By 
While users clamor in excitement for the upcoming Motorola Atrix 4G, it is easy to forget AT&T is launching a few other 4G devices this year, and an announcement has just gone out that the HTC Inspire 4G will be the first. The Inspire 4G will launch on February 13th at a quite the incredible price. Just $99.99 on a two-year contract. [That’s the same price we saw leaked on Amazon last week, further lending credence to the $150 price point given for the Motorola Atrix 4G through the same channel.] The HTC Inspire 4G page over at AT&T is chock full of the details.
The timing of the release lines up as a perfect counterstrike for the launch of the iPhone 4 on Verizon’s network. AT&T has expressed it’s interest in beefing up their Android line now that exclusivity on Apple’s handset has run out. Don’t forget the Samsung Infuse 4G will also join the Inspire and Atrix in AT&T’s lineup. You can check out the full release below:
HTC Inspire 4G Arrives for AT&T Customers on Feb. 13
AT&T 4G Smartphone is the First of Many Planned for the Nation’s Fastest Mobile Broadband Network
DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —Key facts
- AT&T* will begin selling the HTC Inspire™ 4G on Feb. 13.
- The first 4G mobile phone offered by AT&T, the HTC Inspire 4G is the first to run the Android 2.2 platform and AT&T Mobile Hotspot application.
- The 4.3-inch super LCD display on the HTC Inspire 4G will be the largest in the AT&T portfolio, and the first to offer the next-generation HTC Sense experience.
- HTC Inspire 4G will cost $99.99 after a two-year agreement beginning Feb. 13 in company owned retail stores and online at www.wireless.att.com.
4G Portfolio
AT&T is the leader in smartphones and expects to widen that lead in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to an industry-leading Android portfolio in the U.S. in 2011 and said it plans to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter. The HTC Inspire 4G is the first of more than 20 4G devices AT&T plans to deliver in 2011. AT&T has completed the deployment of HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with Ethernet or fiber backhaul.
HTC Inspire™ 4G
The HTC Inspire™ 4G will be the first 4G smartphone in AT&T stores and will have the largest screen of any AT&T smartphone, with a 4.3-inch super LCD display, and will offer an 8-megapixel camera with HD video recording. Running on the Android 2.2 platform, the HTC Inspire 4G will be the first smartphone in the U.S. to feature the next-generation HTC Sense™ experience with cloud services. The HTC Inspire 4G will also be the first to introduce AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built into the smartphone, allowing users to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
Exclusively available to AT&T customers for $99.99 after a two-year agreement, the HTC Inspire 4G will include a 1 GHz processor, Dolby® Mobile and SRS WOW HD sound, and a premium, aluminum unibody design. HTC Inspire 4G comes preloaded with a Blockbuster and eReader application to keep users entertained on the go. For more information, visit www.att.com/inspire4G.
With the next-generation of HTC Sense, the HTC Inspire 4G offers even more ways to stay connected, including FriendStream™, which delivers Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates in a consolidated view. The HTC Inspire 4G also offers customers the ability to pinpoint the location of a lost phone on a map and send a command to make the phone sound an alert – even while on “silent” mode – through the htcsense.com website. If needed, owners can also remotely wipe all of the phone’s data with a single command in addition to forwarding calls and text messages to a different number.
Quotes
“We are kicking off an exciting year for AT&T’s smartphone portfolio, and leading off with our first 4G phone,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With its iconic design, 4G speeds and awesome features, Inspire 4G is going to attract new customers and please existing AT&T subscribers.”
“With a 4.3 inch screen, latest version of the HTC Sense experience and a sleek unibody aluminum design, the HTC Inspire 4G is the first true superphone to launch at under $100, bringing unparalleled power to more people than ever before,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas.
1 Mobile broadband coverage is not available in all areas. 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Will be available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Learn more at att.com/network.
2 Limited time offer. Two-year contract required. Qualified customers only. Early Termination Fee up to $325. HTC Inspire 4G requires a minimum data service starting at $15/mo.
3 Mobile Hotspots requires a DataPro Tethering Plan. Devices connected to your Mobile Hotspot use data from your DataPro Tethering Plan. DataPro Tethering Plans are not unlimited and significant charges may be incurred if the included data allowance is exceeded. Performance may vary depending on the number of devices connected and other factors.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
[Press Release | Thanks, Brett!]
nice deal, as long as AT&T doesn’t cripple it.
If they really wanted a perfect counterstrike for the Verizon iPhone they would have given us the Atrix! How much longer do I have to wait????
i hope the release it this month prob gonna be 13th or 14th
Looks like an Evo Shift without the keyboard.
I wonder how long it will take to get the unbranded Desire HD rom ported.
wow just 99 dollars
I am bored by this always similar HTC design…..no FFC….skip
How bout a date for my Atrix AT&T?
The problem isn’t the absence of a Front Facing Camera — it’s the absence of a decent sized battery to power that massive 4.3″ screen.
I turn your attention here:
http://bit.ly/fUAb8e
Look under Tech Specs and tell me what size battery (in mAh) you see posted there. Appalling.
(Yawn)….this is a stripped down EVO but is also a cheaper version of the Thunderbolt (250 vs 100). The crippling is a given with Big Blue so it has to be rooted to take advantage of its specs. BUT, this is a great step for AT&T given they finally got out of bed with Apple. Kudos!
Stripped down Evo?? It has more RAM, newer snapdragon processor, and the new sense (which is the first in the US).. The screen is the same size as the Evo though lol. This is a great deal
Have you even seen the design? It looks nothing like the Evo. It has a unibody aluminum casing. How is it a “stripped down Evo”? It has a better processor, more RAM (768MB v 512MB), more internal storage, Sense 2.0 (which is a HUGE upgrade). It may not have the gimmicks (FFC and kickstand) but it completely owns the Evo in terms of functionality (due to Sense 2.0) and performance.
Also, yes the battery is small but it utilizes the newer generation of Snapdragon processors which consumes less power.
@Eloquence BATTERY
1230 mAh
@ Eloquence
The new Snapdragon Processor uses a lot less energy when compared to phones like the Evo.
Also, I spent 8 bucks on EBay for a 1600 mAh battery for my Nexus One.
Anybody knows the price without a contract?
$99 is nice deal.
@Phandroid
I can see that when I tweet ur post u have Rt@tweetmeme
Instead it sud be phandroid
Please check
You are losing twitter traffic due to this
ATUL
As far as battery, one also have to understand, GSM uses less power then a CDMA phone, especially one with a WiMax radio in it. All in all it probably even out with the EVO batterywise.
I got a question for the US readers. When the price is listed, there’s an on contract price, and an off contract price. If I were to walk in to an AT&T store, pick a phone, and buy it off contract, how much would I pay? For example, the leaked Atrix price is 150 on, and 599 off contract. If I go to AT&T and put 599 on the table, could I buy the phone? Or are there any taxes etc that add up to the 599 price, and would make me pay more money?
I’d really appreciate an answer :-)
Yeah you probably have to pay a sales tax which is different depending on the state. This is different depending on the state. I believe there is no sales tax in Oregon.
Few other states also have no sales tax- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States Some cities might charge an extra 1-2%.
that means 10perc max? as it sais in the wiki link? any other addons to the price i should know about before buying?
when the hell is verizon going to lauch a dual core 4g droid phone!! Waiting until june for the bionic SUCKS!
So basically an extra large MyTouch4G with no FFC? Who would buy this with the Atrix to choose from?
@QuantumRand
Easy, HTC builds much better hardware than Moto.
And, Sense > MotoBlur
out of contract price will probably be $499, no more then $599. This is gonna be my choice instead of the atrix by far. Htc has better build quality, software ui, and over phone looks and functionality. Dual core processor means nothing when you have bad software and boot loader locked. Besides what do you need dual core for? There isn’t any games for android that are that graphically intense that you would need a better processor. And dual core eats battery life, why else do you think the atrix is using 1900 mA compared to inspire’s 1230 mA. Also the fact that Moto wants you to buy over $300 worth of accessories and the price of the phone to use all its functions lol
Agree the HTC build quality is top notch. I myself will save a 100 dollar bill and purchase the HTC over the Moto.
$499 is the non-contract price