Samsung Epic 4G Touch Available for Pre-Order, But Not Through Sprint

The Samsung Epic 4G Touch is set to debut from Sprint soon, and Wirefly, an online electronic retailer, is already taking pre-orders for this cutting-edge smartphone for $50 less than its official price. 

The Epic 4G Touch, Sprint's re-branded version of Samsung’s Galaxy SII, is going to retail for $200 with a two-year contract, though Wirefly is offering the device for $150. Sprint itself hasn't yet made the device available for pre-order. 

While Sprint’s first version of the Epic featured a hard pull-out QWERTY keyboard, the next-generation Epic will be all touch. The Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread-based smartphone is going to feature an 8MP rear-facing camera, in addition to a 2MP front-facing shooter. The handset will pack a dual-core processor and will connect to Sprint's 4G network, evident by its name.

Unlike AT&T’s version of the device, which will sport a 4.2-inch screen, the Epic 4G Touch will offer a 4.5-inch display. The display will offer Samsung's brighter Super AMOLED Plus technology. 

Some Sprint-specific extras featured on the Epic 4G Touch are going to include Sprint Mobile Wallet, Sprint Zone, Sprint TV & Movies, NASCAR Sprint Mobile and Voice Talk-enabled Sprint Navigation. The carrier is said to release the Samsung Epic 4G Touch on Friday, Sept. 16. 

After debuting in Europe months earlier, the Samsung Galaxy SII finally hit the U.S., as Samsung unveiled the handset at an event on Aug. 31. The manufacturer showcased three devices and revealed the differences between Sprint's Epic 4G Touch and AT&T and Verizon's versions of the smartphone.