Sprint Claims Record Sales For HTC Evo 4G

Sprint announced on Monday it sold a record number of the Android-based HTC Evo 4G smartphones on the phone’s first day of availability Friday, June 4. The carrier did not give any specific figures, but said it saw temporary shortages of the device at some of its U.S. stores.

Sprint claims Friday marked the largest quantity of a single phone it sold in one day, with the Evo 4G beating the previous records the carrier held with the Samsung Instinct and the Palm Pre. Unfortunately, Sprint did not disclose the exact number of devices it sold, but said it equates to three times the number of Instinct and Pre phones sold over the first three days of availability combined.

The HTC Evo 4G is sold through a network of around 22,000 locations across the U.S., including RadioShack, Best Buy and Walmart. Sprint said it experienced shortages at some of these locations, including its own stores, and that it is working with HTC to replenish the stocks.

“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 of 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.”

The HTC Evo 4G is the first 4G Android smartphone, and was welcomed with mixed reviews. The device features some high-end specs, including an 8-megapixel camera and a large 4.3-inch display (4.5/5 in PC World’s review), but the limited availability of Sprint’s 4G coverage drew criticism toward the device.

To test Evo 4G’s network capabilities, PC World’s Mark Sullivan also travelled the country with the new device, and concluded the he loves the phone, but is disappointed with its network connection.

Have you bought a HTC Evo 4G this weekend? Let us know your first impressions in the comments.