Cingular Wireless on Monday announced a new phone, in partnership with Samsung and Microsoft, that is meant to compete with a rival product sold by Verizon Wireless.
The Cingular phone, to be sold under the name BlackJack for $199.99 with a two-year sign-up, arrives in the wake of the Motorola Q, which is sold exclusively by Verizon. While Cingular is late to the game, the company believes the device — which includes a typewriter-like keyboard and offers access to things like music and email — will be popular.
Cingular is touting the BlackJack as a crossover phone that will appeal to regular consumers and to business customers as well. On the business side, the BlackJack faces stiff competition from workhorse phones made by BlackBerry and Palm.
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