Pantech C300 Phone (AT&T)

Pantech C300 Phone (AT&T)
Product Description

The C300 is a tiny tri-band (850/1800/1900) GSM/GPRS clamshell with a color external screen, speakerphone and VGA camera.

One look at the Pantech C300 and you'll declare, "It's so small!." Indeed, this little wonder is just a hair over an inch and a half wide. But it still manages to find room for some great features, like a VGA camera, dual color displays, a speakerphone, and more. It's the perfect complement to Cingular GoPhone service.

Editorial Reviews

View the Pantech C300 in detail (requires Flash).

Design
The C300's full-color 128 x 128 screen is clear and bright, with support for a whopping 262,000 colors. A 96 x 64 supplementary display on the front cover of the device boasts the same color depth. The phone's VGA camera and LED flash are placed just below this display. A handy 5-way navigation key on the button pad provides access to most of the phones menus and functions, and there's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets. Keys on the left side control call volume, and the top right side of the phone houses the antenna. A charging port is placed on the lower edge of the unit.
Calling Features
The C300's 10 MB of built-in memory can store up to 800 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. The phone comes with built-in polyphonic ringtones, while also offering support for ringtones in MIDI, i-Melody, and MP3 formats. And if you want to be discreet, there's also a vibrate mode. A speakerphone lets you talk hands-free, while picture and ringer ID functions allow you to assign photos or ringtones to specific callers.
Messaging, Internet, and Tools
Sending messages with text, sound and photos is a snap with the C300, thanks to support for the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging possibilities. There's a built-in web browser for downloads and mobile web browsing if you opt for MEdia Net service from Cingular. MEdia Net lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the C300, including a calculator, a calendar, a voice memo recorder, and an alarm clock.
Imaging and Entertainment
As mentioned, the C300 features a VGA (640 x 480) camera with an LED flash that enhances nighttime shooting. The flash can also double as a flashlight. Because the C300 supports the Java platform, a wide range of games are available for it, and many can be downloaded via the MEdia Net service. You can also dress up the phone with custom graphics and screensavers.
Vital Statistics
The Pantech C300 weighs 2.41 ounces and measures 2.72 x 1.69 x .76 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 250 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

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Customer Reviews

I got this phone when I renewed my Cingular service about three months ago. All I've ever wanted is a simple-to-use, reliable, SMALL phone that I could easily carry around. I have no use for internet features, IM/texting or a camera in a phone... which is probably a good thing as far as this review goes.

I originally returned this phone because I thought it didn't meet my criteria for contact info (more than one phone number, e-mail addresses, notes), but I was wrong. In fact it can store 800 contacts with 3 phone numbers, 2 e-mail addresses, notes and other stuff (the SIM card holds an add'l 250 contacts). So I returned my Nokia 6102i (which was too slow in performance for me) and went back to this phone.

If you want a phone that does a lot, don't get this one. When I was shopping for a new phone I wanted one that was small, loud, and vibrated strongly. I had a hard time hearing my old phone (a Samsung x427m) ring or feeling it vibrate. This is the perfect phone to carry around your waist even while jogging. I found a lot of the other flip phones out there were too heavy, bulky, long, or wide. I wasn't looking for a phone that did a lot or had bluetooth. If you have the same requirements for a cell phone as I do, then this phone is a great option. It's small, it's loud, and it vibrates off the table.

I love the flash with the camera which you can also use as a flashlight (press the down arrow on the outer left side while the phone is closed). The up arrow pressed down firmly for a few seconds triggers the camera. One button gets you to your contacts, another button directly to the calendar. The navigation performance is FAST! With the Nokia 6102i, there was a delay in navigating. The vibrate mode (which I use) is powerful. The multimedia messaging performance is pretty good. Sending an image to my email took just a couple seconds. Other cool features are a unit converter and world time.

Cons:

1.) The camera is grainy and extremely limited in function. If you snap alot of pics with your phone, this isn't the one for you.

2.) My first battery wouldn't hold a charge for even one day. The second one lasts much longer, but still not as long as advertised on the box.

3.) My phone came pre-loaded with only melody and sound effect ringtones, no "regular" tones that sounded like a phone ringing.

4.) I gave up waiting on the internet to log on, so I can't even comment on it's functionality.

Pros:

1.) It's freaking tiny. This phone is the perfect size. I hardly even know it's there.

2.) Signal strength is great. I have no problem hearing calls, nor does anyone have a problem hearing me.

3.) The interface is really really easy to navigate though you'll have some problems if you got big fingers.



So all in all, I'm satisfied with the Pantech C300 because it does the very basic things I need from a cellphone very well, in a very small package. All the other features are a bit lacking in my opinion.