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Pantech releases PG-6200 securityphone in Taiwan
Pantech has just released a new handset for the security-conscious Taiwanese citizen who also wants some pretty capable multimedia features in his/her cellphone. To keep sensitive data out of the wrong hands, the tri-band PG-6200 features a fingerprint scanner rather curiously placed right above the smudge-prone two megapixel camera lens, along with a music player that handles MP3 and AAC files from either the 20MB internal memory or a microSD card. Other nice touches include Bluetooth (no word on A2DP compatibility, though) and JAVA 2.0 so you can get your Opera Mini-on, along with the obligatory email, SMS, and MMS functionality. [Via textually]
Pantech's PG-2800 with "finger writing recognition" keypad
What do diet vodka pills, mobile phones, handwriting recognition, and bunny ears have in common? Well, nothing, but that didn't stop Pantech from stuffing a few Russian models into furry suits to show-off their new PG-2800 handheld with built-in "finger writing" recognition. This tri-band clamshell features a 2.0-inch, 260k color main display and 1.17-inch external sub, 1.3 megapixel digicam, and (unspecified) memory slot to store your MP3 files and snaps to. Pretty standard, eh? What's crazy here is the claim that the writing recognition occurs on the "keypad" (which features regular push-keys) and not some kind of touch-screen. Hey Pantech, how about a picture of that!? Whatever, we're pretty sure that finger writing on a cellphone isn't going to be seting any speed records for texting.
Pantech's WM5-powered PN-820 clamshell for Verizon
PhoneArena has once again and gotten the dirt on a new handset, and a pretty hot one at that: a Windows Mobile-powered Pantech flip phone that's supposedly heading straight to Verizon. Courtesy of extensive documentation from our friends at the FCC, the PhoneArena gang learned that the PN-820 clamshell runs on WM5 for Smartphones, sports a 1.3 megapixel camera and miniSD slot, and perhaps best of all, has all of your networking needs covered with both WiFi and Bluetooth (well, not all of them -- cellular data seems to max out at 1xRTT). While certainly not the hottest PocketPC clamshell we've seen (that honor goes to the HTC Star Trek), the PN-120 should still be one of the easiest ways to slide WM5 into your pocket once it hits stores.[Via PhoneArena]
Pantech and Curitel's PT-S200 multimedia slider
New to the South Korean market: the Pantech and Curitel PT-S200 handset, a multimedia slider featuring a 2 megapixel camera and all-important subway map. This 17.9-millimeter thick model also sports a QVGA display, MicroSD slot for MP3s, mobile banking capabilities, and the requisite (for Korea, at least) electronic dictionary. Available only in white, the PT-S200 seems to be on sale immediately for the Korean equivalent of $425.
Pantech's slim-ish PN-320 headed for Verizon
Forgoing the traditional methods of actually announcing their products, Pantech is content to let the FCC do their PR for them, with the latest example being the PN-320 clamshell. It's not going for the world record or anything, but the 0.9-inch thick PN-320 is still fairly slim for a flip phone, and it's not too hard on the eyes neither. Otherwise, the CDMA phone is pretty lame, with a mere VGA camera and 262k color LCD, ala its PN-315 sibling. There's no branding visible, but the phone looks to be headed for Verizon like the PN-315, thanks to some Verizon-specific wording in the manual. We just hope Verizon users can contain themselves for joy, and the FCC is getting reimbursed somehow.[Via phoneArena]
Helio launches
Alright kids, it's the moment we've all been waiting for (and by we, we mean the MVNO nerds). SK Telecom's and Earthlink's joint-venture Helio is officially lighting up today with their first two devices -- the Hero and Kickflip. We're all pretty well briefed to date on the capabilities and general offerings the service was supposed to have, so let's get to the plans and pricing, of which there are two types: the All-In Membership, which includes unlimited data, video, MMS, texting, nights and weekends, roaming, and long distance with the plan; and the A La Carte plan which is as the name implies. The All-In buys you 1,000 anytime minutes for $85, 1,500 for $100, or 2,500 minutes for $135 (which we think is a pretty good value, considering what some are charging for that many minutes and unlimited phone data); the A La Carte gets you a 500 minute $40 monthly plan straight up. Oh, and the devices now have prices, too: the Hero will set you back $275, and the Kickflip will ding you for $250. We have a sneaking feeling we know which will outsell the other. So if you're not ready to wait until the end of the month for their retail rollout to switch carriers (or join Helio as your first), fortunately you can just order direct and cut the middle man.
Pantech & Curitel's SKY IM-S100 music-playing slider
We're not quite sure exactly who in the South Korean market Pantech & Curitel are targeting with their gender-bending ad campaign for the new SKY IM-S100 slider, although they seem to have the cross-dressing European model demographic locked up. Actually, with 256MB onboard memory and MP3 capabilities, this model is clearly being marketed to music lovers, although the two megapixel camera should appeal to amateur photographers as well. Not much else is known about IM-S100 other than its price, 400,000 won (about $422), and the fact that we probably won't see it over here for long time, if ever. Keep reading for a better pic of the phone...
Disney Mobile reveals more deets, adds LG DM-L200
They're still keeping Mickey's lips zipped on pricing plans, but Disney has dropped a few more details about the Disney Mobile service, including initial handset pricing starting at $59.99 with a contract. And even though they have yet to say which handset they'll actually be offering for that price, LG has announced its first Disney Mobile phone, the DM-L200 (pictured), which joins Pantech's previously announced DM-P100. Nothing too exciting about this clam; trimode CDMA, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel cam, and, presumably, that GPS service Disney's boasting of to spy on your kids (though that's not listed in LG's specs). Speaking of which, Disney has added some more info about that as well. The service is going to be called the Family Center, and will include the GPS tracker, parental controls for minutes allowed, text messaging and multimedia features, restricted numbers, and the ability for parents to remotely shut down their kids' phones during prohibited hours. Looks like this will be be the perfect service for parents who want to make sure their kids aren't yapping on the phone when they should be doing their homework -- or watching Lilo & Stitch on the Disney Channel. Read - Disney MobileRead - DM-L200
Pantech DM-P100 for Disney Mobile
Ok, so we yesterday we wrote that some of the first few handsets for Disney Mobile, Disney's new, uh, family-friendly MVNO, were going to be from LG, but it turns out that Pantech's in the game, too. They've just announced the DM-P100, a new low-end VGA cameraphone with Disney Mobile-branding and a customized user interface. Not all that notable, though oddly enough Pantech's press release lists the DM-P100 as being a GSM/GPRS phone even though it's well-known that Disney Mobile will be piggybacking on Sprint's CDMA network.
FCC approves PG-3310 from Pantech
It seems every day with the FCC is a good day, and today is proving no exception. Sure this new PG-3310 from Pantech might not be the most exciting of phones, sporting a mere VGA camera, tri-band GSM, and dual color displays, but would you look at the flowery design on the d-pad? Hot stuff right there.
Pantech's new slim G-3900 slider
As if it needed saying, thin was sure "in" at CeBIT, and a definite member of that crowd would be Pantech's new G-3900 slider. At 0.7-inches thick, the phone still manages some good specs like a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and music playback. The largish 1.9-inch screen only has a 176x220 resolution, so not a love there, but the keypad is that RAZR-esque metal etched type, so all is not lost. No word yet on pricing or availability.
Pantech G-3700 slim clamshell with slimmer secondary display
At a time when many clamshells offer secondary displays that offer resolution that would have been reserved for primary screens in earlier models, what has Pantech done with its G-3700? It's gone retro, with a one-line OLED that gives you the bare minimum (date, time, Caller ID) in a display that is actually on the lip of the base, rather than on the back of the top panel. Other than being able to see the display whether the phone is open or closed, we don't see a whole lot of value in this, though if it contributes to the phone's slim profile (0.59mm), it's all good.
Pantech's G-3600V and G-6200
Say, the touch-sensitive wheel on Pantech's freshly minted G-3600V sure looks awful familiar; interesting that it also plays back MP3, WMA, AAC, and has assorted EQs, in addition to its 1.3 megapixel camera. No matter, they've also got their new 2.0 megapixel biometrics-enabled G-6200, which features Bluetooth and a photo editor. They also made a point to announce at CeBIT their impending plans for European takeover, which includes opening offices in French, UK, and German markets; say, how's about some US takeover plans too, eh boys? We not good enough for Pantech's nicer phones (besides the Hero, of course) or something?
Verizon gets low-end PN-315 flip phone from Pantech
It might not be the biggest nab of all time for Verizon, but a phone's a phone, and in this case, a phone is Pantech's new PN-315. It's got all the trimmings of a low-frills clamshell, including hip T9 text input and a VGA camera. There is, helpfully, an external display, but that's about all this phone has to boast about. Luckily it should be cheap, but no word on when it will be out.[Via Slashphone]
Pantech parades around seven new concept phones
The concept phone beat always kind of amuses us, probably since a lot of the stuff we see people coming up with as their wildest phone fantasies aren't too far off from reality for some Asian phone manufacturers. Thus, Panetch concept phones may seem a little recursive for a company whose handsets are often so advanced, but here's what they got: Cancro, a 5G iPod like DMB handset; Echo, a digital camera like phone; Libro, a Bluetooth tilt & slider with DMB; Muse (right), a "sporty" spinner; My Music, a, um, musicphone; Phone Theater, a slider with a tube speaker dock; and our favorite, the Transformer (upper left), a wide LCD TV / gamephone with a kickstand.
Pantech showing off 30 new phones at 3GSM
Looks like Pantech is going to roll deep at 3GSM, the massive wireless industry trade show which is going down this week in Barcelona. Telecoms Korea says they'll be showing off at least thirty new handsets, including the PU-5000 (pictured at right), a new slider-style UTMS phone with a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, a 2nd VGA camera for video calls and the PU-8000, which has a two megapixel digital camera and a wide horizontal display. Altogether they're going to be showing off 13 new GSM handsets, 12 new CDMA handsets, and five new UMTS handsets.
Pantech's first US GSM phones inbound?
They ain't nothing too special, but if you're a Pantech fan and have been looking for, um, a low end GSM handset in the American market, your search may soon be over. Looks like the C120 and C300 GSM/GPRS handsets were just approved for use in the US, and will apparently be hitting Cingular no less. Something tells us this won't be the last we hear from Pantech when it comes to US GSM phones.[Via Phonescoop]Read - C120Read - C300
Helio to launch in March or April?
So Telecoms Korea is reporting that Helio, the MVNO de rigueur formerly known as SK-Earthlink, is aiming to launch in March or April, and they're lining up hot Korean phones left and right, including a Pantech codenamed "Hero," VK's 650C (which we saw before), and a new Samsung handset (which would be something rather tasty from Korea, no doubt). One SK representative even made mention of adding WiFi to these Korean handsets so they bode better in the high-end American market. Oh, you tease![Thanks, AFD]
