Motorola's RAZR V3i and V3c CDMA RAZR with EV-DO
posted November 8th 2005 9:00AM
It took 'em a little while to get around to doing it, but Motorola finally got around to releasing an update to
RAZR V3 called the RAZR V3i (above), as well as
officially announcing the V3c CDMA RAZR with
EV-DO we saw back in March at CTIA (photos after the break). The RAZR V3i has a 1.23 megapixel camera, while the CDMA
RAZR has a 1.3 megapixel camera. Wish we had more info to give you on these things, but for whatever reason Moto isn't
releasing them to much fanfare today; we're still unclear whether this is the fabled
RAZR 2, but we do know that depending on the
market of release, the V3i could run iTunes (those markets without iTunes will have Moto's own media player app, and
their SCREEN3 passive content delivery app). One thing's close to certain, though: who's gonna get these phones, and
dollars to donuts it'll be Cingular and Verizon, respectively. Moto claims they'll be available by the end of the
year.
[Thanks, Sammy]
I remember reading something else, either on digg or here, that said that Verizon would be getting the RAZR around the end of this month, Nov 28 was the date I think. If they do get the RAZR, that would pretty much seal the deal for me switching from "AT&T" to Verizon, otherwise I'll just officially convert to Cingular.
I swear the updated version of RAZR looks like Matthew Perry when he was off the fun stuff.
I may have missed it in another post about this phone, but for it to run iTunes and be even remotely useful, it would need a decent amount of memory. So, has there been any word on how much it's sporting, or any type of memory slot?
Dollars to donuts that the Verizon version WILL NOT support iTunes.
Dollars to donuts that the Verizon version WILL have crippled bluetooth (bastards).
Yeah the phone looks nice, yeah it feels nice, but until Motorola improve the horrific software on the damn thing, I'll never touch it.
By far the worst software on any mobile phone.
First off, anyone who thinks iTunes on a cellphone is a good idea should look more closely at how well the ROKR has done so far.
Now for the problems with Verizon. They like to cripple the phones they offer. You cannot transfer pictures and sounds unless you do so through the Verizon webpage. A camera phone where you have to send your pictures to the Verizon media portal just to get them on your computer (at 25 cents a pop) is pretty ludicrous. I won't even touch the Bluetooth crippling that is standard practice for Verizon.
With Verizon when you get a new phone (or have a broken one replaced) you can only tansfer your phone book. No ringtones no pics no applications all of which you paid an arm and a leg for through the Get it Now service. They apparently now have a 90 day window on anything you bought but I am yet to call customer service to try it.
I am also afraid that when Verizon announces the pricing for the RAZR V3c it will be cheaper for me to pay the Verizon cancellation fee and then sign up with Cingular for the RAZR V3i than it will be to buy a new RAZR V3c. This one seems to be a no brainer.
The battery life on the original V3 is ok - but mine is almost 12 months old now and the battery is really starting to suffer ...
considering you can get a cingular RAZR for free via amazon, I can guarantee it will be cheaper to cancel verizon and get a cingular RAZR.
However, you couldn't pay me to switch off of verizon's service. Yes, they F up the bluetooth and that does suck, but all I hear about the other providers is all the places the service doesn't work.
Rice.. depends on your area. Verizon works much better than Cingular in my area (Central NJ), while T-mobile is the worst. Cingular has improved since grabbing up ATT.
I signed up for verizon and didn't realize the bluetooth crippling. IMO they should not cripple the bluetooth features. It's my phone and I should have access to all it's features. They claim it is for security purposes, but in reality they just want to charge you for every little thing they can (Ringtones, backgrounds..etc).
If I could do it all over again, I'd probably go with Cingular and get a RAZR. I might just do that in the near future once the pricing on the RAZR v3i.
As for not being able to transer your pictures, it depends on your phone. I have the V770 and just take my memory card out and transfer them that way. Same goes with ringtones. I just make an mp3 that is ~20seconds at a low bitrate, email it to myself and save as a ringtone.
There are ways around how verizon cripples the bluetooth, just they are annoying more than anything.
any word on whether the new razr will have the java component that the current one is missing for bluetooth? It would be nice to be able to control my computer with the V3i.
The Bluetooth will be crippled of course(hey come on, it's Verizon). On the brighter side, I'm sure the phone will be able to be hacked with a seem edit to re-enable the Bluetooth features. I was able to do it on my V710 but had the 1.2 firmware, so I did not bother. The transflash memory worked fine to remove the pictures and upload MP3 ringers. I hope this phone has a memory slot. All the V3's I've seen for other carriers only have a single USB jack. Hmmm... Kinda makes you wonder. I'm picking mine up on the 28th of Nov.
James,
Definitely cheaper to get the original RAZR but my thought was will it be cheaper even to get the new RAZR that Cingular should be getting (the V3i). I agree Verizon has the best coverage overall, but in my area Cingular has made tremendous strides to expand coverage and increase the strength of previous coverage.
Christopher,
If the rumors turn out to be true, the Verizon version of the RAZR won't have a memory slot but the Cingular/T-Mobile one will. I hope that they don't remove the USB cable and/or cripple the connectivity to the Motorola software (Mobile Phone Tools) but that's just wishful thinking. It's awesome though that the RAZRs use the usb cable to charge. It seems sweet that while working with your phone transfering images and stuff while it charges even (or even when you run out of AC plugs)! I hate having to buy a proprietary cable for an electronic device. USB cables are dirt cheap and making the RAZR USB was one of the smartest ideas on the device.
Our local Alltel rep sent an eamil notifying us they would be adding a RAZR (didnt say which, but imagine V3i) to it's line in the next couple months alonmg with a price drop on the V710 (about time). He mentioned some other mfg's phones they'd be adding too.
Christopher,
How did you hack your 710? Was it difficult? I have the same phone and the dis-abiling of the bluetooth features is plain wrong!
um, is it me or is there NO mention of audio out. god i love listening to audio in one ear via bluetooth. retarded. overpriced POS.
Why can't the V3i come to T-Mobile?
They have the RAZR too. If a phone they carry is updated, why wouldn't they get it?
It would be the best freakin' camera they've ever had. 1.23. Sad, I know.
Rick,
Please go to this link. It will explain everything you need. There is another link you will need to click on to get the files.
http://www.v710.org/mark/V710_SeemEdit.htm
Hope this helps you. Good luck.
What's with phone companies disabling functions on their phones? I know there are hacks you can use to re-enable those functions but can you also get around it by buying (although at a higher price because there's no cell company subsidy) directly from the manyfacturer? Is that even worth the higher price?
It's a dull RAZR with no EDGE....
the Verizon RAZR is going to be a Best Buy exclusive through the holidays (2 months from launch) then it will be carried by everyone else.
Best Buy exclusive my foot.
Oly - "mini-USB stereo headset"
V3i spec sheet = http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details/0,,130,00.html
http://www.amobil.no/artikkel/20801
good article about the phone
The CDMA RAZR will be great because it will be the first 3G RAZR available in the US...a RAZR with EVDO will rock...
The key is the network, and right now VZW rules, and EVDO rules...
I was about to get the black moto razr v3 for the limited edition price of 99.99, but now I'm wondering if its worth it now that the v3i, v3x, v3c and the pink and blue razrs are coming out. However, they'll be much more expensive and I can't really afford it (as I've splurged on about thirty other high tech gadgets in the past). What should I do????
For all who didn't read the spec sheet TransFlash/microSD is the expansion (512MB max) and i belive that i read somewhere that the internal RAM is only 5MB so you will need to use the TransFlash/microSD, but the features i like most is the internal screen 262k colour and class 1 bluetooth (gigiddy, gigiddy gigiddy)
I also heard that Alltel will be carrying the phone, and Alltel does not cripple bluetooth! The best example of their stance on transfers is with the V710. They didn't cripple anything including transfering something through the MicroSD slot.
I also heard that it will debut before the end of the year with Alltel also, though there has been some rumblings to that.
http://www.allwirelesstalk.com
I'm hoping T-Mobile will carry it soon...
"You cannot transfer pictures and sounds unless you do so through the Verizon webpage.A camera phone where you have to send your pictures to the Verizon media portal just to get them on your computer (at 25 cents a pop) is pretty ludicrous". tesla
You can send any picture from your Verizon phone direclty to your email address. You don't actually have to listen to them.
What would be better, the Sony Ericsson W600i or the Motorla RAZR V3i?
My question applies to the Cingular network.
me gusta es la memoria pues viene con 30mb y para memoria expandible saludos q viva venezuela
I'm wondering if the V3i is the dubbed 'RAZR 2,' just like the article said. The specs are the same but the first pictures I saw of the RAZR 2, on this very site, has T-Mobile on the screen. I'm sure the V3i will be available for T-Mobile in later months but it would be great for them to get such a worthy phone FIRST, for a change.
I've heard from people that have the v3 that handset volume levels were lacking, though bluetooth sound seems fine. Any word on changes in that realm for the v3i? I just can't fathom buying a phone and not being able to HEAR.
Wow. I really didn't want to switch from Verizon Wireless (Since I have been with VZ for over 4 years), and prior I have had AT&T and Sprint (service horrible). After waiting, and waiting, and waiting I decided to port my # to Cingular to get the RAZR in Black, only to find news of Verizon getting the RAZR. But I have issues placing some international calls, and sending and getting international text messages through Verizon Wireless, the actual call quality is superior, and I have maybe 10 dropped calls per year. And that is great for someone who uses 4,000 minutes per month (peak and on peak combined)... So I called Cingular today to cancel the port and will have them assign me another number so I can try the Cingular service for a couple of weeks :)
check this site out
www.vzwshop.com/razr/
Is there any official word if the V3i with be coming to t-mobile? I've been asking around and i haven't heard a thing. You think it'll be out for x-mas for t-mobile if it even comes out? How much do you thing it will potentially cost if it comes out for t-mobile?
What happened to the V3c's rumored November 28th release date? "Problems with dropped calls during testing?" Is Verizon going to be able to get this thing out before Christmas?
is the only way to seem edit your phone throught your computer with software?
I love verizons service but the fact that they cripple phones feature is ridiculous.
The v3c looks like a solid phone but there is no microsd slot and does any one even know if it has an mp3 player?
Does anyone know if the phone book softwear on the V3c for Verizon had been updated from the original V3 currently at Cingular? Does the new model allow you to store more then one number per name or does it still split it up in the contact list??
nothing
I was told when I purchased the razor that it took pics. and video. When I got it home and charged found out it took pics but you did not take video you can download video via USB cable very dissappointed. would have bought another phone.
Actually it will take video clips, 5, 15, & 20 sec. However, pressing the picture key only gives you camera mode. You have to acces the video feature through the GetItNow/Take Pix/Flix menu.
I just picked up the RAZR V3c, from the Verizon store, on Sunday, switching from Sprint to Verizon for this phone. First impressions this phone is awesome. Love the size of it. Something that I noticed, based on complaints of the Cingulair one, is the phone book, it comes right out of the box with it set up for multiple phone entries per name. Also you can search multiple letters. I find the UI very intuitive, used Motorola's before and liked them. The bluetooth is as normal crippled, but I don't care because all I am going to use it for is a headset anyway. Sound volume is fine. Will have to wait and see if I have any problems in the future. This is an awesome phone!
Please tell me how I transfer picture from my RAZR to my computer with the cable.
Thank you,
Ed.