What do you think of this Cell Phone?

cool_chick · 09-09-2005, 06:26 AM

http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/phonedetails.jsp?id=cdsku9870012

I like the price and features, although some I won't use as I use on my Blackberry instead, but what's most important to me is reception. I'm tired of losing connection with the tower (albiet my current phone is old hence never getting Joe's or anyone else's calls.....

What do you guys think? Are they all pretty much the same now regarding reception?

- Mobile Instant Messaging using AOL® Instant Messenger
- Quad-Band World Capability 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS
- Built-in Speaker Phone
- Size: 3.50 x 1.93 x 0.97 in. Weight: 4.00 oz.
- Downloadable Super Tone/Full-Audio (MP3 format) Ringtones, Graphics & Games
- Wireless Internet Access
- FastForward Capable
- PIM Functionality -- Calendar with full-month views, calculator and alarm clock
- Customizable wallpapers and 6 different color schemes
- Photo Phonebook and Picture Caller ID
- Voice Activation and Advanced Voice Dialing
- Voice Recorder
- 1000 alphanumeric phonebook entries

cool_chick · 09-09-2005, 06:57 AM

Oh c'mon help!

LOL

Steve Carlton · 09-09-2005, 07:03 AM

Is it analog as well as digital? Analog helps out here in fringe areas. More important is the service provider- find out who's got the best coverage where you use the phone. Your old number should be "transportable" to a new carrier if necessary.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

It's not a bad phone. Moto has several advantages -

A true ringer instead of the dumb polyphonic (music) ringers - however if you insist on music instead it can do that

Easy to use speed dials, and customizable menus - three keystrokes max to dial most numbers -

the ability to go truly silent = leave the phone on and ringer off. You can also assign ringer ID's - different callers can have different ringtones - including full silent in case you have ex's or undesirables calling..

Reception is good....

rjp

Halm · 09-09-2005, 07:11 AM

If your Blackberry is your only phone right now, then that is the issue. They are TERRIBLE phones. . . Great for email, but not good phones.

Do you want to carry 2 phones? If not there are other phones / PPC / Smartphones to consider that can do everything the Blackberry does and more.

cool_chick · 09-09-2005, 07:13 AM

Thanks so much guys.

No, the blackberry is used for my email. This phone has "internet access, calendaring, etc., I use the Blackberry for that.

Thanks again. Keep going. I'm leaving here in a couple hours to get one...

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

I'm finding the carrier service level has been steadily dropping, so that all phones exhibit the dropped call, the failed-to-receive, and especially the hold-your-voicemail for 2-1/2 days before alterting you symptoms.

Mot makes good phones. Have you looked at the RazR V3?

Hugh R · 09-09-2005, 07:14 AM

Dump the Blackberry. Everyone I know get terrible reception, plus ergonomically they're not well thought out.

cool_chick · 09-09-2005, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hugh R
Dump the Blackberry. Everyone I know get terrible reception, plus ergonomically they're not well thought out.

Can't. Need it for work. But I don't have the phone service, and I agree with you it's crap. The phone service is offered in my firm as an option at the user's expense. I'd also have to expense the data each month, T-Mobile claims it can't split the bill. Screw that...for crappy phone service anyway.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

I have the V3. It's a POS. Had two within 30 days, both with battery problems. The moment it gets below 2 bars, it'll shut off randomly. If you're a power user make sure it's fully charged all the time.

Lots of Bling though.

rjp

MotoSook · 09-09-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cool_chick
[url].. (albiet my current phone is old hence never getting Joe's or anyone else's calls.....

Let's see, I think I have you number somewhere...I better test it

slakjaw · 09-09-2005, 07:23 AM

That phone is over priced! Cingular gets 150 for it when its worth 1/2 of that!

cool_chick · 09-09-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RANDY P
I have the V3. It's a POS. Had two within 30 days, both with battery problems. The moment it gets below 2 bars, it'll shut off randomly. If you're a power user make sure it's fully charged all the time.

Lots of Bling though.

rjp

What's a V3? Is it a motorola?

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RANDY P
I have the V3. It's a POS. Had two within 30 days, both with battery problems. The moment it gets below 2 bars, it'll shut off randomly. If you're a power user make sure it's fully charged all the time.

Lots of Bling though.

rjp

Bling wins over functionality every time!

:-)

cool_chick · 09-09-2005, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by techweenie
Bling wins over functionality every time!

:-)

LOL

Not for me. My first priority is reception. I don't even use most bling. The bling on this one I like is the little camera, that's about it. Speeddialing ease is nice too.

island911 · 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cool_chick
but what's most important to me is reception. I'm tired of losing connection with the tower

Antenna!

I can't tell from the pic, if that phone has an expandable antenna . . . but that is one feature that will really help give lots of coverage.

Many of the fixed antenna phones rely on 1/8 wavelength antenna types. (thats bad . .tis like relying on a camera phone camera for night photos )

800_Mhz systems need the most length (about 3.5" gives 1/2 wavelength). . .PCS at 1900_Mhz can be inversly proportionally shorter (a bit over an inch) for a halfwave length. (--I spent a few years designing cell-site equipment; a lot of antenna arrays.)

Moto makes some of the better handsets, IMO.

Moses · 09-09-2005, 07:47 AM

That's my phone!

It's a great telephone. Make sure you get the PhoneTools CD. You will never enter your #'s manually again. You enter them on your PC, the download to phone. You can also update the PC from the phone.

The internet is slow, but I dont use it much. The camera is pretty marginal, but I don't use that too much either.

Reception and reliability have been excellent.

island911 · 09-09-2005, 07:55 AM

If you need to improve the coverage when on the road (remote areas), the Moto's do usually have a port for an external antenna.

http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/connecting.html

Joeaksa · 09-09-2005, 07:56 AM

And I thought it was the "selective answer" feature that you liked!

The more crap that they try to cram into the phones, the worse it seems that they become. Try one and if you do not like it make sure that you get a "return in a week" or so policy. Agree with Moses, hate entering phone numbers on the phonebook but with the computer interface its a lot easier.

Joe A

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I like Motos. I had a Startac way back when, then a v60, now a v600 (that I have beat the snot out of and it still works). The Razr (V3) looks cool but maybe next time around. I can do limited email and web on the Moto but it sucks for that. I use a Treo650 for remote email and web.