthy alternatives. No, I’m not talking about bloaty, ad-riddled crap-ware. Check out fring.com/android and see the “1st free video chat app” for Android. Free.
Does anyone think before they write a friggin’ article? Yes third parties can charge for the use of their apps on Sprint, Verizon, AT&T or any other provider. Are you really that ignorant of how people earn money when they write applications? If you don’t like an app, go find another that is in your price range or better yet, write one. Either way stop whining.
BTW – as an editorial note, have someone with common sense review your stuff before you publish it.
Some seem to overlook the standard application charges………….there are free aps, and then there are ones you pay for. Why would a video chat app be any different than other apps? You have a store of apps to pick and choose from. You can decide if $4.99 is right for you for that specific app or not … just like any other!! I, personally, can not wait, although I will wait until 4G coverage is solid, as someone mentioned. Once Sprint has 4G, me and my family would spend twice that app cost to be able to video chat with… Read more »
I still want this bad ass phone!
Why are you looking at Sprint for a fee Qik charges? You can run Qik on any Android device from any carrier. You can probably run it on you iphone too. You create your account on your PC and can upload from you video camera. NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EVO or Sprint. Give me a break! Greatest phone ever. No matter how you slice it, it is still cheaper monthly than any of the competition that doesn't hold a candle to it. Enjoy the device and stop trying to shoot down the carrier.
No it's not… This has only been stated hundreds of times now on virtually every website. People like you should stop posting unless your 100% certain you know what your talking about. It's an unreasonable and stupid fee by Sprint, but it's not for 4G.
There’s already a free video chat app for the Evo, its called Fring. Goodluck Qik with charging ppl lol
@redmans: yea I agree with you. O and let’s not forget 30 more bucks for the wireless hotspot. 5 for video chat, and 10 bucks for no reason if you don’t live in a 4g city. I’m a very techy guy and I was really crazy about the evo. But sprint is really starting to turn me off. As much as I hate iTunes and AT&T, sprint is really making them look a lot better in comparison. I wonder what about people who already have the simply eerything plan for 99 buck. I wonder if they will have to pay… Read more »
OMG SPRINT I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THIS EVO PHONE BUT COME ON REALLY ALL THESE FEES ARE LIKE TAXES BEFORE YOU BILL COMES MAILED TO YOU! I MIGHT AS WELL GET THE HTC HD2 AND STAY WITH TMOBILE
How is Sprint going “too”(?) far, if Qik is charging the $5?
Obviously from the sound of it, it’s not Sprint’s fault. It’s likely due to Qik’s rising popularity, the fees go straight to Qik NOT Sprint. I personally don’t care… that kind of sucks but I’ll still enjoy my EVO nonetheless. I personally won’t be using the video chat function as I have in reality no need for this feature. I do like to shoot videos so as long as it has that, that’s great. There will be other apps for video chat.
The news just keeps getting worse and worse for this phone… I was excited and anticipating it’s release. I even reserved it at best buy for $50 but looks like I might have to wait to see what apple does with the iPhone 4G. Thanx SPRINT!
not too sure if i should switch to sprint, i put down my $50 deposit for this phone. i hope its worth it
I wouldn't pay the extra $5 bucks. I mean it's pointless if there is said to be hardly any 4g coverage in most of the US why pay for video chat that most likely would be choppy and slow due to slow speeds. I think having to pay for this feature outside of the sprint bill is stupid.
Sprint is not charging anything, the "video-chat feature" is free, the Qik app appears to have a fee. Other apps such as Fring are free to use.
Its not Sprint thats charging for video chat… its Qik. Why should Sprint bare the cost of your use of Qik's service.
Wait for sometime and you may get 10s of free video chat apps from android market.
ah someone will come out with a free version..
is this 10$ a month for the 4g???
And we thought … "No way can Sprint blow another launch…"
Sprint Has Gone to Fucking Far!
Now Sprint is going to fucking far!