The Samsung Rant was announced this week as Laptop’s best cell phone of CTIA Fall 2008! The full article is here: http://blog.laptopmag.com/best-cell-phone-of-ctia-fall-2008-samsung-rant.

Samsung Mobile attended CTIA Fall and Mobile Focus 2008 yesterday in San Francisco. Some of the new highlighted products that were showcased include the Highnote and Rant which recently won “Laptop’s Best Cell Phone of CTIA Fall 2008″ award. CNET, Consumer Reports, Yahoo! Tech, Phonescoop and Phonedog were featured attendees among others. 

The Samsung Omnia has drawn rave reviews since its international debut earlier this summer. To celebrate the phone’s arrival technivator has created an unboxing video. For more information on the Omnia you can visit http://omnia.samsungmobile.com/

Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced SAMSUNG RECYCLING DIRECT™, its commitment to the take-back and recycling (TB&R) of Samsung-branded consumer electronics across all of its product lines. Beginning October 1, 2008, people will be able to drop off their Samsung-branded consumer electronics sold in the United States at convenient collection sites, including permanent drop-off centers in all 50 states, and at a wide range of recycling events across the country. Through this convenient recycling program, Samsung-branded consumer electronics will be accepted for no fee, and non-Samsung-branded consumer electronics will be accepted for a nominal fee paid directly to Samsung’s contracted recycling partners upon delivery of the e-waste.

Additional information about today’s announcement and Samsung’s environmentally-responsible activities can be found at www.samsung.com/recyclingdirect.

The Samsung BlackJack II is now available for upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1. To upgrade your handset, please visit http://www.samsung.com/us/i617/windowsupgrade/.

By upgrading your device to Windows Mobile 6.1, you will now have access to:

• New Look & Feel: Using Windows Mobile 6.1, an easy-to-use Sliding Panel homescreen allows you quick access to your Samsung i617 primary functions by simply sliding vertically and horizontally through the homescreen panels. 
• System Center Mobile Device Manager (SCMDM): When enabled by your business IT department, SCMDM provides device management enhancements and secure data access to your corporate network.
• Improved GPS Navigation: With AT&T Navigator and assisted-GPS (aGPS), the Samsung i617 leverages both satellite and cellular technology to get you there on time.
• Threaded SMS Messaging: Rather than seeing a stand-alone response when you open an SMS message, you’ll view the details of your entire conversation. Now you can easily see how the conversation has progressed.
• Internet Connection Sharing - Utilize your smart phone capabilities by using your phone as a high-speed wireless modem for your laptop. It’s easy to set up and even easier to connect. Just click and go!
• Mobile Banking: Perform secure banking transactions with many of the nation’s largest banks right from your Samsung i617.
• Voice Command: Voice Command transforms your Samsung i617 into your own virtual personal assistant, letting you use your voice to look up contacts, make phone calls, get calendar information, and play and control your music, as well as start programs. 

The 38th Annual Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival, Presented by Samsung Mobile took place over Labor Day weekend, August 30 – September 1. The 3-day urban event streched across the 74-acre Seattle Center, located beneath the city’s iconic Space Needle, and featured a diverse program at 20 indoor and unique outdoor venues including live music, comedy, theatre, dance, film, urban crafts, and literary and visual arts. The 2008 Samsung Mobile Mainstage included performances by Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Death Cab For Cutie, Lucinda Williams, The Offspring, Band of Horses, Paramore, Neko Case, T.I. and more.

Samsung Mobile hosted the Samsung Sound Lounge, which included the DJ Scratch Academy that allowed festival goers the opportunity to learn first-hand from the experts how to scratch and mix and create their own unique music CD or video to take home with them. Former Seattle Seahawks fullback and Fox Sports Northwest sportscaster, Mack Strong visited the Samsung Mobile Sound Lounge on Saturday, August 30th to host the DJ Scratch Academy and guest DJ for everyone to enjoy. The Sound Lounge also included a digital green-screen photo area where people took their pictures to print onsite and take home, as well as interactive areas that allowed consumers to experience Samsung Mobile phones featuring enhanced multimedia capabilities, music and entertainment. Samsung Mobile gave attendees a free day pack and free night glo, and anyone that takes their Bumbershoot ticket to a local Seattle T-Mobile store will be entered to win a Samsung prize.

Check out www.bumbershoot.org.

Today, Samsung Mobile teamed up with former Olympian and NFL great Herschel Walker to conduct an Olympic Training Session with the youth of Dallas Challenge, an organization that helps youth stay in school, off drugs and alcohol, and out of the criminal justice system, at their Phoenix Project Center in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas. In addition, Samsung made a $5,000 donation to Dallas Challenge.

For more information on Dallas Challenge, please visit their Web site: www.dallaschallenge.org.

Samsung Mobile’s Olympics TV spot has been expanded into a full-length music track and music video. Entitled, “Answer The Call,” the music video can be viewed on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkIW92vlDLo. 

What you need to know:

·        Firmware Upgrade Became Available: July 30

·        How to Access on the Instinct: Go to “Main,” and then press “settings,” “general,” and “update phone.”

·        Main improvements: Fixes calendar so recurring appointments can now appear, improves web browsing experience, increased volume when using Bluetooth, ability to save still image as wallpaper

Samsung’s popular and award-winning BlackJack II is now available in two new colors, Romantic Pink and Ocean Blue. Both handsets feature white keyboards and graphic designs on the back. For additional information on the new BlackJack II’s, please visit www.samsungmobileusa.com or www.att.com/wireless.