Motorola streeeetches the V3i to what Connoisseurs and Enthusiasts truly wanted in a RAZR!

The RAZR V3i has that trademark look identical to the RAZR V3 most all know and love, but with a bit more respectability. Colors are now as varied as your mood, and the folks at Motorola have offered the rainbow of colors, just as the picture here suggests. But, just like you can't judge a good book by its cover, you can't distinguish what the V3i truly is by its looks - the best is almost all on the inside, and it's evident Motorola has listened to their customers.

BE PREPARED - This is an in depth review for those interested in, or already owning, the V3i. If you're more interested in the internal workings, feel free to skip ahead to the "Nuts 'N Bolts" - where I start with Voice Commands. Sections are labeled for all information needed by the more discerning consumers among readers. Expect some unexpected technical information within this review.

The look (new cosmetics):

Pudding? Uhmmm, you better believe it - and just as tasty as the best of them! The V3 and the V3i both offer distinguished good looks and a size that accommodates the accoutrement of any professional Gent or Lady. The trademark RAZR sandblast finish, stainless steel keypad, and diamond bright displays, have only been added to and improved. From the $600 gold tone V3i Dolce & Gabbana, for a rather obvious fashion statement, to the more standard model in gunmetal grey - there are also those in tasteful shades of blue, red, and brown. Important, but evidently less noticed by many, are the subtle changes Motorola has incorporated in the posh finish and keypad of the V3i to make it an elegant diamond in the RAZR line.

The front display of the V3i is surrounded with a satin finish in contrast to the older V3's sandblast exterior. Tasteful black sandblast outlines the now very light sandblast stainless steel look of the keypad, differing from the original V3's stark sandblast finish and mirror polished stainless steel keypad look. The satin finished front exterior provides even more of a finely machined look to the V3i with the added contrasting finish combinations, and exhibits a tendency to reflect a rainbow of colors as it reflects lighting - adding to the jewelry or, if you will, diamond like look. This has probably been accomplished by CNC diamond mill tooling for consistent fine accuracy among all the V3i phones. With tooling this advanced, the "aircraft" aluminum frame should retain its fine look for a long time - and there are no doubts as to strength of the "billet aluminum" frame.

The keypad has the same familiar feel with its slightly raised membrane ridges, that also allow a darker shade of blue light to outline the keys than the V3 had with its lighter shade of blue lighting on its keypad. The less shiny keypad can be appreciated, as it is also less reflective in bright sunlight. (Those raised membranes again, also make the RAZRs ready for use by the sight impaired among us, with some training.) If anything, the tactile feel of the keys, using my own thick fingers, is more easily discerned than it was using the V3 or the now lost PEBL. I say this because I now detect a definite click with my fingers when depressing any key. While this was present in both of the previous phones, it was not as definite on all keys and caused me to look at the screen more often - checking the number on the screen as I dialed.

As with the RAZR V3, the V3i has a beautiful front screen display, only the hardened glass is longer with a bright blue M encircled below the outer screen's lower edge - that lights brightly when a call comes in, or anytime the flip has been opened. This stays on only a short time to conserve the battery, as do the screens. A “system updated” clock is also displayed in the user's preference of analog or AM and PM notated in digital - sorry no military time, you'll have to convert that in your head. (Chuckle) Let's see, 0100 in the morning or 1300 in the afternoon - or 1:00 AM or PM to the uninitiated, the RAZR is a great phone at any time of the day. But a military version would be helpful, since RAZRs are also supplied for White House use. How about that!

Upon opening the phone, we instantly notice the well placed keys of the keypad, and former RAZR V3 users will notice a Tune mark replaces the former message marked key, for a quick link to the iTunes song menu display. Not to be outdone with the camera offered in the PEBL, Motorola has updated this one to 1.2 mega pixels and retains the keys just under the screen, on the keypad, for quick operation - the excellent inner screen remains unchanged. No doubt, using ATI's great mobile video processor chips again.

The controls on the side of the phone, and the mini USB, along with other visible features look the same as the original RAZR. But, don't be fooled - this is definitely no normal RAZR. Still, its small light weight size, and strong slim aircraft aluminum design, makes it a true jewel of a phone to carry. The hardened crystal display covers were never scratched on my old V3 and I doubt these would be any easier to damage. Drops from three to four feet on concrete never damaged my old V3, except for a small hard to find scratch on one, chrome hinge end. So, I expect the V3i is again no less durable in its gem quality finish or internal workings. Also of note is; the anodized finish Motorola uses looks to be of the same quality of the original RAZR, and it still doesn't show any wear on my two year old V3 after over one hundred hours and thousands of calls.

Overall weight and dimensions in contrast to the V3:

Weight:
V3 3.35 ounces
V3i 3.5 ounces

Dimensions in inches (closed):
Both - 9/16" thick, 2 and 1/16" wide, 3 and 13/16" long

After two years with the RAZR V3, I've noticed everyone still instantly spots the V3i with an approving eye, especially when they notice its distinctive front bright blue LED and they note: "Why that's not a RAZR. What is it?" So, the RAZR V3i remains a true conversation piece with just its look - more, when they realize some of the features.

What has held my attention with Motorola's RAZR:

Okay, it's obvious the RAZR is a classy phone with jaw dropping gorgeous looks, and exudes the fine feel of a great Swiss watch, but there's much more here than meets the eye or the great feel in your hand. I liked my original RAZR so, well, I didn't expect one that looked so similar could ever replace it. Absolutely nothing was wrong with my RAZR V3, but I have always purchased a new phone each year. Earlier this year, I purchased a PEBL on the Internet for its newer features and slightly different looks as a new yearly replacement. While it had a few new nice features, I still found myself drawn back to using my RAZR occasionally.

That original RAZR V3 had no video feature and I had always wanted it when it came out in the later RAZR V3. After purchasing the PEBL, I "hacked" my V3 to the newest V3 firmware - adding the video camera feature, freeing more memory for MP3 ringtones and pictures, and picked up a new feature for signal improvement and battery life Motorola had come out with. To begin with, not that the battery life was ever bad mind you, or the call clarity - it was just a nice feature to have when traveling through weaker signal areas for maintaining calls. These improvements encouraged me to give my new PEBL to a family member, as I found myself preferring the older RAZR! JUST A GREAT PHONE - that fitted my image and my clothes with no obtrusive bulges! The V3i can also be "hacked" for customization of features. The new feature set and increased memory on the V3i just clinched the deal.

A main feature these Quad Band GSM RAZRs all share is strong transmission and great reception. My V3 and V3i have and continue to have reception and transmissions with good quality where other phones lose connection or refuse to operate. I know of several areas where most other GSM phones refuse to work, that my RAZRs always work in. With this in mind, I imagine my next phone will be another RAZR when the new UMTS/HSDPA network comes on line.

The purchase:

Well, that new PEBL owner lost it after a few months and I had to make a trip to my local Cingular company store for a new phone. I had heard of the new RAZR V3i and read some about it, but probably would have replaced the PEBL with a less expensive phone. But - when I mentioned the new V3i in conversation, it turned out it had just arrived in the store earlier that day. No one in the store had even looked at them yet! I spoke with the sales girl and out of curiosity asked if I could see one. She asked a supervisor and was allowed to bring one out. Wow, eye candy! “ The girl and the phone! As we looked at it together, she mentioned they didn't know what the store price was yet. Of course, I mentioned I was eligible for the Cingular Internet price and wondered if they could sell it for the same deal. She asked her supervisor and was told yes they would. Too much eye candy and agreeable conversation, I popped my plastic out, bought it, and left for a dinner date with friends - all the while knowing that same family member had really always wanted my old RAZR and would be very pleased with it.

With Cingular's 30 days free exchange, or refund, I didn't worry at all as I expected this new RAZR to be just as good as the old one - but with a few new features to enjoy. I also had a rebate form for $50 back, in my hands, if I kept it. Little did I know how well, I would come to like the V3i over the older, model.

Of course the girl at Cingular also set my new phone up for me - transferring my numbers and other information from my V3 to the new V3i using Bluetooth and activating both with new 3G Cingular chips. This only took a few minutes, and I was soon on my way - and not late for dinner.

The next day, the new phone grew on me quickly...

In the promotional Cingular box I found:
_a quick start guide that was very helpful in setting up the songs on the phone.
_one manual in English and Spanish
_one Motorola iTunes CD
_one USB cable (mini to standard USB)
_one stereo earplug set with control button and "alligator" clip (mini USB)
_one mini USB to mini stereo headphone plug adaptor
_one standard wall charger

Once I had time to read the manuals and study the menus, I was impressed with all the added features and capabilities the V3i has over the old RAZR V3. After I began actually using the new features, I was truly impressed. I was also very surprised to find the phone had come with a MiniSD card installed, and I didn't need to purchase one. The card is so small, neither did the girl or I notice it in the store. But better than remaining here - I'll get on to the Nuts 'N Bolts.

The voice command system!

By pressing the command button feature on the left side of the screen, one enters the voice command menu. My PEBL also had this feature, and it was the feature I liked most that the earlier V3 didn't have. Motorola has now included it in the V3i to provide V3i owners with this very nice and accommodating feature.

Voice Commands are:
_Name Dial -> and simply say the name the way you wrote it in the phonebook
_Voice Dial -> and call out the digits for the number you want dialed
_Camera
_Voicemail
_Redial
_Received Calls

Of interest here are the languages used. These phones are set up with differing languages from the country of intended marketing. Mine was a US market phone with: English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese in its language pack. I immediately tried the French and Spanish with success on the screens - but I was unable to activate the Voice Commands function, as my English standard phone "American" version obviously does not offer this feature using French, Spanish, or Portuguese. I also experimented using different accents. The Voice Command features only recognized my English, speaking somewhat normally with no accent. This may mean some will experience difficulty with the Voice Command feature, but there is a feature provided to help the phone "learn" the user's speech pattern and tone at:

Settings ->
Personalize ->
Voice Dial Setup ->

The functions there may even allow for heavy accents and some speech impediments, but I have noticed the command feature works best using normal tones and with normal speed as in an unbroken conversation.

I had some initial problem with my own relaxed accent, but once I realized what was needed, I concentrated on using my "public speaking" voice and had no further problem using the commands. Of course, my earlier use of the PEBL probably had some influence on how quickly I understood this.

Using the commands, a woman's voice asks for the command at the Command function key press on my phone. Once input, the voice then asks such as, "Say the name." or "Say the number." according to the command given or "Repeat..." if not understood. Various other prompts are also provided as needed, making use of the screen or other keys unnecessary, unless several numbers are under the same name. Then the phone will highlight the entry or you can change it to the correct one in the list.

The installed memory, iTunes and MP3 memory features!

***Note Do Not Disconnect The USB Cable without first disabling the hardware or turning Off the Phone. Motorola warns you could damage the memory card doing so, and the phone will display a warning message when you connect it to a computer using a USB connection. You also don't want any disconnects while downloading, so use care just as you should with any other memory card connected to a computer. While it is said the MiniSD is "hot swappable" in the phone, obviously I wouldn't advise it without the phone powered off. ***

When I purchased my phone, I had no idea a MiniSD memory card was included. To my surprise, I found 512 Mb. of this was installed and available for use. This is actually dependent on where your phone is purchased as the MiniSD chips are supplied in various 64-128-256-512 Mb. and 1-2 Gb. models. I also had a supplied Motorola version of iTunes software CD for Mac OS v10.3.6 up, or Windows 2000 and XP. The iTunes 6.0.4 version checks for updates once you are Online and have connected the phone with a USB cable. My already installed Motorola Mobile Phone Tools 4 version and the iTunes software both work flawlessly with the new V3i.

***A Note concerning the Motorola Apple iTunes software, and the “Avanquest Motorola Mobile Phone Tools 4” software. I noted the two programs installed together on my computer caused some conflicts with the operation of each other. This prevented proper USB charging, caused a problem bringing up the Mobile Phone Tools software, and there may be other issues. Because of this, I recommend installing and running only one of these programs to a computer at a time, as the iTunes software is designed to be interactive and starts running anytime the V3i is connected by USB port. Both programs can be installed to the same computer, but Motorola Phone Tools will only operate using Bluetooth with the phone disconnected from the USB connection. My solution was simply to mount the iTunes software to one computer and the Mobile Phone tools to another…***

Using the iTunes software, I used an included USB cable and downloaded 100 of my MP3s to the chip with over 120 Mb. left to spare on the MinSD 512 Mb. card. It actually showed a total of 495,488 Kb. available, with the exact amounts in use and left for use in the menu:

Settings ->
Phone Status ->
Storage Devices ->
Memory Card ->

But wait a minute - this phone also has a serious internal memory chip upgrade over the V3, aside from the added MiniSD card. Here you will see the V3i has 13 Mb. or, in this Cingular model, an actual total of 13195 Kb. available for use, and listing that available and used at:

Settings ->
Phone Status ->
Storage Devices ->
Phone ->

Let's see, 13195 Kb., that's double what the V3 offered in internal memory alone! Still, there's more. Your SIM card offers another 64 Kb. of storage. So, think of the V3i as a computer using C, D, and E drives with system files scattered on two and E as a removable storage drive.

With the V3i capable of 128 and 197 bit rates, 100 of my MP3 songs added using the software worked out to 6.5 Hours of full stereo, and I still had a “boat load” of storage left! That just made the V3i my personal MP3 player while cutting the lawn, fishing, or any time I have the time to listen to music. Yes, I did say STEREO and with my choice of headphones to the mini USB on the V3i. My V3i came with stereo ear buds and a number of extra foam covers. These also included a switch for commands and a microphone for answering calls. But, what also came was an adaptor for a mini phono plug that allows the use of higher-end headphones. You can believe me when I say the sound is reproduced with very good tonal quality using headphones - more that adequate for avoiding commercialized radio while relaxing in the boonies or on that business trip.

As it happens, I have a nice Insignia IS-PDVD10 portable DVD player with its travel case and included headphones of very good quality. I used them with the phone's mini USB adaptor and was very pleased to note full bass and rich tones that seemed to have a full and satisfying range throughout the seven volume ranges on the V3i. Those volume ranges, with better headphones such as those I used, should be adequate in many noisy environments. I found setting seven too loud but undistorted. Airplane mode is another feature you can activate on planes or any time, making disrupting calls impossible. The feature turns off, once the phone is powered “Off and back On.” – But, it can be controlled from Settings -> Airplane Mode.

Since I've mentioned sound, the call clarity is excellent in the areas I travel most - on both ends, and much like using a landline. This remains unchanged from my old V3 with its updated firmware. The loudspeaker, if anything, is a bit louder and more full in tone. I found it excellent again, and slightly better on the V3i than on my V3 - but that could be due to the age of my 2 year old V3, as I have used the loudspeaker function often on it.

How about this, an old “geezer”, like me with his iTunes to enjoy. All 50's and 60's ya know. This alone makes this feature well worth having on the V3i. But wait, there's much more to crow about.

The Battery and Charging:

The V3i enters with a new battery over that of the original V3. Designated a BR50, it is a 3.7 volt model in comparison to the 3.6 volt SNN5696B that powered the V3 and my PEBL. Of note here is V3 owners, in need of a more powerful battery, can use the newer more powerful BR50 - as it is completely interchangeable. I have also noted some PEBL owners now report the BR50 has come installed in their recent PEBL purchases. In fact, I tried both batteries in each phone and the V3i and the V3 worked fine regardless of which battery was installed. I did note however, the V3i showed the older SNN5696B battery as not fully charged - in spite of it having a full charge registering while installed in the older V3. Not unexpected due to the difference in voltage and the SNN5696B is going on two years old and was charged in the V3. With the RAZR V3 3.6v 710mAh Li-ion battery at 2% less volts, I can hazard a guess the BR50 battery improved to 730mAh. Although, I am sure the milliampere rating is higher unless some major breakthroughs were made in the V3i's power consumption.

While it's hard to tell, I'd put my money on the new battery for the rated extended talk (up to 6 hours) and standby (up to 12 days) times of the V3i. I played my V3i iTunes for an entire 6.5 hours and still had four bars out of six showing in the Battery Status (Settings -> Phone Status -> Battery Meter ->). However, in my normal use (5 hours of calls per month) and lower signal area, I find every three or four days the approximate time to recharge. The recharge is fast, taking only about an hour to complete, even with a fully discharged battery. Standby times also beat those of my old V3, in excess of the five days I had around my home. That's to say my V3i has seen just over a week (7 days) in standby without charging, only because I was unwilling to go further without it just to find out. Of note is I average 2-3 bars with fall off to one bar at times around my home. This increases demand on the phone's battery, where as an average of 4-5 bars drains the battery much less. Again, my old V3 could only last five days in standby around my home under these same conditions. As with my V3's battery, I conditioned the new V3i's battery by charging and fully discharging it four times, with heavy use, to get maximum service life from it. This is important with any cell phone battery, and is probably why my old, and well used, V3's battery (over 120 hours of call use) remains in such good shape after two years service. From what I'm seeing, the V3i battery should last just as well.

As before with the V3 and PEBL, the V3i battery will not accept a USB charge with the phone turned off or the battery fully discharged.

Lights! Action! Camera! “Take two, take three...”

Enthusiastic? Not really. The camera is an improvement over the camera of the V3 and the PEBL. Where the V3 had the rated VGA camera with up to 4X digital zoom, and the PEBL had its 1.3 mega-pixel camera with up to 4X digital zoom also - they both failed in my estimate, with one no better than the other.

All the V3i camera offers is 1.23 mega-pixels with up to 8X digital zoom. In sunlight it does take a respectable picture - but inside or where lighting is not as bright, it is difficult to access the settings needed to brighten the picture, and the auto-set feature fails in speed and correct adjustment, but even then the image is crisp although colors are slightly off in intensity. At least, added controls are present in the V3i. You can quickly set exposure (five levels - negative to positive), lighting (six levels), and Style Color (Black & White, Bluish, Antique, Reddish, Greenish, and Negative filters). Even so, the V3 and PEBL still win with easier settings for pictures in lower lighting and faster camera access.

Somehow, the 8X zoom does work well on the V3i camera, providing crisper images at 8X than the 4X setting provided on the V3 and PEBL - made absolutely no sense to me at only 1.23 mega-pixels, but I did realized it narrows the field of view and operates more like an optical lens would - and it does make better pictures, with or without the zoom, in sunlight than the V3 or PEBL. Overall, I see no real improvement except with pictures taken in sunlight, and you can forget that quickly snapped photo unless you're ready for it well ahead of time - although the shutter speed is quick.

I do like the Voice Command for the camera, but what happened to the easy voice recording and video recordings the V3 and PEBL have? Forget simple voice recordings unless you want to do a video, which includes sound - it's gone from the V3i. You'll also have to use the menu (My Stuff -> Video Camera ->), which requires at least three key presses and a fourth to start recording, with a fifth to save. To its merit, the video lasts just over 30 seconds before you must save it and return to do another? Arrrrgh. Well, the video is improved over both the V3 and the PEBL in length (about ten seconds worth each on my V3), and picture quality. The auto lighting sensitivity is poor again as it is with taking pictures, but in sunlight the videos are again improved over the V3 and the PEBL except for the length - which should have been still much longer than offered. The difference is the 176x144 resolution? Nope, the V3 and the PEBL had that. I believe it's the lighting function that interferes in the V3 and PEBL - the feature is auto-set in them and the pictures get a washed out look from it in sunlight. The V3i gives choices, but they just require too much use of the menus.

I'll just keep my Olympus C-750 UZ for what I want, but properly cropped pictures do store well in the V3i memory for transmission using USB, Bluetooth, or MMS. The V3i excels here with its large memories and fast transfer speeds (4 Mb. in about 30 seconds).

Okay, I've properly bloodied Motorola's nose on the camera - but the fact remains, I didn't buy any of my phones for the camera. Phone cameras are still just a novelty to me. Where I saw improvement, ease of use suffered, and I will miss the quick voice record feature the V3 had - for those quick notes to myself. Now I have to do a video, Whoopee.

Wait a minute! The V3i can be "hacked" or seem edited, just as I did my V3. That “voice recording” mode can be added along with a number of other edits that can tailor your V3i to exactly what you may prefer - if you don't mind "hacking" your phone's software. Check out Planet MotoX forums from: http://planetmotox.net

*Note: Just remember there is always some risk to modding your phone's software, unless you are sure of what you are doing.

Games, Wallpapers, Screensavers, Pictures, Videos, and Screen 3:

Java games are again included with the V3i as they were with the V3. Just a few of these games factory installed to my V3i are “Asphalt Urban GT”, “Block Breaker Deluxe”, and “Tetris”. The Screen 3 video is again a very sweet viewer for anything you want to access with nice action. Wallpapers can be pictures you’ve stored, or a number of those locked in the phone by Motorola. Screensavers are also present, and you can load a custom ones using USB or Bluetooth as I did. With all the memory present, I think I’ll just put a picture by every phone listing. Videos with sound are already a favorite of mine – using the phone’s camera and mic. Some, I have stored to the phone from my computer, are of over five minutes duration. Capture those interesting moments with sound – they can be stored to your phone to show others, or just for your enjoyment. Don’t forget either, with Screen 3 you can enjoy live news or HBO with the proper Media package.

Jeepers Mr. Wilson, that's some phone book...Do you know all those folks?

Well, Jay North (original Dennis the Menace) and I were neighbors for a couple of years at the ages of about four to six. Ever wonder where some of those acts came from? Well, Jay and I looked like twins back then and we never let a day go by that we didn't get into trouble. There actually was a Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, the little kid Joey, and a Margaret with glasses and pigtails, along with a few others. Actually, it was myself - that folks called a little tornado on the street. A cartoonist (Charles Brooks) on the street, for a large newspaper, may have had some influence in those early comics. Any way, Jay and his folks moved to Hollywood, but our paths still cross from time to time somehow.

Yep, you got it. We tore up Mr. Wilson's phone book one day almost as soon as it was delivered, and almost some five decades back. “Golly, Mr. Wilson, you really know a lot of people. No wonder you need such a large phonebook.” Even back then, the phone book was about 2" thick and its pages were perfect for the captured "White People" (Joey and Margaret) us "Injuns" had tied up and were about to burn at the stake that day - we even had a Zippo lighter ready to light the fire in their back yard under their feet. The V3i boasts 1000 names again, just as the V3 and PEBL have. Jeepers, that's still a lot of names. Enough for me to keep up with more than a few of my old acquaintances as well as newer ones, and not what's needed to fuel a fire.

What's up Doc?

There are some big differences in this one. I could easily add several thousand more names to the V3i using its MiniSD card to store them. Sure don't need that, but I could do it. Unlike Mr. Wilson's big thick paper phone book, this one may be a little more difficult to dispose of - unless that "Dennis" you know has a hammer or a good sound proof hiding place for "pirates" plunder that isn't under water.

Motorola is still using duplicate multiple entries instead of just listing multiple numbers for the same name. That's the number one complaint for the phone book, as scrolling through can take so long. But, if you go to the "phonebook" and use the keypad, you can quickly navigate to the proper names for a needed number by alphabet. With Voice Command, just be sure to input the first and last names and call them out as they appear in your listing. “Dang it all, darn simple if you ask me.”… I betcha my most favorite old friend, Mr. Wilson, would have agreed. “Hey Mr. Wilson! Do you shave? Is it the same "RAZR" Mrs. Wilson uses? Wow! Does she have a mustache that grows too? Golly Mrs. Wilson, you do have a few hairs there you missed. My dad says my mom can't use his "RAZR". Gee whiz Mr. Wilson, does that mean she'll get a mustache like yours? Cuz, I don't think it would look good on her.”

Get the idea? You're reading about the V3i, so rambling through a 50 year old text dialogue of mine doesn't help find what you need any more than scrolling through a lot of names in the phonebook would, even if you did pull up the right section by alphabet. Any way, the phonebook is still decent and provides for emails and special ringtones for different numbers - even some personal data such as birthday, address, and a picture that will show when the number calls. You can even link numbers together in categories.

Another option is to switch from the "Jump To" menu feature of the phonebook to "Find". It will require you to input the first name appearing in a phone listing and clicking search. Still too slow, but you can do this by going to the phonebook, using the minus key, and scrolling to "Setup". From there you can select "Search Method" and change between "Find" or the default "Jump To".

With the recent phone book "hack" (Planet MotoX) for the V3 - it's only a matter of time before this feature, for navigating the phonebook faster, is implemented for the V3i.

Deeper into the menus and some more:

***Remember those accidental key presses with the V3 or other phones, that brought up the Internet and added extra media charges to your bill? Or, how about those changes someone else might make while using or looking at your phone? The V3i allows the user or owner to lock out those features or changes to features in the Security menu:

Settings ->
Security ->
Lock Application ->
Messaging
Recent Calls
Cingular Mall
My Stuff
Addressbook
Settings
Tools
Sim Applications
Calculator
Datebook
Shortcuts
Alarm Clock
IM (Internet Messaging)
Dialing Services
Personalize
Audio
Connection
Call Forwarding
In Call Setup
Initial Setup
Headset
Car Settings
Network
Security
Web Access
Media Net
Web Sessions

Back to the memory, are some notes concerning how well you succeed at installing your music. Before you can do this, you will have to switch from "Phone" to "Memory Card". This is required depending on with memory you want to use. The "Phone" memory is better suited to MP3 ringtones, but your Motorola Apple iTunes software needs "Memory Card" selected for it to operate. To do this, use the minus key, scroll to "Settings" and follow this line: Settings -> Phone Status -> Storage Devices and make the selection. "Phone" is default and must be changed before the iTunes software will start automatically when you attach your V3i to your computer by the USB.

After using the software to download your tunes to the V3i, make sure the download is finished and remove the phone's USB connection properly. Press the iTunes key on the keypad. You will see Playlist, Artists, Albums, Songs, and Shuffle. Selecting what or how you want to play is simple. Close the flip, your tunes will continue. Open it back up, and you'll see a play guide centered on the screen for use of the circular center keys. Pressing "Recent" will pull the 1st screen back up for scrolling that list. The volume is controlled by the Phone's seven “step” volume key on the side of the phone. If a call should come in, the music will pause while you answer or you can end the call to continue your music. Pressing the red power key will end your music. Following additional Onscreen prompts offer more options - all easily understood.

Here are the Main Menu features:

Mobile Email
Messaging
Recent Calls
Media Net
Cingular Mall
iTunes
My Stuff
Address Book
Settings

These features can all be reordered or associated with a screen shortcut, or various keys. They also have extensive sub menus for customization and entering specific information.

Keys that can have their function reset are:

Up
Down
Left
Right
Left Soft Key
Right Soft Key
Smart Key

These keys are accessed from the Main Menu:

Settings ->
Personalize ->
Home Screen ->
Home Keys ->

Obviously, the menus are very extensive - but, I will cover some additional items. Internet settings and Internet Messaging may require some information to be input. Messaging and Internet are automatically furnished and set by Cingular in my V3i. Some providers will require this to be manually set and the menus are available in the V3i.

IM always requires your personal log in to be set, and the V3i makes this a simple process once you have set up a free account for it.

Remember, Internet use incurs additional charges. I have a feature known as CSD that allows me to use my V3i as a modem on a computer without additional charges. This feature allows unlimited data charged only to my standard minute package while using my DSL Internet provider's (WindStream) dial-up number. Others may need an added Media package for such use to avoid high data transfer charges using GPRS. Remember, EDGE is only a software upgrade, as GPRS was to early GSM data service.

Bluetooth - This is a feature that I definitely like. It was a major breakthrough in the V3 and I would dislike its loss on any future phone.

Settings ->
Connections ->
Bluetooth ->

Connections using the V3l Bluetooth just improved over that of the V3, making connections and transfers of media between Bluetooth enabled devices much easier and faster than before.

As with my PEBL, the V3i allows data connection to a printer or fax enabled with Bluetooth or USB. These data/fax connections are of benefit when needed, and should be of use to many.

Final thoughts:

I was considering a RAZR V3x model, but Cingular intends to jump straight away to 3.5G data service. As yet, full “3G” service is unavailable in my area - although I have noticed service is available on the 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 GHz. bands in my area. Since the V3x is a GSM/UMTS only phone, I decided to wait for the next generation UMTS/HSDPA phones to appear before upgrading from GSM.

With the features available in the V3i, I am satisfied and well pleased with my purchase. Service on the phone, call quality, Bluetooth, and the stereo playback of songs can only be described as excellent. Whether I'm checking email or messages, sending a text message or emails, using Multi Media pictures or recordings, or simply viewing a video clip or picture, I am content with the V3i. A "World Phone", the V3i might just fit your needs and meet all your expectations. I know it did mine - at least until one comes along better. If you buy one, just expect to find a few more nice surprises I haven't covered here - I wouldn't want to give the whole "show" away.

For that cover to protect your V3i, check out the "Fashion" covers by Motorola at HelloMoto.com (SKU 89028J - black with belt loop lanyard) which come in colors, or the Krusell model covers.

Oh, and if you spot some old "geezer" relaxing with headphones on and wearing a grin - don't forget to say hello. It just might be the writer here listening to his tunes on the V3i!

***UPDATE January 23, 2007***

Cingular opened full 3G service, in my home area, over a month back. The V3i is only capable of GSM service, but the improvement was and is noticeable in 3G service areas as the GPRS improved. Just activate such as Cingular's "Cool Tools" program service for CNN news, the Weather Channel, or XM Radio. The V3i will add to your pleasure, just be sure to also add an unlimited Media package to use these features without excessive charges.

Alex