Unboxing the Pantech Matrix Pro Windows Mobile Smartphone

[Jason Dunn]

<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="360" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DdtMpkUnh8s&amp;hd=1" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DdtMpkUnh8s&amp;hd=1"></embed></object></p><p>This is my unboxing and first impressions of the Pantech Matrix Pro, a Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard smartphone offered by AT&amp;T for $179 USD on a two-year contract. This phone has the distinctive feature of having two keyboards (12 key and QWERTY), both hidden away via a slider. It weighs 4.3 ounces, has a 2.4 inch display at 240 x 320, comes with 256 MB of ROM, and 128 MB of RAM. It also features a microSDHC card slot for expandability up to 32 GB. It's a GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA phone, functioning on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands for GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 850/1900/2100 MHz for 3G data. The battery is 1320 mAh, giving 3 hours of talk time and 10.4 days of stand-by time. More details about the Pantech Matrix Pro can be found on the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/b4bm2x" target="_blank">AT&amp;T Web site</a>. Have any questions about this phone? Post 'em! I'll be following up with a video review once I've had a chance to use it for a bit longer.</p><p><em>Jason Dunn owns and operates <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/" target="_blank">Thoughts Media Inc.</a>, a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys <a href="http://photos.jasondunn.com/" target="_blank">photography</a>, mobile devices, <a href="http://www.jasondunn.com/" target="_blank">blogging</a>, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his lovely wife, and his sometimes obedient dog. He sure dislikes it when phones use proprietary power/connection plugs.</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//ppct/auto/1240336793.usr1.gif" /></p><p><strong>Do you enjoy using new hardware, software and accessories, then sharing your experience with others? Then join us on the <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/reviewteam.php" target="_blank">Thoughts Media Review Team</a>! We're looking for individuals who find it fun to test new gear and give their honest opinions about the experience. It's a volunteer role with some great perks. Interested? <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/reviewteam.php" target="_blank">Then click here for more information.</a></strong></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//ppct/auto/1240336793.usr1.gif" /></p>

[iJITSU]

This phone is locked down. Normally, I use SDA Unlocker to "application unlock" the phone, i.e. edit the security policies so I can install whatever apps I want, delete icons from the start menu, etc. On this phone, SDA Unlocker doesn't work, and manually editing the security policies with a registry editor doesn't work either. Any idea how to get past this? I downloaded the MS security configuration tool and I can see that the phone has "two-tier" security settings in play, but I can't reconfigure it. If I can't figure this out, I'll have to return the phone. Not going to use a phone with a bunch of network crap cluttering the start menu and not being able to install Kinoma Play is a deal killer.

[Jason Dunn]

This phone is locked down.

Yup. SUPER frustrating. I'm TICKED I can't install a Twitter client onto this. Expect me to slam the phone in a BIG way for this. It's inexcusable that AT&T and Pantech would release a phone so locked down. :mad: