We all know that the iPhone has been very influencial in the mobile phone market; it seems at the Mobile World Conference, just about everyone was putting out a new touchscreen phone. Well, if the new Pantech Matrix Pro is to be believed, defucnt cell provider Helio has been influential as well. The Pantech Matrix Pro could easily be confused with a new version of the Helio Ocean. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, because this dual-slider is pretty slick looking device.

Like the Pantech Duo, the Matrix Pro has a dual keyboard. You have a full QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode and a traditional keypad when you are trying to be a phone. The phone currently comes boxed with Windows Mobile 6.1, but after Microsoft's debut of WM 6.5, it is safe to assume that an upgrade will be in order before long. Complete with the complete WinMo experience including Office and Outlook, you also get a 3G radio, a crisp 2.4" display, and a microSD slot that can expand your storage to 32GB.

Look for the Matrix Pro on AT&T soon. It has been announced at $180 with a contract and commitment. If you are looking for the rare smartphone that isn't trying to be an iPhone, this might be one of your last picks.

via DVICE