Samsung presents the Android slider "Epic 4G"
Video telephony-enabled device competes against iPhone 4
Samsung and the US mobile operator Sprint presented the "Epic 4G" Android smartphone today, Monday. This is a variant of the four-inch Galaxy S device, which is also equipped with a slider keyboard. The device is also only the second smartphone with which Sprint promises 4G data rates with WiMAX in the USA.
The companies are thus positioning the Epic 4G as the ideal smartphone for business users who also value entertainment features. Like other Galaxy S variants, the slider model relies on a second, front-facing camera for video telephony.
Epic 4G: Android slider with front camera (Photo: Samsung)
FaceTime competition
At the same time as the Epic 4G, the "Fascinate", a keyboard-less Galaxy S version for the mobile operator Verizon, was presented today. There, however, the front camera is dispensed with, with which the Epic 4G competes in particular against the iPhone 4 and its FaceTime video telephony.
Suitable software can already be found in the Android Market, since VoIP video telephony has been enabled on Android since the end of May. Unlike FaceTime, this app is cross-platform. Because fring offers video telephony-compatible software for the iPhone and many Nokia devices, among other things.{jumi [plugins/content/jumi/newsgrafik.php]}
Slider variant
The "Epic 4G" largely corresponds to the Galaxy S presented in March. The equipment includes a one-gigahertz processor, a five-megapixel camera and a Super AMOLED display in four-inch format. In addition to the touchscreen of the basic model, the Epic 4G also comes with a keyboard that simplifies long text input.
This confirms rumors about a Pro version of the Galaxy S, which arose soon after the initial announcement. Samsung has not yet given any information on whether or under what name this variant with keyboard will also come to Europe. A specific US start date is also still pending. It is certain that the Epic 4G will soon be upgraded to Android 2.2 to offer real Flash support.(ck)
.