Problems With the Samsung BlackJack II

The Samsung Blackjack II is a smartphone that runs on the Windows Mobile 6 operating system. Many reviews of the phone have compared it to certain models of the BlackBerry from Research in Motion, as the Blackjack and BlackBerry share similar names, similar functions and even similar designs. In the United States the Blackjack II is exclusive to the AT&T network. While the Blackjack has received glowing reviews from sites such as c|net, the device can run into problems over time. Knowing what these problems are and how to fix them can save time, money and stress.

Applications Minimizing

A common complaint from many new Blackjack II users is that many windows and applications will minimize after roughly 10 seconds of phone inactivity. This is not an actual "problem" and can be easily remedied by simply going to the Blackjack II's Settings menu. From there, make your way to the display screen, followed by "Home Screen." Where you see "Time Out," switch the option from "Ten Seconds" to "Never" and you will no longer have this problem.

Phantom Text Messages

Sometimes your Blackjack II will inform you that you have a new, unread text message. However, when you go to look at your text messages you discover that you don't have any new messages. This is informally known as the "phantom text" glitch and there is only one way to remedy this problem: resetting your Blackjack II. However, because this problem poses no real danger to the functionality of the phone and serves as only a minor annoyance, you may not feel it necessary to reset your Blackjack II and lose all of your stored data files just to remove a "1" from your text message box.

No Sound

One of the most prevalent problems with the Blackjack II is a two-way loss of audio on the phone, meaning that neither your receiver or your microphone is working. This is not a fault of the phone hardware, but of certain phone software that taps into the MMS capabilities on the cell phone. When this service fails to boot properly, it cuts off all audio on the phone, forcing the user to reboot their phone--sometimes multiple times before the software in question boots properly. Luckily there is a fix for this problem available for free download over the Internet (see References).

"Emergency Services Only" Error

As the Blackjack II earns more "mileage" from regular use, the components on the device will gain more wear and tear and start to falter just a bit. A problem with older models of the Blackjack II is a Loss of Service error that gives you the "Emergency Services Only" error message. In essence, the Blackjack II has lost connection to your cell phone service and is functioning as it would if it did not have a SIM Card inserted. In reality the problem is that the SIM Card has become loose in its casing. Turning off your Blackjack II, removing the battery and pressing down on the SIM Card slot with some force with your thumb will ensure that the SIM Card is in the slot and your connection is good.

Slow Computing and Operating

Because the Samsung Blackjack II operates on the Windows Mobile platform, the phone will eventually become slow after a while. The effects may not be noticeable immediately when making a call or browsing through basic applications, but when texting or running memory-heavy applications you will find severe slowdown. This problem can be remedied by doing two things: 1.) Delete old text messages that take up valuable space on the phone. 2.) Your phone has only so much RAM (Random Access Memory) for the OS and your programs to tap into. By simply turning the Blackjack II off from time to time, you can keep your Blackjack II running nice and smooth.

References

• "No Sound. Ever." Fix
• Gadgets Manual: Samsung Blackjack II Manual