Best Buy jumps the gun on Evo 4G LTE release date

Best Buy has backtracked afer announcing a release date for HTC’s Evo 4G LTE.

The retailer has now sent out emails to customer saying the device has been delayed, but offering no new date.

Best Buy had been accepting pre-orders, telling consumers that the phone would be available today. It is still allowing people to place a pre-order but is no longer promising when it will be available.

The news comes after the International Trade Commission (ITC) blocked HTC smartphones from being imported because it was found to be violating one of Apple’s patents.

The new phone packs in a 1.5 GHz Snapdraggon S4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of memory. It also includes an 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera. The display measures in at 4.7 inches.

The phone comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich built-in, and supports the powerful Beats audio platform. And just like the Evo 4G introduced back in 2009, the Evo 4G LTE has a kickstand for users who want to prop up the phone when watching a movie or listening to music.

Among the other major features of the device are its inclusion of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for seamless data sharing and mobile payments and support for “HD voice,” a new network that aims to improve voice quality on its nationwide service area.

The Evo 4G LTE isn’t the only handset affected by the ITC decision. HTC’s One X phone is also suddenly not available throughout the country, and it’s believed that this is because of the nationwide ban on the device.