Samsung SGHi617 Blackjack II Review

The Samsung SGH-i617, also known as the Blackjack II, is a Windows Mobile powered smartphone. It combines all the features of a useable mobile device as well as the functionality of a PDA in one package. This includes messaging, GPS navigation and multimedia playback as well.

The SGH-i617 is black and thin, and comes in dimensions of 4.4 inches high x 2.3 inches wide x 0.4 inches deep (depth). It weighs 3.52 ounces. This device has a battery better than most with a talk time of up to 7 hours and a standby time of up to 14 days. It has a memory capacity of 128 MB of RAM and 256 MB of ROM which is upgradeable with microSD cards. It operates on the UMTS, HSDPA, GPRS and Edge bands and definitely has can be ran on a 3G network at 3.6 Mbps. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities making this a truly global device. Speaking of global, the BlackJack comes fully equipped with a GPS navigational system. It is used through its TeleNav software, but can also be used with third party software as well.

The BlackJack II comes with a 2 megapixel camera with a 4x digital zoom and can record and playback video in MPEG4, H.263, and WMV formats. The SGH-i617 also supports the streaming of high quality video and Mobile TV. All of this on its 2.4 inch (diagonal) 320x240 Pixel screen. The BlackJack II lacks a touch screen but has just as many features as any touch screen smartphone device. The front jog wheel that's on this device relieves some of the navigational burdens created by not having a touch screen.

For messaging purposes the BlackJack II uses its AT&T Xpress Mail program to connect you to your various email accounts. This includes POP3 and IMAP. It also can configure some of the most popular types of email accounts automatically. The BlacJack II also comes with Yahoo, AIM and MSN messaging automatically. Of course the BlackJack II also supports the normal SMS and MMS text messaging as well and is capable of sending video messages as well.

This BlackJack can also stream music from online sources. As far as music goes, this device can also play various music types through its native Windows Media Player 10 software. You can also use it to subscribe to XM satellite radio and can create playlists on the BlackJack II itself. It also plays back mp3 ringtones.

If that wasn’t enough, the BlackJack II has a very long feature list. It includes all of the basic feature sets that this type of device usually comes with and possibly a few surprises for advanced users as well. There are games, FM radio, a push to talk feature, calendar, currency converter etc. There’s also a voice recognition translation program…imagine that.

The BlackJack II is a well rounded and extremely professional device. People new to smartphones might find the feature list a little intimidating at first, but should feel assured that this device is easy to use and has most of its features pre installed. Advanced users will find that the BlackBerry II can handle everything thrown at it and delivers on all of its advertised points.

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