Here comes the Evo Shift 4G, another Sprint 4G phone

Sprint is just running laps around everyone else when it comes to the 4G competition. With two phones already running on its next-generation network, it’s already announcing a third – and it’s coming out soon.

Sprint’s big 4G partner, HTC, has just unveiled a successor to the Evo 4G while other mobile companies are still scrambling to get their first 4G phone.

The Evo Shift 4G will launch on January 9 for $150 after a two-year contract subsidy. This makes it Sprint’s third 4G phone, putting it lightyears ahead of the competition. Other carriers claim their 4G networks offer faster or more powerful service, but until there are phones to back it up, Sprint continues to lap them.

The Shift has a 3.6-inch capacitive touchscreen as well as a 5-megapixel camera and 800 MHz Qualcomm MSM7630 processor. HTC’s Sense interface is present, as is Android 2.2, and we expect it to easily be upgradeable to Android 2.3. These tech specs come from a Sprint press release this morning.

Also mentioned is a new MiFi hotspot for Sprint’s 4G network, allowing users to carry around a tiny little box that gives them fast Internet access anywhere Sprint 4G service is available. But it can also default to 3G if the more advanced network is nowhere to be found. [[Sprint]]