Mar 21, 2011 16:51 GMT  ·  By

Today, mobile phone carrier Sprint announced that its Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab Android-based devices are becoming Sprint ID-enabled, offering users the possibility to enjoy a complete mobile experience from the company.

Called an “ID pack,” the mobile experience would offer apps, widgets, ringtones, wallpapers, shortcuts and more to Android users, so that they can take advantage of all software tailored for their specific needs in a single download.

Before the end of the week, all Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab owners should be informed on the availability of a new update for their devices, and they would be prompted to download and install it. The update will come over the air.

As soon as the update process is completed, users would see the Sprint ID icon in their Applications Menu, and would have access to Sprint ID. All users are expected to enjoy access to the new update before March 24.

What's more important is that the Samsung Epic 4G users would receive the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system with this update.

Sprint started pushing out the new OS upgrade to Epic 4G users a while ago, but various issues that impacted the update process determined the carrier to pull it down.

The update arrives now on Sprint's Epic 4G devices with Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Bluetooth dialing, support for installing apps on external storage, and with Sprint ID.

Newly purchased Samsung Epic 4G or Samsung Galaxy Tab devices would include Sprint ID right from the start, accessible from the Applications Menu.

Sprint ID was made available in October 2010 on three Android smartphones at the wireless carrier, namely LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio and Samsung Transform.

16 consumer lifestyle ID packs emerged at that time, including Home Base, Health & Fitness, Fashion & Beauty, Socially Connected, Business Pro, Golf Enthusiast, Auto Enthusiast, The Big Apple and Entertainment, as well as branded ID packs from Yahoo!, WHERE and Lo2Yo by LatCel.

“Since launch, brands that have deployed Sprint ID packs include MTV, ESPN and HSN. Select ID packs will be available for download onto Samsung Galaxy Tab and Samsung Epic 4G,” the wireless carrier notes.

Sprint ID-capable devices support the downloading of up to five ID packs, as well as simple switching back and forth between them, or the possibility to swap them for new ones. Customers with Everything Data plans can download Sprint ID packs for free.

“We are very pleased with the success of Sprint ID and excited to expand this rich mobile experience to customers with these two popular devices – Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab,” said John Carney, senior vice president consumer marketing at Sprint.

“Sprint ID handset sales have exceeded our expectations, which is proof that customers, especially those new to smartphones, want an easier way to get apps they’ll enjoy rather than searching through thousands of apps in Android Market. “

As this data about ID pack downloads shows, customers are passionate about certain brands, such as MTV, Yahoo! and ESPN, and are eager to download a complete mobile experience developed by that brand. We expect to see the same excitement from our customers about recently launched ID packs as well as branded packs from other partners we have in the pipeline.”