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It’s taken long enough, but I have finally got the Cingular BlackJack Review online.

You can view the complete review here by reading more or visit the static page for the Cingular BlackJack Review here.

Here are some other resources as well:

• Mobility Site Cingular BlackJack Review
• Mobility Site Smartphone Review Archive
• Confirmation – Blackjack + Voice Command 1.6 + Bluetooth = Nope
• Straight forward Blackjack Review! - Another Mobility Site Staff Mini Review
• Cingular Blackjack Unboxing – Again…
• Cingular Blackjack TV commercial
• The Blackjack = HOT Device! - Another BlackJack Commercial
• Cingular Blackjack 3G Speed Test Video – 3G is Good!
• Cingular Blackjack – Video 1st Look
• Cingular release the Samsung Blackjack

Cingular Samsung Blackjack SGH-i607

Reviewer : Chris Leckness
Vendor : Cingular
Price : $199.99 with 2 year contract after rebate

Is this the Perfect Windows Mobile Phone? No, not yet, but it’s close. As with other "Smartphone" reviews I have written, I preface the entire review with the fact that I am more of a "Pocket PC Phone" guy than a "Smartphone" guy. Not this time, I am officially designating myself as a "Smartphone" guy. I guess I have adjusted to not having a touch screen. While reviewing the Blackjack, something happened that I normally do not let happen during a review. I fell in love. I ordered my own Blackjack to replace the review unit I have been using these past few weeks. Now that we have established that I have been converted, on with the review.

Having used the T-Mobile Dash and the Motorola Q for enough time to form an opinion, I think that the trio of hot Smartphones are basically interchangeable depending on your carrier and needs. All three are similar in size, speed, and looks. If you are locked to a carrier, the others will suffice. I have been a Cingular customer for a long time, so I am lean towards the Blackjack. Of course, the Blackjack has a foot up on the other three if you live/work in a 3G market, the data rates on the HSDPA Network are phenomenal. (See Video)

Sexy, Black, Sleek, Fast, and most importantly – Windows Mobile Powered. The Cingular Blackjack does it all. After a bit more than a month, I am here to give my review of this Windows Mobile Powered Smartphone. The Cingular Blackjack, also know as the SGH-i607, is made by Samsung. It shares a similar design to the popular SGH-i320, which is a tri-band GSM phone.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

• Samsung BlackJack (SGH-i607)
• AC Adapter
• (2)1200 mAh rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries
• External battery charger
• USB sync cable
• Getting Started Guide

If this video doesn’t play for you, try here.

THE DESIGN
The Blackjack hits a special note in my book. I am crazy about a phone with with a black color. The Pocket PC world is covered up with metallic gray devices and seeing something else for a change is refreshing.

The feel of the Blackjack is comfortable to hold and you can easily one hand text input and maneuver through the menus. The sides and rear of the unit are a black, soft, rubbery feeling surface, which make it feel like you can’t drop it. After you get used to yet another layout, the controls are very well laid out. Even with my fat thumb, I make very few wrong button presses.

The front of the Blackjack housed the 240×320 QVGA screen that we all questioned last year with the Motorola Q. It’s an odd size, but it hasn’t posed too many problems with the devices that employ them. Above the screen is the speaker. Under the screen from left to right is the home button, left soft key, and under those two is the send button. The send button doubles as the speaker phone button when held down during a call. The home button doubles as the task manager launcher when held down too.( I use this one often to keep programs I am no longer using out of memory) To the right of those 3 buttons is the 4 way Dpad with a button in the center serving as the ok/selector. On to the right you have the right softkey button, the back button, and under those two, the end button that pulls double duty as the key lock button when held down.

Next up is the keyboard. I gotta have the keyboard. Using a "Smartphone" having to do data entry with T9 is like a driving a Ferrari that with an automatic transmission. At first glance, the keys look cramped, but they are not that bad. I have some fat, grubby fingers and I can type a couple paragraphs with only a couple miscues. One thing you will notice is that the numbers are spread out a more than most phones that have their numbers on the keyboard. This was something that I would have never thought up, but two keys work for the same number. It’s kind of strange, but it works. For example, I am entering a number to dial and I hit a "6". I can register a 6 by pressing the J or the K. This helps with the fat fingering I suppose, but I have no problems getting it right by hitting the J only. There are a couple little things that really add to the keyboard, like the vibrate button. To the right of the space button is a button that when held down activates silent mode so you can quickly save yourself from having your Michael Bolton ringtone disrupt a meeting. There is also a button that brings up a screen of symbols, including some smilies, that make things much easier to accomplish when texting. Last but not least, there is a dedicated button for mail.

The left side of the Blackjack, we have the headphone/Charge and Sync connector housed under a plastic cover that pops up and rotates out of the way. Directly above that we have the volume up and down buttons, which double as the voice note application launcher when held down.

The power button is on the top edge of the phone. This is an added button from the Samsung SGH-i320, which uses the call end button as the power button. You turn the Blackjack on by holding this button down. Holding it down while powered up, you get access to a menu of options that include power down, Wireless Manager, Key and Device locks, as well as a quick profile selector. Pressing this button twice shuts it down as well. There is also a loop on the top edge where it looks as if a lanyard could be installed.

The right side of the Blackjack is where all the action is at. At the top of the right edge, there is a MicroSD slot with a similar cover as the one that covers the sync connector. It is hard to describe these covers, but I am not convinced that these won’t break off over time. Since I purchased my own Blackjack, I will surely find out since the sync/charge connector will be opened at least 1-2 times daily. Next up is the scroll wheel that has more uses that duct tape. The scroll wheel functions as just that, a scroll wheel. If you push the wheel in, it makes a selection. If you hold it down, it brings up a nifty quick launcher that will launch apps, URLs, etc. Under the scroll wheel is the back button. I think we could do without it, but I can see it as useful for those that read a lot of webpages and ebooks using scroll wheel to navigate. I use the dpad personally. Anyhow, you guessed it. If you hold it down it activates camera mode. I do like how Samsung and Cingular have made buttons so functional.

Time to turn the Blackjack over and see why it doesn’t lay completely flat on a table. Now, I am all for the user having a shot a good camera phone, but it seems Cingular had to get Samsung to add some bulk to the rear to get a good speaker and camera in this thin casing. That’s fine and dandy, but now this super thin phone is not just thin with that hump. It doesn’t hurt the phone, but does add some bulk you don’t really want.

Inside the battery cover on the back is a slot for your SIM and a 1200mah battery. The cover doesn’t lock and I suspect it may become "too easy" to open if you rotate batteries (device comes with a spare battery). Initially, the Blackjack cover is a tad tough to slide down. After using my demo unit for a few weeks, it became easier to open.

Comparison Shots
I no longer have access to a T-Mobile Dash, so we’ll have to compare it the the i320 and the Motorola Q.

The Blackjack is packed with features, but is missing one that a lot of folks want, WiFi. This is not a huge deal in my opinion, but for those don’t want to pay for unlimited data plans, WiFi is a must. I have become less dependant on WiFi as Cingular’s data rates have improved. Now that I have consist ant EDGE access and 3G in some places, I don’t see a single application for WiFi in my daily activities.

Included software allow the Blackjack to be used as a music player as well and it does that just fine. There is only one problem with this, the Blackjack doesn’t come with a set of Earbuds or a headset and you can’t just run out and buy a set. The Blackjack uses a proprietary connector for charging, syncing, and apparently connecting a headset. (like the Cingular 3125)

Like all recent Windows Mobile phones that come with Push Email support, you can set up an Exchange Server to sync all you Outlook data/email on the go no matter where you are. I set the Blackjack up with my Exchange Server and in no time, I had my email any and everywhere. I use 4smartphone.net hosted exchange services. This service is inexpensive and saves all the time to maintain your own server.

Technical Specs

• Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Dimensions:4.4 x 2.3 x .5 inches
• Talk Time: Up to 5.5 hours
• Standby Time: Up to 11 days
• Dual-band domestic UMTS/HSDPA – 850/1900 MHz
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE – 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• 220 MHz TI processor
• 128 MB ROM / 64 MB RAM
• Large 2.2" 320×240 65k color screen with backlight
• MicroSD(TM) expansion slot supports up to a 2 GB card
• Bluetooth® v2.0 for up to six Bluetooth connections simultaneously
• Warranty: 1 year on the phone and accessories
• All talk, data and standby times depend on network configuration

Phone
One of the biggest differences i’ve noticed between using a Windows Mobile Smartphone and a Pocket PC Phone is the actual voice call experience. While I do love the added functionality of the Pocket PC phones, it seems that all the Smartphones i’ve used/tested consistently have better cellular signal. The Blackjack is no exception to this. I have had no coverage issues and the "at home" test passes with flying colors. I’ve talked about how I live a little off the beaten path in other reviews and how many bars I get "at home". The Blackjack ranks right up there with the 3125 as one of the strongest signals. Voice quality both ways is excellent. There is nothing to complain about with the Blackjack’s phone functionality.

Bluetooth
It works. That’s really all I have to say. I’ve used the Bluespoon Ax 2 and the Samsung WEP-200 bluetooth headsets with no troubles. I have not tested any data connections or GPS units though.
Update : If you are a Microsoft Voice Command user, read this post : Confirmation – Blackjack + Voice Command 1.6 + Bluetooth = Nope

WiFi
No WiFi for the Blackjack. This is an often argued point and too each it’s own. Some won’t get a phone without it, but as the carrier’s high speed data increases, the need for WiFi dwindles for most.

Camera
This 1.3 Megapixel camera does a decent job taking some candid photos. The camera makes the unit thicker in one spot on the rear of the device and I would love to see a camera less version, but it’s still not too bad. The software that drives the camera operation is one of the best apps I’ve used so far. I have the Blackjack set up to where I can take a snapshot and send to an email address attached to my Flickr account, which in turn blogs the photo. Here is a test post for this review I have set up (Bkackjack Review Camera Post – notice I made a keystroke snafu).

These photos were taken default resolution, strait out of the box. Click on photos for full size.

Multimedia
In order to use the Cingular Video services, you have to have a video flag on your data plan. My personal account does not for some reason, but the demo unit did. Video was nice, but too small on the small screen to really get excited about. I did test Sling Player Mobile on the Blackjack (which worked fine on both phones regardless of the video flag). Sling Player was great at full screen and ran SUPERB over the 3G connection and good enough over EDGE.

The speaker is pretty darn loud for a Smartphone. I wouldn’t want to use it as a primary speaker to jam out with, but its more than sufficient for most uses. The Blackjack forgot one thing important in the box though, a headset for jamming. The Cingular 3125, which also uses a proprietary connection like the Blackjack, comes with a set of ear buds.

Software
Cingular has done a great job getting some useful free applications on the Blackjack as well as some integrated solutions of their own. One thing that is misleading in a way, most of the Cingular items, like the Music Store, are just web sites, but they do make purchasing songs and ringtones a snap. Many of the video services offered are subscription based as well. XM radio has 10 categories of the audio streams.

This is the default Cingular Home Screen. Kind of plain and very similar to Windows Mobile Default.	I quickly moved to the Samsung Version here. The Blackjack comes installed with Cingular’s version, a couple Samsung Screens, and the default Windows Mobile Home Screens.
For those that like to see the versions, I present the About screen.	The Cingular Music Menu
This is a superb multichat client. It doesn’t come preinstalled, but a linked icon to download it over the air is included. It’s also free.	The My Stuff Menu
The usual suspects. Games, blah.
Smart Search is a nice utility that does come preinstalled.	A configurable quick launch application can be found by holding down the scroll wheel.
Picsel Viewer does not offer edit functions for Microsoft Office apps, but displays them wonderfully.	Picsel View is preinstalled on the Blackjack.
Newsbreak RSS Reader comes preinstalled as well.	Sling Player does not come with the Blackjack, but here it is playing over an poor signal EDGE connection.

PERFORMANCE
With a 220 MHz TI processor, Pocket PC folks will scream "SLOW", but I am here to tell you that with proper memory management, this thing is really quick. Some of the larger applications load a tad slow, but not really a hit for the device.

Battery Life
This is the only real complaint I have is the battery life. It’s so bad that people have discovered work around’s to disable 3G to conserve. In an EDGE coverage area, it wasn’t too awful though. Samsung includes an spare battery and a charger for it. I just keep one on charge at work and the other charges at night at home. The only time I got critical was when I forgot to turn off Bluetooth over a weekend. Another thing that eats up my battery life is 24/7 Exchange Server syncing. If this isn’t something you are planning on doing, your battery life will be a touch better than mine.

An typical day for me with the Blackjack (after I got the super glue off that had it permanently attached to my hands) starts out with full battery life. I check my email on desktop before I leave home, so my synced version on the Blackjack is caught up to start the day. In the morning, I usually make a few calls and checking email constantly. By the end of the day, the battery is 33% -50% after all day of email and 2-3 hours of talk time combined. At 6pm or so, the Blackjack gets charged for the next day.

CONCLUSION
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.

Pros

• 3G Data Connectivity
• Slim Form Factor
• Qwerty Keyboard
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Windows Mobile 5.0
• Superb Call Quality
• Button layout and usage (I am referring to the dual function buttons)

Cons

• Battery Life
• Proprietary Connector
• No WiFi (need for it is debatable)
• Data Plans are Expensive (not a problem with the phone, but still a problem)

Chris Leckness (3531 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Chris Leckness is the Owner/Administrator of Mobilitysite. He is a Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices and a member of the exclusive focus group, Mobius. Chris runs a Mobilitysite, GotZune, and a few other smaller sites and blogs. His personal blog is chris.leckness.com.