AT&T, North America's largest mobile services provider, is getting ready to replace the now old Pantech Duo dual-slider handset with a new one. Called Pantech Matrix, the device in question comes in the same dual-slider form factor that US users probably like about the Duo. Therefore, the Matrix will have an alphanumeric keypad, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard, allowing its owners to send emails and text messages with ease.

While Pantech Duo was launched in only two color versions, the Matrix will be released in three: black, red and blue. As for the features of Pantech's latest creation, these are not too different from the ones the Duo offers, although they are slightly more advanced.

According to a specification sheet posted over at Boy Genius Report, Pantech Matrix offers the following: quad-band GSM and dual-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, a Pantech Operating System, GPS and AT&T Navigator, multitasking abilities, mobile banking, Music player with equalizer, XM radio, stereo Bluetooth 1.2, email and Instant Messaging, MEdia Net, SMS and MMS capabilities, USB, one-touch speakerphone, and more. Pantech Matrix also has a photo / video camera, but unfortunately, it's similar to the one packed in the Duo, hence it only has 1.3 Megapixels.

The new Matrix measures 4.02 x 1.97 x 0.78 inches (102 x 50 x 19.8 millimeters), weighs 4.66 ounces (132 grams), and includes a 920 mAh battery that should last up to 3 hours in talk-time mode or up to 10 days in stand-by mode.

For the time being, no details are available on when AT&T will release the new Pantech Matrix. The dual slider's price is also a mystery, but since the old Pantech Duo is currently being sold for only $79 (with a two-year contract agreement), US mobile users can hope the new Matrix won't be too expensive.