Motorola Rocks n' Rolls

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/newproducts.html">http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/newproducts.html</a><br /><br />Wow! Motorola brings out the big guns and announces eight new mobile phones for 2003. In Motorola's <a href="http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail/0,1958,2257_1840_23,00.html">press release</a> Tom Lynch, president and chief executive officer Motorola PCS, exclaims: "We have a great portfolio on which to build throughout 2003". You can see six of the new phones below. In order: C350, 388c, V600, T725, A835, E380.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/motorola_01.jpg" /><br /><br />Integration frenzy. Bluetooth, cameras, PDA functionality, Java, tri band, 3G, 16 bit colors, MMS, e-mail, and more. I am impressed by the design and the courage to shoot so broad. Motorola leapfrogs competition including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Microsoft... if they indeed will be released in 2003, that is.<br /><br />More details can <a href="http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/newproducts.html">be found here</a>!

[GadgetDave]

I didn't dig real deep, but it looks like most of these phones are GSM/GPRS - Yea. Now it will be interesting to see which US Carriers pick up which models (and "lock" them to their networks :x )

[dh]

If only someone would produce a great Bluetooth phone for CDMA.

I have a T68i on T-Mobile but there is no GSM coverage where I live so it's only good while traveling. Both Verizon and Sprint have good coverage here.

The lack of a BT CDMA phone is making me look hard at a PDA/Phone. I'm not a great fan of the Treo, but the Samsung i500 and the Kyo 7135 are getting very tempting.

A CDMA version of the T68i would be perfect for me.

[Ainvar]

See for me to switch from my trusty T68i phone there will have to be mass improvements to battery life. Every Motorola I have tried has had horrible battery life. Nokia is just getting to freaky with there key layouts.
I get to play and test with alot of the cell phones the cellular companies sell and I am not too thrilled with any of them. The XDA from T-Mobile was nice as a PDA but sucked big time as a phone due to battery life. The Motorola P280 and T720i just to name a couple are both nice phones but lack in battery life. The Samsung phones are the same from the N105, Q105, R225m, and the new series S105 and V105. Nice features butr backward menus and horrible batterylife.

When will the Phone Vendors and most of the PDA makers get a clue and use good reliable batteries that will last the day for most normal users and all the power users. I know battery technology is lacking but come on!! The Li-Ion Polymer battery that the Sony-Ericssons phones use and also the iPAQs use are worth there weight in gold and then some. I have yet to be in a situation with my older PDA (iPAQ 3850) and my good ole trusty T68m or T68i where I cant do anything cause my battery is dead.

For all I care motorola can make all the pretty hip cell phones they want, but until they give them good batteries they are useless for most of us that actually use the cellphone and not wear as a clothing piece to make a statement.

My rant is over
Jay

[Pony99CA]

What I found interesting was that they listed a wireless router (http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/sbg1000.html) on the same page as their phones and Bluetooth car kit. They also said:


Wireless Access Point provides 2.4 ghz of wireless networking capability and up to 150 foot range

Notice that they didn't say WiFi, though, and that they only claim a 150-foot range. I wonder if that means it's a Bluetooth access point. :?:

Steve

[Janak Parekh]

If only someone would produce a great Bluetooth phone for CDMA.
We're all praying for the Sony Ericsson T608 (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?id=228)... btw, I think that picture is slightly distorted - I think it's supposed to look very close to the T68(i), form factor-wise.

In any case, of all of these the only really interesting one to me is the V600. Finally, ONE Bluetooth phone. Why isn't Motorola integrating Bluetooth into every one, I don't know. :?

--janak

[dh]

I'd forgotten about the T608. If it is a similer form factor to the T68i it will be fantastic. Hope it does arrive!
I also agree that it's dumb for handset makers to come up with new designs that don't have Bluetooth installed (other than the cheapo ones that the carriers give away).
What is the point of adding a ton of cool features and no BT?

[aussie]

did anybody notice that the a835 includes 256MB of memory 8O and GPRS. I wonder if that will ever come out.

[chris234]

What I found interesting was that they listed a wireless router (http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/sbg1000.html) on the same page as their phones and Bluetooth car kit. They also said:


Wireless Access Point provides 2.4 ghz of wireless networking capability and up to 150 foot range

Notice that they didn't say WiFi, though, and that they only claim a 150-foot range. I wonder if that means it's a Bluetooth access point. :?:

Steve

Probably not. 150 feet is the usual quoted range for 802.11b (WiFi) so I'd expect that.

[isaiah_la]

I wish that they would make something cool like these phones for Nextel. I love their service, but you can't get a snazzy phone. Bummer if you ask me

Isaiah!
:beer:

[entropy1980]

Crap!! :shocked!: This one (http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/a835.html) has 256 Mb of RAM!!!!

[Duncan]

Pony99CA wrote:
What I found interesting was that they listed a wireless router on the same page as their phones and Bluetooth car kit. They also said:

Quote:

Wireless Access Point provides 2.4 ghz of wireless networking capability and up to 150 foot range


Notice that they didn't say WiFi, though, and that they only claim a 150-foot range. I wonder if that means it's a Bluetooth access point.

Steve


Probably not. 150 feet is the usual quoted range for 802.11b (WiFi) so I'd expect that.

Actually Class 1 Bluetooth devices (as an access point would be) have a maximum range of 300 feet - with 150 feet being a very achievable real life range.

Surely 150 feet for WiFi would be a little 'under' powered??

Could be one of the combo WiFi/BT units that are due to start appearing this year!

[Janak Parekh]

Could be one of the combo WiFi/BT units that are due to start appearing this year!
Doubt it. Wi-Fi has a practical range of about 150-200 ft.; while it can go further in open air, it doesn't do so well in closed environments. While Class 1 bluetooth could probably accomplish 150ft., have people actually managed that with a AP and a standard Bluetooth handheld device?

Besides, Motorola would be advertising it heavily as a dual device. This looks strictly like an ordinary consumer item.

--janak

[R K]

With a Tecom Bluetooth USB Adapter (Class 1), I was able to get 75% of the range that I got with a D-Link DCF-660W CF Card - Orinoco PC Card setup.
I know that the PicoBlue Access Point is able to match some best WiFi products in terms of range as well, but at about $300 - $500, it's the most expensive access point ever.

[Andy Sjostrom]

Crap!! :shocked!: This one (http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/a835.html) has 256 Mb of RAM!!!!


Yup. Symbian (Motorola etc) are heading the same way as MS. Only Palm seems to stay at 2-16 MB...

[Duncan]

Janak,

I've established a working link between a Vaio and a Pocket Loox at over 120 feet and between a Loox (which is a class 1 BT device) and a Tecom Dongle at approx. 130 - 140 feet. I would be surprised if an AP couldn't do much better - so 150 feet is very realistic for a BT AP.

[Daniel]

Crap!! :shocked!: This one (http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/a835.html) has 256 Mb of RAM!!!!


Yup. Symbian (Motorola etc) are heading the same way as MS. Only Palm seems to stay at 2-16 MB...

I was very surprised/happy with this one too (A835), BT as well!

So this is a Symbian phone then?

Daniel