Features:
- Slim case, comes in midnight blue
- Built-in speakerphone
- Dual-band, trimode technology
- User-selectable LCD screen (amber or green)
- Up to 120 minutes' digital talk time, 200 hours' digital standby time; includes lithium-ion battery, standard charger, and hands-free headset
Description:
While it doesn't provide all the bells and whistles of a feature-rich phone, the Panasonic ProMax's good looks, reasonable price, dual-band/trimode technology, and solid performance make it a worthwhile investment. Weighing only 3 ounces and measuring 4.6 by 1.7 by 1.1 inches, the ProMax is one of the smallest and lightest phones available. The phone's glossy, midnight-blue case is streamlined and alluring, if a bit slippery. Menu options are sufficient, and navigation is a cinch; however, the keypad was a little too small for our hands, resulting in frequent misdialed calls. Furthermore, the keys themselves are rather slick and squeezed together. Our advice: if you can easily palm a basketball, you may want to investigate a phone with a roomier keypad. Three buttons handle most of the menu navigation. A four-way directional key helps you scroll through menu options, and two additional buttons let you select menu options as they appear. The right prompt button also provides one-touch access to your phone book. The menu choices are: Phonebook, Messages (voice and text), Call History, Tone Settings, Phone Settings (where you can tweak display, clock, answer, and language options), Security, and System Settings. The ProMax offers a decent roster of call and messaging features. If offered by your service plan, it supports caller ID, call waiting, two-way SMS (30 message storage locations), voice mail, numeric paging, and multiparty calling. PIM functions include a 100-name/400-number phonebook, outgoing, missed, and received call logs, several call timers, a clock, and 21 ringer options (including vibrating alert). However, the phone doesn't have a minibrowser, calculator, or calendar. If you purchase a connector cable, the ProMax can be synced with your PC or other computing device for data swapping. Aside from its stylish, compact case, the ProMax has a couple other advanced features. The built-in speakerphone allows you to conduct true hands-free conversations. Keep in mind, however, the ProMax does not support voice-activated dialing. You still need to dial a call before you activate the speakerphone. You can also toggle between two different display colors (amber or green, and predictive T9 text entry helps simplify writing long text messages. The ProMax offers three basic security features: call lock, security lock, and a lock code that activates or deactivates memory and menu options. You can also delete your phone book and call logs with the touch of a couple buttons. The ProMax's lithium-ion battery is rated for up to 120 minutes' digital talk time and 200 hours' digital standby time. In our testing, the phone held a call for just over 2 hours, and it lasted for 210 hours in standby mode. Lithium-ion batteries are a lovely bonus, as they are immune to memory effect. Overall, this is an auspicious debut for Panasonic. The ProMax is an attractive, functional phone with a competitive price tag. While it doesn't have advanced features to tempt us all, the ProMax may appeal to people who want to save a little money without sacrificing style or performance. --Thom Arno Pros:
- Streamlined and lightweight
- Dual-band/trimode technology
- Built-in speakerphone
Cons:
- Slippery case
- Cramped keypad
- No calendar or scheduler
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