Pantech PN-215 review (Verizon Wireless)

The PN-215 is equipped with a VGA camera that takes pictures at three resolutions: 120x160, 240x320, and 480x640. While the quality is a bit disappointing, we appreciate the long list of camera options, which include a self-timer, a flash, six white-balance settings (Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Darkness), three file-quality settings (High, Normal, and Economy), four color effects (Normal, Antique, Black and White, and Negative), and 16 fun frames. You can select one of three camera-shutter sounds or turn the shutter sound off. You can save the picture as wallpaper or a screensaver, send it via MMS or e-mail, or use it as a picture caller ID.

Although the phone can play BREW 2.0 games, it doesn't come with any preloaded titles. You'll have to buy and download the games via Verizon's Get It Now store. The same goes for additional ring tones, wallpapers, and screensavers. The phone does come with four preloaded wallpapers, six screensavers, and four display themes.

The Pantech PN-215 is a dual-band, dual-mode (CDMA 850/1900; AMPS 800) phone that we're just beginning to test. We'll report back soon with our results.

The Pantech PN-215 has a rated talk time of up to three hours and a promised standby time of eight days. According to FCC radiation tests, the PN-215 has a digital SAR rating of 1.3 watts per kilogram.