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This post was last updated at 3:05 p.m., PT.
The wait for the Samsung Epic 4G is almost over. Sprint announced late Wednesday evening that its second 4G smartphone will be available on August 31 for $249.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.
The carrier will take preorders starting August 13 through an online reservation process. On Friday, you can head over to Sprint’s dedicated Epic 4G page to reserve a phone for purchase, while supplies last. Customers can then pick up their phones on August 31 and must complete their purchase by September 1, 6 p.m., local time, otherwise you lose your reservation. The phone will also be sold at Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Wal-mart Stores, but no word yet on whether these retailers will take preorders.
As part of Samsung’s Galaxy S series, the Epic 4G features a 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen, a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and a 5-megapixel camera with HD video capture. Unlike the others, however, the Epic offers a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, front-facing camera for video chats, and of course, 4G. You’ll also be able to use the smartphone as a mobile hot spot (3G or 4G) for up to five devices.
We’ll have a full review up for you soon, but in the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on the device below.
Update: RadioShack will also be taking limited preorders on August 13. Customers can reserve an Epic 4G by buying a $50 gift card, which will then be applied to the purchase price of the phone when the handsets arrive in stores on August 31.
