T-Mobile USA have launched the Samsung SGH-t349, a messaging candybar handset with a partial-QWERTY keyboard.  Offering a BlackBerry-style 20 key ‘board and XT9 predictive text, the t349 supports SMS, MMS and IM messaging, together with offering web2go access.

There’s also a 1.3-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, and a media player that can handle MP3, AAC and AAC+ files.  Wired or stereo Bluetooth headphones can be used, and storage is courtesy of microSD cards up to 4GB in size.  Samsung also throw in a speakerphone and PIM functionality, though don’t expect high-speed web access because the triband SGH-t349 tops out at EDGE.

Still, it’s relatively slim – at 0.53-inches thick – and the 2.2-inch 176 x 220 display is a reasonable size for the kind of messaging t349 owners might be considering.  It’s available now, priced at a bargain $14.99 with a new two-year contract.

Press Release:

Samsung SGH-t349

Slim, Partial QWERTY-keypad phone makes messaging friends and family quick and easy

Samsung’s SGH-t349, available from T-Mobile USA, is a compact and slim messaging phone featuring a 20-key, partial QWERTY keypad and XT9™ predictive text and auto-word completion. The bar-style, lime green t349 makes messaging faster and easier with access to E-mail, Instant Messaging and picture, video and text messaging. The t349 features a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder with 4x digital zoom, MP3 player, expandable memory slot and Stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology.

Key features of the Samsung SGH-t349 include:
- T-Mobile myFaves® enabled
- Messaging services
o Text messaging (XT9 Predictive Text Technology)
o Instant Messaging (AIM®, Windows Live™ Messenger, Yahoo!® Messenger)
o Picture Messaging
- Support for web2goSM
- 1.3-megapixel Camera
o 1280×1024 resolution
o 4x digital zoom
- MP3 Player: supports MP3, AAC, AAC+
- Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
- MicroSD Card Slot – up to 4GB
- Speakerphone
- Personal organizer (alarm, calendar, calculator, notes, world time, converter, timer, stopwatch)
- EDGE & GPRS Class: 10; 850/1800/1900 MHz
- Dimensions: 4.49” x 1.97” x 0.53”; 3.2 ounces
- Display: 2.2”, 176 x 220 Pixels, 262K TFT Color
- Standard Lithium Ion Battery: up to 7 hours talk time; up to 300 hours standby time*

Pricing and availability: The Samsung SGH-t349 will be priced at $14.99** with a two-year contract. For more information, visit www.samsung.com/newsroom or www.t-mobile.com.

*Talk and standby times will vary depending on phone usage patterns and conditions. Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, frequency of calls and voice, data and other application usage patterns.

** Requires new activation and a two-year agreement; may require data plan. Pricing subject to change.