After enticing mobile buffs with Samsung Champ, Omnia Lite, Eternity II and Flight II handsets, the company again grabs attention with the introduction of a new mobile phone. Samsung takes center stage again with its Epic 4G phone arriving through Sprint later this month. The handset is known to be the only 4G Galaxy S smartphone apart from being the only one to sport a full slide-out QWERTY keypad.
This Android 2.1 handset comes fitted with a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display that further accommodates certain advanced touchscreen gestures like multi-touch pinch, long tap and zoom and vertical and horizontal swiping. Other than a QWERTY keypad, the handset also consists of virtual keyboard and Swype technology that seamlessly allows sending of text messages and emails comfortably.
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, commented, “With its beautiful display and slide-out keyboard, Samsung Epic 4G is a powerful tool for our customers, and it extends Sprint’s 4G leadership with a second strong smartphone option. As we continue to lead the 4G revolution, we are proud to offer our customers two 4G smartphones, the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot and several 4G USB modems to access the fast speeds on our 4G network in more than 48 cities today. 4G enhances entertainment, gaming and business applications.”
Users can capture images and HD videos (720p) via the 5MP camera or camcorder with autofocus, power LED flash and 4x digital zoom. The phone also supports a VGA front-facing camera for video-chatting and more. Its Mobile Hotspot capability allows users to share 3G or 4G experience on up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices. The phone also runs on a 1500 mAH removable battery, and features visual voicemail and Wi-Fi b/g/n.
Entertainment buffs will have to wait for some more time as the Samsung Media Hub will soon be releasing on this handset. With this integration, the device is claimed to be the only 4G smartphone to feature a video store alongside movies and TV shows for purchase or rental. In the near future, the handset will also allow sharing of user-generated video content with friends and family through the AllShare service. This feature will wirelessly share stored music, pictures and HD video to other DLNA certified home electronics like HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras, printers and more.
Furthermore, mobile aficionados can enjoy an enhanced gaming experience with the six-axis motion sensing that uses an accelerometer and geo-magnetic sensor to interpret simple movements with accuracy. Users can take full advantage of the gaming capabilities, as the handset comes pre-loaded with a demo of Asphalt 5 racing game as well.
Alongside, business enthusiasts can also enjoy improved speed and display innovation of favorable multimedia experiences in various vertical industries like healthcare, education, public safety, construction and professional services. Besides, it extends support for push email and integrated calendar services like Exchange ActiveSync, Google and Yahoo!, as well as full support for Google Mobile Services. In the coming months, Sprint plans to upgrade the device to Android 2.2, enhanced EAS support, and improved browser performance, support of Flash 10 x, voice dialing over Bluetooth and application storage on external memory.
The Samsung Epic 4G can be purchased at a price of $249.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and 2-year service agreement with a new line or eligible upgrade. It will be available from August 31, 2010 on all Sprint retail channels and company’s official website, RadioShack, Best Buy and Sprint stores.