Pantech Duo - Qwerty Cell Phone Review

Pantech Duo - QWERTY Cell Phone with a Two-Way Slider

filed in News & Stuff on Oct.29, 2008

Pantech Duo

You cannot surprise anyone with a slider phone these days. There are several Nokia models with an elegant slide-out panel and the Google G1 Phone has a slide-out qwerty keyboard. Basically slide-out panels are used to achieve a more compact size on cell phones. There can be a screen or a keyboard slides. Then there is Pantech Dual that hides two slide-out panels beneath its screen.

One has a standard 12 button corded keyboard, the other has a full qwerty keyboard making Pantech Duo a real qwerty cell phone. In this Pantech Duo review I will try to summarize what it is all about.

Memory and OS

The good news is that Pantech is running Microsoft Windows Mobile OS. It means you have the full functionality of Microsoft Office suite, Mobile Outlook for easy e-mails and Explorer for web browsing. Pantech Duo has only 50 Mb internal memory but you can upgrade it using MicroSD cards.

Connectivity

Pantech Duo qwerty cell phone has both UMTS and GPRS connection modes. This means you can take the advantage of the AT&T UMTS network but still use your phone travelling abroad. It has Bluetooth and USB for inter-connectivity with other devices like handsfree and others.

Entertainment

The phone is aimed at younger user groups. So, you will have Windows Media Player that will make you forget your MP3 player at home because you won’t need it any more. Your Pantech will play standard MP3, Windows media files, MPEG4 videos and AAC. Fancy creating your own video or just shoot some pictures? The built-in 1.3 Mpix camera is not a hi-tech one yet will allow you to make nice pictures and an odd video too.

Any Cons?

Internal memory only 50 Mb. That’s even less than the meager 128 Mb offered by BlackBerry. The screen takes some time to go from vertical mode to horizontal once you slide out your qwerty keyboard and prepare to type your messages. The screen mode change takes about 2 to 4 seconds. Don’t believe the jokers who say it takes 10 seconds. It’s a lie!

It is quite hard to get the Pantech Duo qwerty cell phone if you’re living outside USA because it is tied up with AT&T contract. The other countries where Pantech Duo is freely available are Japan, Mexico and Argentina.

Pantech Duo Review Bottomline

The main point of attraction for Pantech Duo qwerty cell phone is the wacky design. It is a bit thick (2 cm)however, it looks just great. Once it is in your hand, you will love it. It has a sturdy design. I’m not advising you to drop it on the floor. Yet if it happens, it is unlikely that your Pantech will disintegrate.

This is a cool phone with all necessary smartphone features yet it is not as boring as the majority of qwerty cell phones. Pantech Duo is loads of fun!