On Tuesday, Sprint Nextel Corp. formally launched the first 4G phone in U. S.

Named the Evo, it is manufactured by HTC Corp. Sprint did not disclose the price of the device and just said that it is slated for release this summer.

The Overland Park, Kan., carrier requires the Evo to do well since that would give a spark to its early fourth-generation, or 4G, objectives. Sprint considers 4G as a way attracting the most profitable consumers who are prepared to sign a long-term contract. Over the past three years, the carrier has lost around 9 million customers.

Sprint is competing to get people on its network as it expects to make a lead over the other carriers in 4G.

The Evo, generally known as the Supersonic within the company, runs on the latest version of Google Inc.'s Android operating system. The 4G handset sports a big 4.3-inch screen, like the HTC HD2 that was recently launched on T-Mobile USA, a part of Deutsche Telekom.

It is equipped with two cameras, including a front-facing one, which is used for video conferencing. The device's ability to handle high-definition video is one of the key selling points for Sprint and the 4G network. The phone also can act like a mobile hotspot and create a Wi-Fi connection for eight other devices.

Sprint Product Executive, David Owens, said, "Even if you're not in a 4G market, it'll be one of the best phones out there".