We knew the thinnest QWERTY keyboard phone was coming, but AT&T and Pantech have officially launched the Slate. The phone measures less than one centimeter deep and is equipped with standard 2006-circa specs: 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth, and multimedia functions. To be honest though, the phone is only going to be $50 after a two-year agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate so what more can you want?

Here’s another phone that’s destined to be bought by dozens of people, the Pantech Slate. This AT&T-branded device, which is due for release later this month, comes with all the normal (for 2006) fixings: a 1.3-megapixel camera, e-mail, IM, yada yada.

Supposedly it’s the thinnest QWERTY device out there. You really do wonder, though, as everything these days is thin to one degree or another, how much traction can Pantech, AT&T or whomever get out of calling a device the “thinnest.”

She should cost $50 with two-year contract.

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Available starting today is the Pantech Matrix for AT&T. It features the same dual sliding keyboard from their Helio Ocean design in a much better looking form factor. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the pill design, but this new QWERTY keyboard looks a lot easier to use. It features a 1.3-megapixel camera, XM radio, Bluetooth and an MP3 player. Get it now in blue, green and red for $80.

Pantech’s C610 clamshell was announced today for AT&T and we were lucky enough to have one dropped off at the office. The C610 isn’t a bad looking phone to be honest and is well equipped. It can tap into the 3G network for downloading music, games and watching TV clips. It even gives directions with built-in GPS. Memory is expandable via microSD and also includes Bluetooth. The 1.3-megapixel camera also shoots video (sample after the jump). AT&T’s video sharing feature is also supported along with Music ID and has three hours of talk time with up to 10 days of standby.

Check out the rest of the images, sample photo and video over at MobileCrunch >>

Oh boy! Gear Diary has the inside scoop on AT&T’s remaining lineup of devices for the rest of the year and it looks pretty good. Lots of Windows Mobile 6.1 devices along with a few BlackBerrys. Details after the jump.
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It seems a video of the Ocean 2 was up last night, but that’s clearly not the case now since we can only provide a screen shot. Not a whole lot to glean from the Heliocity message board, but it appears the d-pad is touch sensitive and the “Helio” is backlit. Looking forward to this upgrade.

Japan’s second biggest mobile phone carrier KDDI au yesterday followed DoCoMo and Softbank with their presentation of 12 new cell phones to be released this summer. The first models will be sold at the end of June.

Here is the complete line-up:

W62H from Hitachi
(equipped with a 2.8 inch OLED display featuring 480×240 resolution)
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AT&T is all about red devices lately and, of course, they’re pushing them hard for Valentine’s day. Already in the red line-up is Samsung’s Blackjack II, LG’s Shine and BlackBerry’s Curve. Enter Pantech’s Duo. Yeah, it’s still the so-so Windows Mobile device we reviewed a short time ago. A $99 smartphone isn’t too shabby.

Product Page

Helio has once again dropped the price of their unlimited plan down to $99 from $145. You know the drill. Now drop on by your nearest store and take advantage while you can. The Ocean and Mysto are great choices in case you needed some advice on a handset.

Helio

Feeling loverly? This cute little phone would go great with that purse, although if your girlfriend is a gearhead she may be disappointed. But who can resist that little pink jewel? Every time you send, it’s like a baby Rudolph is giving your thumb an Eskimo kiss.

The only stat I could gleam was that the thing only has a 1.3-megapixel camera, so despite having a price tag topping $400 before rebates and such, it doesn’t seem to be a powerhouse, exactly. Don’t have a lot to do and speak Korean? Try navigating the Pantech site and see if you can scrape any more info out of the Flash love story they’re telling there.

Pantech’s curvy SKY IM-S300 [Mobiunity.com]

What would a week of “Smartphones Now” be without a review of a smartphone? A terrible one, I’m sure. So what are we going to look at today? The Duo from Pantech for AT&T. Not exactly the hottest smartphone on the market, but it does have a few qualities that are quite endearing. I’m also jaded and hate all phones to begin with. Heh. That’s not entirely true. I just hate the iPhone. That one’s for you, dwalk.

The most significant feature of the Duo is its dual slider design, which it borrows from its bigger brother over at Helio, the Ocean. The main difference and unfortunately the biggest pitfall for the Duo is the lack of spring assist for the QWERTY. You see, the Ocean has spring assist in both directions. You may not think it’s necessary but it is. Sliding the Duo to get to the QWERTY is painful and gritty. Of course, if you’ve never touched the Ocean then you wouldn’t know any different. It’s something you can get used to, though.
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After a dreadful day of sitting on the couch, sleeping on the couch and playing Assassin’s Creed from the couch since I was under the weather yesterday, I return to the CrunchGear/TechCrunch office to find a UPS box waiting for me. What could it be?! Yeah, I know you already know since it’s blatantly obvious in the headlines but bear with me.

So what I have here is the Duo, which is Pantech’s take on the Helio Ocean. They did a pretty decent job, too. The QWERTY and 12-key are reversed on the Duo and it’s considerably smaller than the Ocean. My initial impressions are of the Duo are good so far. Each QWERTY keyboard is unique so I won’t be commenting on that just yet. I’m transitioning from the Sidekick Slide back to the BlackBerry keyboard so I’m all sorts of confused. Add to that my Ocean addiction and you may know what my mind and fingers are going through. It’s WinMo 6 so I already want to throw it against the wall, but we’ll see what I say next week with my full review. In the mean time, enjoy the pics.
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The Pantech Duo (aka It’s-not-the-ocean) has been officialized today by AT&T. The Windows Mobile 6 smartphone is a true world phone, and will work in most countries supporting GSM. Like the Helio Ocean, the Duo has dual-sliding keypads, one T9, and one’s QWERTY.

We’re big fans of the Ocean for its design, but it’ll be interesting to see how the form factor carries over to WinMo 6. We’re not big fans of the phone’s OS, but it’s better than nothing.

The phone is running on AT&T’s HSDPA network, which means it’s fast. We get downlink speeds of 1.2Mbps regularly here in Seattle, and the theoretical speed limit is 1.4Mbps. Not bad at all.

AT&T is positioning this device as a half-consumer, half-business handset, which makes sense. You’ll see more phones hitting this dual-purpose demographic in the future, and we’re glad to see it as a market segment that’s growing.

AT&T, Pantech Double-Up on Cool with Slim, Dual-Keyboard Pantech Duo [AT&T Press release]

Starting today, AT&T customers will be able to purchase the Pantech C150 camera phone. For what it’s worth, the C150 was a recipient of “a 2006 iF design award for international excellence in brand design.”

Apparently, this is quite an award as it’s been going on for over 50 years and entries come in from all over the world and number in the thousands. I guess that’s what I get for not keeping up on German design competitions.

This candy bar style handset — whoa, I just noticed the photo on the phone’s screen as I was writing this, hah cha cha! — comes with Bluetooth, mobile e-mail via Yahoo!, AOL, and Windows Live Mail, MP3 ring tones, and a VGA camera that also shoots video.

The phone is less than half an inch thick and costs a big fat donut with a two-year contract, $199 without.

Pantech Launches Stylish Award-Winning Camera Phone Press Release via [Businesswire]

Ultra Editions. It features a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 player and T-DMB. Pantech plans to launch the phones in SK next month, but there is no official word on price yet. If it does well in SK Pantech plans to bring it overseas. Yippy!

The Korea Times

Helio’s Next Device: The Oz Smartphone [Gizmodo]

Phonescoop just spotted an odd slider from Pantech in some FCC filings. The phone, officially called the Pantech PN-810, has three layers. Sliding it up reveals a standard keypad while sliding it sideway reveals a QWERTY keypad. It has EVDO, Bluetooth, and a 2.1-megapixel camera. Not sure what Helio will call it, but it looks quite promising.

Dual-Sliding Messenger Phone for Helio Spotted on FCC Site [PhoneScoop]

rumors that VZN is switching its music strategy from its V-Cast service to Microsoft’s PlaysForSure, meaning music you download from any PlaysForSure store should play nice with this $149 Pantech.

PN-820 [Product Page, you'll need your ZIP]

Pantech has launched a clamshell phone known as the IM-U170, sporting both looks and functionality. Its metallic casing comprises of magnesium and its keypad is illuminated with Electroluminescent light which makes you look like a complete badass. The IM-U170 has two camera’s for video conferencing. The outer camera is a pretty standard 2 megapixel while the integrated VGA camera is utilized by the world’s first face-recognition mobile game that tracks the user’s face movement and acts as a controller for the game. The phone also includes support for MS Office files and yeah you guessed it, not available here!
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WinMo in a Clamshell [Mobile Mag]