AT&T and Pantech Make Using a Mobile Phone a Breeze for Customers

Press Release
Source: AT&T Inc.

Tuesday May 27, 9:30 am ET

 

New Phone Focused on Ultimate Ease-of-Use Now Available Nationwide

SAN ANTONIO, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- If you are an experienced mobile phone user, the ins and outs of wireless devices are second nature. For first-time phone owners, simplicity and ease-of-use are more important than ever. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T [1] - News [2]) and Pantech Wireless Inc. today announced the Pantech Breeze(TM) from AT&T. Available in all company-owned stores and online beginning May 27, the Pantech Breeze is an ideal device for a wide range of users, from novice or first-time mobile phone owners to customers looking to simplify the overall user experience.

At its core, the Pantech Breeze is an uncomplicated mobile phone, specifically designed for people needing an easy way to stay in touch with friends, caregivers and loved ones. From its clean and uncluttered design to its simplified menus, oversized display with large keypad and quick-call keys, the Pantech Breeze includes a host of convenient features in a comfortable, modern design.

The Pantech Breeze is the direct result of AT&T and Pantech's collaboration to build a device on the principles of Universal Design -- the practice of designing products and applications that are usable by the most customers possible. AT&T recently published the company's approach to Universal Design to encourage application developers and handset manufacturers to consider the needs of seniors or customers who have disabilities when creating products and services.

"Universal Design helps define important design criteria to meet the wants and needs of as many of our customers as possible," said Carlton Hill, vice president of Product Management, Voice Products and Affiliate Marketing for AT&T's wireless operations. "The Pantech Breeze is a result of our efforts to meet these criteria and offer a great-looking phone that's a breeze to use for everyone -- from tweens to great-grandparents."

The Pantech Breeze takes into account many of the design principles set forth in AT&T's approach to Universal Design:

 

* 1-2-3 Quick-Call Keys -- Three preprogrammable quick-call buttons are
located below the screen -- users can easily select one of the three
quick-call contacts and press the send button to start a call.
* Simplified Menu -- Navigating the phone's features is trouble-free with
the simplified "breeze menu," which prioritizes the features that
customers want to access most.
* Large Font -- Menu screens on the Pantech Breeze use a highly visible
large font. Additionally, the font of SMS messages is enlarged and the
date and time of messages sent is at the beginning rather than at the
end of a message.
* Easy-to-Use Buttons -- The oversized buttons on the device respond with
a tactile click when pressed, and the amount of time the keys remain
illuminated after use is extended.
* Clear and Loud Speakerphone -- A large, dedicated button starts and
stops speakerphone use.
* Camera -- A dedicated hard key for the camera brings up camera options
"take a picture" and "photo album" to give users easy access to useable
camera functions.
* Audible Keys -- An option to have audio accompany numeric keystrokes
makes it easy to know which buttons have been pressed, resulting in
mistake-free dialing for those with limited sight.

In addition to these key design features, the Pantech Breeze is a powerful phone. The product is a GSM quad-band world device, able to make voice calls in more than 200 countries and access data and send messages in more than 145. The Pantech Breeze features a talk time of up to three hours and up to 10 hours of standby time. Full messaging, camera and video capabilities, Bluetooth® compatibility and tools such as an alarm clock, notepad, calendar and calculator are included.

"The Pantech Breeze is a unique and important target product for us, one that underscores our commitment to all levels of customers," said Patrick Beattie, vice president of Marketing and Sales at Pantech Wireless Inc. "By incorporating AT&T's socially responsible Universal Design model, this product speaks directly to people needing a down-to-earth handset that provides easy access to core features."

The Pantech Breeze will be available May 27 at select AT&T company-owned stores and online at http://www.wireless.att.com [3]. The Pantech Breeze is $49.99 after a two-year service agreement and a $30 mail-in rebate or $124.99 after a $30 mail-in rebate for customers who prefer to use AT&T's Pick Your Plan or Pay As You Go GoPhone® prepaid plans.

For more information and for AT&T's document on Universal Design, visit http://developer.att.com/universaldesign [4]. For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit http://www.att.com [5].

About Pantech Wireless, Inc.

Pantech Wireless, Inc., a Cypress, Calif. based subsidiary of Pantech & Curitel and Pantech Co., Ltd., researches, markets and develops wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America as part of the Pantech Group. For additional information, visit the PWI website at http://www.pantechusa.com [6].

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T [1] - News [2]) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com [5].

© 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Note: This AT&T news release and other announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss [7]. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom [8].

 

 

Source: AT&T Inc.