BlackJack revisited: Samsung readying "Ace" smartphone for Sprint?

From a distance, this thing looks just a little too much like the BlackJack (the old one, not the new) for comfort -- but when you zoom in a bit, it looks like Samsung's spinning a few cute touches into its SPH-i325 "Ace" for Sprint. Mobiledia has this one pegged for the first quarter of next year, offering a Windows Mobile Standard alternative to the BlackBerrys of the world with a slim shell, QWERTY keyboard, and landscape QVGA display; it's probably not going to make any BlackJack II owners envious, but at least this gives Sprint customers a chance to keep up with the Joneses. Even better, Boy Genius Report claims that we might see a little GSM radio stuffed in there for the globetrotters in the crowd. Anyone have an old Samsung Ace for Mobile ESPN, by the way?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

[Umeadi @ Dec 5th 2007 4:39PM]

It looks kinda cool, but I'm sick of getting cool phones either at the end, or after their life cycle. Sprint needs to step it up a notch.

[Mark @ Dec 5th 2007 6:17PM]

If this has GPS, how is it worse than the BJ2 aside from the scroll wheel and bigger screen?

[Umeadi @ Dec 5th 2007 10:27PM]

...Aesthetics

[3boos @ Dec 5th 2007 4:50PM]

agree, a little bit too late Sprint

[Reid Conti @ Dec 5th 2007 5:00PM]

How about... more screen, less Sprint advertising?

[Ricardo @ Dec 5th 2007 5:15PM]

Ok, but how about more screen and less keys?

[Jon Doe @ Dec 5th 2007 5:25PM]

So more screen less battery life.....got it. *rolls eyes*

[DP @ Dec 6th 2007 10:43AM]

How about less fugly?

[Heath Stahl @ Dec 5th 2007 5:01PM]

Hmmm... Sprint should see if they can get their logo to be just a bit bigger so the screen can be even smaller. Then I'm sold!

[Ondra Soukup @ Dec 5th 2007 5:13PM]

wow, this is getting back to 1999, smaller screen, bigger branding!

[kjb434 @ Dec 5th 2007 5:15PM]

My close friend had the original Blackjack with Cingular/ATT. He wanted a new phone. He had it down between the new Blackjack II or the new Motorola Q. He chose the Q.

[Mark @ Dec 5th 2007 6:50PM]

Sprint has had the Q for ages. They also have the Q9c with unlocked GPS.

[kjb434 @ Dec 6th 2007 9:04AM]

But does sprint have the NEW Q. it has been updated just at the Blackjack came out in version II.

Currently ATT only has the NEW Q.

[boomhauer @ Dec 5th 2007 5:19PM]

the resolution of the logo is amazing!

[thartist @ Dec 5th 2007 5:42PM]

WHAT THE HECK !!!

SPRINT GETS WINDOWS MOBILE 6 !?:????

Uhm. Ok. I want all you ATT Blackjack owners to come out in the open about this one. This sucks. When, exactly, is ATT and Samsung going to give us current Blackjack owners Windows Mobile 6 ?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Dec 5th 2007 8:53PM]

w00tness to sprint customers stil!!!w000000000t!!!

[Matt Shirley @ Dec 5th 2007 10:09PM]

That is my sentiment exactly. I am tired of the silence from ATT about the supposed Blackjack WM6 update. Hopefully if the day ever comes, Engadget will be there to tell me about it.

[acabtp @ Dec 8th 2007 1:12PM]

Agreed... Samsung should concentrate on getting AT&T to finally roll the WM6 for my Blackjack out... I've been waiting for it since I got the phone in May when it was "coming soon". Yarrrh.

[Mark @ Dec 5th 2007 6:21PM]

This is going to be one of the first Rev A phones with Qchat!

[Brian @ Dec 5th 2007 8:07PM]

Wow. 1999 called, they want their PDA back.

It's a brick! I'll stick with my HTC Touch, thank you.

[CB17 @ Dec 5th 2007 11:23PM]

Because that's not a brick too.... /sarcasm/

[Adam @ Dec 5th 2007 10:51PM]

Blah,

When is Sprint going to give me my F'en BB Curve???

[Bill McLean @ Dec 5th 2007 11:08PM]

Is Qwest going to get this in place of the Centro? Anybody want to guess?