Sprint announced Thursday that it will launch a variant of the Samsung Galaxy S Pro, branded the Epic 4G, on Tuesday, August 31. The Epic 4G is the only Galaxy S smartphone with 4G capability, and unlike the recent Captivate and Vibrant models that launched on AT&T and T-Mobile respectively, it has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a front-facing VGA camera.
Like other Galaxy S smartphones, the Epic 4G is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird ARM processor. It features a 4" Super AMOLED touchscreen, 5MP autofocus rear-facing camera with LED flash, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a 1500mAh Li-ion battery. It's hard to predict how well that battery will last using WiMAX, but the GSM/UMTS variants we have in testing right now seem to have good battery life.
The device will ship with Android 2.1, though Sprint is promising an update to Froyo "in the coming months." Out of the box, however, it will support visual voicemail, mobile hotspot capabilities, DLNA media streaming, and a library of movies and TV shows to purchase and download to the device.
Sprint is also positioning the Epic 4G for gaming with an included six-axis motion sensor and preloaded racing gameAsphalt 5.
With its partnership with Clear, Sprint already has 4G service in many major markets. The company notes that it will be launching service by the end of this year in Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Washington, DC as well. You'll definitely want to check and see if 4G service is available in your area before considering the Epic 4G.
The Epic 4G will sell for $249.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Monthly plans, which include voice, texting, and data along with a required $10 per month "Premium Data" surcharge, start at $80 per month. Using the mobile hotspot feature will cost you another $30 per month. Sprint will start taking presale orders beginning this Friday, August 13.
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