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pantech posts

Pantech Love Actually actually loves dot matrix graphics

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 5th 2009 @ 6:39PM

This phone vaguely reminds us of the Samsung Memoir for some reason, but rest assured, it's Pantech through and through and it's being sold thousands of miles away. The SKY IM-U460K "Love Actually" will see action on South Korean carrier KTF, rife with global roaming capability, HSDPA, an integrated DMB tuner (par for the course with domestic Korean handsets), a 3 megapixel primary cam, and microSD expansion. The big feature here, though, has to be the 3-inch QVGA display that shocks and delights onlookers with a biggie-sized dot matrix display that's just low-res enough to be more retro chic than annoying. As with all of Pantech's SKY-branded goodies, we'd expect to see this one outside Korea... oh, right around the same day that Apple licenses iPhone OS to third party manufacturers.

Telcel launching Pantech C570 slider with preloaded Paty Cantu content

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 2nd 2009 @ 8:31AM

Celebrity tie-ins are always a surefire way to put a little more oomph behind the launch of an otherwise bland handset, and in Mexico, carrier Telcel is doing exactly that to celebrate the launch of its latest Pantech piece. The C570 is a pretty basic GSM phone with some stylish color accents, FM radio with RDS, and dedicated music controls, but what immediately turns up the interest knob by a notch or two is that they've hooked up with local star Paty Cantu to preload the phone with artist content. Further helping the handset's street cred as a music phone is the fact that it's also got a 3.5mm jack, a remote with yet another set of music controls, and microSD expansion up to 8GB -- but with the brooding expression on Paty's face here, we can't rightfully say we're sure whether she's delighted, horrified, ambivalent, or utterly unaware of the offering.

Pantech's SKY IM-R470S succumbs to the 3D UI trend

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 25th 2009 @ 4:11PM

Somewhere in the past year, Samsung and LG spontaneously decided that mobile UIs should rotate in three-space as though each screen is a face on a cube. Other than sheer visual bedazzlement, there's not a lot of practical value to that -- but that's not stopping Pantech from getting into the game. It's coining its 3D interface "TruEmotion," and the first handset to take advantage of it will be the IM-R470S launched by Pantech's SKY division in Korea. The phone features a 3.2-inch VGA touchscreen and -- if we had to guess, anyway -- it probably supports T-DMB reception, but you'll need to be local to pick it up when it launches in July.

Pantech Escapade getting worldly on Verizon?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 22nd 2009 @ 7:04AM

Global roaming on Verizon has typically been revered as a premium feature -- which more or less makes sense, considering that the well-to-do are more likely to be globetrotting and the additional radio hardware jacks component costs -- but it always pays dividends to keep a few lower-cost options in any lineup, and that might just be where the Pantech Escapade comes into play. The Korean flip is rumored to be gearing up for a launch on Verizon -- and as the SIM slot suggests, you'd be able to take this one overseas with you on the occasional business jaunt or vacay. It's said to have a 2 megapixel camera and a QVGA display, though a microSD slot may strangely be missing; it's become such a common feature at this point (even on the lowest-end devices) that we'd be shocked to see it launch like that, but who knows? Maybe you don't need music and picture storage where you're going.

Pantech Aladdin for AT&T: QWERTY when you need it, numeric when you don't

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 25th 2009 @ 2:05PM

Between the Matrix and Matrix Pro, Pantech seems to be carving out a curious niche for itself on AT&T with multi-keypad devices, and the trend looks like it could continue if the "Aladdin" ends up coming to market. The HSDPA-capable dumbphone starts life as a chubby candybar with a numeric pad, but a flick of the finger brings out full QWERTY for when the SMS conversations (threaded, no less!) start to get heated. It's got a meager 1.3 megapixel cam -- proof that it's a lower-end device -- along with AGPS, stereo Bluetooth, Video Share, and support for Windows Media DRM. According to our documentation, AT&T wants this one out in August, but it's unclear if they'll meet that date -- assuming it successfully makes it through carrier certification. Follow the break for a couple closeup shots of the phone.

Continue reading Pantech Aladdin for AT&T: QWERTY when you need it, numeric when you don't

SKY celebrates tenth anniversary with IM-U440 Hommage

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 14th 2009 @ 3:22PM

Pantech's domestic market sub-brand, SKY, has been kicking around for a solid ten years now -- and to celebrate, they've cooked up a unique model. Actually, the IM-U440 Hommage isn't really any more unique than your typical Korean slider, but it's pretty cool nonetheless; the headlining feature seems to be an array of 112 multicolor LEDs directly below the display that undulate in a seizure-inducing way according to the phone's current mode. You've also got the typical TV tuner, dynamic noise reduction (a la Motorola's CrystalTalk), and microSD expansion. Look for it to launch on SKT and KTF.

[Via Mobile-Review]

Pantech prepping new O2 Xda device, say hello to the Venn?

by Sean Cooper, posted Apr 25th 2009 @ 4:55PM

The folks at the::unwired have unearthed a bit of news for fans of O2's Xda line, apparently Pantech is lining up a new device purportedly dubbed the O2 Xda Venn. Little is known about the Venn, but the rumored specs are of a quad-band GSM set with single-band HSPA -- of the 2100 MHz variety -- and of course we'd expect Windows Mobile. The when and where are still a mystery, but with a bit of luck Mr. Blurrycam'll be filling us in on the details sometime soon. Keep your eyes peeled for more as soon as we catch a whiff.

Pantech Breeze gets remixed in black for AT&T

by Chris Ziegler, posted Feb 25th 2009 @ 8:30AM

Looking for 3G, a wide VGA display, and a 5 megapixel cam? Well, friend, you've come to the wrong place -- but if you're looking for the drop dead simplest handset AT&T has to offer, the Breeze definitely has to make your short list. Following a white launch last year, Pantech's mega-simple clamshell for the older set has been redone in black, offering the same EDGE data, VGA camera, and one-touch "convenience keys" as the original. It's available starting today for $29.99 on contract.

Pantech's Matrix PRO: $179.99, February 24th, AT&T stores

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 23rd 2009 @ 6:42PM

We've known just about everything there is to know about Pantech's slip-sliding Matrix PRO, but those two most important tidbits have thus far eluded us. Thankfully, the pricing and availability details you've been craving since last week have finally arrived. The handset will be available on the 24th (that's tomorrow, kids) in a steel-blue metallic finish at AT&T company-owned stores and online at the carrier's website. The pain? $179.99 after a two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate.

Pantech Matrix PRO unboxed on video

by Nilay Patel, posted Feb 20th 2009 @ 8:31AM

Pantech's Matrix PRO is certainly an interesting update on the original Pantech Duo, and although we're not super-intrigued by a handset that can't be updated to Windows Mobile 6.5, we're not going to let that get in the way of some unboxing good times -- and they must be good, because PocketNow's Brandon Miniman sounds delighted in this video. We won't hold you back -- it's after the break.

Continue reading Pantech Matrix PRO unboxed on video

Pantech's Matrix PRO slides two ways onto AT&T

by Chris Ziegler, posted Feb 18th 2009 @ 8:30AM

This thing's been on quite a journey from concept to production, but here we are -- finally, a true successor to Pantech's quirky Duo on AT&T. The Matrix PRO features HSDPA (up from UMTS), integrated GPS with AT&T Navigator, Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel cam, Video Share support, and Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, but the real draw lies in the device's pair of sliders -- one for QWERTY, one for digits. At nearly 23mm thick, it's not the thinnest smartphone in the world -- that honor supposedly belongs to the Nokia E55 -- but where else are you going to get this many buttons on a single device? Pricing and availability are forthcoming.

Pantech gets official with wind-recognizing Sky IM-S410K mobile

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 12th 2009 @ 7:44AM

We had no reason to believe that this thing wasn't actually coming, but now Pantech has gone and erased any lingering doubt. The Sky IM-S410 / IM-S410K is being hailed as the first cellphone in the "wind-recognizing" category, which may actually be useful in places unlike Chicago. It checks in at 11 millimeters thin and sports a microphone that can detect when you're deliberately pushing air through it; once you blow, the phone can then change images on the screen, as if to move through a gallery of photos or play games. Outside of that, Pantech also threw in a DMB TV tuner and an e-dictionary, and you'll even get to pick between white, black and red hues. Good luck not getting the stink-eye from fellow subway mates when huffing and puffing on your handset while within close proximity to other Earthlings, though.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

PCD's swively TXT8020 is Pantech born and raised

by Chris Ziegler, posted Feb 10th 2009 @ 3:54PM

Remember how we noted an uncanny resemblance between PCD's TXT8010 -- better known as the Verizon Blitz -- and the TXT8020 revealed at CES this year? Turns out there's a great reason for the similarity: they're both made by Pantech. We've been sent this nifty little graphic showing one of those EV-DO-enabled TXT8020s bearing Pantech branding, and while we still don't know what carriers plan on carrying this sucker, Verizon sure does seem like the perfect fit, doesn't it? More on this bad boy soon, hopefully.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

Pantech's blow-controlled Sky Wind not for the faint of breath

by Ross Miller, posted Feb 2nd 2009 @ 7:09PM

Using our powers of huffing and puffing is nothing new when it comes to device interaction -- even our Wii remote has doubled as an ocarina at some point -- but Pantech's looking to take it a step further with the Korea-bound IM-S410K Sky Wind. Powered by Fantalog Interactive's Emotion Engine software, the device recognizes short and long blows via the microphone and uses it for switching wallpapers, adjusting screen brightness, and -- in a less gimmicky use -- snapping photos with a blast of air while stabilizing the phone with both hands. It also sports movement detection with the camera and relative motion control via accelerometer. Pantech's got a three-year exclusivity agreement on the engine, so expect to see wind recognition touted in more than a few upcoming phones.

Helio Ocean 2 Review

by Richard Lawler, posted Feb 2nd 2009 @ 8:01AM

The original Helio Ocean burst onto the scene nearly two years ago, impressing with its dual slide design, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS and well-integrated messaging app challenging phones on both sides of the feature / smart phone line. 2009 finds the Ocean 2 once again topping the Helio line, but now facing even stronger competition. Luckily, it's offering a lot more than an exclusive MySpace app to lure in users this time, with 2GB of internal storage, touch controls and a slew of software tweaks. Now that we've spent a few days comparing it to its predecessor, check after the break for some of the the highs and lows of this new handset.