Friday, June 4, will mark the release of the HTC EVO 4G - supposedly the world's best smartphone, for the moment at least. The release of the handset, on Sprint network, comes three days ahead of Apple's likely announcement of its next-generation iPhone.

The key features of the $199-priced EVO, which runs the Google Android 2.2 `Froyo" version, include - a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive multi-touchscreen display; 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor; 1GB ROM;
512MB RAM; HTC Sense UI; Bluetooth 2.1; an 8GB microSD card; and 3.5mm headset jack.

In addition, the EVO boasts two cameras - a 8-megapixel back-side camera with dual LED flash; and a 1.3-megapixel front-side camera for video conferencing. The handset also includes FM radio; Amazon MP3 store; and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability for connecting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Equipped with all of Google's standard handset features- including Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Google Goggles, and Google Calendar syncing -, the EVO also has GPS with Sprint Navigation; Qik video sharing; Digital compass; a 1500 mAh battery; and a kickstand to facilitate hands-free viewing.

Vouching for the much-touted high-speed performance of Sprint's HTC EVO 4G, Wall Street Journal tech columnist Walter Mossberg, who tested the handset in Baltimore, said that it delivered "the highest consistent downstream data speeds" he has thus far seen on any cellular network.