Samsung's BlackJack II fittingly launches on Black Friday for $150

If you're already drafting a plan of what stores to hit in what order come Black Friday, and you've been craving Samsung's forthcoming BlackJack II, we've got yet another locale that you'll need to show yourself at. CNET has it that Sammie's SGH-i617 will be landing on AT&T tomorrow, and just in case you still weren't connecting the (dark) dots, it'll initially be available only in black. Reportedly, the red edition is slated to surface around December 12th, and both will demand $149.99 and your name on a two-year contract. Don't worry about showing up early, though -- the chances of this thing selling out before noon tomorrow (or ever, to be frank) are slim to none.

[Via MobileBurn]

[Mile @ Nov 22nd 2007 8:32AM]

Is the crack about it never selling out due to demand being low because it's the sux or because they've ensured they have plenty to meet the demand?

[Carbonize @ Nov 22nd 2007 9:16AM]

Damn thats ugly.

[Esat @ Nov 22nd 2007 9:23AM]

It could be worse.

It could look like a dog turd.

[Esat @ Nov 22nd 2007 9:24AM]

Or should that be:

It could be better.

It could look like a dog turd.

Depends on personal preference I guess.

I really should go and do some work....

[CN @ Nov 22nd 2007 9:41AM]

I picked up my BlackJack 2 Wednesday from an AT&T store. I was a big fan of the BJ1 but the phone signal was not so good. I am hoping this will have better signal. I have used the phone for about a day now I am must say it is a nice upgrade and seems to have a better signal.

[acabtp @ Nov 22nd 2007 9:46AM]

Maybe now AT&T will finally release the WM6 update for the BJ1.

[Ricardo @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:03AM]

I would never ever buy any phone that doesn't have a touchscreen. Even a phone with an excellent OS and lots of features doesn't make up for it, like a Nokia N95 for example.

But that is just me, if everyone liked touchscreens Nokia wouldn't sell so much.

[Eric @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:48AM]

Windows Mobile would be hard without a touchscreen, I imagine. But after using an N95 for a couple of days I don't miss it at all.

[Surur @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:12AM]

"Don't worry about showing up early, though -- the chances of this thing selling out before noon tomorrow (or ever, to be frank) are slim to none."

Whats this snarky comment about? The original Blackjack was fairly popular, and this one improves on it in a number of ways e.g. bigger battery, GPS, keyboard.

Or is it just not Apple enough for you?

[Aaron @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:21AM]

It improves on its ugly factor too.

[Surur @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:46AM]

From the various posts I have seen here, it really looks like the bloggers here think they are posting on TUAW (The Ultimate Apple Weblog), and that their audience are all Apple fanboys. They better rethink their editorial tone, before the majority who do not use Apple products gravitate to other gadget sites.

[Tanner @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:58AM]

Dude, why does he have to mean anything by that comment. Why don't you look at the market data and tell us if it sells out. I really doubt it will. The original blackjack was popular but it never "sold out" I don't think this phone will sell out either. There is no hype around it, most people won't even know it is new unless they go to specifically buy a new phone and then see it there. Just because someone says it won't sell out doesn't mean they are saying it is a crappy phone, they are just saying it won't sell out.

@ Surur, nowhere does the article say anything about an iPhone. You are drawing those parallels on your own. So let me get this straight, a phone with no current ad campaign, no hype, no dedicated blogs and not even the most popular of phones to begin with gets an update and because someone says that it won't sell out (which it won't) you automatically assume that they have an apple bias. Give me an f'n break. The "your an apple fanboi" comments are really getting rediculous. This is a mediocre entry level smart phone and will not sell out grow up and stop with the conspiracy theories about all the writers on this site being apple fanboi's. Even if they are that doesn't change the fact that this phone will not gather a line at 5 am of people anxtiously awaiting their new toy.

[Constable Odo @ Nov 22nd 2007 1:50PM]

It might sell out if they have only five in the store. Is that good enough for you? I think the man was trying to say that it will never attain the popularity of an iPhone or is that being too obtuse. If one's an Apple fanboi, then the BJ2 will never be Apple enough. How about you giving both of us a BJ2. Maybe we'll really learn to appreciate it. Uhhh.

[Surur @ Nov 22nd 2007 2:07PM]

That line was really not necessary. The condescending tone towards a pretty advanced smartphone from a popular pedigree is easy to detect but difficult to explain, except from a Apple fanboy.

Maybe I am missing something. Why dont you explain why you find it "mediocre", especially at $150?

[theninthcloud @ Nov 22nd 2007 4:52PM]

Could it be that the "snarky" comment was really just saying that this simply isn't a Black Friday Deal?

Let's try to cut back on the iPhone Conspiracies now, shall we?

[Jake @ Nov 22nd 2007 6:49PM]

Uhm, some stores have ALREADY sold out!!! Take the AT&T store on Lexington and 43rd in NYC, for example. They started selling these things YESTERDAY at all AT&T-owned stores in NYC.

[Craig @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:53AM]

Shouldn't the title of this post be something more like "Keepin' it Real Fake: Part XXXX" ?

[Ian @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:30PM]

why? its real, its coming out, and its by a company that doesnt make nock offs

[Craig @ Nov 23rd 2007 9:16AM]

I'm being facetious but you have to agree that both the design and even the name are a pretty blatant rip-off of the BlackBerry.

[Constable Odo @ Nov 22nd 2007 1:44PM]

This smartphone stuff is getting overdone. It's like everyone needs some type of smartphone just to make simple telephone calls. This BJ2 is not great, it's not horrible so I guess it falls somewhere in between.

[Reader @ Nov 22nd 2007 3:47PM]

I love bj's too :P

[Adrian Williams @ Nov 22nd 2007 5:04PM]

150$ is a good damn deal on a 3G smartphone

//Real smartphones are made to do a job not look cute

[DP @ Nov 22nd 2007 6:34PM]

Uh, for as much as you all complain it's still just $150 bones for a solid WM6, 3G phone. The load of garbage known as the Motorola Q9c will be released by Sprint the same day for $250-- perspective anyone?

[jake @ Nov 22nd 2007 6:52PM]

I'm already very happy that I bought this yesterday. (See my initial thoughts at Engadget Mobile's post...)

They've done a great job with their second incarnation of this smartphone, IMO.