Samsung Blast Phone (T-Mobile) | 
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| Brand: Samsung
Category: Wireless
List Price: $179.99
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $179.98 (100%)
Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 958
Color: Black
Media: Wireless Phone
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
Model: Blast
UPC: 610214614476
ASIN: B000UOFVDW
Release Date: August 5, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Data not available Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Slim slider phone with hybrid QWERTY keypad with SureType technology for quick, easy emails and text messaging | | • | Provides direct access to personal e-mail, including AOL email, Yahoo! Mail and Gmail | | • | Access to popular instant messaging services as well as text and multimedia/picture messaging | | • | Bluetooth connectivity for communication headsets and stereo headphones; 1.3-megapixel camera | | • | Includes: Battery, Charger and Hands-free Headset |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
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 messagesNmeaning 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
 Excellent T-mobile phone November 7, 2008
A. Sands (Minnesota)
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 phone with a decent amount of features and you do a lot of texting.
PS i recommend buying a micro sd card for storing/transfering your pics (and music)
 One of the best phones I've ever owned October 27, 2008
A. Henley (Seattle, WA)
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 off predictive text and enter it manually (at which point, the word gets added to the dictionary). I realize that some people don't like predictive text, so for them it's a bit lame that there's no setting to leave it turned off by default. I also love the fact that it has a MicroSD slot; makes it really easy to add new ringtones and wallpapers.
It's not a perfect phone though. Of the major gripes I have, the biggest is the 30-message limit in the text inbox (the last Samsung phone I had 4 years ago had this issue as well). Why text messages can't be stored on the memory card is a mystery, especially for a phone that's so focused on texting. Also a mystery is is the fact that the phone can store 200 messages in the text message outbox. At the very least, those two should be reversed (200 in the inbox and 30 in the outbox).
The inability to change the text message tones is also very annoying. I've seen numerous phones that give users this freedom, and with the memory card slot and the ability to add your own ringtones, it's simply unforgivable that you can't change the tone for incoming text messages. Especially since the sones that come with the phone are all incredibly annoying. As a result, I set the phone to just vibrate when I get a text.
I've also occasionally had connection issues where the phone will show a full signal but I won't be able to make/receive calls or text messages. But I've found that turning it off and turning it back on usually solves that problem. Otherwise, call quality is fine and I haven't really had many other issues with reception.
I tried using the phone to check my gmail, and it was slower than I would have liked. I probably won't be making use of that feature very often. I also don't plan on using it to listen to music, so the lack of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack doesn't bother me.
Overall, the good far outweighs the bad. For a phone so focused on texting, it falls a bit short in that area but it still does texting better than most other phones and it's still a great phone.
nice phone September 3, 2008
JenniiD (CA)
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.
Not the best by any means, but great for the price June 18, 2008
N. Friedman (Philthadelphia, PA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I got the Blast today and have few complaints thus far. Call quality is fine, features are fairly intuitive, and I like the SureType keypad - I'm already texting much faster than on my old phone, and I've only been using it for a few hours. Logging into Gmail was a snap, and it's wonderful to be able to check my email without paying for a data plan (reading emails is the cost of sending a text, but checking and deleting is free). There are a few cons - the keypad is small and rather flat, which is fine for me as my hands are quite small, but may be problematic for people with larger thumbs. Also, you have to go into a sub-menu to access a comma! (We get an asterix but not a comma?) This is an inexcusably stupid mistake on the part of the designers. Frustrating.
The selection of built-in ringtones is not the best, and there is limited customization for sound in general. I have a feeling I'll be turning them all off soon.
Otherwise, I really like the phone. It's not going to revolutionize your life, it's far from being an iPhone, but if your main concerns are simply making calls, texting, and checking email, and you don't mind the learning curve of the SureType keypad, this is a fine phone. This phone also seems to want to do a lot of things and not all of them well - the camera isn't great, and the mp3 player is very poorly thought out. For the current price, though, (free with activation or contract extension) I'm quite satisfied.
Great phone. Would do it all over again. June 17, 2008
D. Smith (United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Well, I've had the Blast for a little over a week now and am thoroughly enjoying it. I was hesitant at first because I went from a LG 9200 with full QWERTY keyboard to the Smart Type with two letters per key. It took a couple of days, but I am used to it now and am quite fast when texting.
I have not had a problem with the integrated email system. I have [...] and have had absolutely no trouble logging in or retrieving emails. I like that the emails are downloaded like text messages so internet access is not required. This is a great feature.
I don't have the My Favs plan so I can't give a review on that feature.
The camera is quite good and video quality is decent for a camera phone. I have had fun using it for blogging. I like the fact that the camera is hidden until you slide the phone up.
The music player is not a top priority for me as I didn't get this phone to use as a MP3 player, but it too is decent. Not fantastic, but sounds well enough.
I love the slim design. The black and red make it a sharp looking phone. It feels quite comfortable in my hand and when making calls. There is a little give when you slide the phone out, but it is pretty sturdy. I like the option that you can slide the phone back into position and not cut off a call or end an application.
Improvements I would like to see in a future model. A better thumb grip to slide the phone up with one hand. Better ringtones and a quick key to turn it to silent would be nice. It would also be nice to be able to resize wallpaper to fill the display. A flash for the camera would be good. Being able to turn off the option to automatically save sent text would be helpful too. An included USB cable to sync with a computer would be a great add on. Most of my improvements are minor. I really haven't found anything major to complain about.
Overall, I love this phone. It is easy to use and has a lot of wonderful features.
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