BlackJack II and Shine

AT&T today launched two of its higher-profile 3G phones, hoping to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving rush. The BlackJack II is Samsung's promised sequel to the bar-shaped, QWERTY smartphone that has proven successful at the American carrier and packs true GPS as well as a 2-megapixel camera, the often-requested longer battery life, and more memory to improve performance with Windows Mobile 6. It roams on the 3G access of most GSM phone networks using tri-band HSPA, AT&T says. The BlackJack II ships for $150 in gray and red versions after subscribing to a new two-year plan.

The LG Shine is also launching today. Similar to the Rogers version which went live in Canada last month, AT&T's Shine adopts the slider form factor of the original Korean phone but switches to a circular directional pad in place of a roll bar and adds dual-band HSPA for 3G speeds both in the US and in Europe. The 2-megapixel camera, wide-angle LCD, and microSD support up to 4GB all carry over from earlier phones. Its metal shell helps set the price at $150 after signing a two-year contract and a rebate.

By Electronista Staff