I have to admit that I really have become a big fan of the new Windows Mobile Standard user interface.  It makes accessing your phone without a touch screen incredibly easy and intuitive.  The version on the Pantech Matrix Pro is similar to what we saw on the HTC s740, with a few custom tweaks.

In this iteration of the interface, there are five main menu items, each of which expands when it is selected, to show you much more detailed information.  These menus give you access to quite a bit of important information.  The only thing I really thought was missing was a program launcher.  It would have been nice if you could have accessed your critical programs from here. 

The other cool thing is the background, which is fully customizable.  There are about 25 different images, customized for both portrait and landscape modes.  In addition, you can create a background using any image on your phone: your spouse, kids, comic book collection, or anything else you like.

So, let’s take a closer look at the menus.  The first entry is the clock (which you saw at the top).  Expand it to view the current time and date.  In addition, the soft buttons on the bottom will give you access to the Start Menu and Contacts.

The next item down will show your indicators: calls, voicemails, text messages, and emails.  When it is displayed in the menu, you can see a small icon for each of these.  Expanded, you can scroll through separate entries for missed calls, voicemails, text messages, picture mail, and email.  And take a look at that right soft button, which will now give you access to your Call History.  Really, I found this to be extremely handy.  Despite everything else these devices may be able to do, phone calls and messaging remain the central feature; and I love the quick and easy access this interface gives you to these functions.

Next is the Calendar Menu.  This one is pretty basic and self-explanatory.  From here, you can see your upcoming appointments, create a new appointment, and even jump to your calendar.  The only disappointment here was that, like most Windows Mobile interfaces, it is tied to the default Windows Mobile calendar application.  So, if you are using a third party PIM application, then you will be out of luck accessing them from here.

The fourth menu is AT&T services.  This one gives you access to Instant Messenger, and several other AT&T multimedia services. I get pretty annoyed when OEM applications, which I did not request, take up valuable space on my today screen.  I really had no use for any of these AT&T applications, and did not even have a chance to test them out.

Finally is the Settings Menu. From here, access your must utilized settings, including ringtones, phone profile, wireless manager, background image, and task manager.  Or tap that right hand soft button to access all of your settings. 

I really liked using this interface.  I have just been so impressed lately by how much more accessible Microsoft has made the non-touch interface.  It is easy to use and accessible.  The only real complaint I had was the wasted entry for the AT&T services.  I would have much rather had a customizable program launcher here instead.  Great job to Microsoft and Pantech for this one.

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