We’ve shown you the Hardware Hands-on Video and we’ve shown you the Software Hands-on Video for the Samsung Omnia, which we think could get released by AT&T later this Fall, though honestly it's still a bit unclear.

Anyhow, we figured that the day we discovered that the FCC has cleared what looks to be the Omnia would be a good day to give it an honest-to-goodness review. Now, we dig a little deeper and offer our thoughts on how the phone performs day to day, how it may stack up in the current WM device arena.

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BGR's AT&T sources sent on an internal flyer promoting an internal event to teach their employees about the Samsung Epix, which until now we were calling the BlackJack III and very briefly wondered if it might actually be the Mirage. So now we can say with assuredness that the Samsung i788 will be called the Samsung Epix. We are a little less sure about this, but the pending release of this front-facing QWERTY Windows Mobile Pro device on AT&T might help explain why they didn't take a chance at immediately release another one that's only available unlocked. Ahem.

Anyhow, BGR is guessing a $199 after rebate price point. We're guessing this means that the Mirage is definitely going to be the Omnia. We're also guessing that you're getting tired of all these codenames and name changes. If you're guessing that we don't blame you for that, you're right.

Specs aren't a big secret either: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. 320x320 touchscreen, fiddly optical mouse instead of a dpad, 3G, GPS, and WiFi.

One last note: We are very happy to see this thing not called the BlackJack III. The BlackJack brand belongs to Windows Mobile Standard in our eyes and we would have hated to see it muddied up.

Phone Arena has a post chock full of Samsung-y goodness. Let's parse out what we're expecting here.

On AT&T, there's word that the “Mirage” we'd figured would be the US version of the Samsung Omnia (check out our Hardware Hands on and Software Hands on) is actually nothing more than the internal codename for the BlackJack III. The BJIII, if you recall, is expected to be the US version of the Samsung i780 (we figure the US brand will the the i788). In other words: take a BlackJack II and make it a touchscreen, Windows Mobile Pro device.

The Omnia should still be still en-route as well, though there's no new info on it beyond the fact that we now suspect that it's not the Mirage. Although we still expect it, it's not exactly heartening to see the FCC pass something called the SGH-A867 -- it's oddly it's lacking WiFi. Make of that what you will.

We're almost home now: next up is that both devices may also be destined for Verizon. The SCH-i770 will be Verizon's version of the BlackJack III, a rumor that makes sense given Verizon's penchant for uninspiring names. The Omnia is also apparently on deck for Verizon, too.

Clear as mud? Don't worry, we feel the same way.

via Engadget Mobile and BGR

p.s. one piece of bad news: the relatively cool QWERTY Slider, the i640, is coming to the US; It's coming with a custom Samsung OS, though, not Windows Mobile.

The wily Boy Genius has snagged himself a copy of AT&T's roadmap for the next month or so, and we learn a couple of things.

• The HTC Fuze (the rebranded Touch Pro) will launch Oct. 23.
• The Samsung Mirage i907 (the U.S. version of the Omnia) will launch Oct. 2.

That's about it for Windows Mobile devices. Of note is that the BlackBerry Bold now has an estimated release date of November, and the original Samsung Blackjack has been placed on the End of Life list.

Update: (From Dieter): As I noted on this story at TreoCentral -- note what's still absent from AT&T's roadmap: The **Treo Pro**.

Finally some good news on the Omnia front for AT&T Users: Engadget is reporting that we might see it on the network next month with full US 3G support and an all-new name: the Mirage. The rumored date is October 7th.

We can't resist a Mirage joke, either: Samsung and AT&T are going to want to get it released as quickly as possible, because any possible buzz about the device is going to vanish as soon as the HTC Touch HD starts appearing in bloggers' hands.

You can check out our hands-on video with the Omnia here. We're hoping / guessing that when we see the Mirage, some of those User Interface hassles will be fixed up so tightly it will seem as if there were never even there to begin with.

Are you still holding out for the Omnia/Mirage, or has your desire for one disappeared (somebody stop us) in favor of another (one more) oasis?