If you are thinking about asking Santa for a smartphone this Christmas, your shortlist just got a bit longer.
Cingular, Samsung (
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BlackJack pulls together Cingular’s (
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Key features of BlackJack include:
+ MP3 player
+ Access to music subscriptions services including Cingular Music
+ Cingular Video on-demand streaming service
+ Internet browsing optimized for Cingular’s 3G and EDGE networks
+ 1.3 megapixel digital camera
+ Bluetooth with stereo headset support
+ QWERTY keyboard
In their announcement, the companies launching BlackJack stressed the device’s business-related functionality such as wireless access to e-mail accounts and over-the-air synchronization with enterprise applications like calendar, contact lists and address book, and mobile versions of familiar desktop apps like Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, and Outlook.
“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 of Samsung’s network business, in a statement. “Samsung is excited to be working with Cingular and Microsoft (
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BlackJack isn’t just for work, though. The device is souped up with a variety of entertainment features. One of those is access to Cingular Music, a service that includes 25 commercial-free XM Satellite Radio channels.
Content available with Cingular Music includes not only songs but music videos, ringtones, and music chatrooms, among other features.
A similar service, Cingular Video, is available for visual entertainment. Content delivered with that service includes sports, news and weather programs; and HBO shows such as “The Sopranos” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
“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,” Cingular president and CEO Stan Sigman said in a statement.
Steve Ballmer, CEO at Microsoft, added: “For millions of mobile professionals, this is the device that will be the bridge between work and play.”
BlackJack (model number SGH-i607), available exclusively through Cingular in the U.S. (starting November 16), retails for $199.99 when it is purchased in combination with a two-year activation and unlimited data plan.
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