Motorola about to hit up a StarTAC 2004 edition?

Man, those were for serious the good old days—so it's nice Motorola wanted to play up the nostalgia factor and hit us with a 2004 edition of their classic StarTAC handset. It will apparently feature a single 128x160 pixel 262k color display, up to 190 minutes talk and 185 hours standby time, and maintains that classic chic physique at only 3.4 x 1.8 x 0.78-inches in size (in the smaller-batteried version, presumably). No word yet on networks or availability, but as per usual, we'll keep you up to the minute.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

[E @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

These have been out in Korea for quite a while (therefore at least a CDMA version exists).

[Michael A Gatto @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I've tried to replace my StarTac ST7868W a couple of times with these new "super"-phones, I even had a Treo 600 for a week but hated it. I still carry my StarTac ST7868W and LOVE it! It's about time Motorola planned an updated model of the great phone. Now I wonder how many years I'm going to have to wait for Verizon to carry the phone.

[A @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

There are some stores where you can purchase these phones (and other korean cdma phones) and get them activated on verizon. they're not cheap though.

[Sbatesjr @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

The star tac has been out in Korea for sometime now.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

http://wirelessimports.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=362

[macstibs @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

EVDO in the korean version too. awesome.

[harry K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

the phone is digital only ie only 800mhz I have an ms100 that I got activated on verizon and it works well then I snapped up a tri-band v810 which works even better, btw the menus on the korean phones are in korean only and texting is nuts since there are no american letters on the phone, from what a rep from moto told me too the phone is never coming out in america

[wol @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

its cdma 800, if you look at the last picture...on the side of the booklet

[alban @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

As goood as the Startac was int its time, wouldn't it be time to move on guys ??
http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWimages/v3_cing.jpg ? That's the RAZR V3 by the way, works on Verizon :-)

[Asten @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Um.. no, the RAZR V3 is GSM. in the US, it is only being released for Cingular. Verizon runs CDMA.

The reason this came out in Korea is they are, still, 10 years later, in love with that phone. The originals go for hundreds of dollars on Ebay, and the revival has been a big success.

[Yorke @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

When will StarTac 2004 come out? Is it out in Korea already? Any special functions? Price?
Actually, that dsign is my prefer design long time ago. I love it.

[min @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I live in Seoul, Korea, and I actually have owned the STARTAC 2004 for over 4 months now. Although it doesn't carry all the fancy functions like so many other of the competitors offerings, I, and many people have chosen the startac because of that reason. It's a beautiful little phone, extremely light, bright clear readable screen, and good reception. It also has a convienient speaker phone, for those times when you have both hands busy.
I bought it for about $300 U.S half a year ago, and I'm sure it's bit cheaper now.

[Luke @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Id like to know how to get a StarTac 2004 for myself in the US. Is there anyway it can be done. Are there any dealers that can send it to me if paid for by credit card etc...thanks.

luke

[sean lim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

if any of you want this startac 2004 phone, I can get'em for you. However, you guys gotta find your own way to make it work. I personally went with wirelessimports.com...they made my phone work for 250. I know you wouldn't want to send the money to stranger, but I'm legit and I can definitely get it for you since I have family who are in korea and can ship them to me. E-mail me at [e-mail] if anyone wants it. By the way, price of the phone will be 500. Someone here said 300 is because he got it with plan in korea. Let me know.

[Kevin Crowe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Does anyone know if this phone is a GSM phone? I am living in Korea at the time and would like to pick one up but will be travelling to Italy this summer and would like to use it there. I will be then returning to America, anyone have any experience getting it running in America or Europe? Thanks in advance.

[sean lim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I'm using one in US right now...like my post said, you have to reprogram your phone and that can cost anywhere from 150 to 300. Samsung phones are easier to do so it usually cost around 150 but motorola phone costs bit more since it's harder to do.

[TONY RICCIO @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

EVERY TIME YOU CALL VERIZON ABOUT THIS PHONE, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW ANYTHING. IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CELLULAR MARKET CAN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT IF THIS PHONE WILL BE AVAILABLE. GET A GRIP. HAVE THE GUTS TO AT LEAST GIVE US AN HONEST ANSWER. THERE HASN'T BE A PHONE TO EQUAL THE STARTAC IN 5 YEARS. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TONY

[Kevin Crowe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Hi Sean,

Can I ask who you went through to get your phone programmed for use in the states? I am also curious if it was Verizon as they don't seem to be very helpful over the phone about reprogramming fees or the Startac in general. Thanks in advance.

regards,
Kevin

[hektor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Hej!!!I have got old edition Motorola Star Tac 130.
I like it very much. So I wont to bay a new edition Star Tac. Who now How much dois it cost?
Where can I bay it?

[ajith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

i really wish to have one star tac really.frankly speaking star tac is my dream phone.i would like to know more about it.mainly whats the price of the handset?can it be used in india.can we compose ringtones in it as other cell phone does.is it really a rocking one.i cant wait to have that.

[ritu bhargava @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

To: The CEO
Motorola Mobile

Frm: Ritu Bhargava

Re.: My WONDER FOOL Motorola C 375

Dear Sir/Madam

I believe that every company has some business ethics, but you people seem to have none.
I from the bottom of my heart suggest you please close this cell phone business of yours and open up a some drug trafficking or prostitution racket you would earn better or at least people would for sure know that you are a company of scoundrels.

Oh! One more question why have you opened up these MOTOROLA (deceiving) Customer contact centers when those LADIED and GENTELMAN pimps of yours can do nothing NOT EVEN TALK properly.

One free of cost suggestion change your job to some company with ethics even if it means joining as a office assistant of some decent company cause I am sure you are not worth the position you are on, it will save you and your family from lot of curses cause people like put in our hard earned money in you useless stuff

And yes If you don’t believe me visit you Customer Contact Center once (Delhi one) you will find lots like, at least for once do some work and justice to your job you get paid for that.

With No Regards to you or Your Company

[philip @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

hello !
now does anybody know if it will be coming out for the gsm network or it is possible to use an cmda in gsm ?

thanks

[Emmett @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Verizon crippled my StarTAC

Verizon's last update just crippled my StarTAC cell phone.

I work 4 days each week in Boston and commute weekly to Johnson City TN.

3 weeks ago I received a text message to update my phone I did so and it worked great in Boston.
Got on the plane that Thursday evening turned the phone off and when I get to Charlotte NC I turn it on to call my wife and guess what - it will not boot - begins to cycle up then resets over and over.
The Verizon people cannot re-program the phone as it will not sequence up to the point where the program can be reloaded.

Has anyone else heard of this?

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

When you updated (*228), the new PRL (preferred roaming list)killed the phone. I've had this happen to two of my ST7868W's. My Verizon store told me the Startac was not designed to handle the size of the newest PRL. Unfortunately, the new GPS regulations will most likely prevent you from activating a replacement Startac like you can get from a place like Midwestcellularconnection.com. It is very possible we are SOL with the Startacs. I have not found any phone that works so well simply as a phone and not a swiss army knife.

[Laszl? @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Does anyone know something about this new StarTac? Will it ever come to the market or not? I would be pleased if anyone could send me some info about these things. E-mail: [e-mail]

[Mohammad Abdus Samad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Please let me know how I can open the country lock of StarTac-2004 in Bangladesh. Because some one my relative living in S.korea who sent it to me but still has locked out. I can't using it at all. If any one send me the manual of StarTac-2004 it will be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

[Mohammad Abdus Samad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Noby here did not reply to me what was my problems I have mantioned here fewdays back. Please any one know which is the right way to get all documentation or manual about StarTch2004 cell phone it will be really highly appreciated. Thanks.

Mohammad Abdus Samad