Announced just Tuesday, the Samsung Epix is new on the AT&T network. The 3G phone appears to be the torch bearer for the BlackJack family as it continues on in the same tradition: a smartphone that gets the job done. I’ve had the phone for a few hours and have my initial impression to report. I’ll report back in an couple of weeks with an in-depth look.

In short, this is one good looking business phone. Its understated gray exterior screams, “I make way more than you think I do” and the classy chrome-like band around the phone is retained from the BlackJack 2. The phone feels good in the hand, not heavy but solid. I just feel more important using it.

Hit the jump to see what else I found to like in this phone.

E-mail, messaging, Internet, touchscreen all for under $100. That is what Samsung has been bringing to AT&T now for about 2 years under the BlackJack name. Today, Samsung changes things up and rolls out the Epix name for what looks to be the 3rd installment in the BlackJack family. Thankfully, its got two big additions more »

AT&T is giving some love to all Samsung BlackJack II fans with the announcement of two new colors of the already popular handset. Aside from its previously released black and red colors, the BlackJack II will soon be donning the new Ocean Blue and Romantic Pink colors. Aside from these seemingly attractive colors, the BlackJack’s more »

Rogers has just announced the availability of the Jack, or what is more commonly known as the Samsung Blackjack II. The Jack will offer the same features as the formally named Blackjack II which include a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 display, 2.0-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, front jog wheel, full QWERTY keyboard and integrated GPS. The Jack more »

AT&T currently has a special $99 promotion on the red LG Shine, BlackJack II and the BlackBerry Curve 8310. The promotion is valid through Valentines Day, which for those that may need a reminder is February 14 and they all require a 2-year agreement with purchase. “Chocolates and flowers are standby gifts for Valentine’s Day, more »

Products: Samsung Blackjack II; Pantech DuoPrice: $99 from AT&T with contractRatings: Blackjack II 8/10; Pantech Duo 7/10Pros: Blackjack II: Decent update to a good phone. Lavish new finishes, wider and brighter screen. Internal GPS. Duo: Smaller LxW form factor, double sliding keypad and QWERTY is just plain fun. Gaming is fun on wide screenCons: Blackjack II: Software bug turns backlight on, led flasher added to front is uncontrollable. Duo: Slow to type on wide QWERTY slider, Can’t get to messages sometimes?Overall: Two decent phones for different folk. I couldn’t get typing fast on the Duo, and that hurt its performance for me. The Samsung would be the phone I’d reach for first between these two.

For the past month, I’ve had the privilege to get some quality hands-on time with the Samsung Blackjack II and the Pantech Duo, both offered by AT&T right now for just $99 (terms, conditions, first-born rules apply). It is one thing to play with a phone for a minute in the store, it is yet another to live with and rely on one. For me and my usage style, this test comes down to 3 big things: input, battery, livability. The rest, again to me, is all wants – not needs. So how did these two big guns fair?

As an unloyal Blackjack (BJ1) user, I was extremely eager to get my hands on the new version. For my BJ1, countless supposed release dates for Windows Mobile 6 update had come and gone leaving the only hope of upgrade to getting a new phone. Thankfully, Samsung dropped the Blackjack II (BJ2) phone late last more »