Motorola V3i due on Cingular

We're not entirely sure when it's to hit the streets, but we got our grimey gadget groping mitts on some internal Cingular launch docs for the Motorola RAZR V3i -- that'd be the RAZR with iTunes and MicroSD. Yep, that 100 song cap is still present, and the V3i isn't anything more than it used to be (1.2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, quad-band GSM / GPRS), but at least somebody's bringing the damned thing to the US.

[Dan @ May 26th 2006 3:10PM]

Verizon will be offering the same phone also. It's called the V3m and could be out next week.

[Kyrra @ May 26th 2006 3:17PM]

There has been talk about Cingular bringing it in for some time, it was really just a matter of when. I know a lot of people over at Howard Forums have been buying the EU version and setting them up here in the US, but it will be nice to have an official version in the states.

V3i thread on howard forums:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=767791

[neil @ May 26th 2006 3:23PM]

As long as the 100 song limit is there I can't get hyped about the phone.

[Chris P @ May 26th 2006 3:23PM]

This phone rocks! I've been using it for 2 months with Cingular. It gets rid of the nasty buzz that the Razr had and voice dial feature is awesome.

[Trevor @ May 26th 2006 3:29PM]

This is already available in Canada through Rogers.

[Wedi @ Jan 19th 2007 5:00PM]

You can already get an unlocked version of this phone. I was surprised a T-Mobile salesman had one when I signed up for their service, around the end of April. Cingular customer service is terrible, I think it's worth it to wait for later versions from different providers.

[Miggity Matt @ May 26th 2006 3:41PM]

I've had the phone for almost 3 months - mine was shipped over from Singapore.. excellent phone, love the iTunes, could care less about the 100 song limit..

the only thing that it's missing is A2DP Bluetooth ability..

[Miggity Matt @ May 26th 2006 3:50PM]

..oh, and re: the 100 song limit...

if you drag more songs in, one at a time, they load. i currently have *101* songs loaded..

theoretically, you're only limited to the space on your memory card.. i'd try and load more songs, but my laptop (with all of my mp3s) is in the shop at the moment.

[engadgetreader @ May 26th 2006 3:57PM]

got to get me one of these modern day Star Trek communicators. Then I can put a hailing signal MP3 ringtone in this.

[engadgetreader @ May 26th 2006 4:00PM]

Can't you use another player on the phone for MP3's to overcome the 100 songs limit?

[shirizaki @ May 26th 2006 4:06PM]

Meh, it's been on the import list for awhile.

And most people hacked their phones to break the cap or just installed different firmware altogether.

[Tony C @ May 26th 2006 4:23PM]

The old V3 is a VGA camera and didn't record video, so yes, it *is* more than it used to be...

[Chris Paddock @ May 26th 2006 4:33PM]

Tony C -

A quote from my comment on Engadget Mobile on the same story...

"Im pretty sure Ryan means nothing new from the unlocked version that you can find online... But finally someone is officially using it here."

[paolo @ May 26th 2006 5:47PM]

there is a mod out there try googling it and you can bypass the 100 song limit so you can put 1000 song. but im not sure if its compatible with the V3i

[RGP @ May 26th 2006 5:52PM]

I'm still waiting for Sprint to offer a RAZR. The A900 blows.

[ocelot67 @ May 26th 2006 6:18PM]

Neither the "adding more songs to the 100 song limit" nor the "1000 song iTunes hack" work on the V3i. These topics have been extensively covered by the three main Moto user groups (MotoX, HoFo, and MotoModders.) Sorry, but they just don't.

[Anthony @ May 26th 2006 6:56PM]

100 Songs! Sounds great. Most of the V3i's being imported these days have a 50 song limit (mine does), but who cares? The other functional changes are more important (voicedialing & very customizable quickkeys).

[CARLOS FONSECA @ May 26th 2006 7:34PM]

just to note, IF you do get the itunes 1000 song version to work, you can't use itunes on your computer. You'll have some other crap program to put your mp3's on with from your computer. So no mac support and no using itunes from your PC. This is the deal breaker folks. What good is it if you can't use itunes!!!!!!!

[bliss @ May 26th 2006 7:34PM]

the RAZR was just a crap phone... now the V3i is a crap phone with music :T

[xesive @ May 26th 2006 9:01PM]

http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wireless/products/phones/products_details.asp?shopperID=FTJDJGGXUSJN8JH167ALN9EBG0JE1N26&PRODUCTID=V3IR&summary=1

Link to rogers phone......canada rocks

[puh_fifer @ May 26th 2006 10:03PM]

My buddy from xbox live lives in toronto and was able to get one of these for his wife months ago. Granted it was some guy in a basement with an unlocking kit and not a rogers communications store, I still want one here in the US.

[Galley @ May 26th 2006 10:53PM]

Sorry dude, but the A900 blows away the RAZR. It's only flaw is that it has no memory expansion.

[MN @ May 26th 2006 11:41PM]

To: #20 xesive
"Link to rogers phone......canada rocks"

Honestly, what the hell is the point of this post? I live in Canada and I'm sick of these ridiculous Canadian nationalists. Yes, the RAZR V3i came to Canada first surprisingly unlike most other phones. Maybe you should compare Cingular and Rogers' pricing. After factoring in the exchange rate, Rogers usually charges between 25% and 50% more for mobile phones than Cingular, and that's not even including the 15% sales tax most people in Canada have to pay.

[neo-fight.tv @ May 27th 2006 12:32AM]

I have the older v3c model without the music, but it does have voice dialing, and there's no 'buzz' that I can tell. Is the card and music the only upgrade?

[adrian @ May 27th 2006 2:15PM]

Dang. There goes the exclusivness of that phone. I guess I'll be sticking with my v635 for a few more months.

[Robdizzle @ May 28th 2006 5:41PM]

#25, ditto brosky. Picked one of these up online in January and once they bring it stateside it wont be so amazing. I'll either have to get a new phone or gold face plate sets off of cnn.cn to maintain my P*I*M*P status.

[Jason @ May 29th 2006 5:16PM]

Well, I just visited the cingular website, and it does not even mention a word about this phone.
I am interested in finding out more info about this phone.

[Mr. A @ Jun 16th 2006 4:25PM]

I've been with Sprint for two years mainly because of the umlimited vioce command capability (costs $5 extra a month). Does the V3i have this capability built in, if so, how many numbers are possible? T

[sajan @ Jul 5th 2006 10:24AM]

I have a question i have motorazr v3i and im using it in india so if i come to US can i use that with cingular or what is the process to do so as i like this phone so much....help me out....

[Mike B. @ Jul 6th 2006 12:14AM]

Sajan. Just sign up with a US carrier such as T-mobile, Cingular, Verizon, etc... They will activate a SIM card that you can insert in your V3i, enabling you to use the phone without a problem here in the US.

If you have a Hutch or Airtel SIM, you may even be able to use that here in the States, but the charges will probably be exorbitant.

[Tailless @ Sep 18th 2006 9:19PM]

I just bought the v3i for myself and the Samsung 807 for my girlfriend.Side by side the screen quality of the v3i is crap next to the Samsung. Both phones are quad band and expandable to 512mb with video support but at time of purchase the v3i is over 100USD more. On top of that the battery cover on the v3i won't close all the way on both sides, sorry but itunes is not worth $120. I'm going to take it back today and get the Samsung which even has a slightly better camera and a much better screen.