Motorola RAZR V3 Phone (Cingular)

Thin is definitely in. At just over a half-inch thick, the Motorola RAZR V3 is the perfect combination of sleek design and powerful features. With long-range Bluetooth, support for video playback, a VGA (640 x 480) camera and a gorgeous color screen, the RAZR V3 is everything you're looking for in a stylish mobile companion. Get the most out of your Cingular service with this impressive quad-band phone.

Design

	Bluetooth Wireless Technology Stay connected without wires. Choose from a range of optional Bluetooth accessories.
	MPEG4 Video Playback Download and watch sports action and music clips. They're all beautifully displayed on the large 2.2 color display.
	Built-in Speakerphone Keep the conversation flowing when you're busy by going hands-free. Or exchange ideas in a conference call.
	Anodized Aluminum Case The ultra-thin Moto Razr V3 has the distinctive metallic lustre of anodized aluminum.
	Digital Camera Capture your world in style. Create memorable images with the effective 4 x digital zoom and quick exposure controls.

The RAZR V3's design takes the standard clamshell form factor to the next level with an impressive, anodized aluminum construction. A large 176 x 220 color display with 262,000 colors dominates the inside of the top cover. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 80 full-color display that can display pictures, time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The VGA camera lens is housed above this display. Up/down buttons are placed on the left side for volume control while a voice button on the right side of the unit allows you to enter voice memos and create voice dialing profiles. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's backlit control pad, which is precision cut from a single sheet of nickel-plated copper alloy. A charging port and USB data cable port is placed on the bottom of the phone.

Calling Features
The RAZR V3's internal phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts while the phone's picture ID system allows you to assign pictures to your most common callers. It also supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular Wireless' MEdia service. There's even an included application, MotoMixer, that lets you mix your own ringtones. For times when you want to be discreet, there's a vibrating alert. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear while voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names.

Because the RAZR V3 is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The RAZR V3 is a messaging and wireless Internet powerhouse. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, sound and video via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Instant messaging is also supported via AOL Instant Messenger and the phone ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols (Cingular messaging charges apply).

Thin is in: The RAZR's keypad is precision cut from a single sheet of nickel-plated copper alloy.

There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet is easy with the RAZR V3 as it supports Cingular's GSM-based Wireless Internet Express service. When used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's Bluetooth or USB data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the RAZR V3 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with currency converter, a calendar and an alarm clock. Use the phone's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, can be used with Motorola's Mobile Phone Tools PC application to manage and synchronize contacts, calendar and other data with your PC.

Imaging and Entertainment
With 5 MB of internal memory storage, the RAZR V3 shines in the entertainment department. The phone's VGA camera features a 4x zoom, image quality options, and an auto-timer so you can be in your pictures, too. Capture stills and then send them to your friends via MMS messaging or email, or to your PC via USB or Bluetooth. The phone is capable of MPEG4 video playback when you receive a video message, or if you upload video to the phone via USB or Bluetooth. The RAZR V3 also supports custom graphics for wallpapers so you can dress up the phone to suit your fancy.

Support for gaming is built into the phone and games are available for download via the Cingular MEdia service.

Operating the RAZR Battery Door
The RAZR V3's battery cover is designed to have a very tight fit with the phone case. You may need to use your fingernail or a very thin instrument to depress the small battery cover release button. When replacing the cover, make sure the cover securely snaps into place before operating the phone.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola RAZR V3 weighs 3.35 ounces and measures 3.86 x 2.09 x .54 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6.67 hours of digital talk time, and up to 250 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 800/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
RAZR V3 handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual.

Comments

[A37JLAYDMWPODD]

Left T-Mobile to Cingular... Had to Have the RAZR ! The phone rocks and is so hot to have... Everyone comments on it... easist speakerphone and best quality on cellphones today. Remember you only go around once... You ain't coming back.. GET RAZR'd !

[AE6TAPWG3YCI7]

I got the Razr from Cingular 10 days ago. It ran $200 with a 2 yr contract. That seemed a bit steep, but it looked like a nice phone with the features I wanted. I got it home and got it set up with my numbers/personalization/etc. I was surprised to see the software was identical to the V400 I had a couple of years ago.

Initially the phone seemed great. It's visually stunning and has a huge beautiful screen with a decent VGA camera. It's very thin, but fairly wide. The speakerphone worked great and I was able to set up my bluetooth earpiece with no problems. I found it slightly annoying that the V3 is the only phone Motorola offers that uses a mini-usb connector, so accessories are hard to find. Reception is average. I had several dropped calls, but that could just be my area. I got over these minor complaints due to the wow-factor.

Yesterday I started having problems. I was expecting a call and when I hadn't received it by 5 I checked my phone only to find that it was powered off. I tried to turn it back on and it wouldn't respond. I had to take the battery out, wait a few minutes and put it back in before it would turn back on. After that it started resetting itself about 1 out of 10 times I opened it. Cingular was great and they offered to replace it with a new handset with no problems since it was in the initial 30 day grace period. They did tell me that the Razr is the only phone on which they don't offer insurance, which doesn't inspire confidence. I went with the Nokia 6230 which is smaller overall, has more features and just seems to be more durable.

Overall I'd say the Razr is a nice phone with good features, but Motorola needs to work on their software. If you're looking to impress people, this phone is great. As far as features per dollar, there are much better phones out there.

[ABDTTUXVFYJHU]

To be completely honest, you are paying for style with this phone. Yes it is slim, but honestly, how big of a deal is that? The phone is quite long, pretty wide, and yet beautiful. It looks otherworldly, actually. You can get a phone that performs all of the V3's functions for 50-100 bucks less if you wanted. This phone, however, has been perfect for me and I am absolutely in love with its metal casing and design. Cingular's service is great as usual. I have not dropped a call yet.

I used to own a Nokia 6800 phone, and to be quite honest, the software on the Nokia made much more sense than Motorola's. The address book on the V3 does a poor job of supporting multiple phone numbers for a single person. As previous reviewers stated, you have to add an entry for each number, instead of listing multiple numbers under one name. It makes for a very messy phone book. The Nokia has a supremely superior phone book. That, however, is really my only complaint.

A couple things about this phone you might not expect:

- The V3 DOES NOT have a flash. Not a big deal for me, as it adjusts for brightness better than my real digital camera, but there you have it.

- The V3 can't take video. It can play video like a TV, but you can't record any video with the phone.

- Alas, this phone has NO GAMES. lol............i'm such a nerd. You have to buy any games you want to play on this baby.

[A22DP75NOFKLE2]

It is the thinnest, lightest, most practical mobile I have ever owned. It fits in any pocket and is not noticeable. It is sleek, stylyish, has all the features of the V600 but also includes a larger, inner LCD, color screen. The light touch keypad is also a wonderful addition and the characters are large and all light up. The ringer is louder than that of the V600. It is overall a wonderfull mobile.

[A9X7BWS1VP7AO]

I have had the Motorols Razor V3 for about 3 months. I have had no problems with it. I have taken it everywhere Hawaii, Flordia, France, London, and the UK(and i only had like 1-2 groped calls over there) I would really recomend this phone to anyone. and I love Cingular Wireless i had att wireless then they combined and it is even better. The Bluetooth is easy to set up to.

[A278KUOQTQP0IT]

I'm up in the North East and Cingular is great up here. I have had them for several years now and have tried other cell phone providers, but they are the best I think. This phone is great. I have had it for six months now and it works great. Reception is great, I get a signal in areas where other phones I have had I couldn't. I have dropped it several times and still not a scratch due to the metal housing. Great screen. Bluetooth works well. Phone is very loud. The battery life is great. I have read where some people say it is horrible. I'm on the phone all the time and I have never used up the battery to go under two bars. Great phone. The one drawback I found was Cingular will not insure the phone.

[A7S9RZZLTF7Q7]

I got this phone about a week ago and sure, it's thin, it's cool looking but in the end, it's just a phone. I was deciding between the V3 and a nokia 6230. I really think i should've gone with the nokia.

- The V3's speakerphone isn't that loud. I turn it on and end up turning it back off because i can hear better without it.

- The phone has a slim profile but it's actually pretty large. it's just thin. When it's open, it looks huge against your face.

- The buttons are flat and takes used to using. This is especially true if you like to text message a lot, like me. The upside to this is that Motorola's iTap software is really nice to use compared to my old samsung.

- Yes, it has a large screen. but when you use it, oils from your face get all over it. the oils from your fingers get on the keys which transfer to the screen.

- no games unless you want to connect to the internet. BUMMER!!

- crappy ring tones. again, you'll have to pay for better ones.

The nice thing about cingular is that yes, you have good reception, mobile to mobile, and rollover. The bad thing is they totally rip you off in text messages compared to t-mobile.

[A1WVPAT6D4NG8B]

yes I agree with most of you: the RAZR is definitely sleek looking and such. I've barely had it for a month and already I'm disappointed. Seems I am always charging this phone even though I do not 'clock in the time'. The large screen is great; the fact you can put it in your backpocket and almost forget it's there is nice, too. But so far I am not impressed.. yes Nokia does make better phones....

[A3UN6WX5RRO2AG]

My mommy got this phone. my dad yells at her why she spent so much money on it cuz it isnt very good. i think it looks weird . it also isnt very load like one time my mom had it in her purse thing and it rang and she missed the call becuase she couldnt here the ringing!!!!!!!It is a very bad item thhing my mom is gonna sell it on ebay!!!!!

[A3UAHI1YOP1WUM]

Let's face it. The only reason you're considering this phone is because it is thin. If that reason ALONE is the only basis for your purchase, then it is perfect for you.

Otherwise, wait for a newer model or one from another company besides Motorola. You'll regret buying this phone.

Complaints:

1. My 1st 4 month old phone quit recognizing the SIM card for no reason. I had to get it replaced.

2. Now, after only 3 weeks, the dialing pad on my replacement phone got snagged on the lid, was bent, and now is flimsily attached to the phone. Very very bad design. And, since Cingular will only replace this phone once, I am out of luck.

3. It distorts speaker output very loudly with an audible beeping sequence any time it is in use or when receving a call. This can be quite unsettling if you have your car or home stereo turned up while this phone is near. This may be the single most annoying feature.

4. Cingular coverage in Utah is absolutely the WORST. Dropped calls, getting the wrong phone after dial, mid-conversation transfers to other callers. Every one of the people on our company plan has experienced these problems. This is only relevant to Utah buyers.

5. Lastly, do I need to remind you that this phone costs over $400? This phone is surprisingly shoddy for its price.

[A2HXB30VWXMT1O]

This is an awsome phone, I give it 5 stars because it deserves them. It looks very cool, everybody will notice it and compliment you on it. The bluetooth works great BUT it will drain your battery in a days use. I hava an Acura TL with bluetooth capabilties so a Bluetooth. This brings me to the fact that most bluetooth phones are big and ugly. This phone gets better reception on my ATT service (now cingular) than what my ericcson t616 did.

I recomend this phone highly, and now its very cheap, so just get it. Its still a great phone, my only complaint would be battery life when bluetooth is turned on. Other than that 5 stars

[A3B540TSVN4HJP]

I loved the phone when i saw it,anybody would....anybody..thing is i organized my thoughts from what some people said that it's got the low life battery?...uhmm what did you expect?!!it's like a nail thing and 2 fingers long i mean common..anyhow i bought the new black edition doesn't change a thing just a few more persuading screensavers and backscreens,also IT'S BLACK...even more style for a while...why a while?...it's just a color..but it's a good phone and u won't see one with "those"features on it anytime soon...it's better to have then not have at all...thanks for all....love amazon.com..no regrets thanks!aloha

[A464DVJOJACE5]

What a GREAT cell phone. The LCD is crisp. The menues are easy to use. It has plenty of storage space. The battery life is pretty good. The clairity is much better than average. The bluetooth feature functions flawlessly. The speakerphone is perfect. Downloads are faster than usual. I'll try to think of something negative and let you know later. After 60 days, so far so good.

[A1ASZ2DSD4OMXM]

I've read many a review on the Razr before purchasing one through Amazon with service through Cingular. I've had the phone for a week now and find it very easy to use. Coming from a Motorola V60P, the phone is a joy to carry around.

I've seen many negitive comments about the phone book, while it is not the best, it certainly isn't hard to use. Two pushes of a button and I'm in my phone book. I also do a lot of text messaging and have no problem with the keypad.

As mentioned, the ear piece volume is fairly low, even on it's highest setting, but the speaker phone quailty is excellent.

The screen is difficult to see in bright sunlight. The phone is sturdy and built well... I have not dropped a call on it yet.

I would have no problem recommending this phone to others.

[A2YM9OX2D5LSE]

It is light and stylish but it is not as good as I expected (misleaded by the TV commerical). I am still trying to get the bluetooth working with my PC (it is working fine with the bluetooth headset). It cannot find my Bluetooth USB port but my Nokia was able to find it. Cingular requires you to sign a 2-year contract but some independent stores require you to sign a 1-year contract only (like the one inside Fry's)

I bought the phone from Buy.com - big mistake. They said I would have $200 mail-in rebate. When I received the phone, I got a $100 mail-in rebate form instead. It didn't seem to be the right form. I emailed and called Buy.com several times (they made you to call different phone# and some of their people couldn't understand the situation) and they "guessed" I was missing another $100 mail-in rebate form. They told me the rebate dept would contact me in 4-5 days but I have been waiting for more than a week now. Their customer service was bad and the response was slow.

I got 2 cellular phones from Amazon.com. I received the rebates quick and they have much better customer service (and response) than Buy.com. I will never buy any cell phone from Buy.com.

[A2EX0DOCVV8LDK]

This is a great phone however it is lacking streaming video. Yes it will play small video trailers and music videos. But it is lacking the quality of other contenders in the same high end market for the top of the line tech items. Motorola should have learned by now what the people want and what they will pay for... These phones unlocked will work with numbers of providers and as to the lack of video it makes up for in quality of manufacturing and the style is sleak and futuristic...

[A157IR09GXEEMH]

I actually wanted to give this phone 4.5 stars but decided to give it one since there are people like me out there who prefer to check the lowest reviews first.

I found out from a friend that there's a ton of things you could do to bring out the phone's full potential.

If you read up on howardforums and motox's websites (just do a search in google), you'll learn all sorts of ways to trick out your phone.

In addition to getting rid of the cingular logo, you could

1. unlock the hidden video capture ability

2. improve menu navigation speed

3. boost signal strength

4. and increase battery life.

Not bad at all if you ask me. There's also the option of using customizable startup and shutdown animations but that proved to be a little more labor intensive.

All in all, this is a nice little phone. I was concerned at first about the construction and sturdiness, but after actually examining it, I have not found any problems with the battery cover in terms of fit or material (it's aluminum and not plastic). Although I must admit that I'm not too thrilled with the location of the volume adjustment buttons, but that's by no means a deal killer. I'm also disappointed in the fact that my custom ringtones will not work with a bluetooth headset, but again that's only a minor annoyance.

For those who are familiar with motorola phones, their phone book is not the best in design. If you want to use a custom ringtone, the contact has to be saved in the phone rather than on the sim card. To get around showing the same phone number twice, simply copy all contacts to the phone, group them under one catagory and set the preferences to show only that catagory. Of course the phone resets itself once it's powered off, so that's a bit of an inconvenience.

[A2HXE29CU1I24Y]

First things first...

I got the Motorola RAZR V3 from a Cingular Company store when the price dropped to USD299.99 - retail price, no contract required. As opposed to USD199.99 for a two year contract or FREE if you get a contract from Amazon. Don't buy from Cingular franchise/independent dealers because they don't make money from selling the phones alone so they mark up the retail price above what Cingular company stores sell them.

I use the phone for my T-Mobile service. I legally unlocked the phone via Cingular. No firmware updates, web site unlocking or hacking required. The only downside is that there is Cingular branding everywhere. But for the cheap price to pay for the phone, it's not a problem at all. All I did was have T-Mobile send me their settings over the air (OTA).

The Phone...

* Design - Kudos to Motorola for finally coming out with a great design for a clamshell phone. It's unbelievably thin, light and functional. All thanks to the aluminum material. Of course they weren't the first company to make full use of it. Nokia made the first daring route of using metal alloys by introducing their 8800 series more than 6 years ago. Apple followed and introduced 1-inch laptops starting with the titanium PowerBook and, of course, the aluminum revisions.

With the clamshell closed or open, it looks like one killer design. I like the way they incoporated side keys for a supposed one-handed operation, but in reality the keys are not easily accessible when flipped open. But still a good thoughtful addition.

The keypad is another cool design. Laser precision cut - one piece from an alloy material. I agree there isn't much tactile feedback, but that's the price to pay for a thin phone. There is still tactile feedback, mind you, and it's enough to let me know I pressed the key. However, the keys are so flat that it's hard to distinguish from one key to the next except for the slight separation from the translucent rubber material (where the blue light emits) in between keys.

* Screen - Finally they introduce a main 262K color screen and a 2nd display with 4,096 color screen. This beats the standard 65K for other phones. Despite the feat, sadly both screens easily gets washed out in bright sunlight. Motorola should equip the screen with anti-glare glass and contrast enhancing screens to aid the viewing. To save on battery, you can adjust the brightness, turn on the screensaver or completely shut the screen when not in use for a time.

* Making a call - This is where the V3 shines. So far no dropped calls, static noises or whatever. Signal strength is very decent. I could hear the callers and they could hear me very well. The speakerphone is mighty loud for a phone this size. It is very useable and convenient.

* Menu - I jump from phone to phone and found Nokia to make the best, most intuitive menu. IMHO you don't need to read the manual in a Nokia phone because you will find the settings in places you expect them to be.

My last GSM Motorola phone was a Startac series and I swore never to come back to Motorola until now. Frankly the V-series designs suck. But the RAZR made people like me notice Motorola once again.

The menu for the RAZR is finally very good. Not great. It's still not as functional as I would expect, but it's getting there. You would still have to crawl your way around especially if you want to find settings for MMS and WAP.

* Functionality - For a phone this thin and good-looking, it's surprisingly very functional. Although I am disappointed by the miniscule VGA camera specs and lack of EDGE feature. My two year old Nokia 6230 and Nokia 6600 came equipped with those features. This is less than a year old phone. What gives?

* Bluetooth - Works 99% of the time with the top of the line Motorola HS850. The calls transfer flawlessly to the headset. But there were instances when I couldn't make it transfer quickly or at all. Rare, but still happens. Btw, get the black HS850 European version. The US version with a blue color is just too preppy and tacky. To each his own.

* Fit and Finish - In my job, I've seen so many other people with RAZR phones that I've examined how it goes thru the daily wear and tear. One phone bent at the top. Unlike a plastic phone that can scratch or crack, the metal furthermore bends. If you drop it...Because of the material and design, the only user replaceable part is the battery cover. Yipee. I've seen two phones with a flickering screen. Also another phone with the back cover discolored from tossing it around the table-tops. If you're the careful type or you can simply afford to toss them after the season, it's really not for the faint of heart.

There is evidence of poor construction. The battery cover does not fit properly on some phones. On some phones they fit great. On others you will have to make it snap.

* Phonebook - I have to tackle this separately because most people think that you CANNOT have multiple numbers under one name. That simply isn't true. They are the type who don't care to read the manual it came with. On their defense like I said the menu system is bad that a simple feature as adding numerous numbers under one name is not evident. There are two steps you MUST do in order to refrain from the phone from displaying the same names multiple times in the address book.

Step 1: Under the Phonebook menu go to Phonebook Setup (find it!) and change the VIEW from All Contacts to Primary Contacts. This will refrain the phonebook from displaying the names multiple times.

Step 2: Under each names, make sure to assign a primary contact number so that this number is the one displayed when you view that name. If you want to scroll thru the list of numbers of, all you have to do is simply press the left and right keys (from the 4-way Navigation key...for those that don't read the manual it's that circle key with a center button).

Oh yeah, you can only assign multiple numbers to one name IF you save your contacts to the phone, not the SIM. And by doing this you expand the features by being able to assign photos, voice dialing and custom ringtones to EACH number (not just to each name).

* Battery - I'm perplexed why they can't offer Li-Polymer batteries instead of the aging Li-Ion type. Nokia has made the switch years ago.

Battery life is decent. I get at least two full days with the Bluetooth on, occasional calling, SMS, MMS and internet. Of course heavy users who talk all day will find themselves charging the phone nightly. It's disappointing, of course, but it's what I expect for the size and specs.

Cingular versions come with the no frills, carton box packaging with home charger (plus L=shaped adapter) and something to wipe the screen. No software, no case, nada! It's customized for Cingular use with Cingular branding on the battery cover and screens.

The retail versions come in a cool box complete with case and mini USB cable. Of course that still depends on the country you get it from.

Why do I rate it only 3 stars? The price doesn't necessarily justify the available functions for the phone. You can justify paying the price for the design. Because for the same [retail] price version, you can get a more technologically advanced and sturdy GSM phone from the European/Asian market.

It is thin. Yes, it is. But did you did notice it's wide, too. Right? What it made up for the thickness, it got back for the width.

If you search the internet forums, you can maximize the features of the phone further. You will need the mini-USB to USB cable and a Windows PC and a lot of tinkering. Beware the phone is susceptible to malfuntion if you do the wrong settings.

* MP3 - This doesn't have an MP3 player. It DOES play MP3 ringtones. You don't need to buy them online or purchase software to compress files. I use a Mac and change the settings in iTunes to compress the files to MP3. Then pass on the file via Bluetooth.

All in all a cool phone that gives exactly what you expect in terms of form and the corresponding function. I'm itching to see how Nokia will respond.

[A14Y5IW1QGLMWN]

Just got the phone so here are a few of my first impressions...

1. YOU can use YOUR mp3's as ringtones... I havn't heard this discussed before. It took me a few hours to get it working right. Im using a mac, and isync (with bluetooth) works well. With Bluetooth running on both, and after setting it up in the bluetooth preferences on the mac, from the bluetooth icon on the top right of the menu bar you choose Browse device and select the phone. From here you can drag and drop audio, picture and movie files from the computer to the phone and vice versa. mp3's are a little trickier. I used a program called audion to open up an mp3 in its editor. From here you can erase portions of the song you dont need and save it as an mp3 for a ringtone. This still results in a large file size, so after you save this smaller version, you can open it again in audion and use the encode feature to reduce the recording quality, from say 128 bit to 64 bt, and adjust the stereo setings. From this point, you just have to drag the encoded file from where it was saved on your computer to the bluetooth file transfer browser. This sure beats paying $2-$3 for a crap ringtone, especially when you can buy a full song on itunes for $0.99. I had tried using quicktime pro to select the song portion i wanted, but was only able to save the file in a .mov or .mp4 format. Both of these versions are not recognized by the phone.

2. The phone book really sucks, I mean I could not imagine a worse one. I 'upgraded' from a siemens sl56 that is 2 yrs old with a much better phone book. You can not save multiple numbers to the same person (they are copied and show up as duplicate names with the differing numbers in your address book) You can not input physical addresses, or birthdays.

3. The display is completely illegible in direct sunlight (a problem if you use your phone outside in a sunny area such as florida) This is in contrast to my sl56, the display of which is just as legible in the dark as in full sun.

I thought of returning the phone when i discovered that you can not email youself riingtones (midi) files ( according to cingular) No way was I going to pay for ringtones. In the old days, before cell phones, you could easily find midi versions of tons of free midi songs on the net. These are the same type used by cell phones today.

4. Regarding the size, it is a little bulky, and not easily opened and closed with one hand. In contrast, the sl56 slider phone was very easy to open and close with one hand and i never felt like i was going to drop it while opening it. I'm comparing it to the sl56, because the razr phone is supposedly also classified as an ultra small phone.

[A3S1X62RHR7COG]

The phone is good in terms of battery life and display. the only disadvantage is that the scrolling of the address book. it would have been better if it had a page up & down button functionality . With the bluetooth function its great in connectivity & all but there is no way to recognize other bluetooth phone from this phone.

[AH5XZZ5XQIOKQ]

First the phone:

+ Very nice, colorful display

+ Reasonable speakerphone quality considering its form factor

- It's cleverly marketed as being razor thin, but this isn't the most compact phone out there - not by a long shot. My 1.5 year old Samsung E715 also has no antenna, VGA camera, color display, internet access, etc. and is SHORTER, NARROWER and LIGHTER than the Razr - that makes the Razr thin, but at the cost of additional length, width and weight

On Cingular:

- Started charging me for service the day I ordered the phone however they didn't actually put it in the mail for another week (and after I spent 30 minutes on the phone with them to see why it hadn't been sent)

- Seem to have adopted AT&T Wireless old customer service standards (which were horrific) - it took me 5 transfers and 90 minutes on the phone to cancel my service, at one point I got a rep who said "Didn't I just speak with you?" Yes, she had and then transferred me somewhere else, who transferred me back and she was then trying to transfer me back out again?! Who designed their workflows, a bunch of 3 year olds??

- After the previously mentioned 90 minute call, tried to confirm cancellation a week later (only 20 minutes on the phone with 2 transfers this time) to find out that my service had NOT been cancelled - needed to send me a return shipping label

- 1 week later, return shipping label arrives - the next day I put the phone in the mail using their 2 Day Fedex label - they receive it 3 days later and, of course, do not cancel my account

- Call again 1 week after I've confirmed that they've received it, they show no record of receipt - said to save me time I should leave voicemail for a 'supervisor' with the fedex tracking info which I do later that day (only 20 minute call with one transfer this time)

- Three days later call again to find out that the 'supervisor' has done nothing and that my account is still open, finally find someone willing to cancel my account (though I wait on hold 15 minutes while he's doing whatever)

Moral of the story, if you want this phone buy an unlocked version and sign up with T-mobile or another provider. The extra money you spend now will save you countless hours (and I do mean HOURS) of aggravation with their "customer service" staff who don't seem to grasp the meaning of the term.

[A1WPDCF394K0NW]

if you want to port your current number to this new phone, check here first: www.amazon.com/keep-your-number

Cingular

Cingular and Amazon.com have not yet established a method for customers to transfer their current number to a new Cingular account. Unfortunately, in order to port your previous number, Cingular will cancel the account that Amazon.com activated and will activate a new account with the ported number. This process makes you ineligible for the Amazon.com rebates. We hope to offer a porting option in the coming months, so please check back.

This sucks!!!

[A3E1Q7I14NN9H1]

I got Motorola V3 as a replacement for Nokia 6600. So for me the "bulge" factor is very important. I am getting 'almost' the same functionality with 1/4 thickness! The thing I miss the most is expandibility! Dont care mcuh for the lack of video capture. Other than the size, the definite pluses of Motorola over Nokia is the iTap messaging system. I found it very convinient and user friendly. Moreover, the unit paired up with my computer using bluetooth without an issue. I have had trouble doing that with nokia. The screen is clear and crisp (though if you are looking for a good imaging phone - look else where - may be Sony Ericsson K 750i), the key pad is nice (not cramped up) and the speaker phone is of good quality. The phone has voice activated dialing.

In short this one has all the good "phone features". It is a smart looking phone - not necesarily a 'smart phone'. And dont get it if camera quality and video capture is important to you. The price is high but I guess is already coming down.

[AF41LHESU8R2]

I ordered one for my wife and now will be ordering one for myself. I'm a real estate broker; the voice features, viewable screen, Bluetooth and other things make this a great phone for my business. The only downside is the digital phones still have some blank service areas where the tdma system has greater coverage. But in town it rocks! I still give it a 5 star rating.

[A3BKXU3IITN035]

This is really a nice phone, but is available in the USA for cingular only. However if you have a retailer who can unlock the phone, you can use it with any gsm service.

I got an unlocked phone for free after rebate and had wireless BT included for free. Today, there is good deal at buy.com, better than amazon. The same phone for free after rebate and a free Blue tooth handsfree kit.

Tapas, NJ, USA

[A1716PMT2V83CF]

My parents got this phone for my birthday and I love it. The color screen is vivid and really big and the camera's 4x zoom is nice. I would have liked to see more resolution in the camera though, it is not bad as it is. The style of the phone is awesome, really hip. I feel cool having this phone. You can't go wrong buying this phone..It's great!

[A9VP6YIJPWA1F]

My boyfriend Pouya dragged me to the Good Guys/Comp USA Mega Store the other day to check out the Motorola Razor V3. An hour later we each walked out the door with our new Razrs, having each only paid $99, with no rebates, and we both got a one gig Ipod Shuffle thrown in for fun. An insane deal. The trip was well worth it. As was the phone.

The Razr V3 has several features that puts the phone one step ahead of the rest. The less than 14mm depth of the phone is truly spectacular. There is nothing else like it. It glides into your back pocket with ease and reminds you of a cool day by the ocean, with the breeze in your hair. It is cool. Very cool. And taking it in and out of your pocket is addictive.

The distinctive metallic luster of anodized aluminum, aka metal alloy, is smooth, shiny, and cool to the touch, allowing your hands and fingers to easily glide across the precision cut metal key pad. This is a key feature to note, as the numbers and symbols on your Razr's keypad will never wear off. The voice dialing is handy and the speaker phone is loud enough to wake the dead.

The large internal display of the phone is complimented by the external color display. I find the external display to be particularly handy when receiving an incoming call. I see the face of the person who is calling, (which I took using the phones 4 x digital zoom and quick exposure features) and am able to either accept or decline the call without even opening the phone. Which also reminds me of the Razr's BlueTooth technonolgy, a key feature that puts the Razr ahead of the rest.

One of the cooler technical features of the Razr is its USB connectivity. In particular, the simple feature of being able to charge your phone while being connected to your PC is very convenient. Also, for those of you with any hacking capability, the USB connectivity allows for a great deal of exploration and change in the Razr programming. My current external screen display (which under the Razr programming displays the Cingular symbol) shows Tony the Tiger. My boyfriend's displays the Superman symbol. We have also changed the opening intro animation and several other functions, personalizing our phones in many ways.

Put quite simply, the Razr v3 is a very cool phone. I would never have entertained the idea of purchasing the phone at its face value, but with a great deal such as ours, it was an offer too good to turn down.

Of special importance in regards to any negatives that come along with the phone, Cingular DOES NOT INSURE THE RAZR V3. As of now, they are still not insuring the phone, so if you purchased the phone at face value, do not plan on having it lost or stolen. We were able to purchase an insurance coverage from Comp USA that included damage, but for now, that seems to be all that is available.

Also, the display screens seem to be especially prone to greasy fingerprints and smudges. It can be quite irritating.

[AVPTW6Y3P8SQG]

This phone is too thin and too wide when flipped open, it is not comfortable when I hold it in my hand and try to dial a number. Just picture yourself holding a half deck of poker and try to use your thumb to press on the surface of the card. The unbalance weight between the top portion and the bottom portion as you flip the phone open is another design flaw; I always feel awkward when try to press the number keys due to the uneven weight between the VGA and the keypad. The speaker level for incoming call is also very low. Even though I had the volume level set to the highest, it is only loud enough to hear the person's voice in a very quite room. I think that I will have a problem when outside a noise area. My only regret is that I should have walked to a store and look at it in person before buy it online.

[AZ287AE4PC6OY]

I've heard about this phone long before it ever reached US soil, and wanted it very bad based on looks alone. Took me awhile to get it but it was worth the wait. This IS a great phone.

Let's touch base on appearance first. Obviously, it is gorgeous. Not all of the casing is metal, but the plastic parts are made to blend seemlessly in. It shines brightly and attracts people to it like a moth to light. I've noticed people catching glimpses of it from what seemed like a mile away! Get used to people wanting to hold and use your phone. It's thin, and wide, but do not find it's wideness a problem. I'm a female and have tiny hands and it fits fine to me. Being that the keys are flat, you have to look at the keypad while dialing anyway, so what's the point of complaining that you can't dial with the hand you're holding it in? The black around the external screen is a nice touch to the silver. The external screen itself only serves it's purpose. It's tiny, and the colours are not wonderful but it always shows the time for you and useful for caller/picture ID. Can also be used as an external viewfinder for the camera. Back/battery cover was no problem getting on like some people have said. They must of had bad models. Snapped on right away. Looks of this phone are flawless and deserve a five star rating on their own.

Internal screen... what more can you say then WOW! First time I seen it, I about had a heart attack. The colours are so VIVID and stand out from the screen. It almost looks three dimensional. I'm not the only one who gave that reaction. EVERY single person that opened that phone jumped in amazement.

Keypad is the second most attractive feature on this phone (after the internal screen). The thin, gleeming metal mezmerises you. While it might look fantastic, don't be fooled because it works just as good. Very easy to press the keys, almost effortlessly. Everything is in the right place, it lights up nice and bright, everything is big enough so you do not have any problems hitting the wrong keys. I like the added message key that takes me straight to my messages. As well as the web button that takes you directly to the browser. Great additions. Another thing I like, is how the keypad gently vibrates during certain operations instead of making noises. Without hearing those annoying tones, you still know that you are pressing the keys.

Sound quality is A+ as I always expect from Motorola. Never once has a call not been loud and clear. Speakerphone is just as good, I can hear it from other rooms. The ringer modes work great, vibration mode will not fault you. I've had problems with other phones vibrating so softly... you couldn't tell you were getting a call. This one will vibrate like crazy! You can customize your ringer options to what you please.

Reception has been 100% perfect so far. No dropped calls, nothing unclear or scrambled. I use Cingular service in the Las Vegas area and the calls are crystal clear like I should expect. Better then most internal antennae phones I've used!

Menus are a bit complicated for a first time user of phones or the Motorola firmware. I've had Motorola phones previously (the v400 being the most recent) so I already knew how to get around this phone. The software is a lot like the v400s with a few added features. The phone book is a little confusing but I've never had problems with it. Read the manual if you get lost, it's no big deal like some people have made it out to be. Every feature is placed under the right categories. Everything is very customizable. Three skin options are available and they are all very nice and really make the menus and gui stand out.

Included wallpapers are great. I usually hate included wallpapers and immediately buy my own... haven't so far on this phone. There are not many but they all are great shots or animations and look so beautiful on the screen.

Included ringtones aren't bad, either. I prefer mp3 ringtones so have bought my own, but if you like using standard tones... you'll find one to your liking on here. Many to choose from.

Camera quality is what you would expect from a cell phone. People complaining about quality need to realize they are shooting pictures from a phone... not a real camera. Every shot I've taken has looked great in all lighting conditions. Easy to take and send photos. Camera does not take video but can view video. A feature I will more then likely not use unless I wanted to purchase Cingular's news or sports service that stream videos online to your phone.

There are no games included. I never play games on cell phones so it's no biggy to me. If you can afford a cell phone like this, then you're probably too old to play the hard-to-make-out games on phones anyway. Most of the decent games to play are never included on phones anyway.

Battery life is decent, depending on usage as usual. I can usually go about three days without charging with normal daily use. If you are on this phone, making calls and playing around all day long... you will be charging it every night.

All in all, this is an amazing phone. You can't go wrong getting it, especially when the price is getting lower. I was debating on getting this phone or a smartphone and I'm glad with the decision I made. If you want all the useful (and actually needed) features of a cell phone... with the looks to kill then get this phone. It'll make you happy.

[A3UN6WX5RRO2AG]

it doesnt work in pittsburgh...it would have been a really cool phone...but it doesnt work in pittsburgh...why not make it work nation wide?...now i need to get a crappy 50 dollar phone instead of a nice one like this............other good phones have bad plans that are too expensive...this has a good plan, but it doesnt work here...THANKS MOTOROLA

[A28ENM2CBOP7FL]

I gave 1 star to this phone not because the phone is bad but because the customer service of Cingular sucks.

I was using T-Mobile before migrating to Cingular and let me tell you the customer support is excellent with T-Mobile.

One more thing...whoever thinks this phone is a world ready, they think it right but they will not be able to use this feature without unlocking it.

Cingular sucks once again with customer support as they just do not give you the unlock code.

[A249JM2IH0RNGZ]

Got the razor and I gotta say it's great. I'd heard that the sound quality was bad, but I find that it's fine. But the best feature is its size. You'll love how thin it is.

[A2O6IJVS3HHX6F]

This is a great, thin phone. My first Razor had very poor reception and I had to return it during the initial 30 day period. The new phone has good reception. The keys a are a little hard to read in sunlight as well as the screen.

[AM4SX7HG958VS]

While AT&T might have been acquired by Cingular, their systems are not integrated. I had an existing plan with AT&T and bought this phone since my physical bill now says Cingular. When I tried to put my existing SIM chip into the Razr, it displayed "contact Service Provider" when I turned it on. After calling AT&T support, they say that I need to spend an additional $25 to get a Cingular SIM card - that the AT&T cards don't work with this phone.!!!!! BEWARE of the hidden costs!!!!

[A2JKCUHDBJXLCP]

Even though Cingular offers this deal in other parts of my local coverage area, the offer does not apply to my zip.

TMobile does offer an equivalent of this deal in my area.

Ergo ...

[A2JD09OVJCNCFU]

This phone is horrible. Period. I first bought mine from a Cingular employee I know 8 months ago, and since then, I have had to exchange it out three times. Anything from low sound volume, not showing voicemail messages, not receiving calls when there are 5 bars showing, not being able to call when there are 5 bars showing, dropping calls, and not sending or receiving text messages has plagued all of the four razr phones that I have had. In addition to this, dust accumulates in both the front screen and the inside screen. This makes it nearly impossible to see what you are looking at on the screen when outside in sunlight. The razr I have now is the last one I will ever get. This is partly due to my utter dissatisfaction with the phone, but also due to the fact that the front plastic screen has a minor crack in it, and Motorola will not exchange it out even though it still has all of the problems listed above. Save yourself the money and go with a phone that actually works, and will work longer than a couple of months

[A3DCAD4T6CM2VA]

Okay my mom Bought the RAZR and i bought the sony ericsson z500a and the ericsson is 10x better. The RAZR does have a really good camera though. But the RAZR has virtually no additional features compared to the other MOTO's! DON'T BUY IT!

[AOY2XBJBVS16V]

I wanted to buy this phone but after reading so many reviews on here about the phone and Cingular Customer Service, I am glad I did not order the phone. I am checking out Verizon.

[AZX48KSN2OFA3]

What more can I say about the Motorola RAZR except that is the best phone I have ever owned. Without even mentioning the gorgeous slim and sleak look, the features are great. I use the Bluetooth, the camera, I bought a cable to hook up to my computer and make my own ringtones that sound excellent, wallpapers, and wow the plasma screen is incredible! The screen is so clear and gorgeous, unlike any other color phone I have ever seen or owned. I never have a problem with a signal here and around my house, where with T-mobile I couldn't get 1 bar, Cingular and this phone I get 3-4 or more. I would highly recommend this phone, with the current promotion that is going on now, it is a no-brainer!

[AQVISCUXD6BQ4]

I have had my phone since Mar '05 and it has been in for service twice, once for a cracked lens and now for moisture problems.

Both times the phone was in my front pocket wasn't dunked in water, etc.

I am not hard on phones. I had my previous StarTac phones for about 4 years, no service problems, but it was starting to wear out....was having problems sending/receiving calls.

If you doubt what I am saying, drop this phone or go jogging with it in your shorts pocket.... it will soon be in for service (or just plain OUT OF SERVICE.

Save your money... go elsewhere.

[ABX1NG1P4RRS8]

I had the phone for a month and was satisfied but when one of my friends dropped it it broke. this is an ok phone but just be sure not to drop or it will break the second it hits the ground

[A2K3J07DG7J20G]

I recently "upgraded" from a Sony Ericsson T610 to the Moto RAZR. I receive a %40 discount on Cingular phones through my employer, so the price was not a problem. The features are nice, I've been able to save money on games, wallpapers and ring tones by utilizing Bluetooth and a P2P network. The screen is big! Overall the phone is sleek and thin. However, I feel the T610 has an easier user interface and is able to screen calls.

The first RAZR was fine for the first 72 hrs. and then the send key began to stick. I returned to the store and exchanged it for another one. Needless to say the customer service rep was not happy he had to provide me with a brand new replacement phone. In effect he threw the phone and SIM card on the counter and walked away.

I took the second RAZR home and made sure to give a full charge. The first time it was turned on the screen display began to flicker. It would stop, but occasionally bars would appear across the screen. I bypassed the store this time and contacted Cingular directly. The CSR arranged for an exchange at a different store, so I could avoid the last experience.

Now I'm on my third phone and subsequently have become an expert at reinstalling my phone list. I would recommend locating a copy of Mobile Phone Tools for use with the RAZR, as this program allows you to sync your address book and calender. Also, it has a media program in which you can create your own MP3 ringtones and image capture for wallpapers.

In summary I would not recommend this phone to anyone. I purchased a Moto V551 for my wife at the same time as the RAZR. This phone has all the features of the RAZR and video capture. The V551 is half the cost of the RAZR, reliable, better sound and uses a standard Moto charger.

[A1M7NY893Z7DIY]

I had the phone since March 2005. Never had any problems except Cingular may drop the call occassionally. I dropped the phone twice on the street already (still working by far and not even a crack on the phone, luck me).

The only wishful improvement on the phone is bluetooth. If I am in the middle conversation and call is dropped. The bluetooth headset will not respond until I reconnect the headset to the phone (or, it could be headset problem - Model is HS850). Other than that, I am happy with the phone.

[A2L7PTL9IYVIVP]

I bought the phone through independent delear so i got it for cheap price but after a week without calls also there was a high pitch sound coming from speaker.

I called cingular and they sent me a silver one instead of black.

Even in those phones there was a sound.

To observe the sound just flip open the phone and hold it as if you are talking. I tried 4 phones and felt noise in all the phones.

The one I bought had noise level quite high and was problem with talking on phone.

[AM046WBOGMSGS]

We were so impressed by the RAZR design that our office bought six of them a few months ago (when the price was $400) and switched to Cingular. We've had trouble with all seven (a couple guys have been through multiple phones). The problems range from things not fitting properly (battery cover, key pad) to crazy behavior such as the phone rebooting every time a call is received.

Cingular couples a bad phone with bad service. To them, everything is the customer's fault. When you have a problem with the phone (which you will), Cingular grills you trying to determine if they can blame your phone's problems on you.

Additionally, and I can't speak about anywhere but Utah. If you live in Utah STAY AWAY FROM CINGULAR. They say the coverage is good. It is not even close to tolerable.

Do yourself a favor and stay as far away from the RAZR AND Cingular as you possibly can.

[A1RLTJ6E44CMVY]

Pros:

This is a really nice phone. I've had it for about 2 months now. Its a real eye catcher, the speaker phone is great, I typically have great connections made with calls, the screen is amazingly vivid, the pictures are fairly decent (as long is there is ample light) and overall its one the best phones I've ever owned. It is just simply, a really cool phone. But... (and there is always a but)...

Cons:

This being said, I've treated it perfectly, placed it in a leather case, never dropped it, so it's still in mint condition. This phone has its quirks; I'm tossing them off to be software glitches because one day it will do weird things and the next day it will be fine. However, recently, the phone seems to be slowly disintegrating. First, it was just an issue with calling the voicemail; the entire screen would go white, and the phone would reset. Oops. Well, you can deal with that occasionally. Then it would do that when you would answer a call. Again, this was occasionally, so manageable.

Now I am dealing with a barrage of issues only 2 months into owning this. This is very concerning to me since im out 300 dollars if these problems don't fix themselves. I've heard the warranty for these phones through the phone carries is only 14 days. They know these phones have issues. Here is what happened to mine over the past 10 days... the blue light keypad doesn't light up anymore (which makes it impossible to press number in dim light areas since the keypad is all flat), the phone doesn't tell me when I have a voicemail, nor does it tell me when I get a text message, and the phone seems to have a small delay when opening things, like when you used windows 98 back in the day, calls are dropped and the screen goes white and the phone resets still occasionally. It's like a little child, I have to check up on it and it's becoming a major pain in the bum, but you still have to love it for what it becomes, a part of you.

Neutral:

Motorola has some user interface issues, like taking three plus menu clicks to write a text message or change the phone to silent, and super inconvenient ways to change basic settings. However, once you get a grasp of how the phone functions though, you can browse through the phone fairly easily. Just be prepared to take some time learning it.

Summary:

All this being said, it's a great phone (I just wish it would work like when I originally bought it), but I have friends that say they have similar issues sometimes as well, so these issues may be a problem with the phone. So, if you purchase, don't say I didn't warn you. Just get insurance on this, if you can. It's not worth it if you don't.

So my final advise: Buy this phone, but ONLY if you can get insurance. I hope this helps.

[A238KT45BW2SS3]

I have had this phone for a couple of months now, and couldn't be happier. The fact that amazon can sell these with rebates that make the phone free was what sealed the deal for me.

Mobile Phone Tools is a must, you need to get the CD, ir really unlocks the capabilities of the phone, you could check ebay for some great prices that include the cable to hook it up to your computer. This will allow you to put video on your phone, mp3 ringtones, wallpaper and screen savers

There are several additional pieces of software that will allow the phone to capture video and you can install games on your phone and all at no cost to you. The functionality of the phone is great as it allows the synching of the phone with outlook, for contacts and calendar issues.

Adding any new files or information to your phone can be done with your computer, so you don't have the issue of entering information by hitting the number keys on the phone.

I would highly reccomend this phone, free is also an excellent price.

[A2V3N6DEJT5Z64]

I got the Motorola RAZR V3 cingular phone about a month ago with a new plan for about $100, and it is a GIANT step up from the previous LG phone I had for a couple of years. This phone can do a lot of things, but you'll only find that out if you do some research- for example: You can make your own ringtones using mp3's (really really cool) and somehow make your own backgrounds and transfer pictures from your phone to your camera and camera to your computer. Also when you hook up your phone to your computer using a USB port, it automatically starts to charge! I think one of my favorite features which I discovered just yesterday while driving in the car was that when you turn the speaker phone on (by pressing the middle circle button during a call) and then shut the phone- the speaker phone is still on ( i thought i had hung up already!). I really like this feature- I don't know how many other phones do this- but the speaker phone is a must if you want to be safe without all of the extra gadgets while driving.

Also, I was surprised how many people knew about this phone- it's a "cool" thing! All my friends think it looks amazing, and it also takes great pictures.

Get this phone if you have a good deal!

[A20EEWWSFMZ1PN]

I am still at a toss-up about which carrier to use but I am pretty much sold on the phone. There is only one feature that I was really looking for, 800/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. It is not easy to find a phone that has this many frequencies. I am very much familiar with GSM as I worked on it over ten years ago for Northern Bell Telecom. And I intend to use at least a couple of frequencies. There is an affiliate T-Mobile in Germany. I think I will hold out for the black anodized aluminum version. My only worry is that I intend to stick it in my pocket and the hinge looks a little weak in appearance.

[A3R8JJCSX2ZRJH]

Its a real dream phone!! Afterall its a thinest cell phone any mobile company has ever launched...Its black version also looks cool..but silver one got a unique shine!.

Better have the leather carrying case available on amazon! Its a perfect fit!!

The only complaint is Motorola doesn't give lot many options as Nokia does..but..Overall I am very happy with the product!

[curtis bird]

pINK fLOYD IS THE GENERATION FOR WORKING CLASS BOOT KIDS AND ANY ROCKERS AFTER. GET WITH SCREWDRIVER OR MAXRESIST.