Low-cost MOTOFONE hits India

We knew Motorola had something (really) skinny up its sleeve way back in July, and after it got the ole thumbs-up from our constituents over at the FCC, we knew a whiz-bang release couldn't be too far out. Thankfully (at least for India), today's the day, and the MOTOFONE will finally find its way into (and surely out of) slim fit pockets everywhere. Moto announced immediate availability of the GSM-based F3 within India today at a dedicated event held in New Delhi, and stated that "international markets" could expect to get their palms on one "in the coming weeks." Furthermore, the CDMA sibling (F3c) is slated to hit shelves "before the end of 2006." While pricing details were cleverly omitted, we're sure they'll surface soon when local carriers jump on the bandwagon.

[Via Mobiledia]

[Rohit Kapur @ Nov 28th 2006 10:38AM]

Woo hoo! India makes Engadget (again) for all the right reasons!

On to the topic: Not at all a bad looking phone. If they price it right (around Rs.2000-3000), they'll sell big. Though Nokia dominates the market and thus, the mindset of most consumers, I think this phone has great potential. The only problem is the keypad. I've seen Razrs that look so horrible after a few months of use that you'd be repulsed by them. Anyway, let's see.

[Dave C @ Nov 28th 2006 10:52AM]

Great move for Motorola. The market penetration of mobile phones in India is relatively low (compared to China for example) but is poised to take off. With the right price point, this could help Motorola increase their share of this market.

http://www.enpresence.com

[Anand Batra @ Nov 28th 2006 11:42AM]

India sells 6 million new phone connections every month. So, it's obvious that companies will target the Indian market, more specifically the low end market, which accounts for 70% of the phone sales.

[MaX PL @ Nov 28th 2006 12:40PM]

this is what annoys me.

they dont offer this kind of phone in the states, which is exactly the type of simple and easy to use phone i want, but instead we get fancy looking crap.

i hate every cell phone out, yet the one i see here and the one i want is coming out in India.

sooo ghey.

[Rohit Kapur @ Nov 28th 2006 1:18PM]

lol.. The cellphone market in India is at an all time high right now. Companies like Reliance Telecom and TataIndicom have made them so cheap that everybody has one. Therefore, it makes more sense for companies to bring out new phones in India because there are a lot more people looking to buy phones. Plus, the call rates and everything here are a LOT cheaper than in the states and unless you go for a CDMA phone, you're handset is not locked to any one company.

[skidknee @ Nov 28th 2006 3:05PM]

MaX PL, shut your mouth and quit whining like the americentric arse you are being. The phone is coming out in the states, so cool your horses.

[sub# @ Nov 28th 2006 2:09PM]

hehe, correction guys! me are not much into carrier-handset business. It's all retail and unlocked phones everywhere.

[John @ Nov 28th 2006 2:57PM]

MaX PL, it is being released here in the good old USA. We just get it a bit later than most.

[MaX PL @ Nov 28th 2006 3:09PM]

why the hell does the US get phones after India?

doesnt make sense to me. whatever, i'm getting that chocolate flip phone since verizon will likely not carry this model.

[louis @ Nov 28th 2006 6:08PM]

Why shouldn't it? Low cost phone + emerging mobile market = smiles in the boardroom at Motorola. It's a smarter move to keep stuff like this away from western markets for a while and keep giving them premium priced phones.

[SubGenius @ Nov 28th 2006 4:27PM]

My next phone will be either the MOTOFONE or the Apple iPhone.
If Apple's phone is what I think it will be, then I'll get that.
If it isn't then I'll pick up a MOTOFONE for around $50 and wait for iPhone 2.0

[joemamma @ Nov 28th 2006 5:03PM]

Also of note - This is the first phone with an e-ink display! all the benefits of e-ink (no power when on, great readibility in sunlight) in a phone... it's about time. I don't need this phone in the U.S., but one with an e-ink display would get me interested.

[Alexander Micek @ Nov 28th 2006 8:41PM]

I've been told this cell phone is _NOT_ coming out in the states. Here's the email I got from Motorola customer service when I inquired about the MOTOFONE:

"Regarding your concern, we have to inform you that the MOTOFONE F3/F3c is currently being offered in international markets only. There is no scheduled U.S. release and no current U.S. support for this product. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause."

I also bounced the issue off of the owner of a popular mobile phone review site who confirmed what I heard from Motorola. From what I'm told, it looks like the states will get something similar, but will not see the F3/F3c. I'd love for things to turn out differently, but it looks like we'll just have to get the phone unlocked from eBay (probably with an international charger adaptor, lol). That's what I plan to do.

[Peter Prina @ Nov 29th 2006 8:21AM]

I will be checking eBay soon for one of these...

[ar248 @ Nov 29th 2006 8:53PM]

Looks real good...I think its Moto's best looking fone yet!

[dave @ Nov 29th 2006 11:48PM]

I would buy this in a heartbeat- it's simple and stylish and inexpensive- kinda like the iPod shuffle of phones. I just want a phone I can read in direct sunlight- most phones out there are crap. There are those of us who don't want to pay $70 or $100 or $250 for a bunch of features we will never use.

Typical of the mindset of these companies. I don't care about photos, video, internet access- I would like to be able to reliably make phone calls for the entire length of the FREAKING MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE! Which is not, and has never been, possible to do because of areas of dead service. Stop piling on all this useless shit, and just improve your phone service!

I would suggest anyone who is interested in this phone , contact Moto and tell them they are being idiots. I intend to.

[Nilch @ Nov 30th 2006 10:21PM]

Yoohoo - I am about to make a trip to India and the timing couldnt be more right - me thnks I will get myself a Motophone back to the States and since in India all GSM phones are unlocaked (I already have 2 phones from India) so there should be no problems.

Even I think I need a simple phone for a change - simple and smart looking like this new MOTOPHONE.

Well if anyone else is interested in a group buy, let me know I can do the legwork.
Not meaning to make a profit out of this forum - just lending a hand if needed.

[deefish @ Dec 15th 2006 2:58PM]

Hey Nilch, I would like to go in with you to get one. email me at deefishATgmailDOTcom.

thanks,
Jess

[Lilly @ Jan 11th 2007 1:56AM]

Tell me, how will the fone released in India work in the US? We are on different bands? are we not?

[Dakota @ Dec 1st 2006 12:16AM]

Nice, I think I like it more than my RAZR.

[Grz @ Dec 12th 2006 7:38PM]

This phone is looking good...It seems to be quad band according to the Moto India website under the features listing. Funny thing is, the other quad band phones are listed as "Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900" while this thing is listed as "GSM 850/1900MHz; 900/1800MHz". Notice the separation with the semicolon. Could it have separate radios/frequencies in the two antennas?

According to the manual (posted on the FCC's site) it has a vibrate function.

This would make a great backup to my 8125, I'll take two if they are around $50 bucks

[CZ @ Dec 14th 2006 10:42AM]

The display is only black and white! Nobody mentioned that??? It takes up to maybe a second to update every screen..
At that speed, I would want to punch it if I need to find a number in a hurry!

[Chuck @ Jan 6th 2007 7:36AM]

got this phone recently for less than $30 in India with 1 year warranty (Unlocked). This phone had a B&W display and bascially is as low end as it gets. Good for making/receiving calls, and 1 line messages etc.. One can even limit making calls to the entries in phonebook. Good phone to give to children as its durable and relatively dust proof. not recommended for ppl who use text messaging etc...
Display is very clear even in broad daylight, but hey you only need it for dialling numbers right as its not very friendly for SMS's.

[John @ Jan 7th 2007 7:29PM]

Hi Chuck,

I'm looking for ways to go into engineering mode on this phone - you wouldn't possibly know how to, or know someone who may know?

[Lilly @ Jan 11th 2007 1:56AM]

willthe fone work inthe US? then it is a good strategy!

[Alex Nyers @ Feb 13th 2007 12:03AM]

I just got this phone off of ebay, and I have yet to make it work here in the states. Does anyone know if it is possible to get it to work?

[saac @ Mar 8th 2007 8:07AM]

i bought this phone today, in australia

i must say it really is as basic as you can get, the advantages are that it is very compact, and the battery should last longer than most phones ladden with cameras, two colour screens and other crap you dont need your phone to have...

this phone does calls, and text messages
text messaging however is rediculously difficult, the display looks like a digital watch.. see the numbers in the picture? thats the only sized characters the phone displays, so while text messaging you get maybe one word on screen at a time..

but if you only need to dial numbers and recieve calls this phone may aswell be perfect

[Lt_Ladle @ Jun 10th 2007 5:39PM]

those lucky MoFos