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.

According to BGR, Pantech’s Honeycomb-powered tablet features an 8-inch display, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor of unknown origin, and 16GB of internal storage. The Element also sports two cameras — a rear-facing 5-megapixel shooter with 1080p video capture, and a smaller 2-megapixel frontfacer for video calling and goofy self-portraits.

The Element is also meant to be one of AT&T’s more rugged offerings, touted as being “waterproof for real life.” You shouldn’t take that as carte blanche to take it for a swim though, as BGR reports that the Element can’t actually survive more than a splash on the face.

Strangely, also they mention that the Element has an IP57 waterproof rating, which actually means that the device would be capable of surviving submersion in up to 1m of water. I’m chalking that up to some crossed wires though, as AT&T is reportedly telling reps that it isn’t in fact a waterproof tablet.

At $299, the Element is an easier pill to swallow than either of AT&T’s previous LTE-friendly tablets. While the Galaxy Tab 8.9 and the HTC Jetstream both come from bigger companies, they cost $479 and $599 respectively — more than a little ridiculous considering you’re signing a two-year contract on top of it.

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.

The new Samsung Captivate Glide may bear a resemblance to its distant cousins the Stratosphere and the Epic 4G, but the similarities are purely cosmetic. While this Gingerbread handset packs a similar 4-inch Super AMOLED display, it also has a dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor under the hood and 1GB of RAM to help keep things running smoothly.

As you can tell, it also sports a comfortable-looking four row keyboard, but perhaps less obvious are the HSPA+ radio, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 1.3-megapixel frontfacer.

Motorola’s Atrix 2 actually seems like a mixed bag as far as upgrades go. It rocks a sleeker body than its predecessor, not to mention an new HSPA+ radio so users can finally push the limits of AT&T’s Faux-G network.

An unnamed 1GHz dual-core processor is calling the shots, which is a bit odd considering how proud they were of the original’s Tegra 2 chipset, and the display has been bumped up to 4.3 inches without a similar bump in resolution. That bit of stretching means that the Atrix 2 is working with a slightly lower pixel density than the original model, which may be a disappointment for current Atrix fans. It indeed runs Gingerbread, and an 8-megapixel camera capable of shooting 1080p video rounds out the package.

These two are the new heavyweight additions to AT&T’s portfolio, but let’s not forget the company’s new mid-and-low-range options.

Pantech joins the fray here with their Gingerbread-powered Pocket. It follows some of the design language used in some of Pantech’s other phones, which is my polite way of saying that it’s awfully squarish.

It’s got a 4-inch SVGA display, a 2GB microSD card, and a 5 megapixel rear camera. The Pocket lives up to its namesake by squeezing everything into a slim frame that’s only 11.3mm thick, so even the skinny jeans fans among you shouldn’t have too much trouble toting this thing around.

The Samsung DoubleTime gains the dubious distinction of being the only phone here to be stuck with Android 2.2/FroYo. Really? Even the ZTE gets Gingerbread?

In any case, the DoubleTime’s big gimmicks are its flip-open design and the internal and external touchscreens mounted on either side of the top half. It rocks a 600MHz Qualcomm processor, comes with a 2 GB microSD card, and will only be available in white with pink trim.

The AT&T Avail, made by ZTE, is the company’s second prepaid Android device. It’s pretty blase as far as smartphones go: it features a 3.5-inch touchscreen, and a 5 megapixel camera. That’s it. It seems like even AT&T is having trouble getting excited over this thing but in fairness, it’s probably meant to sell at a low off-contract price.

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?

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.

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.

In addition to the Slate, Pantech also has the Matrix up its sleeves, and this one, I think, looks a hell of a lot nicer than said Slate. It’s a dual slider, as the photo shows, and fully compatible with AT&T 3G network. She’s $80 with the same two-year contract.

Are phones commodities yet? They’re all starting to blur…

Available starting today is the Pantech Matrix for AT&T. It features the same dual sliding keyboard from their Helio Ocean design in a much better looking form factor. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the pill design, but this new QWERTY keyboard looks a lot easier to use. It features a 1.3-megapixel camera, XM radio, Bluetooth and an MP3 player. Get it now in blue, green and red for $80.

Pantech’s C610 clamshell was announced today for AT&T and we were lucky enough to have one dropped off at the office. The C610 isn’t a bad looking phone to be honest and is well equipped. It can tap into the 3G network for downloading music, games and watching TV clips. It even gives directions with built-in GPS. Memory is expandable via microSD and also includes Bluetooth. The 1.3-megapixel camera also shoots video (sample after the jump). AT&T’s video sharing feature is also supported along with Music ID and has three hours of talk time with up to 10 days of standby.

Check out the rest of the images, sample photo and video over at MobileCrunch >>

Pantech and AT&T just announced the C610 a few hours ago, and we’ve already splayed one out for the world to see. For only setting you back $49 bucks with contract (or $0, in some markets), the handset is surprisingly easily on the eyes. It’s obviously not going to be a bar-setter, but with 3G, assisted GPS, AT&T Video Share, microSD, Bluetooth, and a 1.3 megapixel shooter, it’s got the basics covered. We’ve only just unboxed it, so we don’t have much to say about it just yet – that said, I’ve never been a huge fan of flush keypads, so I’m already a bit wary.

For more shots of the C610, and still image/video quality samples, check after the jump.

Camera image sample:

C610 Video Sample:

(Check out Peter Ha’s Lamb Chop mouse pad. How classy is that?)

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.

For Blackberry expect the following:

3Q/08:

BlackBerry Curve 8320 (Wi-Fi)
BIS 2.5 (done)
BlackBerry Bold
BlackBerry version 4.5 OS released (8820, Pearl 8120, Curve, Curve 8310)

For Windows Mobile Devices:

Q4/08

New Pantech Duo Device, specs below:

•Windows Mobile SP 6.1
•Tri-band HSDPA (3.6)/Quad-band EDGE
•528 MHz Processor
•128MB RAM
•256MB ROM
•USB, Bluetooth 2.0
•Micro SD
•2 MP Camera
•GPS

6.1 upgrade due in Oct for the old Pantech

Samsung Blackjack 2 6.1 upgrade due in July

Moto Q9H 6.1 upgrade due in July

Samsung Blackjack 3 due in Q4 this year, specs below:

Windows Mobile SP 6.1
Tri-band HSDPA (3.6); Quad-band EDGE
528 MHz processor
128MB RAM/ 256MB ROM
Camera 3 MP
AGPS
VSC
WiFi

Launch Target: late Q4/08

AT&T Tilt 2 due Q4 – Specs below:

Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition
Tri-band HSDPA (3.6); Quad-band EDGE
Qualcomm 528 MHz processor
256MB ROM/ 128MB RAM
3.0 MP camera
WiFi; Bluetooth 2.0
PTT; AGPS
VSC (at launch)

AT&T Tilt 6.1 upgrade due in July

There is also another Samsung Device coming in Q4 as well, no name yet (Omnia maybe?):

Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition
Tri-band HSDPA (3.6); Quad-band EDGE
Marvell 624 MHz processor
256MB ROM/ 128MB RAM
2.0 MP camera
WiFi; Bluetooth 2.0
AGPS
VSC

No upgrade on 6.1 for the Treo 750 even though Palm already has it done, go figure.

Plus an LG Non Qwerty Device due in Q4 as well

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.

Japan’s second biggest mobile phone carrier KDDI au yesterday followed DoCoMo and Softbank with their presentation of 12 new cell phones to be released this summer. The first models will be sold at the end of June.

Here is the complete line-up:

W62H from Hitachi
(equipped with a 2.8 inch OLED display featuring 480×240 resolution)


W62SH from Sharp
(equipped with an FM transmitter and a 3-inch screen)

W63SA from Sanyo
(featuring “global passport CDMA” for business people who travel worldwide)

W63T/Sportio from Toshiba
(designed in collaboration with Adidas and featuring a calorie-counter function)

W63K from Kyocera
(extra-simple to use handset aimed at Japanese men over 40 years of age)

G’z One W62CA from Casio
(designed for outdoor use with waterproof and extra-sturdy body)

W62PT from Pantech
(featuring illuminated buttons to facilitate operation of the phone)

W62K from Kyocera
(with trimmed-down functionality for users over 40 years of age)

W64SA from Sanyo
(the panel can sparkle in different colors via the “shake illumi” function)

W63S from Sony Ericsson
(with expanded options for exchange of damaged phone parts at au stores)

W62T from Toshiba
(standard model with aluminum panel)

W64K from Kyocera
(featuring optimized access to One-Seg TV)

In addition to this impressive line-up, au also announced the start of their new “Lismo Video” service by which customers can playback movies downloaded from KDDI’s PC web site on their cell phones. The Lismo Video store [JP] currently features over 2,000 different titles.

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

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

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]

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.

The keyboard itself has its pros and cons. The overall size of the Duo is rather small so the keyboard is a bit condensed. The numbers are like that of a BB. You have to hit function button, which is tedious but as I said, the Duo is small and if you want a small device then you’ll just have to deal with it. I’m not a fan of the keyboard itself, though. It’s entirely too flush for me. You don’t know what keys you’re hitting unless you’re looking at it and even then it’s a chore. The dividers are entirely way too thick and the buttons are way too small. It may be better suited for a lady with dainty hands then a big burly guy and his meat hooks.

The 1.3-megapixel camera with 4x zoom is ok, but you won’t really be getting any shots worth framing. The video cam is so so, but it does that weird vibration when you move it around too fast. Check the video and picture for yourself.

The music player was fine and it has stereo Bluetooth, but you’re using AT&T’s music services so it kind of blows. As does the video service. It supports Telenav maps and navigator, which is a nice touch in case you’re prone to getting lost.

Being a 3G/HSDPA handset is in and of itself a big seller, but the overall design of the Duo is bit low budget for my taste. It has a cheap-y plastic feel to it. Call quality was superb, though. Download speeds were wicked fast. It runs WinMo 6 so you love it or hate it. Talk time was actually pretty good edging over the rated 3 hours at over 4 hours. If you want a smartphone running WinMo that’s small and on AT&T then the Duo isn’t a bad choice. It’s available now for $200.

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.

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]

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]

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

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]