The Pantech Matrix Pro: A Worthy Dual Slider

[Jason Dunn]

<p>This is my video review 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. The unboxing and first impressions video <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/news/show/92948/unboxing-the-pantech-matrix-pro-windows-mobile-smartphone.html" target="_blank">can be viewed here</a>.</p><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/luFRbzkLDCY&amp;fmt=18" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/luFRbzkLDCY&amp;fmt=18"></embed></object></p><p>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 <a href="http://tinyurl.com/b4bm2x" target="_blank">on this AT&amp;T site</a>. <MORE /></p><p>All in all, I enjoyed using this phone for two months - the dual slider was handy to have, especially when I just wanted to dial someone and not do email or texting. I found the keyboard to be less optimal for typing than my Blackjack II, but it was functional enough. Some of the glitches I ran into that were frustrating were only because I was using this phone outside the AT&amp;T network - something the average person isn't going to do. However, let's say you travelled someplace and wanted to buy a SIM card - those heavy-handed hard-coded software issues would give you a headache. The phone was fast and stable, offering up good call quality and excellent stability - I didn't have one lock-up or crash while I was using it. I could certainly do without the proprietary connector though - I'd have liked this phone more if it used miniUSB.</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>

[Kevin Jackson]

Thanks for the great review.

I won one of these phones in the Matrix Pro Tweetstakes and should be receiving it next week. The problem is that I am on T-Mobile and will surely run into the same issues you did if I decide to keep it and use it. I do have a couple of questions that I am hoping someone may be able to help me with.

1) I'm not sure if the phone I am getting will be unlocked or not. I suspect not, though. What are the chances that AT&T will unlock it for me since I am not a customer?
2) Currently I have a Blackberry Curve (heretic!). Will I be able to use the Matrix Pro without changing my data plan? (I have an unlimited data Blackberry plan with T-Mobile).
3) Are there good resources for hacking the registry to take care of some of the issues you mentioned (the connection string issue, for example.)

Thanks, in advance!

kj

[Jason Dunn]

1) I'm not sure if the phone I am getting will be unlocked or not. I suspect not, though. What are the chances that AT&T will unlock it for me since I am not a customer?

I think probably not. You can always buy an unlock code:

http://www.cellphoneorb.com/pantech-matrix-pro-c820-unlock-code-att.html

(I think that should work)

2) Currently I have a Blackberry Curve (heretic!). Will I be able to use the Matrix Pro without changing my data plan? (I have an unlimited data Blackberry plan with T-Mobile).

Unknown. I've never owned a Blackberry, so I'm not sure if it goes through the same servers or not...

3) Are there good resources for hacking the registry to take care of some of the issues you mentioned (the connection string issue, for example.)

This is the only thing I've found that might get you started:

http://www.mobilejaw.com/tag/lock

[Kevin Jackson]

Thanks, Jason!

I figured that about the unlocking and you anticipated my next question :)

I'll have to do some research about the servers I use. The APN I use for data connections is wap.voicestream.com. I suspect that I should be able to connect the Matrix Pro using that, but I will look into it.

Thanks, again, for the information.

[Kevin Jackson]

I hit the next hurdle. I sent the IMEI number from the phone to two unlocking services and both of them refunded my money saying that they can't find the number in their database. Could the phone be too new and just not in the database yet?

[rwelch]

I am unable to get AT&T where I'm at, and I won the phone and $100 gift card from one of the websites.

I contacted AT&T, and they sounded like they were going to give me the unlock code, but they were unable to find it. There response was:

==========
IMEI not found by manufacturer:
The requested IMEI was not found by the manufacturer. The IMEI may be incorrect or the device may not be branded Cingular Wireless or former AT&T Wireless. If the device is not branded either Cingular Wireless or former AT&T Wireless Services, the device cannot be unlocked by AT&T Wireless. Please check IMEI and contact Customer Service at 1-800-331-0500 for further assistance. If the IMEI is correct we will not be able to provide an unlock code for that IMEI. We apologize for any inconvenience.
==========

I was going to try an unlocking service, too, but it sounds like it won't work. I really want to be able to use this phone with a T Mobile affiliate that we have here. If I can't get it done, though, I will just have to sell it on eBay or something.

I really like the phone, though.

[Jason Dunn]

Could the phone be too new and just not in the database yet?

Yes, that's entirely possible. Not much you can do but wait - or try a different unlocking service. :(

[rwelch]

I did get my phone that I won unlocked (I'll explain how below).

Two things:

Jason - Did you have any trouble with getting the Internet Connection to work? I know you said you had to manually select the connection each time you powered the phone back on. How do you select the connection? My carrier (i-Wireless a T-Mobile affiliate) had me plug in their Internet settings, but there are still some settings that are locked and I'm unable to delete. They think that is why it doesn't work.

kpjackson - Contact the person from Pantech (the person on my congratulations letter was Adrienne Stimpson from Pantech in Atlanta at 678-681-6334). I explained my situation (unable to get AT&T where I am at), and she got me the unlock code. AT&T had been unable to find a code for me as well as an eBay listing for an unlock code. Adrienne got it for me in a matter of hours.

[Kevin Jackson]

rwelch -- Thanks for the information. I have contacted them and will see what happens.

[Jason Dunn]

Jason - Did you have any trouble with getting the Internet Connection to work? I know you said you had to manually select the connection each time you powered the phone back on. How do you select the connection? My carrier (i-Wireless a T-Mobile affiliate) had me plug in their Internet settings, but there are still some settings that are locked and I'm unable to delete. They think that is why it doesn't work.

When you go into SETTINGS > CONNECTIONS go MENU > ADVANCED and there's a picker where you select your custom connection setting for Internet access. That's what toggled back to default after a power off.

Mike Temporale has some tips on hacking device security here:

http://www.mobilejaw.com/tag/lock/

Thankfully, my Samsung Jack has that UAMgr tool, so I was able to easily delete the AT&T settings. Unfortunately the Pantech Matrix Pro lacks that. :mad:

[arm]

Hey, guys, I won Matrix Pro from this very website (thoughts media) and thanks to Jason again. I was able to unlock it and now I can do anything on this phone including 3G tethering for $20 a month on AT&T. Thanks to that I can now drop DSL for my desktop. If interested, email me at armo _ leo at yahoo and I will help you.

[arm]

I did get my phone that I won unlocked (I'll explain how below)...

After you unlocked, are you able to remove all the ATT bloatware? There are lots of demo games and other applications that I want to remove

[Kevin Jackson]

Did you have to contact Pantech directly or did you find an unlocking service? I've tried a couple different services and they can't find my code and Pantech hasn't gotten back with me, yet :(

Hey, guys, I won Matrix Pro from this very website (thoughts media) and thanks to Jason again. I was able to unlock it