Ultra-Thin Motorola SLVR L7 Debuts Exclusively at Cingular Wireless

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail/0,,6349_6299_23,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail/0,,6349_6299_23,00.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Cingular Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a global leader in wireless device design, today announced the availability of the ultra-slim Motorola SLVR L7. Delivering dynamic design and superior functionality, the SLVR offers the latest must-have features, including iTunes, in a Motorola one-of-a-kind iconic design."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Jerry-show_motorola_slvr_l7.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />When I saw this I couldn't help myself. Not only is this not a Smartphone, it is a Dumbphone. Perhaps the thinking is if they make it look a bit like a RAZR people will want it this time. Maybe if they put their signature keypad on a blender they could call it the BLDR and sell millions of them. Instead of creating a new incredible Smartphone they are still trying to sell this 100 song iTunes joke. You can head over to Cingular and read the uninspiring specs for this thing if you need to. There is a saying that life keeps making you repeat the same lessons until you learn them. Motorola needs to go to summer school again it seems. :roll:

[mbranscum]

Call it dumb all you want (which it is), but Moto's laughing all the way to the bank. Based on the success of the Razr, which is selling like hotcakes, people will FLOCK to this phone. Even though there is no EDGE and syncronization with a computer is almost impossible, this is what the masses want.

The key phrase here is "form over function."

[Jerry Raia]

Call it dumb all you want (which it is), but Moto's laughing all the way to the bank. Based on the success of the Razr, which is selling like hotcakes, people will FLOCK to this phone. Even though there is no EDGE and syncronization with a computer is almost impossible, this is what the masses want.

I know it is sad. The ROKR was a flop. The only thing that might save this is that it looks like a RAZR. Even then I bet it doesn't do all that well. We shall see.

[MitchellO]

This phone will do fine because it is thin and because it looks good with that thin keyboard. And it may be a good phone. But its definately not inspiring. These days anybody can slap an MP3 player in a small phone, and even then its not crippled.

[mar2k]

The HMPR (2125) blows it away....

[Rocco Augusto]

Call it dumb all you want (which it is), but Moto's laughing all the way to the bank. Based on the success of the Razr, which is selling like hotcakes, people will FLOCK to this phone. Even though there is no EDGE and syncronization with a computer is almost impossible, this is what the masses want.

The key phrase here is "form over function."

don't you mean FLCK ;)

[xultar]

And I also assume they only have paint in the product development department.

Next there will be the
Pink SLVR
Blue SLVR
Magenta SLVR
Silver SLVR
Orange SLVR
Yellow SLVR
Olive SLVR
Aqua SLVR
White SLVR
Red SLVR
Purple SLVR
Invisible SLVR
Mahogony SLVR
Platinum SLVR
Pinstriped SLVR
Polka Dotted SLVR

[xultar]

This phone will do fine because it is thin and because it looks good with that thin keyboard. And it may be a good phone. But its definately not inspiring. These days anybody can slap an MP3 player in a small phone, and even then its not crippled.

Not to mention the darned thing doesn't even have the A2DP nor does it have EDGE.

Next they will be putting iTunes on a stapler slapping some numbers on it and calling it it SPLR

[Jerry Raia]

Next they will be putting iTunes on a stapler slapping some numbers on it and calling it it SPLR

Now we are getting into the spirit of this! :lol:

[Sven Johannsen]

I think those that think this will do well are right. The Razr is a well liked style, but some just don't like flip phones. Here's something for them. You know the research shows that a large majority of phone users do like flips, and how many flip Windows Mobiles are out there? So who is out in left field with options. As far as the iTunes thing goes, you could do worse than tying yourself to the Apple/iPod/iTunes music phenomena. I think someone just messed up when they let Apple get by with the 100 song limit (I'm sure it was Apple's decision) Still, at 3 min per song, that's 5 hours of continuous music. Doesn't sound so bad to me that way.

So repeat the same lessons...they did...they learned the razr sold.

[Jerry Raia]

So repeat the same lessons...they did...they learned the razr sold.

The RAZR will continue to sell. I still say this thing is DOA. Looks like I'm the only one so far who does. :worried:

[stumpy]

It has a 512mb micro SD card which can be change for a larger one for more tunes. Is a micro SD the same as a mini SD. :? Most of my songs are 3.5mb long and you could put more like 150 songs on 512mb card. I only have close to 100 songs on my 2125. I just wish that Moto would make a Smartphone in the format of Razr or Slvr instead of these plastic phones that we have to baby all the time and still we get scratches and worried about dropping the phone. Sorry I'm venting my girlfriend put a scratch on the screen by trowing it in her purse after using it. :x

[Kris Kumar]

And I also assume they only have paint in the product development department.

Next there will be the
Pink SLVR
....
Invisible SLVR
....
Polka Dotted SLVR

I will have the Invisible SLVR for myself and the Polka Dotted one for my dear wife. :lol:

[squeeze]

Okay, my Cingular received their shipment of 15 devices today at 1PM. I immediately went there and "bought one" and opened a "family plan" so I can tool around with it...

After 4 hours at the office with it...everyone oooh'd and aaaah'd....but I went back at 6pm and returned it....

....they were all sold out...

(I own the Cingular 2125 and I'm not going back - I also have the Verizon 6700).

I don't know if this is fair...but I found that adding a family plan to my phone (2nd line is free) I can get another subsidized phone....and just swap out my SIMM card...is that fair?

[Sven Johannsen]

It has a 512mb micro SD card which can be change for a larger one for more tunes. As I understand it, it is not a size limitation but a forced limitation to 100 song files. Don't care if they are 3 minute songs or the full version of American Pie or In-A-Gada-Da-Vida, you get 100.

No micro and mini are different.

[mbranscum]

I don't know if this is fair...but I found that adding a family plan to my phone (2nd line is free) I can get another subsidized phone....and just swap out my SIMM card...is that fair?

Wouldn't the 2nd line still be subject to taxes and other charges?

[Jerry Raia]

is not a size limitation but a forced limitation to 100 song files. Don't care if they are 3 minute songs or the full version of American Pie or In-A-Gada-Da-Vida, you get 100.

No micro and mini are different.

That is my understanding as well.

[chandler]

It has a 512mb micro SD card which can be change for a larger one for more tunes. As I understand it, it is not a size limitation but a forced limitation to 100 song files. Don't care if they are 3 minute songs or the full version of American Pie or In-A-Gada-Da-Vida, you get 100.

That's correct. In my case the limit is a complete non-issue as most of my music is ripped as one track per CD, due to the fact that iTunes (in any format - on the PC, on the iPod, or on the phone) can't play back music without adding silence between tracks. I've even got iTMS albums that were sold this way. I haven't tried WMP; will it play back multiple tracks without adding gaps between them?

I'm given to understand that 1GB TransFlash (er, MicroSD) cards will be out in a few months. Whether that translates into general availability is yet to be seen... for a while, it was difficult to get 512MB cards even inside Mot because every last card went out in a ROKR.

[Rocco Augusto]

is not a size limitation but a forced limitation to 100 song files. Don't care if they are 3 minute songs or the full version of American Pie or In-A-Gada-Da-Vida, you get 100.

No micro and mini are different.

That is my understanding as well.

100% correct. just to test it out i tried loading 101 one second long mp3's onto a customers phone and it was a no go. :)

[joeonsunset]

This phone's sales performance, I think, can be predicted pretty well by this anecdote.

I have an SMT5600 and the other day at lunch an IT guy I know said to me, "Hey, that's kind of a cool phone... I'm going to switch my service to Cingular so I can get this REALLY cool phone they have now. Have you seen it? It's called the 'sliver'." A day later I overheard him talking to someone else about that phone, too. :-)

Taking a lesson from Apple: Looks sell.

[Jerry Raia]

Taking a lesson from Apple: Looks sell.

Sad but true. :(