Pantech Slate C530

For some, cellphones are more for text messaging than talking. For those who subscribe to the textaholic camp, AT&T has a number of text messaging-friendly cell phones with the Pantech Slate C530 as one of its standouts.

AT&T claims that the Slate is the “world’s thinnest device”. AT&T complemented the release of the Pantech Slate at the end of 2008 with three other text-friendly cell phones: the AT&T Quickfire, Samsung A767 Propel and Pantech Matrix C740.
The Pantech Slate measures in at 0.39 of an inch thin.

The Sony Ericsson W350, by the way, claims to be the “thinnest flip phone available” today. By contrast, the Sony Ericsson W350 is 0.41 of an inch thin (or 10.5 millimeters).

As for the popularity of texting, studies say the majority of people have never texted before. For those who do, though, many are rabid texters.

A Nielsen study revealed that U.S. consumers now use their cell phones for text messaging more often than for talking. To make that statement, 50,000 people were queried who were thought to represent the average U.S. cell phone population.

The data, which was gathered in the second quarter of 2008, revealed that on average each user sends 357 texts a month versus 204 voice calls.

Price

Enter the Pantech Slate C530. Designed from the ground up to specifically target heavy textaholics, the price can come all the way down to a budget-priced $49.99 after a $50 AT&T mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract.

Without a two-year AT&T service contract or mail-in rebate, you’re looking at a not-so-affordable $249.99 at no-commitment pricing.

Feature List

Full QWERTY keyboard with predictive text for fast typing

1.3 megapixel camera with 2X zoom

Live video capture and playback

Text messaging and instant messaging

Mobile email

Web browser

Calendar, alarm clock and address book

Quad-band world phone

USB connectivity to transfer data through a USB cable

Hands-free speakerphone

20 megabytes of internal memory storage

Backlit keys

Available in black with royal blue

Bluetooth for short-range wireless (i.e. a wireless headset)

2.2-inch display with 260,000 colors and 176x220 pixel resolution

Battery

Beware the battery on the Pantech Slate C530. It only rates at up to 3 hours of talk time and up to 10 days of standby time (if you’re not using the handset at all).

Size, Weight

The Pantech Slate C530 measures in at 4.2 inches by 2.5 inches by a very thin 0.39 of an inch. The handset weighs 3.2 ounces.

Cell Phone Service Carrier

The Slate is sold by AT&T.

Differentiation in the Marketplace

This handset’s prime differentiation is its thinness and low price for a handset with a full keyboard.