Free Battery for Samsung Blackjack

Normally, I don't like to repeat news from other websites, however, when its truely beneficial to my fellow smartphone users, I would gladly repeat this news as reported by Engadget Mobile. "Enjoying the Cingular BlackJack but finding that the batt life is really weak? Happy days are here my friends -- at least for a select bunch of you. If you haven't already rushed out and dropped $50 on the extended battery for your trusty Windows Mobile device, contrary to what everybody tells us, procrastination can indeed pay off. Apparently some things in life are free! Cingular is offering no cost extended-life love for any BlackJack purchased with only the two standard batteries in the package. Simply zip over here, enter your IMEI number, (this can be found by typing *#06# on phone keypad, or looking under the battery, and is even printed on your box) and mobile number in the handy dandy form. Apparently IMEI numbers between 352794010030189 to 352794012269959 are good to go, so hurry up and grab yours before the deal is done."

Cingular 8525 in High Demand in LV

I am visiting friends and family this week in the world famous Las Vegas, Neveda. Both of my in-laws are obsessed with the new 3G smartphones released by Cingular last week. One of them was able to hunt down the Samsung BlackJack which I must say, is a gorgeous piece of hardware. I got a chance to play with it in person and I must say Samsung pulled off an ultra-thin smartphone without the need of touchscreen, very slick!

Going back to topic, we drove around sin city in search of the Cingular 8525 and store after store told us how limited in quantity were received (3 to 5 per store) and they have been sold out immediately. I was utterly shocked by the demand from the good folks living in Vegas and their demand for high quality mobile devices. Perhaps this is driven by the fact that Las Vegas is one of the few test markets for Cingular's HSDPA/UMTS 3G data network.

Cingular's New 3G UMTS Smartphones Debut

Cingular launched two new Windows Mobile Smartphones today. Both phones are very strong contenders in the smart phone market. The Samsung BlackJack is a phone that draws a lot of physical similarities with Motorola Q (thin, full QWERTY keyboard). It is a quad-band GSM phone supporting GPRS/EDGE/UMTS network. With a 2.2" 320x240px LCD screens, this device features Bluetooth 2.0 and MicroSD expansion slot without the much needed integrated WiFi.

The other phone released is Cingular 8525, it is believed to be a rebadged HTC Hermes phone from a popular Taiwanese vendor. Personally, I think this phone is the superior of the two, in fact, it may be the best smartphone on the market today. It features a Samsung (how ironic) 400MHz CPU and integrated WiFi that supports both 802.11 b and g, which makes Skype for Pocket PC an instant possibility. In addition, it also supports GPRS/EDGE/UMTS and supports Bluetooth 2.0. The phone is a slider format which covers the full QWERTY keyboard when not in use. This phone is very hot, and I think Cingular knows that hence the asking price of $399 after a 2-yr contract and $50 rebate.

These phones have been updated in the Windows Mobile Phone entry.
These phones have been updated in the Smartphones & Handhelds Roundup entry.