Pantech
Latest
Pantech Crossover review
Time to ditch the pull-ups, because Pantech's a big kid now. It's hard to fathom that the company responsible for hits like the Zoolander-ish C300, Helio Ocean and dual-sliding Duo is only now -- after five long years -- taking a chance at the Android market in the US. Certainly its long-time partnership with AT&T is finally looking to pay off in a big way, as the network introduces the appropriately-named Crossover. The carrier's been starving for a decent physical QWERTY to add to its (fortunately) blooming Android lineup, so seeing Pantech step up to the plate and fill the void should come as a huge relief. Though it's serving up monoliths in Korea that feature 1.5GHz dual-core processors and other outlandish specs, Pantech looks to be starting its stateside tour with a less-risky investment: at $70 with a 2-year agreement, its modest first impression appears targeted toward first-time smartphone buyers. Is it worth dropping a Grant and a Jackson to adopt the Pantech Crossover for the next two years? Read on to find out.
Pantech's first US Android comes to AT&T as the Crossover, launches June 5 for $70
Pantech and AT&T have been BFFs for several years, but the two companies have never taken things to the next level -- until now. Alluded to by an AT&T exec earlier this month, the Crossover will be the Korean manufacturer's first attempt at Android in the US and will be on sale June 5th for $70 with contract. We can't help but notice the similarities between the device you see above and the P8000 that cleared the FCC a few months back, but now we actually have some cold hard specs to go along with it. Packing a modest offering of Froyo, 3.1-inch touchscreen display, 3 megapixel camera, and a less-than-stellar 600MHz CPU, it's no Atrix 4G or Vega Racer. Despite the less-than-stellar features, it should fill an empty niche in AT&T's lineup quite well as a durable QWERTY slider with textured back and rubberized corners. You only have a few days to decide which kind of shock tests you'll put your new phone through, and you may find the press release (found after the break) to be full of great ideas.
Pantech Vega No.5 bringing sexy back to tabletphones, packs 1.5GHz dual-core chip
Yes, tabletphones are coming back! Joining the eccentric Dell Streak 5 is Pantech's conveniently named Vega No.5 (or IM-T100K), a 5-inch Android 2.3.3 smartphone powered by Qualcomm's brawny dual-core 1.5GHz MSM8660. Apart from the extra 0.7 inches of screen size, what we have here is essentially the same package as the Vega Racer: 800 x 480 LCD, 8 megapixel 1080p camera, front-facing camera, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 16GB of memory, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, and 14.4Mbps HSPA+ connectivity. No word on international availability, but expect this slate to hit the shops in Korea later this month. Hands-on video after the break.
Pantech cooks up world's first 1.5 GHz dual-core phone, tablet in the works
If you keep a close eye on the latest dual-core superphones, you'll be blown away by the latest offering from...Pantech? The Korea-based company may not have a large smartphone presence in the West, but it throws together some decent devices at home. The latest in its Android lineup is the Vega Racer, the world's first superphone with a 1.5 GHz dual-core chip inside. With plans to go on sale later this month on SK-Telecom, it's got some real power under the hood with Qualcomm's MSM8660 Snapdragon chip, 1GB RAM, and Adreno 220 GPU. On top of these killer specs, the Racer also sports a 4.3-inch Sharp ASV TFT LCD display with 800x480 WVGA resolution, dual cameras at 8MP / 1.3MP, and 1650 mAh battery. Not bad for a phone that weighs 120g (4.23 oz) and is 9mm thin. Apart from the Vega Racer, Pantech is hopping on the tablet bandwagon and development is said to be "in full swing." When those slates will swing into retail, however, remains to be seen. [Thanks, Han]
AT&T exec rides Infuse excitement, reveals upcoming plans for Android and Windows Phone
When AT&T launched its Infuse 4G smartphone today, the company also took the opportunity to discuss its plans for upcoming Android and Windows Phone handsets -- as somewhat of a follow-up to the carrier's announcement to release twelve additional Google phones during 2011. Jeff Bradley, Ma Bell's senior vice president of mobile devices, confirmed its next Android phone will be a QWERTY slider from Pantech, featuring a large screen and rugged styling (which he compared to Casio's G-Shock line of watches). Might this be the P8000 we saw gracing the FCC in December? On the Windows side, the company added Dell's Venue Pro to its lineup today, and is gearing up to debut the HD7S -- which will be the last of its first-gen WP handsets, as all future Windows Phone devices will feature Microsoft's updated reference platform. Bradley also hinted that AT&T will begin allowing its Android customers to download apps from third-party repositories, starting with Amazon's Appstore -- surely to Mr. Bezos' delight.
Pantech's Mirach A dishes up Gingerbread, DMB TV for the Korean market
What's black or white with a 3.5-inch screen and circular home button? Why, it's the Pantech Mirach A, of course! This just-launched phone for the Korean market, also known as the IM-740S and IM-750K, follows a long tradition of local phones that stream live TV. Other than that DMB TV tuner, its specs include HVGA resolution, wireless-N and Bluetooth 2.1 radios, along with an 800MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, a 3 megapixel rear camera, and a 0.3 megapixel front-facing one. No word on pricing, though we know it's headed to Korea's KT network. So if those of you outside Korea have been jonesing for some DMB and Gingerbread, well, keep dreaming.
Pantech's UML290 LTE modem for Verizon gets official Mac support
Though it was predated by a usable hack, the Pantech UML290 USB modem -- one of just two devices launched so far for Verizon's LTE network -- has finally been blessed with an official Mac OS driver. What does this mean? Well, technically, it means that this is the very first time Mac users are getting any LTE love in the US whatsoever -- though with that Samsung-sourced mobile hotspot on the horizon, USB modems might be a tough sale at this point. On a bright note, the availability of the driver today means that Verizon beat its own estimate of February; the UML290's counterpart from LG, the VL600, is still Windows-only, though we imagine that'll be hitting soon as well. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Pantech Vega Xpress comes with DDR2 memory, extravagant performance claims
Pantech's bringing a new wrinkle to the mobile hardware space with its newly announced Vega Xpress handset. This 4-inch Android 2.2 beastie will come equipped with an unspecified amount of DDR2 RAM -- yes, the stuff that usually goes into x86 laptop and desktop computers -- which Pantech will have you believe is going to blow the competition out of the proverbial water. The company claims the new phone doubles 3D graphics performance relative to its previous best, while power efficiency is also said to be two to three times better. Other specs include a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 802.11n WiFi, an 800 x 480 resolution, and a 1500mAh battery. Yours, provided you're anywhere near Korea, some time soon.
Pantech's Verizon LTE modem configured for Mac use, follow along at home
At this point, you've got one of two choices for Verizon LTE modems -- the Pantech UML290 and the LG VL600 (which we got) -- and neither work on the Mac. Verizon says OS X compatibility is coming soon, but if you're the impatient sort and happen to possess the Pantech variant, you may be in luck: a member of HowardForums has posted instructions on how to set it up via Network Preferences. Windows is still needed for the initial activation, and there's no promises it'll work with every Apple computer, but if all the stars have aligned just right for you, hey, congrats.
Pantech P8000 does Android, could definitely be AT&T bound
Though Pantech takes a back seat to Samsung and LG year after year, Korea's third-largest phone maker still does a good bit of business with North American carriers -- and its partnership with AT&T goes way back (remember the tiny C300 clamshell for Cingular?). It's on that note that we're going to throw our weight behind Phone Scoop's theory that the recently-outed Pantech P8000 in the FCC's filing system could definitely be headed AT&T's way considering its support for 3G on the 850 and 1900MHz bands. More interestingly, though, is the fact that you can cross-reference the model number to the Bluetooth SIG's certification database where you learn that this puppy's running Android -- a little outside Pantech's typical low-end dumbphone comfort zone in the US market, perhaps -- with a codename of "Moon." If we had to take a wild guess, we'd assume this would be on the cheap side of AT&T's smartphone spectrum, which isn't really where those guys need help right now -- it's the high end where AT&T has yet to really bite the Android bullet with the possible exception of the Captivate. That said, honestly, who are we to pooh-pooh a new Android phone for the American market?
Caltech sues Nokia, LG, others over camera patents
Sure, your N8 might take a great picture -- but is it about to become a hotbed of legal wrangling between Espoo and one of the more prolific research universities in the States? We love us some heady courtroom drama, and Pasadena's Caltech is now officially attempting to bring the smack down on Nokia, LG, Pantech, Toshiba, STMicroelectronics, and others over a total of nine patents related to sensor technology (as far as we can tell, lens optics aren't involved). For its troubles, the university wants unspecified damages for infringing on the intellectual property... which, if it wins, we're hoping will be poured into its Jet Propulsion Laboratory. You know, because rockets are awesome.
Verizon launching LTE on December 5th, two transforming 4G USB modems hitch a wild ride
Sure, Verizon's holding a press conference tomorrow, but unless they've got a secret LTE smartphone or tablet (we can only hope) we've got a fairly good idea what the company will say. We're hearing Verizon will flip the switch on its LTE network on December 5th, unveil a pair of hot new USB modems to take advantage of those supposedly stellar speeds, and launch the SIM cards required to make LTE function in the first place. The gadgets include the LG VL600 thumbstick we've seen before, but also this marvelous-looking Pantech UML290 key, which has not only a slick swiveling case but also a dual-jointed USB port beneath. We doubt we're going to have any trouble getting this one plugged into even the slimmest of port-abhorring slimline computing machines. See where one of the SIM cards goes in the gallery below. Update: The populace has spoken, and "sexy" is no more. Shall we call them "transforming" modems, then? They most certainly are. %Gallery-108552% [Thanks, Anonymous and JT]
Verizon adds Skype to Pantech Crux, LG Octane, and Samsung Zeal
A proper Skype experience still remains pretty tough to get in the US, unless you have the good fortune of being on Verizon or you own an iPhone -- but Big Red's seen fit to expand its reach a little further today with the announcement that three more phone models are supported with the official Skype Mobile app. The new devices are the LG Octane, Pantech Crux, and Samsung Zeal, none of which are being announced today for the first time today... and none of which are even remotely close to smartphone territory, so it's nice to see that Verizon seems committed to keeping Skype available across the breadth of its lineup. The updated app is available right now; follow the break for the full press release, or hit up the Source link to grab the goods.
Verizon's Pantech and LG LTE modems leak out in ad form
Verizon's promised a 38-city LTE launch by the end of the year, and it looks like things are ramping up -- we were just sent this ad for the LG VL600 and Pantech UML290 4G USB modems. We've seen the VL600 at the FCC and in the wild before -- it's a dual-mode CMDA / LTE modem that'll work pretty much anywhere Verizon has coverage, while the UML290 has a note about global capability "coming soon," so we'd assume there's a GSM radio tucked in there as well. Both sticks look like they're pretty huge, which isn't uncommon for first-gen hardware like this, but we're hoping that rumored third Novatel stick is LTE-only and a bit slimmer. We'll see, we'll see.
Pantech Crux is Verizon's 'simple, sleek, and affordable' full touchscreen phone
The Octane isn't Verizon's only introduction today -- and let's be honest, no hardware intro would be complete without a full touchscreen model these days, now, would it? Pantech is rolling in with the Crux, featuring a 3-inch touchscreen accompanied by a microSD slot (32GB max and 1GB included in the box), a 3 megapixel camera, and not a whole heck of a lot else -- you're certainly not going to find Android here. Kind of handsome in a strange way, isn't it? Look for it to drop online and in stores tomorrow for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on a new two-year deal.
KDDI au outs Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections at the same time
A few of these handsets were already public knowledge, but by and large, KDDI's mind-numbing torrent of phones announced as members of its new Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections will leave you once again asking why you haven't sold your four-bedroom suburban home and relocated your entire family to a 125 square foot flat in the heart of Tokyo. We've already talked about the X-Ray, a member of KDDI's fashion-forward iida line, and the 16.4 megapixel Sony Ericsson S006 -- but other highlights include the IS04, IS05, and IS06, Android smartphones from Toshiba, Sharp, and Pantech, respectively (which doesn't even include Sharp's IS03 announced at CEATEC a few days ago). Of the three, none matches the IS03's 960 x 640 display nor its low-power secondary LCD, but the Toshiba Regza IS04 notably features a 12.1 megapixel cam. As the iida line goes, the X-Ray will be joined by the G11, a follow-on to 2009's G9 model -- and from what we can discern, it'll be a GSM / CDMA dual mode slider for international roaming with a touch-sensitive area below the 854 x 480 display in place of the G9's physical keys. Highlights among the other models include an upgraded Sharp Aquos Shot SH010 combining a 14.1 megapixel sensor with a waterproof shell, a Bravia-branded Sony Ericsson S005 with a 1GHz processor, and "simple" phones from Kyocera and Pantech -- the K008 and PT002, respectively -- that are designed for the occasional shopper that actually doesn't want ridiculous specs designed to make every phone outside Japan look like a DynaTAC. There's also a new e-reader, the E Ink-equipped Biblio Leaf SP02, featuring integrated solar recharging -- a smart feature for a device designed to sip power in the first place -- and a new mobile WiFi hotspot from Pantech, the WiFi Walker Data05. If you need to know more, follow the source link, but we've got to warn you: it might be hours before you're done.
AT&T debuts slim, AMOLED-equipped Pantech Laser slider
Well, it looks like Pantech may not be dropping AMOLED screens just yet after all -- the company has just rolled out its new Laser slider on AT&T complete with, you guessed it, a 3.1-inch AMOLED display. Set to be available on October 17th, the phone is also the thinnest QWERTY slider available on AT&T at just 9.95 millimeters thick, but things unfortunately get decidedly less interesting from there. The Laser is simply a "quick messaging phone," for starters, and you'll only get AT&T's own apps for navigation, social networking, and other basic tasks -- though it does have a somewhat unique "Drawing Commander" feature that lets you draw shapes to make phone calls or launch apps. That doesn't mean the Laser comes with quick messaging phone price, however -- it'll set you back $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate on a two-year contract (placing it right in line with some of AT&T's newest mid-range Android phones). Hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and head on past the break for the full press release. %Gallery-104547%
Verizon scoop extravaganza: Motorola Venus with portrait QWERTY, Stingray LTE tablet, and more?
We've been tipped by multiple sources today on some interesting developments in Verizon's roadmap over the next couple quarters, and if you're a BlackBerry fan, an Android fan, or a fan of exceptionally fast data, you're probably going to want to tune in. Let's get right into the meat of it, shall we? Follow the break!
Pantech drops AMOLED completely due to shortage, may resume use in 2H 2011
The Pantech Vega that just hit Korea may boast a sizable 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, but don't expect future phones from the Helio manufacturer to follow suit -- after suffering the same shortages that drove HTC to Sony's SLCD-illuminated doorstep, Pantech's also temporarily giving active-matrix organic technology the boot. Now, you may not give two nickels about the technologies in Pantech's next handset, but the firm's got a finger on the industry's pulse. So when an unnamed executive says "phones to be rolled out in the first half of next year" won't use AMOLED, that hints at when the shortage for US-bound devices might also let up. In case you're curious, 2H 2011 is when Samsung's next AMOLED facility is slated to open, though by that point AU Optronics and TPO Display should be shipping the screens as well.
Pantech's Vega IM-A650S launched in Korea, packs Android 2.1 and a bit of kimchi
Pan-who? You know, the guys behind the long-forgotten Helio devices? Doesn't matter, because the Korean firm's back with a follow-up model to its Sirius Android handset. Dubbed the Vega (IM-A650S), Pantech's latest 4.02-ounce offering -- a mere 0.14 ounces less than the Samsung Vibrant -- is pretty much just a lighter rehash of its predecessor: 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.7-inch 800 x 480 AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, Android 2.1, 5 megapixel camera, 500MB internal storage, and 8GB external memory to boot. If this phone's somehow tickling your fancy, then you're in luck -- Pantech claims to be "in talks with AT&T and Verizon" to bring this baby to US of A. They better hurry up though -- that Froyo ain't gonna stay frozen forever.
