Phone Research for Arli
I’m writing this for my friend Arli, who is on Fido and looking for a new phone. She wanted one that was a flip, with a camera and video capability. The following would be my pick, with some thoughts below:
My Pick – MOTOKRZR K1 $150.00
- 2 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom and image editing
- E-mail client (SMTP, POP3 and IMAP4)
- Embedded MP3 player
- High-speed mobile Internet (EDGE)
- Bluetooth technology
- Downloadable games and musictones
- 20 MB of embedded memory + MicroSD slot for expandable memory to up to 2 GB
- Compatible with MusicStore
- Picture and Video messaging (MMS)
- Java®enabled
- Voice dialing
- Handsfree speaker
- Phone book, calendar, calculator, and alarm clock
- 780 mAh battery
- Travel charger
- Smart card
- 256 MB memory card
- USB cable
- Stereo headset
- Get to know Fido guide
My Thoughts – This one has the Flip Design and the camera (2 MP) – which is twice the resolution of what you have now, with video. It has a bunch of features you probably would not use (email & mp3 player), but seems like a good phone. Yyou can ignore the extra tech stuff. It does have some useful extra features – A speakerphone can be very handy when on hold of talking in a group, and it has voice dialing – great for driving in the car. With picture messaging you can also send photos to your friends – but it will cost you of course 
The size is a little longer than what she has have now, but also a little slimmer. It’s red, and I understand only available in that color, but it’s a nice looking phone.
The reviews are good on this phone. Excellent reception and call quality, good microphone positioning, and interestingly, the antenna is located at the bottom of the phone – which means it’s generally not obstructed by your hand if you hold it by the hinge, and it’s away from the earpiece. Apparently under increased power output when in weaker areas, you won’t hear the buzzing in the earpiece. Also, one could argue, for those that are concerned about such things, that it’s going to have those radio waves a little farther away from your head.
Battery life is reviewed at being very good as well – which is a great plus. Motorola make great phones in my experience, and if I were buying a phone from Fido at the moment, this is the one I would buy. Also, as you already own a Motorola, you’ll be used to the way it works – so it will be easy to switch to.
Also of interest is the phone below, which is a simpler version of the above phone. It’s slightly smaller, but not by much. It has worse battery life, half the features, and costs more than twice as much!!!! Go figure.
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Option 2 – MOTORAZR V3
- Integrated VGA camera with MPEG4 video playback
- Integrated Bluetooth® technology
- Quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) offering extensive GSM coverage worldwide
- Picture messaging (MMS)
- Mobile Internet
- Embedded polyphonic ringtones
- Downloadable graphics, games, ringtones (polyphonic and MP3)
- Handsfree speaker
- Personal Information Manager (PIM), phone book, alarm clock, calendar, calculator, and currency converter
- Smart card
- 680 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Travel charger
- Black leather case
