Samsung Epic 4G with WiMAX Might Launch in Just Under a Week

The eagerly-anticipated Samsung Epic 4G is reportedly going to be released by Sprint in the middle of next week.

This Android OS smartphone is going to be well supplied with cutting-edge features, such as WiMAX, a 1 GHz processor, a Super AMOLED touchscreen, and dual cameras.

The Epic 4G will debut on Wednesday, August 11, if an unconfirmed report is correct. This will be a significant launch for Sprint -- it's second smartphone with WiMAX -- and many of its retail stores will be opening at 8:00 am on that day.

The cost for this model has not yet leaked out, but given its feature set and Sprint's pricing practices, it's likely to be $200 with a two-year contract.

Preview of the Samsung Epic 4G
This smartphone is going to follow on the heels of the very popular HTC EVO 4G, Sprint's first model with WiMAX. This 4G standard will give it peak download speeds of up to 12 Mbps, and average download speeds of 2-4 Mbps in areas where WiMAX is available.

The Epic 4G is going to be a slider, with a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and a landscape-oriented QWERTY keyboard.

It is going to debut running Android OS 2.1 on a 1 GHz Samsung Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor with 512 MB of RAM, and an upgrade to Android OS 2.2 is in development.

As it will run Google's operating system, this model will come with a suite of communication, entertainment, and productivity applications. Many of these will tie into Google services like YouTube and Gmail, but users will also be able to get their business mail through Microsoft Exchange.

The Epic 4G is going to have a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with an LED flash and support for 720p video recording, as well as a front-facing VGA camera for video conferencing.

It is going to come with a 16 GB microSD memory card, and users will have the option to upgrade this to a 32 GB card themselves.

In addition to WiMAX, this smartphone is going to support Sprint's 3G (EV-DO Rev. A) network and offer Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1. The Epic 4G will be able to share its 4G or 3G wireless data connection with five other devices over Wi-Fi.

Other features of this Samsung device are going to include the Swype text-entry system, a GPS receiver, a 1500 mAh battery, a six-axis motion sensor, a proximity sensor, and a light sensor.

Overall, the Epic 4G is going to be 4.9 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches and 5.5 ounces. 

This model is a version of the Samsung Galaxy S with a sliding keyboard and WiMAX added. A version without these has been released by AT&T as the Samsung Captivate and by T-Mobile as the Samsung Vibrant.

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