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Samsung BlackJack II tops Consumer Reports' list of best smartphones
Sometimes it's the unsung workhorses that deserve the lion's share of the praise, and that might just be the case with the aging Samsung BlackJack II -- a phone that you probably wouldn't expect to top Consumer Reports' January 2009 ratings of popular smartphones. Sure, it may not be the shiniest device on the market these days, but you've got to admit it's just about as functional as you'd ever need a business-class handset to be with GPS, HSDPA, and WinMo 6.1, which gladly sucks up Exchange accounts until you're blue in the face. When you factor in the fact that it runs just $80 these days on an AT&T contract in a choice of four colors... okay, yeah, we can kinda see it. The iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1 don't play second fiddle terribly often these days (they were way down in the middle of the Consumer Reports pack in this testing cycle, in fact), so let's just let this old dog have one more moment in the spotlight, shall we?
Samsung BlackJack II now available in pink and blue
Saying that Samsung's new BlackJack IIs are pink and blue is really only telling part of the story. Unlike the originals, the stylish new models feature contrasting white fronts with color-coordinated keys and fancy designs on the back -- perfect for that fashion-conscious Windows Mobile nerd in your life (if that's not an oxymoron, we don't know what is). Collect the whole set now for $99.99 a pop on contract.
Windows Mobile 6.1 for BlackJack getting hacked to perfection
Why wait for an official announcement and an upgrade that may (or may not) come at some point in the distant future? Do any of us really have the patience for such tomfoolery? We don't think so, which is why it warms our hearts to see the whole BlackJack community huddling together to create, test, and perfect a Windows Mobile 6.1 stack for their beloved devices. It's still in the beta phase, but it's plenty real and the testers are plenty active, giving us hope it'll be stable enough for widespread consumption in the not-too-distant future. At this point, it seems like there's a 6.1 group rallying around virtually every WinMo device out there -- so have hope, (insert device name here) user.[Thanks, MikeyB]
Rogers pushes Samsung Blackjack II out the door as Rogers "Jack"
We hardly like the name -- How about something a little catchier Ted? -- but Rogers' Jack will make up for it with a pile of features and some pretty decent pricing. We've been all over this guy before and this is indeed the same handset but with Rogers branding -- oh, and we're still not seeing WiFi. Pricing is set from $199, on a 3-year stint, $374 on two years, and $399 for a one year contract. Availability is listed as sold out so if you want to get your mitts on one, better line up, like right now.
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]
Samsung BlackJack II launches Friday on AT&T
Hoping to catch a little Black Friday love, Samsung and AT&T will be launching the BlackJack II at the tail end of this week, November 23. The Windows Mobile 6 Standard device -- successor to AT&T's pretty darned popular BlackJack -- features integrated GPS, a 2 megapixel camera, HSDPA, support for Video Share, and stereo Bluetooth and will be available both in the original's black (albeit a bit glossier) and in "red wine." Black launches first, with red wine following on December 6 for $149.99 on contract after rebates.Update: Sounds like some AT&T stores are already hawking this thing ahead of schedule. Go pick 'er up now, or hold your peace until Friday![Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
A veritable gaggle of AT&T rumors (hint: red iPhone?)
This here supposed AT&T inventory sheet that fell into our laps today reads like an indecisive power user's wish list -- the Prada's great, the Z9's okay if you're into that sort of thing, and the K850a finally moves AT&T into high-end camera territory. But what's this, a red iPhone? Seriously? Catch up on all the haps over at Engadget Mobile!Read - "Deep red" iPhoneRead - Sony Ericsson Z750a, K850aRead - LG Prada, Samsung BlackJack II, Motorola Z9
LG Prada, Samsung Blackjack II, Moto Z9 show up in AT&T's system
Yep, we kinda knew about all these, but it's good to get a little more confirmation that they're still all on track. The LG Prada (alias "Vu2," alias CU920) has shown up for inventory tracking alongside the Motorola Z9 slider and the Samsung BlackJack II. The Vu2 could end up being one of AT&T's first MediaFLO-compliant handset for mobile TV on the network, and we don't really expect it until early '08 at this point; the BlackJack II looks ready to launch from the press shots we've seen, though, and we wouldn't be surprised if it hit before the year's out. The Z9 could be the hot slider we mentioned earlier today, suggesting a launch some time in the first quarter.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Samsung's BlackJack II outed as the i617
Don't worry BlackJack fans, Samsung does indeed seem to have a true BlackJack II successor in the works for you, unlike that stylus-based i780 pretender to the throne. Turns out the i617 -- which we saw pass the FCC yesterday -- will be doing the honors, but unfortunately it's not terribly clear what those honors will be. AT&T is a lock, thanks to the HSDPA 850 / 1900, and of course Windows Mobile 6 will be the main attraction, but there's no confirmation of WiFi or any other notable hardware upgrades just yet other than a bump to 2 megapixels from the original's 1.3. As for looks, we'll let you make up your own mind, but the design isn't much of a departure -- there's still a back hump -- but everything is considerably more shiny this time around. No word on price or availability. There's a shot of the back after the break.[Via Mobile Phones Reviews and Tips]
Samsung SGH-i617 passes FCC; hello, BlackJack II?
The FCC's being a little shy about full documentation here as usual, but we know this much: it's the Samsung SGH-i617, the device's outline looks BlackJack-ish, and it rocks HSDPA 850 / 1900 (thanks, SAR report!). Combine that with the persistent rumors of a BlackJack II in the works, the fact that the popular BlackJack (whose model number is i607, coincidentally) is getting a little long in the tooth, and AT&T devices from Samsung typically end in "7," and, well, you can pretty much figure out the rest. Give us Windows Mobile 6, WiFi, and a slightly better keyboard and you've got a worthy successor, guys.
