Sprint has launched the “LivePro,” an Android-based, ZTE-built DLP projector and 3G/4G mobile hotspot shareable by eight WiFi-users, with a 4-inch display.

ZTE showed off the LivePro at January’s CES show as its “Projector Hotspot“, and it’s now coming to the U.S. via Sprint under the LivePro name. On July 11, Sprint will begin selling the device for $450, or $299 with a two-year contract. Of course, the real money is in the data plans, which start at $35 per month for 3GB of data.

Sprint LivePro
(click image to enlarge)

The Sprint LivePro combines a 100-lumens DLP (digital light processing) mini-projector with a 3G or 4G mobile hotspot for up to eight WiFi-connected devices. The 4.7 x 4.7 x 1.1-inch device is compatible with the Sprint Spark 4G LTE service, which is claimed to hit peak wireless speeds of up to 50-60Mbps.

To promote the LivePro, Sprint spins a tale of a road warrior who shows up for the big presentation only to find the projector is broken. The hero whips out the LivePro, and all is well.

Sprint ends there, but we will continue the scenario. The presentation bombs, even at the available HD resolution projected for an up to 10-foot display. You make up for your dismal PowerPoint and unfortunate case of the hiccoughs by offering attendees free WiFi. To sweeten the pot, you let them display their own presentations on the projector via the HDMI port or Miracast WiFi mirroring. If that’s not enough, they can plug into the LivePro’s 5000mAh battery, which can also act as a wireless recharging station. Another winning road show.

LivePro rear view
(click image to enlarge)

Running the Android 4.2 (“Jelly Bean”) show on the LivePro is a dual-core, Cortex-A9 Snapdragon MSM8930 (Snapdragon 400), clocked at 1.2GHz. You get 1GB RAM, 4GB flash, a microSD slot, a USB port, and the aforementioned HDMI port. If the built-in speaker is not good enough for you, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack and a Bluetooth connection for connecting higher quality gear.


Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

The projector offers a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, with either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. All this is controllable via the 4-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, which also offers Android standards like Google Mobile services, Google Maps, and Google Play.

Specifications listed for the Sprint LivePro include:

• Processor — Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8930 (Snapdragon 400) with 2x Cortex-A9 cores at 1.2GHz
• Memory:
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB flash
  • MicroSD slot for up to 32GB
• Display — 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen with Gorilla Glass
• DLP projector:
  • 10 inches to 10 feet displays
  • 1280 x 800 native resolution, up to 1920 x 1080 max.
  • 1,000:1 contrast ratio
  • 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio
  • 100 lumens brightness
  • 20,000 hour lamp life
• Wireless:
  • Supports 3G/4G cellular, including Sprint Spark LTE
  • 802.11 b/g/n
  • Mobile hotspot for up to 8x WiFi users
  • Miracast support
  • Bluetooth
• Other I/O:
  • HDMI port
  • USB port
  • 3.5mm stereo headset/speaker jack
• Other hardware features – Speaker
• Software/services — Google Mobile, Google Maps, Google Play
• Battery — 5000mAh Lithium-ion; backup charging for mobile phones
• Weight — 14.1 oz (400 g)
• Dimensions — 4.7 x 4.7 x 1.1 in. (121 x 121 x 29mm)
• Operating system — Android 4.2

“Whether it’s a boardroom proposal or backyard movie night, Sprint LivePro is a one-of-a-kind device that combines the enhanced LTE network capabilities of Sprint Spark with an easily portable projector that helps you get work done or keep the family entertained,” stated David Owens, senior vice president of Product Development, Sprint.

 
Further information

The Sprint LivePro will be available from Sprint on July 11 for $450, or $299 with a two-year contract. Data plans range from $35 per month for 3GB of data, rising to $80 per month for 12GB. More information may be found at this Sprint LivePro announcement.