Helio Ocean 2 from Virgin Mobile is built originally by Pantech. The general look remains much the same, but this model brings improvements on the original. The Helio Ocean 2 has smoother lines and a better color scheme as well. The keypad is convenient to use and the new dual-mode optical/mechanical d-pad works quite well.
The problem is with the EV-DO 3G connectivity, which is a tad bit too slow. So that makes browsing difficult. That notwithstanding, this gadget is still great to use. The Ocean 2 is a dual slider, with both the QWERTY keyboard and numeric pad sliding out in different directions. The Helio Ocean 2 is now available online from Virgin Mobile for US$150, after rebates.
Check out pictures of this mobile phone. We will be posting a video very soon, so make sure to come back for it.
The soap-bar shaped Pantech Matrix Pro looks very similar to the Ocean 2. Only, it is slightly heavier, which makes it quite hefty, really. But in spite of that, the curvy phone definitely sits well in the palm and is comfy to hold. The phone slides upward to reveal a numeric keyboard, while the sideway slide reveals the full QWERTY keyboard. This slide feels a bit rough on the hand. The front face controls are all cramped at the bottom and the D-pad almost touches the bottom edge of the phone, which is not great at all. The softkeys, built into the surface of the Matrix Pro, are fine.
The volume and voice record keys those are located at the left side of the Matrix Pro work just great. So does the camera key on the right. The hatch covering the data port on the right side is a bit of a headache, but the one covering the microSD slot opens easily enough. The QWERTY keyboard does not have a standard layout. It has three rows and the space bar appears between the V and B keys. The number keys are placed on the right side of the keyboard, which takes getting used to.
All-in-all, there is nothing very special about the Pantech Matrix Pro, but definitely worth a look.
The very simple-to-use and elegant-looking Pantech Breeze, which had taken its avatar in white the last year, has now dressed in formal black this year. The clamshell-style mobile phone, which mainly targets the older generation of people, offers all that its white counterpart did, including EDGE data, VGA camera and one-touch ‘convenience keys’ too. It is now available on contract with AT&T for $29.99.
Check out the picture of the Black Pantech Breeze below and give us your opinion.
Pantech Matrix Pro for AT&T has a 2-megapixel camera, built-in GPS with AT&T navigation software, Bluetooth, and Video Share support. The handset offers Windows Mobile 6.1 OS; therefore it can be called a smartphone and a rogue texting machine.
