Pantech PN-820

The Pantech PN-820 is Verizon Wireless' answer to the ever-increasing hunger for Windows based smart phones.

Of the two different Windows Mobile 5.0 protocol devices that Verizon currently features- the PN-820 is their clam-shell addition to their expanding Personal Digital assistant (PDA) line-up.

Under the hood, the PN-820 sports an EVDO dual band radio, an internal QVGA display (240 x 320 resolution), mini-SD expandable memory and Bluetooth connectivity, to name a few.

As flip-phones go, the PN-820 is a bit bulky, with an expandable stub antenna.

However, the PN-820 is ideally suited for folks who enjoy occasional messaging, and do not need a full keyboard to take advantage of the benefits that the Windows Mobile OS offers, such as:

• Easy contact, note, task, and calendar synchronization within Microsoft Outlook
• Large software selection
• Microsoft Voice Command
• Manage your Microsoft Office documents Easily
• Bluetooth 1.2

Combining stylish design and high-end functionality, the PN-820 touts a 1.3 Mega pixel camera (with LED flash- strong external lighting, or external flash definitely required). It supports stereo audio over Bluetooth (A2DP) and Audio-Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for the playback controls sometimes integrated in headphones.

The mini-SD card slot also has SDIO capability (other input and output devices, as well as Wi-Fi cards can be used), and the PN-820 supports Object Exchange Profile (OBEX), as well as Dial Up Networking (DUN).

And because the PN-820 supports the CDMA EVDO protocol, blazing speeds in excess of 700 kbps per second, and up to 1000 kbps can be enjoyed. You are no longer limited to the old CDMA 1xRTT protocol of only 144 kbps!

The PN-820 is the first clam-shell style smartphone that Verizon has offered since the death of Samsung's i600 series of phones, and the specifications are nearly identical to Motorola's Q phone.

Though adequate as a clam-shell design, and good-feeling in the hand, there's a distinct awkwardness to certain aspects of the design- particularly with the extendable stub antenna that sticks out like it was welded on, as a last-minute after-market thought.

On the other hand, the buttons are well-thought out pleasantly and large- except for the Back and Home keys (usually located in a left-right alignment on Windows Mobile Smartphones), which are actually located above and below the direction pad.

The very noticeable down-slope (from the thick upper portion of the phone to the thinner battery cover) would have been much better with a double-capacity extended battery that came out flat to the rest of the phone.

And instead of the more obscure micro-SD slot, the PN-820 houses a technologically superior Mini-SD option, with max memory card capacity of 4 GB (instead of the 2 GB limited to the micro-SD protocol), making it a viable music player.

The PN-820 does not contain a highly-popular mini-USB 2.0 plug, but rather a proprietary USB cable and charger combination. The upside is that the connector on the PN-820 is better-built than a typical mini-USB port, including a snap-lock (prevents the cable from unexpectedly detaching).

Driving the PN-820 is a respectable 312 MHz XScale PXA270 processor, running Windows Mobile 5.1 (with AKU 2.3.1), as well as a 96 pixel external LCD display, 64 Mb's of RAM, and a 128 Mb flash storage (only 58 Mb's are actually available to use).

The PN-820 measures in at 3.8 inches (5.2 inches including stub antenna) x 2.03 inches x 0.78 inches, and weighs 3.92 ounces. It powers off of a 950 mAh Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery, with a rated 209 minutes of talk time (~ 3.5 hours).

If combined with high-speed wireless, the PN-820 becomes particularly attractive to individuals who wish to stream music and video. And though it's well within the Voice-over-IP processor range, its lack of built-in Wi-Fi makes this a difficult proposition, except perhaps by way of being tethered to the USB port.

However, unlike the majority of other carrier phones, the PN-820 is a clean slate and refreshing break- no grossly overpriced or useless carrier services.

On the down-side, the built-in task switching application, (found on nearly all other Windows Smartphones) is sadly absent from the PN-820.