Motorola V60c The Mercedes Benz Of Wireless Phones.
Written: Jun 29 '01 (Updated Jun 20 '02)
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Pros: A great looking, feature filled phone.
Cons: The $400.00 cost will turn a lot of people off to this phone.
The Bottom Line: Every feature you would want in a wireless phone, all in a great looking package.
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| mnehr's Full Review: Motorola V60c |
I have been waiting nearly six months for Epinions to give me the opportunity to review my newest cellular phone; the Motorola V60 Phoenix. I received this phone in the latter trial stages, as my employer would be the first exclusive carrier of this phone on the market. Since I had previously been using a Motorola ST7868 I had very high expectations of Motorola’s newest flagship. I am quite glad to say that I have yet to have a complaint about the V60, and I hope I will be able to keep this phone for a long time.
Ergonomics and Style
Although the V60 is the flagship among Motorola’s Vader series digital phones, Motorola has fixed the problem of making their phones too small. The V60 is slightly larger than the other phones in the Vader series, but not as large as the Startac models. One major complaint I had with the Vader phones was that they were so light it made the user unsure of the security of their grip on the phone. The V60 gives the user the feel of having an actual tool in their hands, and not just a small plastic toy. Motorola accomplishes the feat of making this phone feel less flimsy by using a brushed aluminum case and carbon fiber inserts on the face of the phone. Not only does this give a better feel to this phone, but also it jumps up in a level of styling that Motorola has not reached before. Many other phone companies such as Samsung and Audiovox have attempted to make phones that had a brushed aluminum look, but only offered their customer’s a plastic facade to resemble the cold metal feel that Motorola gives.
In addition to the small increase in weight over other Vader models, the very small increase in size actually makes this phone comfortable to operate. Many times I will have conversations that last for an hour or more, and I have yet to need to stop a conversation because my hand is cramping from the phone being too small to hold comfortably.
Motorola has improved upon their button layout in the V60, fixing many complaints I have had with previous models. One of the more noticeable differences is improving on the layout of the smart key and volume buttons on the side of the phone. Motorola also has added a separate scroll button on the middle of the face that makes WAP browsing easier.
This display on the V60 is much easier to read than on previous models. The back lit LCD display is clearer and easier on the eyes than most other phones that I have used. There is even a zoom in/out option for those who would like the display characters a little larger. The V60 also has a small caller-id display located on the outside of the phone. Similar in size to a pager’s display, this is a helpful function for seeing who is calling with out having to pick up and open the phone. When not receiving a call, the external display functions as a clock for those few times you are caught with out a watch.
Features
Motorola has done a lot in adding useable features to the V60. Unlike other companies, whose features are a couple of video games, Motorola takes into account what people will truly use. The most useful feature to me is the 400-entry phone book. What I personally like about the V60 phone book is that with each entry, you can have separate numbers for mobile, home, office, pager, fax, and main numbers; each with an indicator showing the category of each number. As with other Motorola phones, scrolling through the phone book is easy as the name and number category will be what you see by default instead of just a number. This is much easier than attempting to remember whom a number belongs too.
Another feature that I am surprised I am finding useful is the date-book in the V60. Although I regularly carry a PDA with me, I have found many situations where it is just not convenient to carry a PDA. Using the date-book in my phone I am able to put a few important items that I will know I will need to reference back to when only carrying my phone. The date-book gives the user options of a weekly view, daily view, or event view, allowing the user the ability to see exactly what they want to see. I would like for Motorola to include a serial or USB cable with some sort of software program to utilize the date-book feature better. Entering appointments in the old numerical key style is quite tedious, as anyone who has ever tried to do text messaging or e-mail on their wireless phone can attest to. Kyocera does have this option on some of their phones, and I have found it the one thing I like about that brand.
One unique feature on the V60 is the built in FM radio. Using the optional ‘ear-bud’ you can tune in local FM radio stations with the scroll button, and even store up to 9 radio stations. I have found the reception quality is not bad, however, I wish that there also were an AM receiver on the phone.
The V60 has the capability of two-way text messaging, similar to an IM system. While many companies advertise this service, few actually have a workable service for this feature. Do not count on this feature working until you check with the carrier in the area you are in. Many companies are in the process of rolling out test trials on this feature; currently, I know of only two cities in the country that have a two way messaging service that works, for wireless phones.
Probably one of the most useful features on the V60 is the two minute digital voice recorder. I am quite surprised that other phone companies have not incorporated this feature into their phones. Using the voice recorder is quite easy. All one does is hold down the voice button on the right side of the phone. A small tone will sound letting you know it is recording, and a phone timer will display showing how long your recording is. When you are done recording, just release the voice button. To listen to your voice notes, all you would do is scroll through the menu to voice notes, and select the voice note you want to hear. I would like a longer recording memory available, but considering what all is included on this phone, and the size, the two-minute time limit is understandable.
The WAP browser on the V60 works just as most other Motorola browsers work with the exception that the V60 has an easier to use scroll button on the face of the phone. The display on the V60 does not give one much room for a lot of text, but does proved the option to zoom in or out to adjust the text size to your own eyesight and reading comfort. Most features of WAP service will be based on what your carrier offers, and not the options on the phone. I use WAP services so little that I would be hard for me to give a very in depth comparison of the various services available. Most of what I do is check a couple of stocks each day, check the weather, and scroll through a few e-mails. The back lit LCD display is much easier on the eyes than the display on my 7868, and is a big improvement over almost any other brand’s display.
It seems that most people do not care as much about many of the useful features, and first see what the ringer of a phone sounds like. In this day and age when you will hear everything from Mozart to the Star Trek theme on a phone’s ringer, the V60’s ringer covers almost everyone’s taste. There are 40 different ringer styles, and three vibrate modes. On the final release version of the V60c, you cannot customize the ringer style for each individual caller. Of course, with the caller-id unit on the phone, there is not much of a mystery of who is calling. I have only found this useful when my phone is on another side of the room, and I do not want to walk over and see who is on the caller id.
Service and Reliability
After six months of usage, I have yet to have any problems with the V60. This feels like one of the strongest phones that I have ever owned, even though it is one of the smallest. The brushed aluminum case has avoided having any noticeable scratches even though my phone is in constant use. This is a very durable phone.
The battery on the V60 is quite strong, offering 2.5 hours of continuos talk time, and almost 3 days of standby time. Please note that these numbers will vary depending on if you are constantly receiving a digital signal or not. If your phone is picking up an analog signal, the battery will die quite quickly.
The V60 is what is known as a tri-mode phone, operating in Analog, CDMA 800mhz, and CDMA 1900mhz. Tri-mode phones generally will provide the best service nationwide because of their compatibility with most carriers systems. On top of that service, the V60 uses a PRL (preferred roaming list) system that will direct the phone to pick up the correct carrier in the area. One disadvantage of having a phone that uses a PRL is that your carrier will need to update the software in the phone occasionally. This, however, will insure that you are picking up the best carrier in the area that you are traveling. The reception is not much different than most other Motorola digital phones and has far more to do with your wireless carrier than the equipment you are using.
Currently only Alltel and Verizon sell the V60, however, I am not aware if Motorola is currently designing similar models for Sprint and AT&T. I would recommend that you consider one of the larger CDMA carriers such as Alltel or Verizon for your service as they have proven to have the highest quality service with the fewest gaps across the country.
Wrap-Up
For someone who uses their wireless phone as a vital tool in their daily lives, it is important that you choose a phone that will provide the best reliability and functionality. When there are so many ‘free’ phones on the market, many people will not consider a phone that costs $400.00, however, just like when buying a car, it is important that one look at what they will need in the phone, and weigh the cost. In my opinion, $400.00 is a good value for something that I will use over 5000 minutes each month, and that my job relies on. The V60, in my opinion, provides the best looking, and functioning value for the dollar.
Update 6-2002
Current software upgrades available at Alltel and Verizon now have games and a calculator available for the V60c (similar to the features on the V60i). If you own a V60c with out these features, check to see if your provider has this software update available. Most carriers do not charge for software updates of this sort.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $400.00
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Epinions.com ID:
mnehr
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Member: Matthew
Location: Texas
Reviews written: 72
Trusted by: 192 members
About Me:
A Republican, Neo-Conservative, Quasi-Libertarian, MBA. Confused yet?
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