Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8724 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Motorola
• Model: V3m

Features

• Ultra-thin design, aircraft grade aluminum housing and a spun metal keypad
• Capture clear pictures and video via 1.3 mega pixel camera
• Features an integrated music player
• microSD™ card slot for storing music, movies and more
• Includes: Standard Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Headset Adapter and User's Guide

Amazon.com Product Description
Boasting support for Verizon Wireless' exclusive V Cast mobile content service, which is powered by EV-DO high-speed data technology, the RAZR V3m is the best RAZR yet from Verizon Wireless. The V3m also features a microSD/TransFlash memory card slot, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and a lot more goodies. But the big news is that the V3m supports Verizon Wireless' exciting music service, which lets you discover and jam out to tunes wherever you roam.

The RAZR V3m sports a sleek metal construction with precision cut number keys. Learn more about the phone.

Design
The RAZR V3m's design takes the standard clamshell form factor to the next level with an impressive, fully-anodized aluminum construction. A large 176 x 220 color display with 65,000 colors dominates the inside of the top cover. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 80 full-color display that can display caller ID pictures, time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The 1.3 megapixel camera lens is housed above this display. Up/down buttons are placed on the left side for volume control.

Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's backlit control pad, which is precision cut from a single sheet of nickel-plated copper alloy. A charging port and USB data cable port is placed on the bottom of the phone. The RAZR V3m also features 30 MB of embedded memory for storing pictures, videos and downloaded V Cast content, and you can expand your storage space with the phone's microSD/TransFlash memory card slot. Note that the phone does not have a 2.5mm headset jack, but a headset adapter is included in the box.

Calling Features
The RAZR V3m's internal phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts while the phone's picture ID system allows you to assign pictures to your most common callers. It also supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from Verizon Wireless' Get It Now service. For times when you want to be discreet, there's a vibrating alert. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear while voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. Speaker-independent technology allows any speaker to dial numbers with the voice dialing system. And because the RAZR V3m is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools
The RAZR V3m is a messaging and wireless Internet powerhouse. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, sound and video via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. There's also a built-in web browser for Verizon Mobile Web downloads and mobile web browsing. Verizon's optional Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Sleek and powerful: The RAZR V3m supports Verizon Wireless' amazing V Cast service, including V Cast Music. Learn more about V Cast Music.

With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, the RAZR V3m is fully compatible with Verizon's V Cast service. With V Cast, you can download and stream high-quality video. Need news and weather? Get the latest Accuweather forecast delivered right to your handset, or stream CNN news headlines. ESPN sports updates, entertainment news from E!, and even Sesame Street content for the kids, are all available. V Cast also serves as a portal for enhanced 3D games, allowing you to have more fun with a new breed of realistic titles.

Verizon's music service is another EV-DO-powered service that makes the V3m all the more desirable. With V Cast Music, your phone is a music player, letting you jam out wherever you are. It's also a music store, and you can download songs instantly to your phone wirelessly. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you. You can even pause to take a call without missing a beat.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the RAZR V3m including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with currency converter, a calendar and an alarm clock. The phone supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, which can be used with Motorola's Mobile Phone Tools PC application to manage and synchronize contacts, calendar and other data with your PC.

Imaging and Entertainment
The RAZR V3m's 1.3 megapixel camera bridges the gap between phones and quality digital cameras. The camera is also designed to capture video, and there are night and self-timer functions. Embedded animated screensavers and full screen wallpapers are built-in so you can set up the RAZR V3m to suit your tastes. The RAZR V3m supports V Cast 3D games, as well as other 2D-based games, which are available from Verizon's Get It Now service.

EV-DO Wireless Broadband Coverage
Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola RAZR V3m weighs 3.49 ounces and measures 3.90 x 2.10 x .57 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.33 hours of digital talk time, and up to 325 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Note: The RAZR V3m supports the wireless headset and handsfree Bluetooth profiles, as well as serial port and dial up networking. It does not support Bluetooth object transfer (OBEX) profiles.

Customer Reviews

V3m is about as good a CDMA slim phone you can get.. for now.
---Pros and Cons:

P: popular model, so accessories are plentiful
C: popular model, so you're not unique

P: VZ Navigator (VZN) for $10/mo is very useful... Voice navigation with street names being read aloud is nice.
C: It uses minutes to re-calculate routes, so it's not unlimited usage

P: VZN doesn't need the $15/mo VCast
C: ..which is nice if you don't use VCast, but the point is that there's no way to get unlimited VZN use.

P: Speakerphone is loud
C: ..but not loud enough when driving

P: Voice prompt person/phone number lookup is great
C: ..but sometimes still requires pushing a button, making it not truly hands-free

P: mp3/mpeg4/jpg playback is neat; convert video to 3GP using a tool called "SUPER" - www.erightsoft.com
C: controls are clunky, screen resolution small, no full-screen support

P: expandable memory for 1GB of mp3/mpeg4/jpg
C: you need to remove the battery cover and battery to gain access to it

P: lightweight, slim metal housing
C: easily scratched; I bought a $25 skin at shildzone.com

P: easily readable display, keys
C: 176 x 220 resolution and 65k color depth is pretty low

P: Verizon interface is faster than the Moto interface
C: verizon interface... yuck, yuck, yuck

P: V3m supports BT Dial-Up-Networking (DUN) profile so you can use your phone as a high-speed modem
C: While it does work, if you plan on doing more than just testing it out, the Terms of Service require you purchase a data plan for ~$50/mo. It's a shame they don't have flexible day/week plans for the occasional traveler.

---Cons with hackable resolutions:
C: Vibrate + Ring is disabled
C: BT OBEX is disabled
C: Motorola Phone Tools Multimedia button disabled
C: self-imported mp3 ringtones are disabled
= all have unofficial work-arounds; see mark.cdmaforums.com

---Cons with no resolutions:
C: BREW instead of Java - which means a very limited number of games and apps
C: I have average-sized hands, and find the 4-way button and the middle button to be difficult to press.
C: Signal at my house, in the middle of a metropolis, is 0-1 bars
C: one day of standby + 5-6 calls + 15-minute VZN usage = 50% battery. Woah, go CDMA...
C: the 1.3MPixel camera takes worse photos than my VGA camera from 1997 - I'm not kidding.
C: the video camera is absolutely pointless
C: As much as I enjoy VZN, it loses signal once in while, which left me in some uncomfortable situations.
C: With a subpar web browser and non-live TV clips, I found VCast to be absolutely pointless. Sprint's live TV feed definitely adds more value.
C: CDMA, so this phone won't work overseas.

---Conclusion:
All in all, a decent phone that's great for someone looking for a slim CDMA phone with expandable memory, mp3/mpeg4 playback, and Navigation. As a previous GSM customer, the Verizon lockdown of the phone is just mind-boggling, but at least they can be disabled with some work. If I wasn't being forced to go Verizon, I'd still go GSM. Good luck!

The VZ Navigator Is Worth the Price
I don't really care about the multimedia features--when I want music, I use my Ipod shuffle and when I want pictures, I use a digital camera--so I'll focus on the device as a phone rather than a music/video player or camera.

Pros

--The looks and size, of course. I don't like carrying a wireless on a belt clip so love to slip this baby in my shirt pocket

--Nice, easy-to-read screen. I wouldn't want to watch TV on it, but that isn't why I buy a wireless phone.

--VZ Navigator. This was what inspired me to switch from Cingular. It is a fantastic feature. I've tested it about ten times and it has been spot on, with accurate on-screen prompts, voice instructions, and estimated time of arrival. It turns me right into the driveway I need. If you miss a turn, it recalculates new instructions in a matter of seconds. The only down side is that it works from the quickest route and has no way for you to override that. For instance, I went to friend's house and it had me get on a toll road for a few miles. This WAS the shortest route, but not one I would normally have taken.

--Voice recognition system works great. It doesn't have to be "taught" and can access all items in the contact list, prepare a blank text message, or dial a dictated number

--Clearest calls I've had in a wireless phone. You sometimes hear "the people I'm talking to can't tell I'm on a wireless." That's been my experience with this handset.

Cons

--Strength of reception not quite as good as a handset with an external antenna, even a stubby one.

--I wish they hadn't taken away the vibrate+ring option. The Razr has to be either on vibrate with no sound or ring. I also wish there was some sort of external LED to indicate when I missed a call or have voice mail. As is, you have to open the Razr to check this. An NEC handset I had a few years ago had very nice system with different color LEDs.

--Verizon's proprietary menu system is more difficult to use than the organic Motorola one and takes away some customization options such as setting hot keys. I also haven't found a way to turn off unnecessary prompts ("Do you really want to delete this missed call?"). There is also no way (at least that I have found) to change the red band at the top and bottom of the screen. It only looks decent with some sort of red wallpaper.

--Verizon has the phone locked down so it's difficult or impossible to add pictures and ringtones without paying them.

--It's plastic (the Amazon review is just plain wrong on this point). I wish there was still the option of buying a metal Razr like the first generation ones. I would have paid extra for it. Like all phones, I'm sure it will scratch with use and be more susceptible to breaking.

--I could not synchronize the built in calendar with Outlook. I subscribed to a separate calendar synchronization program from Verizon (iDatebook) which works well but creates a separate calendar rather than using the built in one.

--The Razr uses BREW for applications so there are fewer available than in java. I particularly miss World Mate for international travel (especially the currency converter) and a shopping list application.

--It's CMDA only so for for international travel, I've had to unlock an old handset and will just buy prepaid SIMs


All in all, though, the V3m may be my favorite wireless handset of the seven I've owned over the years.

User experience affected too much by choice of service provider
I've been using this thing for about a week now, and it's a big upgrade from my near-giveaway Ericsson T316. I strongly recommend a case, since the housing of the current-generation Razr is plastic (earlier versions were encased in metal). Unfortunately, this increases the bulk of the device, when one of its draws is the slim design. I opted for the Verizon-branded Verizon leather dealie, which is custom-fitted for the phone. Unfortunately, the belt clip cannot be removed from the leather case, short of brute force.

Also, the camera is nice, but Verizon has disabled the Razr's OBEX feature, which allows you to transfer things between your phone and a computer -- like photos, ringtones, wallpaper, et cetera. You have to pay an additional fee to email pictures to yourself or someone else, which is irritating. There are ways around this, but they void the warranty and may damage your phone's firmware, possibly rendering it unusable. In fact, even *entering* the phone's test mode will void your warranty. I find this a little condescending and authoritarian for something I bought and paid for.

I have to say I'm tempted to try, though, since Verizon wants me to pay $2.99 USD per additional ringtone, which is honestly ridiculous. (There may be cheaper ringtones, but that was the price point I saw on all tones I found via their "Get It Now" service.)

Since the phone is incredibly popular, you should have no trouble finding an online community for advice, some support, and helpful tips. And there are loads of accessories, including a wireless Bluetooth headset with voice command recognition. Unfortunately, Bluetooth isn't a very secure protocol. To their credit, Verizon mentions this fact in the manual.

What I didn't notice in the manual was the fact that the phone is apparently disabled when in recharge mode. This morning I was almost late to work because the phone's alarm clock didn't go off. With the T316, I could plug it in at the end of the day, go to bed, and wake up with a fully charged phone blaring its alarm at me. The T316, like most phones, also does vibration and ringing simultaneously, while the V3M does not. This is a curious omission, especially at this price point, but it's not a deal-breaker, for me.

Lastly, I had to dig through several pieces of documentation before I discovered that I had to call a special 3-digit number to actually activate my phone -- and this must be done every 30 days or so, a fact I *never* saw anywhere in their product descriptions. And the notifications on the phone's screen don't clearly indicate when activation has completed, at which point I can safely disconnect the call. I believe only Verizon requires you to literally phone home on a periodic basis.

I would much prefer a notification prompt that a network or phone upgrade is available, rather than having to call Daddy VZ every few weeks to check in and let him know that Little Johnny Subscriber is alive and well. The way I see it, I pay them my monthly fee, and they let me do my thing. I'll call them if I need something. Otherwise, let's just be friends, okay?

It's a nice-looking, widely supported device with solid sound quality, but Verizon's attitude towards the user experience is disappointing. OBEX is standard in the Razr phone -- don't break it and tell me I'm not allowed to fix it, and don't offer me (IMO) overpriced items and services to compensate. It's too bad that the user experience can be affected so much by who you use as a service provider.