Pantech C520 Breeze Phone, Black
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
- Easy-to-use clamshell phone with streamlined design and quad-band GSM/EDGE connectivity
- Large display font and keypad with backlighting, three Quick Call keys for most frequent callers
- VGA camera captures stills and video; Bluetooth connectivity for communication headsets
- Up to 3 hours of talk time, up to 240 hours (10 days) of standby time
- What’s in the Box: handset, rechargeable battery, charger, quick start guide, user guide
Amazon.com Product Description
Sleek and streamlined for those looking for an easy-to-use clamshell phone, the Pantech Breeze features a larger display font and keypad with backlighting, simplified user interface option, and one-touch Quick Call keys for frequently called numbers. This affordable quad-band GSM phone is great for roaming the globe, and it offers access to some of AT&T’s more advanced services like MEdia Net, email, instant messaging, and games. The Breeze also features a VGA camera for still photos, Bluetooth connectivity for communication headsets, dual LCD screens, and up to 3 hours of talk time.
Three programmable Quick Call buttons lie below the LCD, while the keypad offers over-sized numerals … More >>
margaritaking says:
January 21st, 2010
6:21 am
I got this phone and really like it as a phone. Unfortunately you cannot get a data cable to transfer files to your PC. Oh sure, they sell them all over the place, but only to charge. What a ridiculous engineering goof in today’s world. I bet they saved 10 cents phone on that one. The wireless carriers probably paid them to do it so they could charge for email and media access!!
If I was the design team I’d be ashamed.
Rating: 2 / 5
Samuel Chell says:
January 21st, 2010
7:32 am
It looked attractive, and the young sales clerk gave it a reassuring recommendation. Moreover, I was somewhat taken by it the first week, doubly so because of the reassuring pitch about its user-friendliness and ease of operation. And it seemed to offer a bit more sophistication and less of a patronizing “senior” connotation than the Jitterbug, the phone advertised heavily in AARP’s materials.
But of what value is a phone when it doesn’t work as advertised? Even with the three “single-touch” programmed numbers, I struck out more consistently than I established a connection. The darn thing charged me for minutes I didn’t use and for features I didn’t (or certainly didn’t intend) to add (like changes in color and styles of background). Although it’s far from a “smart” phone (in more ways than one), it practically pretends to be–with inferior versions of the features that come with the iPhones and Blackberries but none of them any easier to figure out and operate–whether it’s the included camera, video, texting, mp3 player, photo album, and other “extras”.
Some criticized my previous review for blaming the product for the user’s incompetencies. Fair enough. But this thing was being promoted for its ease of use and as a phone appropriate for seniors–so I was not looking for a product that would test (repeatedly) my competencies (and patience) to the limit. Moreover, my iPod, Canon Elf and Zoom digital audio recorder–pocket-sized and relatively complex gadgets–have all performed just fine (even though I wouldn’t recommend any to an elderly parent). The instructions in the manual are “deceptively” coherent–they read like marginal Asian English than has been machine-corrected by an MS program. Precise grammar, but disconnected, occasionally inconsistent, and “voiceless” directions.
The Breeze was aggravating, time-wasting, ineffectual, and quite costly, a step backward from the Nokia I purchased in 1995. It’s definitely not an “old people’s” phone–unless the recipient is a precocious senior who enjoys problem solving and has lots of extra time on his hands.
Rating: 1 / 5
Steven Beckmann says:
January 21st, 2010
8:42 am
While I would argue with one of the other reviewers that his or her problems with their wireless provider and NOT the phone, I would not argue that this is a really poor phone. Also, the ATT numbers that are listed in your contacts come off of the SIM and is not from the handset. This is coming from a person who works for a Telecomm infrastructure provider. I deal with different handsets on almost a daily basis.
Memory management is horrible on this phone. If you download audio files to this handset, once the memory is full removing old files is complicated. This should be one of the easiest things to do on a handset. I select a song and the only options that I get are “Play” and “Set as Ringtone”. I do not get a “Delete” option! How rediculous is that!
As I am currently looking at the phoe I do not see any memory management options period! The users manual lists memory management, but it only shows you how to look at memory status. Unser that menu there are no options which will allow you to actually manage the memory.
Rating: 1 / 5
ElaineJ says:
January 21st, 2010
10:32 am
I don’t have the words to say enough bad things about this phone.
I needed phones for my Mom and Dad, both in their 80s. My Mom has arthritis. My Dad has demintia. They need to be able to use a cell phone in case of emergency: One that works every time and is easy to use. I saw a Samsung Knack and was very impressed with this phone for Seniors, but AT&T doesn’t offer it. So I went looking to find out what they offer for Seniors and this is it. There are no Pros, so here are the Cons:
1) The proprietary charger plug-in is impossible for someone with arthritis. You really don’t look at this when you’re buying a phone. I will look next time.
2) The Address Book, Contact List, or whatever you call it is filled with contacts that start with “AT&T”. It is the first thing you see. Can’t be deleted or edited. My Dad can’t deal with it. He expects to see something familiar. He thinks he has pressed the wrong key and doesn’t know what to do next.
3) You can’t call this phone when it’s being charged. Not much good if you are trying to make an emergency contact.
3) If you have a ‘missed call’ message (a small line at the bottom of the screen), none of the emergency buttons will work. You can’t make a call. This phone, which was suppose to be easy, is utterly useless and frustrating.
4) The reception isn’t good. Mom’s motorola RAZR never dropped a call. On the Pantech, we can never complete a call. All calls are dropped at some time.
I could go on and on. I have contacted AT&T four times regarding this phone and their operating system. They are ’sorry’ that I am unhappy. We paid $79 for each of these phones. Sorry doesn’t help.
Rating: 1 / 5
Matthew James says:
January 21st, 2010
11:35 am
This phone was purchased by me for my 67 year old mother.
she had the same phone in bone color and loved it right up to the minute she forgot and washed it.
the A,T&T store wanted $480.00 for a replacement and said it would take a week to get?
I purchased it from you on-line for much less and had it shipped overnight and it was still $200.00
cheaper than what they wanted. she would not go for any other phone. she likes the size of the buttons and the simple one touch features this phone offers.
Me i’ll keep my samsung eternity because of all the pictures i take with this phone and the memory it has. but for someone that wants a no frills phone that is easy to use this is it.
JUST DO NOT PUT IN THE WASHING MACHINE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT TAKE THE ABUSE. (BUT WHAT PHONE WILL??)
Rating: 5 / 5