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

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.

[Peter F Posted Feb 23rd 2009 6:59PM]

I was at a local AT&T store yesterday and this was already for sale. I guess they just put it up early.

[Cameron Posted Feb 23rd 2009 9:02PM]

Are many people really going to spring for this when you can grab an iPhone for $20 more? I know, I know, it's comparing apples (heh) to oranges, but it's still a question of perceived value. The iPhone is still unquestionably an upmarket device, while this Matrix Duo seems (and has been marketed as) definitely mid-range. Shouldn't the spread in price-points be a little wider? Methinks AT&T has priced this one too high; it could very well kill an otherwise nice phone.

And please, spare us all the anti-/pro-iPhone rants. The question would be just as valid if you substituted in the G1 (at the SAME price!), Instinct, or any other comparable device.

[Peter F Posted Feb 23rd 2009 11:12PM]

You aren't required to take a data plan with this and can instead just take a messaging plan to get it at this price. Some people do not care about data and only message, and this phone is superior to the iPhone in that respect.

[deanhatescoffee Posted Feb 24th 2009 1:12PM]

PeterF, that's incorrect. You do indeed need the PDA plan on this phone if you want to get the mail-in rebate. Otherwise, you can still get the discounted in-store price ($229.99) but you won't get the extra $50 in the mail.

If someone wants this phone just for texting, they should just stick with the first Matrix.

[R Posted Feb 24th 2009 10:55AM]

The Matrix Pro doesn't require a data plan like the iphone. You can stick with pay-per-use, or sneak in the cheaper MediaNet plan or whatever ATT calls it these days.

It also doesn't require a 2-year contract. You can opt to pay full price, which is currently $379.99 on the ATT website. Pretty reasonable price for any smart phone.

And since it's a Windows Mobile phone, you can utilize the various freeware and commercial apps out there. And since it has a GPS, I'm pretty sure Garmin XT will work on this. So you don't have to pay for the ATT's navigation service.

It has a microSD slot, so you can expand the memory. The ATT website says 32GB.

And it has copy/paste.

So "value" is a subjective term. For some, it's the price of the phone. For others, it's what you can actually do with the phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 23rd 2009 9:05PM]

Yeah we've had our display up since saturday, the phones came in Friday. Not a bad looking device, just wish the screen was bigger..