Perfect for people who want to stay on top of their email as well as stay connected wherever they roam, the crimson and black Samsung Blast slider-style phone is an affordable alternative to smartphones. Available exclusively from T-Mobile, it communicates over GSM/GPRS and EDGE networks and offers quad-band network capabilities for global connectivity. It's first T-Mobile phone to provide direct access to personal e-mail--including AOL email, Yahoo! Mail and Gmail--in addition to text and instant messaging. Composing messages is easy thanks to the hybrid QWERTY keypad that uses SureType technology, also found on RIM's BlackBerry smartphones. (See more about SureType below.) Other features include stereo Bluetooth connectivity, MicroSD memory card expansion, 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder, speaker-independent voice control, and an integrated digital audio player.
The front of the compact Samsung Blast slids up to reveal a keypad with a hybrid QWERTY keyboard.
Using the integrated SureType technology, you'll be able to write and respond to emails, text messages, and IMs quickly and easily.
Here's the biggest bonus--with the Blast you can send and receive e-mail for the same cost as a text message. No data package is required! With a basic voice plan and text messaging option, the Blast becomes your ultimate communication device with text, picture, video, and instant messaging as well as email--without the monthly cost of a data plan.
The Blast also is the first phone to feature compatibility with T-Mobile's myFaves service, which allows you to call up to five of your most common contacts--on any network, even landlines--without using any of your minutes. Blast users who are myFaves subscribers can now also send an audio postcard--a photo accompanied by a voice message--as well as send an e-mail or launch an IM client, in addition to a text message, right from the myFaves home screen. Learn more about myFaves.
Compatible with IMAP4, POP3, and SMTP email protocols (including integrated access to AOL email, Yahoo! Mail and Gmail), the Blast makes it easy to check in with your inbox. It also includes access to instant messaging--with built-in support for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger services--in addition to SMS text, MMS multimedia/picture messaging. For added convenience, email messages on the Blast can be read and responded to for the same pricing as text and picture messagesÑmeaning there's no required data package to purchase.
The bright TFT display has a 176 x 220-pixel resolution and support for up to 262K colors. Below the screen resides a four-way navigation pad and dedicated shortcut and T-Zone keys, with the numeric keypad available by sliding phone's front upward. The QWERTY-like keypad provides ample space to let fingers move at a faster pace, making typing more intuitive, with greater control over the letters and words being entered.
The slim Samsung Blast measures just 0.5 inches thin.
The 1.3-megapixel camera shoots still photos in seven resolutions (from 176 x 144 to 1280 x 1024 pixels) and it offers up to a 4x digital zoom, self-timer, multi-shot capability, and five picture modes (auto, daylight, incandescent, fluorescent, and cloudy). It can also capture video clips in two resolutions--176 x 144 (QCIF) and 128 x 96 pixels--at a length dependent upon the available space on an inserted MicroSD memory card. The digital audio player supports playback of MP3 and AAC files saved to memory card.
This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, audio/video remote control, and printing. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking (DUN)--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server--using T-Mobile's EDGE network.
The built in memory provides room for up to 1000 contact entries in the phone's address book. A voice dialing feature makes calling friends and associates as easy as saying their names. Enjoy easy, hands free communication with a full duplex speakerphone that lets you hear callers loud and clear. It comes with a number of handy tools including a calendar, notepad, alarm clock, to-do list, tip calculator, and unit converter. It also sports an airplane mode feature, which allows the user to safely use the non-wireless functions of a phone (such as music, games, or organizer functions) on an airplane during flight. Other features include an 11 MB internal memory, four pre-loaded games (Forgotten Warrior, Cannonball, Midnight Casino, and Brain Challenge) with more downloadable from T-Mobile's T-Zones, USB connectivity (with mass storage capability), and a built-in Web browser.
SureType Hybrid Keyboard Through an integrated keyboard and software system, SureType effectively combines a traditional phone keypad and a familiar QWERTY-based keyboard to create an efficient and familiar typing experience. When you type on the Samsung Blast, SureType technology automatically changes the letters on the screen and lists suggested words below the text.
SureType allows you to quickly and accurately compose messages using single-handed operation or two-handed thumb-typing--without the limitations of traditional phone keypads. There are no dual keypads, peripherals or hardware transformations required and there is no need to learn a new way to type. Since the software understands what you're typing, you can concentrate on composing your message rather than on the input method. To help facilitate easy spelling and composition, SureType includes intuitive software with a word list of over 35,000 words and the ability to increase that list based on the frequency of use and the names and addresses in the smartphone's address book.
Vital Statistics The Samsung Blast weighs 2.8 ounces and measures 4.16 x 2.04 x 0.5 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 199 hours (8.3) of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Mediocre Phone:
First of all, I've owned a lot of cell phones in my life and this one ranks up there with the worst I've owned to date. I picked this phone up to replace my Nokia 5300 on the recommendation of a friend and the Blast doesn't even hold a candle to it: Pro's: * Nice style: Slim, nice colors, sturdy body, feels comfortable in your hand. Con's: * Horrid software: Menus are not easy to navigate. * Irritating QWERTY layout makes texting a daunting task. * Poor call quality, callers on... more info
Excellent T-mobile phone:
This is an excellent phone. It has a nice big, bright screen, nice 1.3 megapixel camera, music player, great button layout, and an qwerty keyboard. And it looks awesome in black and red. If you're not so sure about the qwerty keyboard thing, just give it some time and you'll get used to it. It took me about 2 weeks to be able to type at a normal speed, and now that I've had it for a while i can whip out text messages like it's my job. So overall it's a great choice if you're looking for a t-mobile... more info
One of the best phones I've ever owned:
After hating my Motorola PEBL for the last 2 years, I was finally eligible for a discounted upgrade and I chose the Samsung Blast. After having it for about a month, I have to say it's one of the better phones I've ever owned. It's thin, light, sleek, and I love the keypad. It takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of texting with it, it's amazing. The predictive text is also better than on many of the phones I've owned, though if a word isn't in the dictionary, it's easy enough to turn... more info
nice phone:
I like this phone, it is easy to use, though I have not used the music features much. It takes nice video and pic. Has lots of fun extras, tip calculator and such.
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