Pantech

Smartphones under $50

Subscribe: RSS (SD) RSS (HD) iTunes (SD) iTunes (HD) Smartphones are practically essential in this day and age. I mean, how else are we expected to upload pictures of our lunch on Facebook?

Unfortunately, there's still a misconception that smartphones are an expensive luxury item. Not true. I mean, data and messaging plans may bankrupt you, but the phones themselves can be found for next-to-nothing so long as you're on contract.

In this episode of Top 5, I'll count down CNET Senior Editor Jessica Dolcourt's favorite smartphones under $50, for June 2012. Not only that, but … Read more

Cute Pantech Swift messaging phone joins AT&T; for $69.99

AT&T is trotting out a new QWERTY messaging phone, the Pantech Swift, going on sale today.

With its lavender accents, there's little question of Pantech's young audience, and the compact phone is appropriately priced at $69.99 with two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate.

The QWERTY keyboard, by the way, supplements the otherwise too-small 2.8-inch QVGA touch screen. Pantech has also added some curvature -- a slightly curved screen that also angles up when you slide it open. Button-pushers will also get a single hardware select button beneath the phone's face.

The … Read more

U.S. Cellular's Pantech Verse does simple messaging

U.S. Cellular launched the Pantech Verse yesterday, a messaging phone with a vertical slide-up QWERTY keyboard.

Phone like the Verse may seem a dying breed when you consider all the smartphones making a splash at shows like CTIA and on store shelves, but there's an audience for those looking for simple and cheap.… Read more

New iPad ranked top tablet by Consumer Reports

The latest iPad has a new fan, namely Consumer Reports.

Apple's latest tablet scored the highest ratings among its rivals in a report out today from the consumer publication.

The new iPad was commended for its 5-megapixel camera, battery life, and 4G coverage through Verizon Wireless. But it was the high-resolution screen that earned the sharpest praise.

Citing the detail and color accuracy of the Retina Display, Consumer Reports said that the screen "establishes a new benchmark in excellence" and is "the best we've seen" on a tablet. Specifically, the publication found that the … Read more

AT&T; announces slew of other devices getting ICS update

Looks like the HTC Vivid isn't the only AT&T phone getting the Ice Cream Sandwich treatment.

The carrier announced today a number of other devices that will be eligible for the Android 4.0 update in the next few months.

These handsets include: the LG Nitro, Motorola Atrix 2, Motorola Atrix 4G, Pantech Burst, Pantech Element, Samsung Captivate Glide, Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9.

Again, it will be a couple of months until the update rolls out, but we're excited. As hot as … Read more

Benchmarks suggest high-end Pantech P8010 for AT&T;

New benchmark figures hitting the Internet this week suggest that AT&T is set to offer a high-end Android smartphone from Pantech.

Bearing the model number of P8010, the handset should pack a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and a 960x540-pixel resolution display.

The Nenamark benchmarks tell us that the smartphone was tested on AT&T's network and that it was running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Android blog Androinica, which first uncovered the data, surmises that the P8010 would likely make for an affordable 4G LTE option for consumers. … Read more

Pantech Burst review: AT&T; gives a lot for a little

When the top-tier everything-smartphones cost between $200 and $300, I can't blame you for dubiously eying a $50 phone. However, if your budget is top of mind, and Android is where your heart lies, then do yourself a favor and check out the Pantech Burst.

Why? It has 4G LTE, a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a (good) 5-megapixel camera, a front-facing camera, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. Poorer call quality and battery life are the price trade-offs, but if you can live with that, you'll find in the Burst a Gingerbread device that pretty much does it … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 84: Chrome finally hits Android (Podcast)

Chrome comes to Android with one gigantic caveat. Or maybe two. And we are joined by cell phone expert Jessica Dolcourt who gives us her personal opinion of Android.

NEWS:

-Three years on, Chrome at last arrives on Android

-Verizon Galaxy Nexus loses Google support

-Google Voice gets the Ice Cream Sandwich treatment

-Motorola patent license will cost Apple 2.25% of sales

-Google secretly testing pair of connected devices

-An Android tablet for the tub

-Superslim Samsung Galaxy S III could drop in May… Read more

An Android tablet for the tub

The world is a dangerous place for a tablet. One slip or spill, and your precious slate is sunk.

The Pantech Element, out now on AT&T for $299 on contract, is here to relieve you of your worry. Its solid, waterproof design can handle up to a meter of water, so go ahead and spill your cup of coffee.

But is this a tablet worth signing a two-year contract for? Head over to CNET's rated review of the Pantech Element to find out more.

AT&T;'s Pantech Burst won't bust your wallet

LAS VEGAS--Smartphones aren't really a dime a dozen. Most of them are more like several hundred dollars for one.

That's why I'm so pleased with the Burst, Pantech's new LTE smartphone for AT&T. The phone is perfect for those who want a quality product, but may not have as many dollars to spare.

The Burst will be available January 22, and with a two-year contract, it will cost $49.99. If you buy it bundled with Pantech's waterproof tablet, the Pantech Element, you can get both for about $250.

Although $49.99 is … Read more