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, up until now, the latter plan was offered only with a high-end feature phone, Samsung's Finesse R810.

Now, MetroPCS says, those who adopt the $50 plan and purchase its new Samsung SCH-i220 (above right) will get unlimited talk, texting, and data use. The phone has a QWERTY keyboard, two megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, and a microSD expansion slot supporting up to 32GB of memory, the carrier says.

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

The Samsung SCH-i220 was first 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 is similar in that it has a QWERTY keyboard, a centrally mounted jog wheel, and a non-touchscreen display with 320 x 240 pixel resolution, but apparently does not include WiFi.

Offering Internet Explorer Mobile and Office Mobile software, the SCH-i220 includes 128MB of RAM and 128MB of flash. The device's 1440mAh battery gives it up to six hours of talk time, and up to 12.5 days of standby.

Features and specifications listed by MetroPCS or 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
• Expansion -- microSD slot
• Dimensions -- 4.61 x 2.3 x .54 inches
  
• Weight -- 3.6 ounces

Further information

According to MetroPCS, the Samsung SCH-i220 costs approximately $300. More information may be found on the company's website, here.

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