Sprint Nextel said “record” sales of its 4G phone led to temporary shortages after the device hit shelves on Friday.

The carrier claimed the number of HTC Evo 4G devices sold Friday were three times the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined, marking the largest quantity of a single phone sold in one day ever for Sprint.

“It is terrific to see customers react so positively to this device and the innovative experience it brings to them,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse in a statement.

Sprint said it was “working around the clock” to increase inventory of the HTC device, with some retail outlets getting daily deliveries of the 4G phone.

“HTC EVO 4G has more than lived up to our expectations that it would be one of the most anticipated technology products of the year,” said Sprint product development executive Kevin Packingham. “We are working closely with our partners at HTC to increase the supply and get Evo 4G into the hands of everyone who wants one as quickly as possible.”

BTIG Research analyst Walter Piecyk estimates Sprint sold at least 250,000 HTC Evos through retail stores over its launch weekend and said the number could have topped 300,000 with pre-orders.

The HTC Evo is the first 4G handset to hit the U.S. market. The Android 2.1 device has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor and can support up to eight devices through its Wi-Fi hot spot capability.