Product Description

The MOTO Q™ brings you forward-thinking technology in a cutting-edge design. Add the power of Sprint's high-speed network, affordable monthly data plans and special features available only from Sprint, and you've got everything you need to stay in touch and stay entertained - all in one pocket-sized device

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30700 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Gray
• Brand: Motorola
• Model: MOTO Q
• Released on: 2007-01-12

Features

• Add memory, transfer music, photos, and video from your desktop, or load additional games and applications. Cards up to 2 GB are supported
• With Windows Media Player 10 Mobile you can play music, videos, and more on your MOTO Q, and it works seamlessly with Windows Media Player 10 on your Windows XP-based computer
• Use your voice to easily dial phone numbers, search the phonebook and launch applications
• Use a USB cable or Bluetooth Wireless technology to connect with a PC for Internet and email access on the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network
• Includes: Battery, Charger and USB Data Cable

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

To keep your smartphone's applications up to date, and to optimize the performance of your device, you may need to perform firmware and/or software updates just as you would on your PC. To learn more about updates for your device, please visit Motorola's support site. Note that by clicking this link you will be leaving Amazon.com.

Motorola's QWERTY keyboard equipped Q, formerly known as the RAZRberry in the rumor mills, might not exactly be the "BlackBerry killer" that many predicted, but it is certainly one of the most capable and user friendly smartphones available on the market today.

Based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone platform, the Q picks up the best features from Microsoft's Smartphone edition of Windows Mobile while still offering a lot of PDA-like capability and screen real estate on its 65k color, 320x240 pixel display.

Sleek, small and oh, so powerful. See it in 3D.

In terms of hardware features, the Q's right side 3-way scroll wheel and dedicated back buttons take center stage. These give the Q user fast BlackBerry-like scrolling with the ability to select an item or return to the prior screen--all with the user's thumb. Of course you can still do these same things the traditional way by using the 5-way direction pad and the back button that sits to its right. There's also a dedicated home key as well as the red and green call control keys.

The Q's QWERTY keyboard is a bit stiff, but otherwise designed well. The dark keys serve double duty as the numeric keypad when the Option key (found left of the Z key) is used. The Option key can be locked on, as can the shift key on the opposite side of the keyboard. Along the bottom of the keyboard you'll find dedicated buttons for email, the 1.3-megapixel camera, and a dual-use key for the speaker-independent voice dialing system and speakerphone.

When it comes to hot features, though, the Q's EV-DO 3G data capability tops the list. When used in an EV-DO coverage area, the Q user can expect to get wireless data rates that approach those enjoyed by home DSL users. When there is no EV-DO coverage available, the Q will fall back to the slower 1xRTT data network (roughly comparable to a 56Kbps modem). The Q can also connect to a desktop PC with a USB or Bluetooth connection. Bluetooth can also be used with mono and stereo headsets, as well as other devices like keyboards.

Get intimate with the Q's keyboard.

While WiFi wireless access would have been a welcomed feature, it would have only led to even more strain on the already overtaxed battery. The standard capacity battery is capable of a respectable 5.5 hours of continuous talk time, but realistically will only provide a day of solid use, especially if the Q user takes advantage of the BlackBerry-like push email support. The push system can keep your Q lock step in sync with your corporate or home email inbox without any user intervention required. On top of email synchronization, it can also be used to synchronize the Q's contacts, calendar entries, tasks and other items with your home or office copy of Microsoft Outlook. It is somewhat eerie how you can enter a new contact or appointment on the Q and have it show up moments later in Outlook--or the other way around.

One of the great things about owning a smartphone is the ability to add 3rd party developed applications to the device. Since Windows Mobile 5.0 is quite popular, there are plenty such applications available both freely and for purchase. The Q has about 50MB of RAM for running applications, and a similar amount for storing data and the applications themselves. If you need more storage space, you can easily add a gigabyte or two by inserting a miniSD memory card into the Q's slot, located on the left edge of the device.

The Motorola Q packs a lot of capability into a device that is only a half inch thick and weighs 4.3 ounces--considerably less than the competition. It comes highly recommended.

Pros:

• One-handed use
• Thin and light
• EV-DO data

Cons:

• Short standby battery life
• Stiff keyboard keys

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

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Customer Reviews

Sprint PCS Motorola Q
I've had this phone for a week and so far so good. Sprints voice quality is very good. Their data speed is great where I live (chicago area) compared to others like Cingular or T-Mobile.

The phone itself is pretty easy to use. The screen is large and very clear. Texting and emails are easy because of the full keyboard, which is more intuitive that the blackberry that I had previously. I also like the fact that you can use the side scroll wheel and back button, OR the front controls to navigate, intiate and/or end calls. This is differnt from the blackberry 7290/7250, which is all done via the side scroll wheel.
The only thing it lacks is the ability to create and edit Word and Excel documents. This is easily rectified by going to [...] and purchasing "Documents to Go" for $[...]. This program does not require a subscription (like "eOffice") and lets you create and edit all MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint documents as well as read PDF files. I recommend that when you get a Q.

I've heard things about the atrocious battery life of the Q. Well, trust me, this is for people who spend 6 out of 8 hours on the phone. For those of you who spend only about an hour at a shot on the phone or just a couple of hours throughout the day on the phone, the battery life is fine. Just keep the charger handy and have a car charger (which is a good idea anyway for safety reasons).

I will write back in a couple of weeks for a follow-up review.

I am unhappy
I waited quite some time for the Q to come out on Sprint and I jumped at the opportunity to buy one. It is a great idea, and together with Sprint's inexpensive unlimited data plan... What could go wrong?

Turns out that after I bought my phone I discovered that the phone hangs several times a day. I am dealing with it, I reboot the phone and pull the battery out several times a day. I then follow the reboot with checking my voicemail....

If I do ANYTHING with the phone even media player I risk it hanging. I also have a problem when it switches back and forth from roaming to sprint, or if I go out of service it will just hang. A BIG problem if you run into a store or go into a basement for a second and forget to REBOOT the phone when you go back outside...

Just the other day I ran into Home Depot to grab something insignificant and forgot to reboot the phone when I left (no signal in the middle of the store) and didn't remember until several hours later, upon reboot I had SIX messages left throughout the afternoon... The phone was hung and didn't ring. I was VERY embarrassed and may have lost a client because of it.

I have done the recent Moto/Sprint update and have NOT loaded any applications on the phone, and the problem is still there.

I have been into sprint several times, and all they do is a master reset.. BUT for a $[...] deductible they will get me a new phone, or I can MAIL it to Motorola and be without a phone for TWO WEEKS!

Some phones work Great, some are Duds.. I got a Dud, and I'm not happy with the support I've been receiving. I would not recommend buying this phone without first locating your Sprint Service Locations, and then put it through the ringer when you first get it.. I have discovered that it is a common problem with lots of returns to don't be embarrassed and DON'T wait like I did to complain, one person was working the sprint booth told me they went through FOUR phones before they got one that worked properly...

I buy a new phone each spring and can't WAIT for next year so I can be rid of this piece of ... well. I learned. I will do more research next time, and will put the phone through the ringers when I first get it and won't hesitate to bring it back during the first few weeks for a replacement if it doesn't work.

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Update: I finally did get my phone swapped. But continue to be frustrated by the limitations of the phone. One frustrating piece is that data seems to take priority.. On my old phone if I was in a data session and there was an incoming call I was interupted and the phone rang. NOT so here. The phone won't ring the caller goes right to voicemail.. It can be a bit frustrating if you want the phone to check email often.. I had to disable the feature to ensure I got my calls.

I am also VERY frustrated by the lack of MMS capabilities. That's right Sprint has DISABLED all MMS capabilities on the phone.. You will NOT be able to send an MMS message by design!

And finally forget any GPS reference in the advertizing materaials this is NOT a GPS enabled phone.. it is a 911 enhanced phone allowing Emergency Personel to locate you, but YOU do not have access to the GPS data.

Best PDA I've owned
EDIT (5/4/08): At the time of the original review below, this was a great product. It is frustrating that Motorola did not provide an update to Windows Mobile 6, and I can no longer recommend it as a good choice. Get the most recent version of the Q, a Blackjack, or wait for the new iPhones in Summer '08.

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I've been a Palm owner since the first US Robotics Pilot came out in the mid-90s. Since then I've owned every iteration, including the phone version of the Samsung I300, Treo 300, and Samsung I500. I also owned a few of the first Microsoft mobile devices in the late 90s, and the Apple Newton before that.

This is hands down my favorite PDA yet.

I was afraid I would dislike not having the touch screen, but the navigation is intuitive and the keyboard is easy to use. In choosing between this and the Treo 700, I'm glad I bought this.

Pros:

- Battery life is very good.
- Web browser implementation is finally useable!
- Nice integration with my POP mail accounts.
- Size is perfect to slip in your pocket.

Windows Mobile PC 5.0 has finally overtaken the Palm OS in my opinion. Coupled with Motorola's wonderful design, this phone has made me grin for the last week I've owned it!