T-Mobile USA has a Blast

Device vendors seem to be getting the hang of names, though it’s hard to let go of those pesky numeric tags.
Enter the Blast from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., aka the SGH-t729.
Everyone loves to have a “blast,” right?
The phone is being marketed as a messaging-centric handset-it’s a slider with two letters per pivoting key and Tegic’s T9 predictive text-for T-Mobile USA Inc.’s slightly younger, presumably message-happy and price-conscious consumer segment. The carrier and vendor call the device “QWERTY-like” because the letters are laid out in horizontal QWERTY fashion, with two letters per key, while the vertical 12-key numeric pad is called out by red highlights.
The handset had not appeared on T-Mobile USA’s Web site this morning and pricing was not immediately available.
T-Mobile USA’s announcement emphasized the Blast’s ease of use for text messaging, instant messaging and, oh yeah, e-mail with a variety of services, as it extolled the slim-slider design. All messaging options can be launched from the handset’s home screen. Expect the typical bevy of features: 1.3 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, video camera/playback, MP3 player, speaker-independent voice recognition. The phone is EDGE-enabled and quad-band.
The device is the first to sport T-Mobile USA’s enhanced myFaves’ audio postcard feature, which allows subscribers to send a voice message along with a photo.