Cingular has launched the new Samsung i607 BlackJack, a smartphone featuring a QWERTY keyboard as well as the following features:

* GSM, with EDGE, UMTS and HSDPA
* QVGA display
* Cingular Music support
* Cingular Video support
* Bluetooth 2.0
* 1.3 megapixel camera

Via EngadgetMobile.

Samsung i607 (Samsung Blackjack) Reviews

Phonescoop has a review up of the Samsung Blackjack and writes, “The BlackJack is the second Windows Mobile phone for Cingular with HSDPA data. In San Francisco speeds are fairly impressive. DSL Reports kept asking us to use a larger file so that it could actually register the speed. Finally with the largest file on the mobile speed test, the BlackJack managed a respectable 775-800 Kbps. Even though Cingular’s HSDPA is supposed to be capable of 3.6 Mbps in a maximum burst, 800 K is pretty impressive over a 600 KB transfer. … The rest of the BlackJack’s software is Windows Mobile Smartphone AKU3, just like the Dash. It is priced like the Dash too. The two are similar in most every respect. In fact the biggest difference other than carrier, is whether you get your high speed data over WiFi or over the 3G network.” Link.

Infosync has a review of the Samsung SGH-i607 Blackjack and writes, “With HSDPA support, great streaming media options and its slim design, the Samsung BlackJack (a.k.a. the SGH-i607) vaults ahead of the smartphone pack. The lack of Wi-Fi wasn’t a deal-breaker for us thanks to the BlackJack’s 3.5G network support, and the excellent Picsel viewer, coupled with the tethered modem support (both of which the Dash lacks) give this phone the edge. That said, the BlackJack can’t edit office documents, and we were annoyed by its smallish screen, coupled with a too-large default font.” Link.

PCMag has a review up of the Samsung SGH-i607 and concludes, “So, should you pick the BlackJack or the Cingular 8525? The Blackjack is a better phone, and works better using just one hand. On flip-side the 8525 is a more powerful handheld computer. The BlackJack is also cheaper: $199.99 with a two-year contract, just like the T-Mobile Dash. I’ll stick with the 8525 as my Editor’s Choice recommendation because of its super-duper, multi-network high-speed power. But the Blackjack securely takes the same place among Cingular’s offerings that the Dash and Q have adopted on T-Mobile’s and Verizon’s network: a portable, flexible, e-mail and music focused PDA/phone that’s good enough for most uses. If the BlackJack doesn’t score a perfect 21, well, 20 is still usually a winning hand.” Link.

MobileTechReview has a review up of the Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607 and finds it to be a Motorola Q killer, “The Samsung BlackJack i607 simply looks and feels fantastic. The high speed data in 3G coverage areas is wicked fast and voice quality is excellent. The keyboard is excellent, though the number keys are a bit eccentric. We love the jog wheel and most everything about this phone. The camera takes better than average photos, Bluetooth stereo sounds great and Cingular Video is addictive. While several phones have been billed as potential Q-killers this year, the Samsung BlackJack is the only one that actually is a Q killer. Why? It’s on even ground for high speed data (Verizon has a larger coverage blanket at the moment but Cingular has better speeds) and like the Moto Q, the BlackJack looks like a slick, business device. The BlackJack boasts better ergonomics, better speed, better looks, better Bluetooth, a better camera and similarly anemic battery life (but the Samsung wins because it comes with a 2nd battery and charger module for that battery).” Link.

GadgetNutz has a review of the Samsung BlackJack (Samsung i607) and concludes, “If I were not locked into a contract with another carrier and I was looking for the coolest phone/Smart Phone on the planet – I would buy the Blackjack – hands down. This phone is cool enough that one might even consider leaving their current contract, playing the early termination fee and signing up with Cingular. I would not advise doing that, however, until you are sure you have good GSM coverage near where you live. This is a true Quad band, 3G HSPDA world phone. It should work anywhere you go. It feels great in your hands – has a gorgeous screen and does everything well. It is less that half the thickness and weight of the Treo, smaller than the Q and I does more than both of them. So, what’s not to love? Very little except for the lack of a normal headphone jack and the omission of voice dialing. So far, battery life is much better than the Q and about as good as the Treo and it even comes with a second battery.” Link.

MobilitySite has a review of the Cingular BlackJack by Samsung and concludes, “The fact that the Cingular Blackjack has 3G connectivity makes this a hit by itself. Let’s add a smart keyboard, a slim profile, a beautiful black color, and a GSM SIM card (instead of being CDMA) and you have the best Windows Mobile Smartphone manufactured to date. This phone was the straw that broke the camel’s back… Until this phone, I still was not ready to ditch the Pocket PC Phones. Not only did I accept the Smartphone as a suitable replacement, I purchased the Blackjack to keep. If you are looking for hot phone that can be used as a mobile warrior powerhouse, yet still remain cool, the Blackjack does it all. Like we have come to expect with a Windows Mobile Device, you can keep up with all your email, contacts, favorites, and appointments on the go with the familiar Outlook and Activesync.” Link.

DigitalTrends has a review of the Samsung BlackJack and concludes, ” Why, oh why, did Samsung shuffle Blackjack’s keyboard? Blessed with Blackjack’s blazing HSDPA online speed and superior multimedia features, one could easily ignore this handset’s other petty peccadilloes. But why purposely place unnecessary and unreasonable hurdles to a cell phone’s primary function? How great your need for a speedy smartphone will determine how much you’ll put up with hunt-and-peck dialing.” Link.

MobileBurn has a review of the Samsung SGH-i607 BlackJack and writes, “As far as QWERTY keyboard equipped smartphones go, the Samsung SGH-i607 BlackJack is one of the best. It is lightweight, compact, and offers HSDPA 3G data and overall good performance. It is more pocketable than most of its competitors while still offering similar performance. … In spite of some blemishes, though, I really think that the BlackJack is a fantastic device. It is barely larger than a regular non-smartphone, yet offers all sorts of mobile office type power. It would probably make a good first smartphone for a lot of people who have until now been making use of RAZRs and other feature phones. I give it a “Highly Recommended” rating.” Link.

CNET has a review of the Samsung BlackJack and writes, “we tested a preproduction unit of the Samsung BlackJack, which we’re hoping is the reason for some of the sluggish performance we experienced (stay tuned; we’ll update results with the final product). There was a noticeable lag when we tried to launch the camera or open various documents. On the bright side, the Web browsing and multimedia experience on the BlackJack was awesome.” Link.

Newsfactor has a review of the Samsung BlackJack and writes, “Since Samsung has used Windows Mobile 5.0 instead of the usual Pocket PC software, the BlackJack can only view Microsoft Office files — no editing or creating. So, if you work on the go, the BlackJack is not for you. … the device supports numerous instant-messaging programs (AIM, MSN, and Yahoo) as well as POP3, IMAP, and SMTP e-mail accounts. But be warned, as with any 3G-enabled smartphone, battery consumption remains a major drawback. The BlackJack — which runs five to eight hours on a charge — is sold with a second battery for a reason. Yet, even with its battery deficiencies, I’m still a big fan of the BlackJack. It performed admirably as a cell phone, and the combination of its browsing capabilities and size make it quite irresistible. Or, as some would prefer, a safe bet.” Link.

PDAStreet has a review of the Samsung BlackJack and writes, ” We love that the Blackjack comes with two batteries and an external charger, so you never need to wait while your phone is connected to a charger. Simply pop in the new battery and you’re ready to go. The batteries are rated for 5.5 hours of talk time and 11 days of standby, and worked for about three to four days of moderate use in our testing. When push e-mail was turned on, however, the battery needed changing every day. … The Blackjack hit one of our cell phone pet peeves, though, with its loud shut-down sound. Imagine that you’re in a quiet theater and a show is about to begin. You power off your phone to make sure it doesn’t ring. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Suddenly everyone hears the sounds of rockets taking off, the sound which plays whenever the Blackjack is powered-on or -off.” Link.

PCWorld has a review of the Samsung BlackJack i607 and writes, “Signal strength and data performance varied quite a bit in my test area of San Francisco and a few surrounding suburbs. Within range of Cingular’s HSDPA 3G network, streaming video from HBO, for example, was smooth. On the EDGE network, though, the graphics often looked blocky, like a David Hockney photograph. Web pages usually loaded within 15 to 20 seconds, though they sometimes took longer. … At $300 (with a two-year contract from Cingular), the BlackJack costs $100 more than the Motorola Q. For that extra amount, you get streaming-media capability, a second battery, and a very light and compact design. The lack of Wi-Fi may be a deal breaker for some users, but if you’re in the market for a PDA phone, the BlackJack is a winning hand.” Link.

Brighthand has a review of the Samsung BlackJack and writes, “The BlackJack sports a slightly faster processor than most other WM Smartphones on the market. While only a 10% improvement in total clock speed, you can feel a little bit of extra power at those critical times. It is, however, not nearly enough to run higher-bandwidth videos or most VoIP applications. If you’re accustomed to other Windows Mobile Smartphones, you’ll get a bit of a surprise when you start using the BlackJack. The application launcher has been retooled to provide for the jog wheel on the side. Press down the dial and hold it, and up pops a quick-launch menu. By default there are only a few minor entries here, but you can customize it heavily. It has the option to place in the menu a shortcut to any program, folder, or file on the device, as well as any web site address.” Link.

CNET Australia has a review of the Samsung BlackJack and writes, “As a messaging device — the splash screen when you turn the BlackJack on says “The Utra Messaging” — the drawback is the cramped keypad. We found we often hit two buttons accidentally and couldn’t type as fast as we’d have liked. Practice helps and those with small fingers or long fingernails shouldn’t have as much of problem. … As a mobile device aimed at business users looking for a balance of work and play, the BlackJack delivers the goods. Provided you get used to the keypad, it performs well as a phone, PDA and messaging device with just a handful of little quirks that deviate from an otherwise solid package.” Link.