AT&T Debuts $40 3G Candybar Phone

Pantech's lightweight C630 rolls most of the essentials into a tiny package (and price).

If the iPhone and its pricy ilk have lost their luster in the hazy midst of the recession, AT&T has been paying attention. On Thursday, the company revealed that the latest phone to join its line-up of handsets would be the Pantech C630, an unassuming candybar-style phone that will sell for $40 (with strings attached).

Though its decidedly low price point dismisses many of the flashier features found in high-end smartphones, the C630 still gets aGPS, music, chat and video capabilities rolled into a relatively small and lightweight (78 gram) package. The phone also works on AT&T’s 3G network, supports stereo Bluetooth, has a 1.3-megapixel camera, and can expand its memory up to 16GB using microSD cards.

“The C630 is a little phone with big functionality,” said Patrick Beattie, vice president of sales and marketing at Pantec, in a statement. “We packed a lot in this device while working to keep the price affordable. Pantech believes that advanced functionality can be available for all levels of users.”

AT&T will begin carrying the phone on Friday, Dec. 12. For $40 with both a two-year service agreement and mail-in rebate.