AT&T is slowly and steadily building up their portfolio of LTE-capable devices, and it looks like yet another has just broken cover. Due to be officially unveiled on January 8, the Pantech Element is AT&T’s newest LTE tablet, and is the first in AT&T’s lineup not to cost an absurd amount of money with a contract. → Read More
If you thought that AT&T’s Android lineup was a bit lacking, then today’s announcement just may change your mind. AT&T has pulled back the curtains on a fleet of five new Android-powered smartphones that should hit wireless retailers just in time for all that holiday commotion. → Read More
We knew the thinnest QWERTY keyboard phone was coming, but AT&T and Pantech have officially launched the Slate. The phone measures less than one centimeter deep and is equipped with standard 2006-circa specs: 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth, and multimedia functions. To be honest though, the phone is only going to be $50 after a two-year agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate so what more can you want? → Read More
Right after Helio worked with Pantech on the Ocean, Pantech cranked out the strikingly similar (albeit with less spring-loaded-slider goodness) Duo. This morning, Pantech announced that not only had all the Duos currently sitting on AT&T’s shelves been bumped up to Windows Mobile 6.1, but that the folks back at home could get in on the fun too. If you’ve got a Helio Ocean 0.8 Pantech Duo sittin around, head over to the product page for the update kit. As always, be sure to back up your data before diving in – making the switch does involve having all your data erased. → Read More
Here’s another phone that’s destined to be bought by dozens of people, the Pantech Slate. This AT&T-branded device, which is due for release later this month, comes with all the normal (for 2006) fixings: a 1.3-megapixel camera, e-mail, IM, yada yada. Supposedly it’s the thinnest QWERTY device out there. You really do wonder, though, as everything these days is thin to one degree or another, how much traction can Pantech, AT&T or whomever get out of calling a device the “thinnest.” She should cost $50 with two-year contract. → Read More
Oh boy! Gear Diary has the inside scoop on AT&T’s remaining lineup of devices for the rest of the year and it looks pretty good. Lots of Windows Mobile 6.1 devices along with a few BlackBerrys. Details after the jump. → Read More
It seems a video of the Ocean 2 was up last night, but that’s clearly not the case now since we can only provide a screen shot. Not a whole lot to glean from the Heliocity message board, but it appears the d-pad is touch sensitive and the “Helio” is backlit. Looking forward to this upgrade. → Read More
W62H from Hitachi (equipped with a 2.8 inch OLED display featuring 480×240 resolution) → Read More
AT&T is all about red devices lately and, of course, they’re pushing them hard for Valentine’s day. Already in the red line-up is Samsung’s Blackjack II, LG’s Shine and BlackBerry’s Curve. Enter Pantech’s Duo. Yeah, it’s still the so-so Windows Mobile device we reviewed a short time ago. A $99 smartphone isn’t too shabby. Product Page → Read More
Helio has once again dropped the price of their unlimited plan down to $99 from $145. You know the drill. Now drop on by your nearest store and take advantage while you can. The Ocean and Mysto are great choices in case you needed some advice on a handset. Helio → Read More
Feeling loverly? This cute little phone would go great with that purse, although if your girlfriend is a gearhead she may be disappointed. But who can resist that little pink jewel? Every time you send, it’s like a baby Rudolph is giving your thumb an Eskimo kiss. The only stat I could gleam was that the thing only has a 1.3-megapixel camera, so despite having a price tag topping $400 before rebates and such, it doesn’t seem to be a powerhouse, exactly. Don’t have a lot to do and speak Korean? Try navigating the Pantech site and see if you can scrape any more info out of the Flash love story they’re telling there. Pantech’s curvy SKY IM-S300 [Mobiunity.com] → Read More
What would a week of “Smartphones Now” be without a review of a smartphone? A terrible one, I’m sure. So what are we going to look at today? The Duo from Pantech for AT&T. Not exactly the hottest smartphone on the market, but it does have a few qualities that are quite endearing. I’m also jaded and hate all phones to begin with. Heh. That’s not entirely true. I just hate the iPhone. That one’s for you, dwalk. The most significant feature of the Duo is its dual slider design, which it borrows from its bigger brother over at Helio, the Ocean. The main difference and unfortunately the biggest pitfall for the Duo is the lack of spring assist for the QWERTY. You see, the Ocean has spring assist in both directions. You may not think it’s necessary but it is. Sliding the Duo to get to the QWERTY is painful and gritty. Of course, if you’ve never touched the Ocean then you wouldn’t know any different. It’s something you can get used to, though. → Read More
After a dreadful day of sitting on the couch, sleeping on the couch and playing Assassin’s Creed from the couch since I was under the weather yesterday, I return to the CrunchGear/TechCrunch office to find a UPS box waiting for me. What could it be?! Yeah, I know you already know since it’s blatantly obvious in the headlines but bear with me. So what I have here is the Duo, which is Pantech’s take on the Helio Ocean. They did a pretty decent job, too. The QWERTY and 12-key are reversed on the Duo and it’s considerably smaller than the Ocean. My initial impressions are of the Duo are good so far. Each QWERTY keyboard is unique so I won’t be commenting on that just yet. I’m transitioning from the Sidekick Slide back to the BlackBerry keyboard so I’m all sorts of confused. Add to that my Ocean addiction and you may know what my mind and fingers are going through. It’s WinMo 6 so I already want to throw it against the wall, but we’ll see what I say next week with my full review. In the mean time, enjoy the pics. → Read More
The Pantech Duo (aka It’s-not-the-ocean) has been officialized today by AT&T. The Windows Mobile 6 smartphone is a true world phone, and will work in most countries supporting GSM. Like the Helio Ocean, the Duo has dual-sliding keypads, one T9, and one’s QWERTY. We’re big fans of the Ocean for its design, but it’ll be interesting to see how the form factor carries over to WinMo 6. We’re not big fans of the phone’s OS, but it’s better than nothing. The phone is running on AT&T’s HSDPA network, which means it’s fast. We get downlink speeds of 1.2Mbps regularly here in Seattle, and the theoretical speed limit is 1.4Mbps. Not bad at all. AT&T is positioning this device as a half-consumer, half-business handset, which makes sense. You’ll see more phones hitting this dual-purpose demographic in the future, and we’re glad to see it as a market segment that’s growing. AT&T, Pantech Double-Up on Cool with Slim, Dual-Keyboard Pantech Duo [AT&T Press release] → Read More
Starting today, AT&T customers will be able to purchase the Pantech C150 camera phone. For what it’s worth, the C150 was a recipient of “a 2006 iF design award for international excellence in brand design.” Apparently, this is quite an award as it’s been going on for over 50 years and entries come in from all over the world and number in the thousands. I guess that’s what I get for not keeping up on German design competitions. This candy bar style handset — whoa, I just noticed the photo on the phone’s screen as I was writing this, hah cha cha! — comes with Bluetooth, mobile e-mail via Yahoo!, AOL, and Windows Live Mail, MP3 ring tones, and a VGA camera that also shoots video. The phone is less than half an inch thick and costs a big fat donut with a two-year contract, $199 without. Pantech Launches Stylish Award-Winning Camera Phone Press Release via [Businesswire] → Read More
Amidst the recent and much needed surge of mobile phones shedding weight. Pantech hopes to stand out with their newest phone that employs magnetic levitation. Maglev, as it’s called, basically allows an object to hover over another object without any physical contact and is held in place by the magnetic fields. Most slider phones are designed with springs, which make them fatty and quite hideous…I guess. Anywho, the Pantech is lean and mean at only 9.9mm, which beats out Samsung’s anorexic Ultra Editions. It features a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 player and T-DMB. Pantech plans to launch the phones in SK next month, but there is no official word on price yet. If it does well in SK Pantech plans to bring it overseas. Yippy! The Korea Times → Read More
that Helio was likely preparing to release the Pantech PN-810 slider. The rumor today is that the new device will be dubbed the Helio Oz. With the Helio Heat just out of the furnace and the Drift standing strong, Helio is positioning itself firmly in the MVNO market. I continue to be intrigued by this, heavily financed, up-and-coming company. We don’t know when this device will be released, or what it’ll cost when it arrives, but perhaps we’ll learn something more later this month at CTIA. Helio’s Next Device: The Oz Smartphone [Gizmodo] → Read More
