Cingular Announces BlackJack - Samsung i607 Smartphone

Mike Temporale

We just got our hands on the press release from Cingular for the hot new Samsung i607 Smartphone. This is the BlackJack that we've heard and seen so much about over the last couple months. As expected, it will be a 3G Smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard. You should be able to pick one up on November 16th (yes, just a couple days from now) for $199 with a contract. For those of you that are interested, the full press release can be found below. It looks like a winner to me! So, who else is going to buy one?

"CINGULAR, SAMSUNG HAVE ACE IN HAND
WITH LAUNCH OF NEW BLACKJACK™ SMART DEVICE New Cingular Exclusive Offers Ultra-Thin Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smart Device With Fully Integrated QWERTY Keyboard in Sleek 3G-powered Form Factor

And for those Entertainment Enthusiasts, BlackJack also offers Access to Cingular Music – the Ultimate Mobile Music Experience

Atlanta, Dallas and Redmond, Wash. – November 13, 2006 – Cingular Wireless, Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) and Microsoft Corp. today unveiled the BlackJack™*, a robust, slim smart device packed with the power and functionality desired by business customers and consumers alike. With the BlackJack™ customers can get rich entertainment features, powerful business applications and the familiar look and feel of Windows Mobile® 5.0, turbo-charged by Cingular’s 3G-enabled BroadbandConnect service in an ultra sleek design.

The stylish and compact BlackJack™ will be available exclusively from Cingular in the U.S. in mid-November for as low as $199.99 (with a two-year activation and unlimited data plan). This ultra-thin 3G device features a fully integrated QWERTY keyboard with a large high-resolution QVGA color screen.

Built to satisfy everyone from the music fan to the business user, BlackJackTM includes a bevy of cutting edge features:
• MP3 player and access to Cingular MusicTM, the most comprehensive music subscription service of its kind ever offered by a U.S. wireless carrier, including access to online subscription music content from eMusic, Napster and Yahoo!
• Cingular Video - Cingular’s on-demand streaming video service featuring exclusive content such as HBO
• High speed Internet browsing over Internet Explorer® Mobile optimized for Cingular’s 3G and EDGE networks
• 1.3 mega pixel digital camera with video capture capabilities
• Stereo Bluetooth® version 2.0 with stereo headset support
• QWERTY keyboard for fast email and texting

In addition, the BlackJack™ provides users easy wireless access to business and personal email accounts through such solutions as Good Mobile Messaging, Microsoft® direct push technology with Outlook® Mobile and Cingular Xpress Mail. The BlackJack™ also offers over-the-air synchronization of calendar, contact and to-do lists and access to enterprise applications.

“The BlackJack is a winner,” said Stan Sigman, president and CEO of Cingular Wireless. “The BlackJack represents the best that Cingular, Microsoft and Samsung have to offer in terms of innovation and collaboration. We have hit on the right formula in developing a handheld device that will appeal both to the most discerning business users and the most entertainment savvy consumers.”

"Blackjack is a true converged product that serves voice and data needs with strengths in multimedia and organization satisfying today's on-the-go consumer," said Kitae Lee, president, Samsung Telecommunication Network Business. "Samsung is excited to be working with Cingular and Microsoft to bring the Blackjack to the US market.

FAMILIARITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE DESKTOP, MINUS THE DESKTOP With Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, Cingular BlackJack users have access to mobile versions of many of the familiar Microsoft features found on their desktops, such as Windows Media® Player 10 Mobile, Internet Explorer® Mobile and Outlook® Mobile.

“Cingular and Samsung really hit the jackpot with BlackJack,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. “It shows how far we have come in our efforts to make Windows Mobile truly easy to use. For millions of mobile professionals, this is the device that will be the bridge between work and play.”

The BlackJack™ also includes the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0, which provides support for Microsoft direct push technology to keep e-mail, calendar, tasks and contacts always up-to-date, as well as security features such as remote device wipe and rich-security encryption features.

ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
The BlackJack™ offers users a host of entertainment options from listening to music to viewing video clips to browsing the Internet or shopping at Cingular’s MEdia Mall for ringtones, games and graphics. The BlackJack also includes access to Cingular’s latest, exciting entertainment? offering, Cingular Music – an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers “your music, your way” by providing simple access to the most robust collection of music content available today, including XM Satellite Radio, which comes pre-loaded on the device. BlackJack users can easily access and enjoy 25 commercial-free music channels from XM Satellite Radio through the XM Radio Mobile service.

With Cingular Music, the new BlackJack? connects users to a one-stop shop for everything music on the handset, such as full-track songs, music videos, ringtones, music news, MusicID, music chat rooms, streaming music and more. Cingular is the first U.S. carrier to offer subscription music to the handset, including music from leading online retailers Napster, Yahoo! and eMusic.

For the visually oriented, the BlackJack™ will feature Cingular VideoTM, Cingular’s on-demand streaming video service. With Cingular VideoTM, users can watch a large selection of video clips of their favorite television shows, sports, news and weather, entertainment and premium content, including such hit HBO programs as “The Sopranos,” “Entourage,” “Sex and The City,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

With an amazing color screen, wireless broadband capabilities, 1.3 mega pixel digital camera that can record video and a full media experience with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, customers can stay entertained with the BlackJack™ while on the go. It also includes a speakerphone and features Bluetooth® version 2.0 with stereo headset support to enjoy music wirelessly.

Cingular customers who use the BlackJack™ can take the 3G-powered Cingular BroadbandConnect experience with them using the largest national wireless data network and get 3G performance in more than 130 markets in the U.S. surrounding more than 50 major metropolitan cities. They also can use the BlackJackTM seamlessly outside of BroadbandConnect coverage areas via Cingular’s nationwide* EDGE wireless data network as well as overseas in more than 115 countries.

AVAILABILITY AND PRICING
The BlackJack™ will be available November 16, 2006 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a two-year activation, a qualified voice plan and an unlimited data plan. Customers can purchase the device in select Cingular Wireless retail stores nationwide, from select dealers and national retailers, on http://www.cingular.com and through Cingular’s B2B direct sales team.

*Model Number: SGH-i607"
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Jerry Raia · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:38 am Post subject:

This thing just doesn't ring my bell. I think I'm going to pass on it.
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[3125] [BlackJack] [8525]

crispeto · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

It certainly doesn't make me want to trade in my Dash but I think Cingular really needs this phone.
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Tmo Dash

iJITSU · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:15 am Post subject:

And this the THE device I've been waiting for: 3G, sleek form factor, QWERTY, landscape screen. Cannot wait!
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Believing that the universe spontaneously generated, developed self-governing laws and produced intelligent life all by random, material events requires greater faith than I am able to muster.

crispeto · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:44 am Post subject:

Great preview with pics of the i607 here: http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/...sung_blackjack/

I'll say this for Cingular, with the E62, 8525, possible palm 750 and 680 and now the i607 - I think Cingular overall has the best smart/PDA phones.
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Tmo Dash

andydempsey · Smartphone Neophyte Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 4

No Wifi, sucks.

I was going top get this phone, but not without wifi.

lagsun · Smartphone Pupil Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 34

Wow, the end of this week I'll have a hard decision to make when I decide to upgrade my SMT-5600 on Cingular. Should I go with the 8525 with 3G and WiFi or the i607 with 3G but probably a better phone/form factor? 3G is important and I guess WiFi or better phone/form factor is a toss up.

I might just lean towards the i607 since it will be cheaper if I sign up for another 2 years.

I'll probably change my mind a 100 times this week, but at least I finally have options Very Happy

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Rocco Augusto · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject:

ah, this is the phone i have been waiting for. the lack of wifi doesn't really bother me as i never used it even when i had it but i gladly welcome the addition of 3G as i have been annoyed with EDGE service in my area lately. Smile

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crispeto · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject:

Two questions: Does this phone have the type of keyboard that when you hold a key for more than a second it chooses the alternate key? I love this feature on the dash. Also, how's the battery life on the i607?
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Tmo Dash

runbuh · Smartphone Pupil Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 47

Maybe I just can't read today (it IS Monday), but can anyone tell me:

How many bands are supported on the HSDPA?

What kind of USB connector does it have (I'm really not happy with HTC's direction on connectors)

Thanks!