Reviewed October 4, 2006 by Lisa Gade, Editor in Chief Editor's Note: Verizon released the KRZR K1m, followed by Sprint, followed by the GSM Cingular KRZR K1 Looks are everything these days, and we have the long standing RAZR craze to thank for that. The RAZR in its various forms has sold 50 million copies and every manufacturer, including Motorola themselves hopes to replicate that success with the "next big thing". So far the likes of the SLVR, PEBL, LG Chocolate and other pretty faces haven't managed, though some have done well in their own right. The KRZR is Moto's most recent attempt to meld Jaguar tastes with slim-is-in hip good looks. The K1m is the CDMA version of the KRZR not to be confused with the blue GSM network KRZR K1 (not offered by any US carrier at the moment). Actually the KRZR isn't impossibly thin, though it's certainly slim enough to look good and fit in most any pocket without requiring careful sit-downs. To give you an idea, the RAZR V3 is .54" thin and the KRZR is .67". But it is very narrow, unusually so. The RAZR is a wide beast, though nobody seemed to mind and the KRZR is so much narrower it almost doesn't look like a phone when closed. It might be a bit too narrow for big-fisted men, though women will likely find it fairly comfy. The MOTOKRZR is about looks and doesn't have every bell and whistle under the sun. It's got a 1.3MP camera with no flash, a MicroSD (aka TransFlash) card slot for memory expansion, voice dialing, a speakerphone, Bluetooth and a music player. It's offered by Verizon in the US and supports EVDO for fast data and Verizon's V Cast service. The finish is all smoke and mirrors: black, gray, sultry, at turns highly reflective like a mirror and at other angles looking more metallic. Moto calls it dark pearl gray. The lower section of the flip (actually a part of the keypad portion of the phone) is black metallic as are the sides of the outer flip. Between these black pearl metallic edges you'll find an inset black glass section which is home to the touch sensitive music player controls, external display and the small camera lens. The sides are contrasting light silver and the bottom curved surfaces are stippled like some high-end Euro personal appliance or perhaps a car's grille. The KRZR's loud, clear and generally excellent speaker lives under that grille. Open the flip to reveal Motorola's signature flat metal keypad that looks oh so yummy though it's not the greatest for dialing by feel. Motorola has put fairly distinct ridges between the keys and the numbers are backlit in blue which helps somewhat. To aid in dialing, there's an option called "Talking Phone" which will speak the digits you dial and will also read off contacts' names in your address book as you scroll through them. Above the keypad you'll find the large, easy to operate d-pad, call send and end buttons, a camera button and clear / back button. To start the still camera, press the camera button quickly; to take videos press and hold the camera button until the camcorder launches. The standard mini USB port is located on the phone's left side as is the volume up/down rocker and the speakerphone button (press to turn on, press again to turn off). The right side is nearly bare— one button that does double duty to launch voice dialing (press quickly) and voice recorder (press and hold). In contrast, the KRZR's back is nearly pedestrian. It's dark gray with the Motorola and Verizon logos saving it from monotony. The battery lives under the door on the back and the MicroSD card slot is under the battery door beside the battery. There's a little rubber block in the MicroSD card slot area which helps keep the card in place— a seemingly odd and primitive design. It's not easy to get the card out, and we wonder how well the card will stay in place once the hard rubber wears down. You need not remove the battery to insert or remove a MicroSD card. Good looks are nice, but the MOTOKRZR's raison d-etre is making calls, so how does it do? Very well! Voice quality is superb, in fact it's one of the best we've heard on Verizon. There's no syllable dropping, no garbling and no background noise on incoming or outgoing calls. Call volume is good and the speakerphone is loud and clear with minimal distortion at high volume. To switch to speakerphone, simply press the left side button. Once in speakerphone mode you can close the flip and continue the call (it won't hang up). The KRZR features Voice Signal's voice recognition software which as always works reliably. You need not record voice tags since Voice Signal uses true recognition and it supports a variety of commands besides voice dialing including Send (message), Lookup, Phone Status, and set volume. To start voice recognition press the button on the phone's right side (the clamshell must be open).

On the data front, EVDO and Verizon's V Cast service work well on the phone with decent V Cast streaming video performance that's not quite as good as the LG Chocolate on Verizon. For those who wish to use the KRZR as a high speed wireless modem for a PC, the phone does support DUN (dial up networking). In the Dallas Forth Worth area we found the KRZR had good reception that's on par with other recent Verizon phones such as the LG VX8300 and Chocolate. It's not quite as good as the RAZR, but is pretty close and manages to hold a call even in our RF-challenged areas. The phone has separate signal meters for voice/1xRTT and EVDO.

The Motorola RAZR and the KRZR

The 1.3 megapixel camera is good compared to other 1.3MP camera phones with generally correct exposure and pleasant colors. The camera sometimes sets color balance incorrectly, so some photos show a purple or overly warm color cast and there is noticeable JPEG noise, but it's better than most (non-Nokia) smartphones and though as good as the 1.3MP LG phones on Verizon. The camera can take photos at a maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 in JPEG format as well as lower resolutions for caller ID and MMS. It has a self-timer, multi-shot mode, brightness, contrast and white balance settings, color effects and you can turn off the shutter sound. If you close the flip, the outer LCD becomes your viewfinder which is handy for self-portraits. The camera can take videos at 176 x 144 resolution in H2.63 format and you can set video length to short, medium, "fit to video message" or long (limited only by the amount of space on your memory card). The KRZR can save photos to a memory card if present.

Sample photos taken at maximum resolution and unedited other than resizing to fit this page.

Display: K1m, Verizon and Sprint versions: 1.9" 176 x 220 pixel TFT 65k color inner LCD. 1.1" CSTN (passive matrix) color outer display, 96 x 80 resolution with 65k colors. KRZR K1 for Cingular has a 262k color inner display.
Battery: 880 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable. Battery is user replaceable. KRZR K1m for Verizon and Sprint claimed talk time of 250 minutes (3 hours) and claimed standby of 440 hours (18 days). KRZR K1 for Cingular claimed talk time 6 hours and 14 days standby.
Performance: Undisclosed CU, approximately 18 megs internal memory.
Size: 4.05 x 1.73 x .67 inches. Weight: 3.6 ounces.
Phone: K1m, Verizon and Sprint versions: CDMA dual band 800/1900MHz with EVDO and 1xRTT for data. KRZR K1, Cingular version: quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz with EDGE for data.
Camera: 1.3MP with 4x digital zoom. Can take still shots in JPEG format and video in H.263/MPEG4 format.
Audio: Built in speaker, mic and 2.5mm standard stereo headphone jack (requires included adapter). Voice Recorder and music player included with support for MP3, AAC and WMA files.
Networking: Bluetooth 1.2. Headset, Hands-free, Serial Port and Dial Up Networking, Object Push for vcard and image transfer only. It does not support all Bluetooth object transfer (OBEX) profiles.
Software: Verizon user interface, with basic PIM applications (contacts, calendar, notes), calculator, world clock, music player, video player (for V Cast playback and playback of videos taken with the camera), image viewer.
Expansion: 1 MicroSD (TransFlash) memory card slot under back cover. Accepts up to 1 gig cards.
                                                            ( Author :  Lisa Gade, Source : mobiletechreview )

    

Reviewed August, 2006 by Tanker Bob The Motorola RAZR V3 has been on the market for almost two years.  So why bother with a review at this point?  At least two reasons:  1) It is still the #1 selling mobile phone, occupying 3 (the silver, black, and pink models) of the top 10 positions for the first half of 2006 according to Business Wire; and 2) Because it’s way cool and still turning heads in personal and business circles.  Motorola has some impressive new offerings, but it has yet to top the RAZR in terms of user draw and loyalty.  What continues to make it so popular?  Read on… Design and Ergonomics First and foremost, the V3’s construction boasts a solid anodized aluminum case that looks great in any setting, business or personal.  It’s very thin and light, measuring just 3.86 x 2.08 x 0.54 inches and weighing just 3.35 ounces, easily disappearing in any pocket.  With the V3’s diminutive size, you’ll forget you’re carrying it until it rings.  Yet, it possesses a solid feel in your hand and the hinge is quite robust.  It would not be a good idea to carry a plastic phone in your back pocket, but that’s where I carry the RAZR V3 all the time without concern.  I have dropped it a number of times from my shirt pocket on to tile floors, yet it still works and looks like new.  Even after two years on the market, the RAZR still garners appreciative looks and comments anywhere in the world when displayed. Another distinctive feature of the RAZR appears in its keyboard.  The highly distinctive keypad is etched from thin metal with a blue backlight appearing through the letters and symbols.  This enhances durability (I wore the key labels off of my last phone) and appearance, looking very futuristic and stays looking great.  Unfortunately, the flat keyboard design virtually eliminates the ability to dial without looking at the phone.  Reflections on the silver surface sometimes make it difficult to see the keyboard letters for text messaging in bright light.  The shiny finish also fingerprints easily.  On the other hand, fingerprints wipe off easily, and it provides excellent visibility in low light. The keyboard revolves around a directional key pad with a center action button.  The function of all these may be programmed for use on the home screen.  The web access and messaging system buttons on either side of the keypad provide quick access to these functions, and below them are the green connect and red cancel buttons.  While holding the phone normally, the user’s thumb naturally falls to these areas, centering on the center action button.  The keys have excellent tactile feedback. Motorola chose to use a mini-USB connector for headset connections, battery charging, and data exchange.  If you are moving to the V3, be forewarned that you’ll need a new headset, although the RAZR is far from unique in this aspect.  The good news is that you can charge the phone through the USB connection. The battery is incredibly thin and takes up most of the back of the device.  A small latch makes it easy to remove the cover, and the battery itself has a “slide in” arrangement that holds it securely.  Inside its compartment, it sits over top of the SIM card and the IMI placard—a very tidy arrangement.

Camera I guarantee that no one will buy a RAZR V3 for its camera.  The integrated digital VGA camera has a 4x digital zoom, but it only offers 0.3 megapixels.  You won’t be using it for your family portraits.  But then, few buy phones for their photographic prowess. The camera zoom may be selected between unzoomed, 2x, and 4x, with increasing zoom producing smaller pictures.  The photo resolution may be set to 160x120, 320x240, or 640x480.  The exposure setting may also be changed to make the CCD more light-sensitive in low-light situations.  I found the exposure setting to be quite useful.  The cameral also has a time-delay setting, but it’s hard to see what one would do with that.  A phone on a tripod? Actual pictures turn out fine within that limit.  The picture with the Elizabethan actors (dogs) was taken in a drama theater lobby with no extra lighting, but increasing the exposure slightly. The camera can actually capture video in 3GP format.  This can eat up the 5MB of RAM pretty quickly—27 seconds of video ate 286K of memory in low resolution (128x96).  In high resolution (176x144), 16 seconds of video takes 286K.  The RAZR captures sound with the visual images.  The maximum per-video capture length runs about 286K. Lastly, the camera also works with the clamshell closed.  In this mode, you can do a self-portrait using the smaller outer screen as a “viewfinder”.  All photos and even shorter videos may be sent in multi-media messages (MMS).

This picture was taken outdoors in hazy lighting without altering the standard exposure setting.

The large flower pot was taken close up in bright sunlight.

Display: Internal display: 176x220 pixel, up to 260K TFT color, with graphic accelerator, 9 lines of text. External display: 96x80 pixel, 4k CSN color, 4 lines of text / 4 lines of icons.
Battery: 680 mAh listed (710 mAh actual); Talk Time: Up to approximately 200 to 430 minutes advertised; Standby Time: Up to approximately 180 to 290 hours claimed.
Performance: 5 megs RAM, undisclosed CPU.
Size: (H x W x D): 3.86 x 2.08 x 0.54 inches; 3.35 ounces.
Phone: GSM quad band world phone (850/900/1800/1900MHz with GPRS for data.
Camera: Integrated digital 0.3 megapixel VGA with 4x digital zoom, 160x120, 320x240, or 640x480; Video at 128x96 or 176x144.
Audio: Polyphonic speaker @ 22 KHz, 22 chord support; MP3 playback and ringtones, vibration alert, and silent mode; Speech recognition, voice memos, speakerphone.
Networking: Class 1 Bluetooth version 1.1, USB 1.x.
Software: Calculator and Currency Converter, Date and Clock, PIM functionality, Calendar, Alarm Clock, WAP 2.0 browser. iTAP predictive text, EMS 5.0, SMS, Chat one-to-one, MMS (Picture / photo + text + sound), Group SMS, Quick messages, Mobile Concatenation; Instant Messaging Support: (Wireless Village) 1.1 embedded client; Email support: POP3, SMTP, IMAP4.
Expansion: None.
                                               ( Author : Tanker Bob, Source : mobiletechreview )

   

Reviewed June, 2006 by Jacob Spindel It's rugged and stylish. It's sleek and comfortable. In fact, the Motorola PEBL offered by T-Mobile has quickly become the second-most handsome thing in my house, behind only the cat (trust me, you don't want to upset the cat). The PEBL is the fashion-conscious cousin to the stylin Motorola RAZR and SLVR (all vowel-challenged and hip). Although its features don't stack up quite as well as its design, the PEBL is a contender for basic users who are concerned about their phones' durability and good looks. PEBL Preliminaries The PEBL is a jet-black flip-phone with rounded edges, measuring about 3.5" by 1.9" by 0.75" when closed and weighing 3.8 ounces (other colors are also available). It's also available in blue, orange and green. The device is called "self-opening," meaning that it snaps completely open or closed in a manner that feels almost spring-loaded. Three buttons line the phone's sides, while the camera and outer display are on the front of the phone. The only other external component of the phone's minimalist design is the user-replaceable battery on the back of the phone. When opened, the phone's internal buttons and screens follow the standard layout. However, one feature that is more unique is the style of the buttons themselves, which are flat and involve less physical motion than the buttons on most cell phones. Although the backlighting of the buttons is minimal, the buttons' design also contributes to the phone's overall sense of durability. Durability, in fact, is one of the phone's strongest features, since the outside shell simultaneously feels both rubberized and solid. I wouldn't recommend the phone for situations where you will intentionally be regularly involved in high-risk situations (and definitely no scuba diving!), but if you use it normally and happen to have an accident, the PEBL seems significantly more likely to survive than many other phones. Data and Phone Features The PEBL is a quad-band GSM world phone (supporting the 850/900/1800/1900MHz bands) with support for EDGE and GPRS. For voice calls, it worked well, generating clear audio with good volume, with the built-in speakers as well as with wired and wireless headsets. The reception remained strong throughout the areas in which I tested the phone. The PEBL worked well with T-Mobile's "T-Zones" portal, which allows you to access basic functionality like ringtones, images, and news sites specifically built into the T-Zones area. Ringtones downloaded quickly and easily, although users should note that "celebrity voices are impersonated" (the Darth Vader ringtone sounded more like Arnold SchwarzenVader). Since our review phone had only the basic T-Zones data plan, I wasn't able to download Opera Mini, or test DUN (Dial up Networking). The phone is Java compliant and supports J2ME, so Opera Mini and the wealth of J2ME games should work fine. PEBL to the Metal This would've been yet another restatement of "the phone uses the standard Motorola user interface, which has decent performance..." except that the PEBL had the misfortune of being reviewed at the same time as Samsung's t509, a phone that has truly raised my expectations. Compared to the Samsung, Motorola's user interface has a noticeable lag for virtually every button push, even just navigating basic menus. T-Mobile doesn't specify what CPU the PEBL uses, but my patience for these types of delays is quickly running out. The phone does not accept any expansion cards, and has only about 5 MB of internal memory accessible to the user. Although I was glad to see that its connector is a standard USB mini-B 5-pin port, the usefulness of this feature is largely negated by the fact that it cannot connect to a computer via USB unless the computer has optional software installed (not included with the phone). PEBL's Pixels The phone has very sharp displays. The inside display is active matrix with a resolution of 176 pixels by 220, and it displays up to 262,000 colors with a bright, clear image. Even the external display, which is 92 x 32 pixels, is more stylized and unique than most flip-phones' outer screens, offering multiple display styles you can choose from to monitor the phone's clock, battery, and signal strength when the phone is closed. Being a flip-phone, the PEBL also has the inherent advantage of strong protection for its internal screen. Moto Photo The PEBL's built-in camera also worked well. Although its resolution is a modest 640 x 480, I found the clarity of the pictures to be impressive. Using the 4x digital zoom made images a bit blurrier (as expected), but still fairly decent. As with most cell phones, pictures and movies from the camera are stored as JPEGs and 3gp files, respectively. Bluetooth The PEBL's Bluetooth is yet another case of "just like all the other Motorola phones." In testing, it paired with computers and wireless headsets without problems, and it also used Bluetooth to transmit files (such as photos you take with the camera) successfully. However, like other Motorola phones, you have to manually enable the "discoverable" mode every time you need it, since the mode will turn itself off after one minute. This makes for better security but it can also be a nuisance if you frequently pair with new devices.

Display: 262K color 176 x 220 pixel TFT main (inner) display. 92 x 32 pixel color outer display.
Battery: Lithium Ion rechargeable. Battery is user replaceable. 740 mA. Claimed 5 hours talk time and 10.5 days standby.
Performance: Undisclosed CPU. 5 megs of available memory.
Size: 3.5 by 1.9 by 0.75 inches. Weight: 3.8 ounces.
Phone: GSM quad band mobile phone (850/900/1800/1900MHz bands). EDGE and GPRS for data. T-Mobile phone is sold locked to T-Mobile.
Camera: VGA camera capable of taking photos at 640 x 480 resolution. Can take videos in 3gp format.
Audio: Built in polyphonic speaker, mic and headphone jack.
Networking: Bluetooth.
Software: Phone book, Wireless address book back-up, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Messaging (supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 email, SMS, MMS and Wireless Village IM), voice recorder.
Expansion: None.
                                                               ( Author :  Jacob Spindel, Source : mobiletechreview )

       

          

Reviewed  May 16, 2006 by Jacob Spindel SLVR Style Although Motorola's marketing people  probably felt that SLVR sounded better than "SLAB," the phone truly is,  in fact, a small, thin, rectangular slab measuring just 4.33" x 1.93" x  0.41" and weighing about 3.3 ounces- in other words, its form factor is  virtually identical to the ultra-slim SLVR L7, which we reviewed here.  Style-wise, it's the candy bar cousin to the Motorola  RAZR clamshell phone. Indeed, with its screen, D-pad, and  buttons on the front, a VGA camera on the back, and a couple of  configurable extra buttons on the sides, the design retains a simple,  minimalist style while retaining a sense of elegance and advanced  technology. There is nothing to flip, bend, or rotate, which enhances  the phone's durability in some ways since it is all one solid piece,  although this also means that its screen is completely exposed and  unprotected unless you keep the phone in a case.                                                  On the phone's right-hard side, you'll  find the SLVR L6's only physical connection port, a standard USB mini-B 5  pin plug. This connection is used both for charging and for connecting  with a computer to access the L6's 9 MB of available internal memory.  It's a relief to see a standard connector instead of "Proprietary Cell  Phone Port That Was Probably Discontinued 8 Years Ago v1.2 (not  compatible with 1.1)" - which is important, since the phone doesn't  accept any type of flash memory card. For Mac users, the phone is compatible  with Apple iSync, which allows you to synchronize contacts and calendars  via Bluetooth or USB. Finally, the 720 mAh lithium-ion battery  on the back of the phone is user-replaceable and provides about 5.15  hours of talk time, or 15.5 days on standby. While the L6 lacks the L7's super-slick  metal keypad, higher quality display and iTunes, it sells for a price  anyone can afford. SLVR Specs The L6 is a Quad-Band GSM phone,  supporting the 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands. This means you can  use it throughout the world wherever GSM service is available. The phone  is compatible with GPRS class 10 but not EDGE. I found that the L6 produced ample  volume and clarity for virtually any situation, regardless of whether I  used the built-in speaker, the built-in speakerphone capability, or a Bluetooth  headset. The phone received a clear signal throughout the urban  area in which I tested it. The phone itself has a responsive user  interface that never feels sluggish although Cingular does not specify  what type of CPU it uses. Comparing the L6 to the  Nokia N90 and Nokia  9300 smartphones. SLVRscreen The L6's  screen sports 128x160 pixels,  capable of displaying up to 6 lines of text, as well as graphics, in  65,000 colors. Overall, the screen is very bright and clear, with  graphics looking crisp instead of blocky like some phones. It's a CSTN  display rather than the high end 262,000 color TFT used on its pricier  brother the L7,  but it still looks good. When playing back videos or other rapid  motion, the image is choppy compared to most PDAs and high end phones  thanks to the CSTN's slower response time, but it's still watchable and  reasonably impressive by cell phone standards. Bluetooth Banter I had no trouble using a wireless  headset with the L6's Bluetooth. It paired quickly and easily and worked  reliably. However, although the phone also theoretically supports DUN  (dial up networking), I was unable to access the Internet from either my  Mac or my Pocket PC. Depending on the settings I used, I consistently  received an error stating that either "the modem has unexpectedly hung  up" or "no carrier detected." SLVR Snapshots Cingular advertises the L6's built-in,  video-capable camera as being "VGA resolution," a term which is  sometimes  confusing to some users. Perhaps the reason they don't use a   megapixel rating is that a VGA resolution, meaning 640 x 480, only  amounts to about 0.3 megapixels. As small as that may sound, though, the  L6's camera makes reasonably good use of the pixels it has, providing a  fairly clear picture, as well as the ability to digitally zoom in up to  4x. Although you wouldn't be able to use the SLVR L6's camera to create  a panoramic masterpiece, for occasional snapshots it gets the job done.

                              










Pros: A  very stylin' and function phone for not much cash. Nice screen and audio  quality; handy Ticker feature; slim and attractive form factor.
Cons: Built-in  mail program only works with a few providers; camera could've been  better.







Display: 128 x 160 pixel                              CSTN color LCD.
Battery: Lithium                             Ion  rechargeable. Battery is user  replaceable.                             720 mAh.
Performance: Undisclosed processor. Approximately 10 megs internal  memory.
Size: 4.45 in x 1.93 in x 0.43 inches. Weight: 3.3 ounces.
Phone: GSM quad band world phone, 850/1800/1900MHz with GPRS  class 10 for data. 
Camera: VGA
Audio: Built                             in speaker, mic and 2.5mm standard headset  jack.
Networking: Integrated                             Bluetooth.
                                                        ( Author : Jacob Spindel, Source : mobiletechreview )

Motorola i870 for Nextel 

       

Review posted April 27, 2006 by Jacob Spindel Nextel phones haven't been spotted in Paris Hilton's hands nor were they equipped with the kind of camera that could transform one into a would-be paparazzi. Rock along to MP3 tunes? Not the first thing that comes to mind. But strictly business Nextel, all about Push to Talk, ruggedness and corporate appeal has changed their image with the Motorola i870. The i870 has a good 1.3 megapixel digital camera, expansion slot for saving those photos and storing tunes (yes, it plays MP3s). The color display is perfect for photo viewing, not to mention an occasional game. And the phone's camera is good for verticals such as real estate and insurance (see it's not all fun and games). Features and Included Goodies If your boss bought this phone for you, he or she would probably skip the flashy introductions and instead just quickly lay out the facts: it's an iDEN flip-phone (iDEN is Nextel's regular network, which is technically similar to GSM but not interoperable with any other standard) with a 1.3 megapixel camera that takes pictures and movies. It's got Bluetooth and accepts TransFlash memory cards, which are also called Micro SD. (If your boss has never heard of TransFlash, reassure him or her that a 32 MB card is included, as is an adaptor that allows the card to plug into any regular SD card reader—and even a standard SD reader is also included). The phone also comes with a belt clip, travel charger, standard battery, and a 128K SIM card. (No sync cable is included.) Additionally, the phone also supports a data plan, has speakerphone capability, and Nextel's DirectConnect (walkie talkie) feature.

Design, Ergonomics and Display As you get started with the i870, you will probably find the user experience to be solid in terms of both hardware and software. Like most modern flip-phones, the i870 complements its large, internal color screen with an outer screen (visible when the unit is closed), which impressed me with its ability to display in color, and its capacity to display quite a bit of information at once, even though it is still smaller and blockier than the primary screen. Although Nextel did not specify the resolution of either screen, the 262,000 color internal screen measures 2.25" diagonally, and the 4,096 color external is 1.4" diagonally. The phone also features external buttons that enable you to control many of the most important multimedia and calling features, including volume and playback, without opening the phone. Flip the phone open, and you'll find a pretty standard layout, consisting of the bright, 262,000-color screen on one half, and the dialing pad and power button on the other. Additional buttons on this half allow you to navigate the menus, switch to camera mode, and return to the home screen. I was glad to see that the buttons are arranged and shaped similarly to most landline phones, rather than using some bizarre new layout, and that the buttons light up brightly in the dark. When closed, the phone is very compact, measuring just 3.5" X 1.9" X 1.0". With the standard battery inserted, the phone weighs 4.9 ounces. As a result of the phone's small size and light weight, it is easy to place the phone in virtually any pocket or purse and take it wherever you need.

Display: 2.25" 262,000 color internal (main) display. 1.4" 4,096 color external display.
Battery: Lithium Ion rechargeable. Battery is user replaceable. 165 minutes claimed talk time and 70 hours standby with included standard battery.
Size: 3.5" X 1.9" X 1.0". Weight: 4.9 ounces.
Phone: iDEN network.
Camera: 1.3MP
Audio: Built in speaker, mic and 2.5mm stereo headphone jack (stereo headset NOT included). MP3 player included. Has vibrate feature.
Networking: Bluetooth.
Software: Contacts, datebook, messaging, web browser, MP3 player, notes ,voice recorder, camera and video capture application and Java VM.
Expansion: 1 TransFlash (also called Micro SD) card slot. 32 meg card included.
                                                ( Author :  Jacob Spindel , Source : mobiletechreview ) 

Motorola SLVR L7 Review 

  

Reviewed Feb. 27, 2006 by Lisa Gade, Editor in Chief (If you're looking for a much more affordable version minus iTunes and the metal keypad, check out our review of the Motorola SLVR L6.) Members of the candybar phone set who envied the Motorola RAZR's "thin is in" good looks are in luck. The Motorola SLVR L7, offered by Cingular in the US, takes the RAZR's techno-chic design and signature polished metal keypad and flattens it into the thinnest candybar phone on the US market. The 11.5mm thin SLVR lives up to its name, being incredibly slim though not notably small in height or breadth. The SLVR is about more than good looks, and falls into the feature phone category thanks to its VGA camera, Bluetooth and Micro SD (aka TransFlash) card slot which comes filled with a 512 meg card. Why such a high capacity card? Because the SLVR is yet another iTunes phone from Motorola and it can handle up to 100 songs. Unlike the 100 song ROKR, whose only claim to fame was its iTunes capability, the SLVR L7 more subtlely adds the feature as one of several reasons to want this phone. Much better marketing: getting a SLVR means getting a cool looking phone with decent features that also happens to replace an iPod Shuffle. Design and Ergonomics The SLVR L7 is clearly about stunning looks and extreme portability. The polished metal keyboard (just like the RAZR's) is one of the best pieces of industrial design we've seen, offset by the phone's matte black finish and topped by a vibrant, glossy display. The phone is thin enough to slip into the tightest of pockets, but at 4.5" tall x 1.9" wide, it's at best a medium sized phone that's nearly the same height at the Cingular 2125 smartphone and wider (smartphones tend to be bigger than feature phones). But yes, the SLVR is only .43" thick while the Cingular 2125 is .69", and even the RAZR V3 is .54" thick (and a bit wider). If you're shopping for a thin and attractive phone and are a candybar fan, this is it. If you want a tiny clamshell, look elsewhere. And be prepared to wipe down your pretty phone; the SLVR's keypad and display show fingerprints and facial oil like crazy. The SLVR has a clean design, with the usual Moto menu navigation buttons above the keypad and a very flat d-pad. In fact the entire keyboard is flat since it's cut out of a sliver of metal. Don't expect a lot of tactile feedback when dialing in the dark, but the Moto's bright blue backlighting will help in the visual department. On the left side you'll find buttons that control ringer volume, call volume and iTunes volume when playing music, and a camera button. The mini USB sync / charge port, voice dialing button and TransFlash card slot are located on the right side and the large speaker phone is on the back as is the VGA camera lens (no self-portrait mirror). Phone Features and Data The SLVR is a GSM quad band world phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) that will work anywhere in the world GSM service is available. The L7 is sold locked to Cingular, which means you'll need to use a Cingular SIM rather than popping in an overseas SIM when traveling abroad. That said, after 3 months of service, Cingular will generally unlock the phone for you, should you wish to travel overseas and not pay Cingular's overseas roaming rates. Unlocked versions are available too, if you look around. We're surprised that the phone has GPRS class 10 but no EDGE for data, which means you'll generally get about 35k download speeds. Then again, the phone's browser supports only WAP 2.0, and GPRS is adequate for browsing WAP sites. Should you wish to use the phone as a modem for a notebook or PDA, GPRS may be slower than you'd like. Reception is good but not quite as good as the RAZR, Nokia 6682 and the Cingular 8125. Voice quality through the handset and included stereo earbud headset is acceptable though not as full and rich as the Cingular 8125 and Nokia 6682. The headset sounds a tad tinny, in fact. Call volume through the handset is average by GSM standards, which means not terribly loud, while the wired headset is louder and speakerphone is quite loud and clear. The SLVR L7 played well with Bluetooth headsets and paired easily, though call recipients noted white noise and we noted low incoming call volume, even when using Moto's new flagship headset the H700. You can voice dial by pressing the phone's dedicated button or via Bluetooth headset by pressing the call send button. The phone uses voice tags rather than true speech recognition, so you'll need to record voice tags for call recipients in your address book. The Cingular 2125 and the SLVR

iTunes For music on the go, or anywhere you take your phone, the SLVR can hold up to 100 songs. The limitation is imposed by the phone's software and not the card capacity, so a larger card won't get you more tunes. But if you're a jogger with cell phone in tow and want some music to make the miles easier, the SLVR isn't a bad choice. You need not burden yourself with several pieces of gear, and those 100 songs should last for 6.5 hours of continuous playback. Since the phone syncs to iTunes on the desktop (both Windows and Mac work), you can change out your music at any time, and need not live with the same 100 tunes forever. If you don't already own an iPod or have iTunes installed, you'll get a copy on the included CD. The SLVR's USB 1.1 port makes for slow syncing speeds: it takes about 25 minutes to fill the phone with 100 tunes using iTunes and the included USB cable. The phone comes with a good quality stereo earbud headset with mic. Plug in the headset and the SLVR will automatically switch from the phone's speaker and vice versa. The headset has a mini USB connector and it plugs into the phone's multifunction mini USB port. Should you wish to use your own set of headphones with the Moto, plug them into the included 3.5mm to mini USB adapter. Sound quality is OK, but not as good as the ROKR, a good PDA or the Sony Ericsson W600i "Walkman" phone. Bass is muffled below 100Hz and trebles can be harsh when using a good set of headphones such as Sennheiser's PX100 or super.fi 5 Pro earbuds. iTunes will not play through a Bluetooth headset. If that's important to you, wait for the ROKR E2 which will support stereo Bluetooth headphones as well as headset playback. The SLVR can play music in the background, which means you can use the phone's other features while playing music. The display sleeps when using the phone as an iPod, and upon waking it you'll see the scrolling track title and small album cover in the upper left hand corner (if album art is available). The iTunes interface is almost exactly like that on Apple's iPod, which means it's intuitive and efficient. A few iPod features such as play by genre and multiple smart playlists are missing. You'll use the d-pad to control music playback, even when the phone is in the standby screen with the player running in the background (large on-screen symbols show you which direction to press to gain a desired effect). Should you wish to listen to music on the plane, turn on flight mode under Settings.

Display: 262,000-color, 176x122-pixel display measuring 1.9 inches diagonally.
Battery: 820 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable. Battery is user replaceable.
Performance: 5 megs internal shared memory, 512 meg TransFlash (Micro SD) card included.
Size: 4.46 x 1.9 x .45 inches. Weight: 3.38 ounces.
Phone: GSM quad band world phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) with GPRS class 10 for data. Cingular version is sold locked to Cingular.
Camera: VGA CMOS camera with 4x digital zoom capable of shooting still JPEG photos at 640 x 480, 320 x 240 and 160 x 120. Can take videos with sound at 176x144 and 128x96 resolutions in .3GP format.
Audio: Built in speaker, mic and Mini USB stereo headphone jack. Stereo earbud headphones with inline mic included and an adapter which allows you to use standard 3.5m stereo headphones for music playback. iTunes included, can hold up to 100 songs. Has speakerphone and voice dialing.
Networking: Bluetooth 1.2.
Expansion: 1 TransFlash (Micro SD) card slot. 512 meg card included. 
                                                                     ( Author :  Lisa Gade, Source : mobiletechreview )