Windows Mobile 6.1 update available for Samsung BlackJack II

Today Samsung officially released the Windows Mobile 6.1 update for its SGH-i617 smartphone, a device known to most people in the U.S. as the BlackJack II that is sold by AT&T. The update adds Internet Connection Sharing, mobile banking, and voice dialing to the phone in addition to the normal WM6.1 features like threaded SMS and the new home screen look and feel.

There are two different updates available, depending on which version of Microsoft Windows you are running. For users running Vista, go to this page. Windows XP users should go here instead. Sadly, if you are a Mac or Linux user, you appear to be out of luck.

Unlike the upgrade process for other smartphones on the market, the Samsung update process seems to be a bit scary. Drivers need to be installed and verified, and you'll even be asked to make a quick trip to your machine's Device Manager control panel applet. As expected, your machine will be wiped during the install process, so be sure to backup your information.