MetroPCS operates in nine major metropolitan areas in the U.S., and says it is currently serving approximately 6.1 million subscribers. The company is notable for offering flat-rate cellular service without any monthly contracts, and no activation fees.

According to MetroPCS, its current calling plans range from $30 per month (unlimited local calling with only a basic phone) to $50 a month (unlimited local and long distance calling, unlimited web access, and email). However, the latter plan appears to be presently offered only with a high-end feature phone, Samsung's Finesse R810.

Now, a Windows Mobile smartphone is coming to MetroPCS, according to PhoneNews.com. Yesterday, the website published a picture (above right) showing Samsung's SCH-i220 emblazoned with the MetroPCS logo, and suggested that the phone will be offered by the carrier in September.

Samsung's Blackjack II (Click image for further information)

To the best of our knowledge, the Samsung SCH-i220 still has not been formally announced by any carrier, but the device was outed in June by U.S. Cellular, which posted details of the phone on its website. A non-touchscreen device running Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, the SCH-i220 is similar to Samsung's original Blackjack and later SGH-i617 BlackJack II (right), targeting email-centric users who might otherwise have adopted a RIM BlackBerry.

In May, AT&T announced the Samsung SGH-i637 "Jack," a BlackJack II successor that added WiFi and now sports a 3.2 megapixel camera. The SCH-i220 appears similar in intent, but is a more basic device, apparently lacking WiFi or Bluetooth.

Like the previous Samsung messaging phones mentioned above, the SCH-i220 has a QWERTY keyboard, a centrally mounted jog wheel, and a non-touchscreen display with 320 x 240 pixel resolution. According to U.S. Cellular's website, the device will also come with a two megapixel camera.

Offering Internet Explorer Mobile and Office Mobile software, the SCH-i220 includes 128MB of RAM and 128MB of flash, and supports up to 32GB of removable memory (slot type unspecified). U.S. Cellular says the device's 1440mAh battery gives it up to six hours of talk time, and up to 12.5 days of standby.

The MetroPCS version of the SCH-i220 should be virtually identical since, like U.S. Cellular, the carrier uses CDMA (code division multiple access) and EV-DO (evolution-data optimized) data mode. (In June, MetroPCS launched MetroFLASH, a service whereby it will activate CDMA phones that were previously used with other carriers onto its network for a $40 fee.)

Features and specifications listed previously by U.S. Cellular for the Samsung SCH-i220 include the following:

• Processor -- n/s
  
• Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 128MB of flash
  
• Expansion -- Up to 32GB (format not specified)
  
• Display -- 320 x 240 non-touchscreen display (size n/s)
  
• Camera -- Two megapixel
  
• Keys -- QWERTY keyboard and four-way jogwheel
  
• Wireless -- 800/1900MHz CDMA, with EV-DO Rev. 0
  
• Battery type/life:
  • 1440mAh lithium-ion battery
    
  • Talk time up to 6 hours
    
  • Standby time up to 12.5 days
• Dimensions -- 4.61 x 2.3 x .54 inches
  
• Weight -- 3.6 ounces

Further information

More information on the U.S. Cellular version of the Samsung SCH-i220 may be found on the carrier's website, here.The PhoneNews.com item regarding MetroPCS' impending release of the device may be found here.

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