Mobility Watch

As a kid you may have been warned about razors hidden in Halloween treats.  But the ones available today at T-Mobile are harmless, unless you believe the stories about male fertility problems caused by cell phones. 

New Motorola RAZRs include the Miami Ink collection in magenta with a cherry blossom tattoo, or gray with a dragon tattoo.  These basic V3 models are $90 including incentives and rebates.  Or there’s the V3t (black only), which is the V3i rebranded for T-Mobile, with myFaves added.  That’s $150.  T-Mobile is also now selling the Dolce & Gabbana ultra-luxury RAZR for $300.

The Danger we mentioned is in the form of two new Sidekick III models (made by Danger) in Diane von Furstenberg and LRG patterns, previously mentioned on this blog.  Each will go for about $350 - a $50 premium over the Plain Old Sidekick III.

[via Engadget Mobile]

 

 

 

 

The leaves aren’t the only things changing color at Verizon Wireless this fall.  The MOTOKRZR K1m (left) is taking on an albino look, with gray trim.  Expected to go for about $200 with the usual 2 year commitment and incentives. 

Meanwhile, the LG Chocolate is now White Chocolate, looking even more iPoddish than usual in white, until you slide open the keypad.  Not willing to leave well enough alone, we’re also going to be able to choose from lime green and metallic red versions (pictured at the top). 

We understand that the White Chocolate model at least could be available as early as tomorrow, at about $130 with a 2-year deal and all the fine print.

[via SCI FI Tech, Engadget Mobile]

 

Yes, spilling a hot cup of coffee in your lap isn’t good for you.

Does that justify suing the McDonald’s restaurant that served the superhot coffee?  For hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Yeah, I know, there’s more to that McDonald’s story.  But we thought we’d bring it up, because in the last few days a handful of lawsuits has sprung up against Motorola, Jabra, and other Bluetooth headset manufacturers.  Users of these headsets are claiming that using them for extended periods of time, at high volume levels, can cause hearing loss.

In the words of one of these lawsuits:

“Each headset is defective in design and not sufficiently adorned with adequate warnings regarding the likelihood of noise induced hearing loss which can occur if the headsets are used at the higher volume settings over a period of time, a condition which has no cure or treatment.�

In other words - nothing in the documentation that comes with these headsets warns people not to turn the volume up too loud, for too long.  (Whether that’s the case or not, is something to be argued in court.)

Sony and Apple have already dealt with similar legal claims against Walkmans and iPods.  And there are studies being commissioned to investigate the problem.

Meanwhile, we can be fairly sure that one interest group will be a clear winner when this latest round of lawsuits is finished.

The lawyers.

[via RealTechNews, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, tampabay.com]

Motorola is not letting go of the aging RAZR handset design without a fight.  Or in this case, not without coming up with as many sequels and brand extensions as possible.

This CDMA version of the new MOTORAZR MAXX looks a tad thicker (and less razor-like) than predecessors, but the payoffs include a 2 megapixel camera with flash, microSD memory card capability, touch-sensitive music control keys with what they’re calling “elegant lighting”, plus Bluetooth.

The GSM version of this phone reportedly came first, but since none of the US GSM carriers has jumped on this bandwagon yet, Verizon’s CDMA version is likely to be first on the market, likely by the end of the year, at a price to be announced later.

[via CrunchGear]

 

In spite of high-powered competing devices from Motorola and Nokia and Samsung, BlackBerry dominates the portable email device trade for business.  There are lots of good reasons - in particular, the fact that BlackBerry provides a level of control and security for corporate IT departments that no other manufacturer has matched.

Motorola isn’t going to let that stand.  Moto is preparing to roll out the Motorola Q Pro, aimed straight at BlackBerry’s core business.  Expected in the first quarter of 2007, the Q Pro will enhance both the hardware (the phone) and the corporate IT software behind it.

We don’t know yet what hardware changes will be made to the original Q handset you see here, other than a new black case.  (HSDPA and WiFi capability are question marks.)  But the software at the corporate IT end will consist of what’s being called a Mobility Suite, allowing remote device management, application management, even the disabling of the camera - overcoming a major stumbling block with many security-conscious corporations.  In the handset itself there will be a firewall, data encryption for email and the ability to work within virtual private networks.

So while BlackBerry is now going after individuals and small business users (with devices like the Pearl) where Motorola has been dominant, Moto is doing everything it can to get a piece of BlackBerry’s big business trade. 

Expect pricing somewhere north of the $200 price point for the current Motorola Q models from Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

[via Buy Windows Mobile]

Last August, we blogged about the upcoming Motorola KRZR. Guess who was able to get it first in the market. It is none other than Verizon Wireless.

Visiting verizonwireless.com shows that it is available for $199 with a 2 year plan.

First announced by Motorola in July, the KRZR is similar to a narrower RAZR V3m. It’s slightly thicker at 0.64 inches, but it’s only 1.65 inches wide compared to the RAZR’s 2.08 inches. Music buttons on the outside let KRZR owners access their V CAST Music without opening the phone; you store music on a MicroSD memory card. Unlike the dusky RAZR, the KRZR is covered in a bright, glossy finish.

The main selling point for this phone, aside from its great features is its luxurious and stylish finish. I won’t take it against you if you would trade your current phone for this.

It is set to be available in stores starting Oct 5.

[via abcnews ]

There’s no doubt that the Motorola PEBL is one stylish and sexy phone (though not as sharp as its RAZR cousin) but with Maria Sharapova endorsing it, the PEBL just got a lot sexier. The hot Russian tennis star has been hired by Motorola to model the Motorola PEBL.

Want some more? Motorola is giving away fifty of these Sharapova-branded Motorola PEBL in an online sweepstakes. Lucky winners will receive a white, special edition Motorola PEBL laser etched with Sharapova’s autograph. Want to get your hands on Maria Sharapova’s, err…PEBL? Then head for the competition page now.

[Via Gadget Candy]

Issues with software crashes and push email problems have dogged the promising new Motorola Q from the start.  About ten days ago, Motorola rolled out a software update - then took it back when users complained that the new software wasn’t ready for prime time.

Now that software upgrade is back again - and early reviews are positive.  There is now direct push email support and Windows Mobile Messaging.

The new software also provides dialup networking capability via USB or Bluetooth.  And, if you’re willing to pony up an extra $15 a month, you can use your Q as a modem for your laptop, at near-broadband speeds.

The new Motorola Q software doesn’t cure gripes some users have about Verizon’s high-priced data services.  But it does promise to give the dominant BlackBerry more of a run for its money, performance-wise. 

Also Q-related:  There was an online rumor afoot that Sprint was about to roll out its version of the Motorola Q, as early as this holiday weekend - but that rumor seems to have been poo-poohed.  We’ll keep you posted.

[via ZDNet]

Until now, Motorola’s i-Tunes-equipped ROKR music/phones haven’t seen anything like the success of Moto’s RAZR, or competitive music/phones like LG’s Chocolate.  One big challenge the ROKR phone faced:  not enough music storage space.

Moto hopes to get things going with its updated ROKR E2 which is rolling out now in Singapore.  (No iTunes, this time around.)  The E2 has enhanced music controls and functionality to allow for easier switching back and forth between phone and music capabilities.  Its SD card slot gives you 2GB of music storage space (if you put in the appropriate memory card) and it promises a simpler drag-and-drop experience for updating your phone’s music files from your PC-based collection.

We had previously heard rumors that this phone would be available in the United States by now.  The fact that it’s rolling out in Singapore may (or may not) mean that we’ll get our hands on it here, sometime soon.

[via Slashphone]

 

Here comes another Microsoft Mobile QWERTY-keyboard Smartphone, built to carve out a piece of the territory held by Motorola’s Q, Treos, and those ubiquitous BlackBerrys.

Photos of HTC’s new Excalibur were leaked to PDAGeek.  It’s actually a bit smaller than your typical BlackBerry or the Motorola Q.  We’re told it’s a quad-band GSM device (T-Mobile probably, Cingular possibly) with WiFi, but no touchscreen.

Don’t see a camera however, and memory capability isn’t mentioned.  We’ll pass along further scuttlebutt as soon as we hear it.

[via PDAGeek, Mobile Gadget News]

Check out these cool mobile phone stick-on designs. You can design your own, then print, peel and put a new face on.

You can match your shirt or bag. Easy removal means you can change phone tattoos whenever you want.

This is an absolutely nice way to personalize and give life to a phone. Just download the software from motorola and you start designing your own.

Use your inkjet printer to print your design, plug in an avery label and you now have your own unique, phone tattoo.

Check out the nice photo. I bet you could make wonderful phone tatoos.

As of now, it is compatible with Motorola Razr v3, razr v3c, v190, l6, slvr l7, rokr, and Motorola L2.

[via motorola ]

I like the blue shade of this MOTOKRZR. For me, this is more elegant compared to motorazr. Notice the clean lines, and precision detailing. Truly luxurious and stylish.

The motokrzr measures a mere 16mm thin X 42mm wide X 103mm long and weighing only 3.6 ounces, the MOTOKRZR slips easily into a pocket or purse.

Features wise, it is superb with a 2MP camera with 8x zoom, a video capture/playback capabilities, mp3 player, and a removable MicroSD card slot so you can have plenty of room for your music.

Key features:

• Ultra-slim form factor
• Hi-quality imaging via 2MP digital camera with 8x digital zoom, and image editing
• Premium video capabilities: video capture and playback MPEG4 (15 fps CIF); audio/video streaming (3GPP)***; video progressive download***; record up to 25 minutes of video on embedded memory
• Integrated Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity for hands-free convenience**
• Enhanced phonebook with new contact fields: URL, IM, Postal Address, Birthday, and other information
• MicroSD slot for optional upgradeable memory
• EDGE for high speed data access (class 12)
• Rich, pre-loaded J2ME games, screen savers
• Downloadable themes, ringer tones, images, animations***
• Midi, MP3, AAC, AAC+ enhanced music player for listening to your favorite music on-the-go
• PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID***
• Voice memo, enhanced predictive text and enhanced voice recognition for easy, hands-free connectivity
• MotoSync – sync your contacts and calendar at the touch of a button
• Push-To-Talk and Push-To-View capable***
• Screen3 technology for zero-click access to your favorite news, sports, and other premium content***

[ via motorola.com ]

Expect an injection of coolness into Sprint’s handset lineup by the fourth quarter of this year. Motorola’s RAZR, SLVR, and the Q will soon be offered by Sprint, according to Sprint’s chief operating officer. (The fact that Sprint’s sister company Nextel gets all its handsets from Motorola probably helped clinch the new deal.)

Sprint has had an up and down history with Motorola - there have been times when Sprint’s available handsets included many Motorola models. Lately, though, aside from one entry-level Moto phone there was nothing. Nada. Zilch. And not having phones like the RAZR available has hurt Sprint’s ability to appeal to the young and/or style-conscious among us.

It’ll be fairly simple for Motorola to re-purpose the CDMA-system phones it already makes for Verizon Wireless.  (And it’ll be interesting to see how Sprint positions its rate plans for phones like the “Q” against VZW’s.)

[via Reuters]

We’ve been all over the upcoming product intros for WiFi handsets.  Again.  And again.  And again.

There will be WiFi-only phones, that only work where wireless broadband is available.  And there’ll be dual-mode phones, that allow you to cross over between your traditional wireless (cellular) carrier and WiFi.

Earthlink has a pay-per-month business model that would allow you to buy a handset for between $50 and $100 - then charge you $25 a month for phone privileges.  But Earthlink’s service, at least at the outset, would only be available in places where Earthlink is the broadband provider.

Skype has announced handsets later this year - somewhat more expensive than Earthlink’s - but the per-call charges would be free, or virtually free, as Skype has pretty much always been.

Manufacturers such as Samsung have actually started rolling out devices that will work on both GSM cellular networks and Wi-Fi.  Motorola and Nokia are moving in the same direction.

And providers like Cingular and T-Mobile are prepared to offer crossover service to their customers.  (T-Mobile, which has less cellular penetration but lots of its Hot Spots, sees this as a cheap, easy way to provide better coverage.)

Where does that leave Verizon Wireless?  According to the New York Times, VZW is sitting on the sidelines for now, with no plans for a WiFi product.  Their spokesperson says:  “At this point, we don’t see a great application for customers.”  They may also see this kind of service cannibalizing their enormous cellular and wireline phone business.

And perhaps VZW can afford to wait.  WiFi is still the wild wild West of wireless technology with nothing even close to comprehensive coverage.  With Verizon Wireless’ huge investment in infrastructure - and in marketing to convince us all that their network has us covered just about everywhere, why take on a technology that will be relatively cheap but relatively unreliable?

And if WiFi handsets do get popular, VZW can always jump in later and catch up.  Right?

[via New York Times]

Motorola’s been busy rolling out updates to its uber-cool RAZR and SLVR designs.  This time, Moto’s got a new handset that’s about as simple and basic as they can make it.

The MOTOFONE is thin (9mm) and not bad-looking.  In fact, its bright ClearVision display is distinctive and should be readable under almost any circumstances.  But the user interface is simplified - with basic icons and voice prompts (in whatever local lingo is appropriate).  Call volume and ring tones can be set higher - ideal for noisy environments or for older users.  The specs include notification alerts for prepaid accounts. 

Multimedia capabilities?  Naah.  This phone wants to be a phone, not an iPod. 

Moto is promising both GSM and CDMA versions in the fourth quarter of this year - but carriers and prices are still unannounced.

[via Ubergizmo]