Stores prep for debut of Evo 3D phone

Will Friday's U.S. release of the first 3-D smartphone turn out like the blockbuster opening for "Avatar" or fall flat like the "Jonas Brothers" in 3-D?

Sprint Nextel, the exclusive carrier of HTC's Evo 3D smartphone, is certainly convinced things will go well. It plans to staff Sprint retail stores starting at 8 a.m. Friday to handle any potential morning rush at launch.

Best Buy, too, is throwing its weight behind the phone's debut by opening at 8 a.m. Its doors typically open two hours after that in many locations.

The Evo 4G, which was made available to Sprint customers about a year ago, was the first cell phone in the U.S. to take advantage of a fourth-generation data network. It was also the biggest commercial hit on Sprint's hands in years. Executives touted it as a device that "can stand head to head with the iPhone," as Sprint director Teresa Kellett told CNN last year.

Sprint had less success with a followup: the Evo Shift 4G, which had a smaller screen.

An extension of the Evo brand, the new 3D Android phone is aimed at a similar market with hopes of becoming another winner. Like the Evo 4G, the 3D model caters to video watchers, with the same size 4.3-inch touchscreen. The 3D phone doesn't have a built-in kickstand for hands-free video watching like its predecessor, but HTC will sell a special case.

"When you get the really big screen, the really fast processor," Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said recently, "they use it more."

As the Evo 3D name implies, movie buffs may also appreciate the ability to watch "Avatar" and other flicks in their full 3-D glory -- without the need for special glasses. The technology is similar to the screen wizardry in Nintendo's 3DS hand-held video-game system.

On Friday morning, Sprint will hold in-store feature demonstrations of the Evo 3D.

But the wireless company has little chance of drawing a first-day crowd anywhere near the size of Apple's happy campers. The iPhone is now available on the two largest U.S. carriers, AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless. In total subscription, Sprint is a distant third. AT&T plans to release its own 3-D smartphone this summer, called the Thrill 4G from LG Electronics.

Best Buy, which has struggles of its own and plans to downsize floor space in its stores, is still giving the Evo 3D a hearty endorsement.

Scott Anderson, an executive for the retail giant, describes the new handset as "iconic" in an e-mailed statement.