Motorola V505 Phone - Next Generation (AT&T)

Rating:
Summary: Sleek, Stylish, and Packed with Features!
Review: For a while i was contemplating on wether to get this phone or the nokia 6820. i compared the two and found out that the v505 had a bigger screen, better camera, more features, and a brighter screen, so it wasn't a hard decision to go for the v505. I am very happy with this piece of art.

PROS:
1. Big bright wonderful screen.
2. external LCD to see incoming calls and the date and time.
3. Loud speakerphone.
4. Absolutley great camera with vivid pictures.
5. many different ways to customize.

CONS:

1. To unlock the keypad you have to enter a pin #, and you can't answer calls unless it unlocked.


As you can see the PROS greatly outweigh the CONS. Motorola has done a great job on this phone.

Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE IF YOU NEED TO ACTIVATE IT
Review: Great deal, great phone, too bad you cannot get it activated! Since AT&T was bought by Cingular, you need to get new activation from Cingular; this phone comes with an AT&T SIM card. So when you try to activate it it will not work and Cingular has to send you out a different SIM card.

When the SIM card arrives and you put it in your phone you learn that the phone is locked to AT&T, and even though Cingular owns AT&T they tell you that the phone will not work with Cingular. Then when you tell them you got it at Amazon they chuckle and tell you that was your first mistake that people have trouble all the time with Amazon.

So unless you know how to unlock the phone, you are out of luck and in for a lot of frustration.


Rating:
Summary: V505
Review: Having been a customer of AT&T, PacBell, and now SBC - I am astonished that they have moved to Cingular and did not inform their customers... my current cell phone has broken (AT&T) and I have one year left on my "contract" I need to get another phone that is compatible and would like to get the V505 or V220 - how is this possible when all of the AT&T's have been discontinued!?

So, where can I get this a residual AT&T phone that will work on my current "contract" fyi - to get out of the "contract" will cost me $179.00, unless I go over to Cingular - and initiate another "contract" this to me is bull.

Rating:
Summary: My First Switch from Nokia to Motorola V505
Review: I finally took the plunge. After being an ATT Wireless customer for 7+ years; I decided to upgrade to their next generation services in order to save on an extra line for my wife. I have been using Nokias for the past 5 years; regularly updating every 12 mos or so; I was hesitant to switch. But really do like this phone. Compared to the Sony/Ericson T637; much easier to use and navigate. Compared to Nokias available in late Nov at Cingular/ATT; much better design. A Good Value if you can get a promotion from Cingular (which you should be able to do); existing customers; you should be able to get this phone inexpensively as a promotion or upgrade as well (keep pushing rep or supervisor). I can not comment on video capabilities as this is not a priority for me.

Pros-
Intuitive and Easy User Interface
Good Color Screen & Graphics
Wallpaper Design Options & Flexib
Bluetooth Compatible
Good volume Levels for Standard Talk, Speakerphone & Headphones
Solid Feel to Hold
Good Size Keypad
Downloadable Ringtones- excellent sound quality

Cons-
Battery Life Good; but not quite as good as estimated
Large Size Phone(relative to what's fast hitting the market)
No Infared
Camera- A bit Grainy/soft
Pictures; not easily transferred or without cost if you dont sign up for m mode options

Rating:
Summary: Not intuitive, no Bluetooth for iSync
Review: I got this recently and decided in less than a week that it's wasn't for me.

Even as a geek, I had a very hard time navigating through its menus. The Bluetooth capability is limited to simple connectivity with my Powerbook, but will not wirelessly. for that I'd need to spend more money to either get a cable - then why did I buy Bluetooth? - or buy an additional piece of software (that didn't allow me to try it first before paying).

So, I've returned the phone AND gotten stuck with a piece of connectivity software that I paid for.

The phone's purty, yes. But it's insides aren't.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome phone
Review: I just got this phone for Christmas. I already had an AT&T plan and just needed a new phone. I had the NEC 525 and hated it. It dropped calls like no tomorrow. The V505 is an awesome phone. I have never had anything like it. The camera is great. I love all of the features. I also love that you can get real tones. The phone is just everything I wanted. It also has yet to drop a call. So, I am very glad I got this phone

Rating:
Summary: Great Phone - only one issue that I've had
Review: I just ported my phone from T-mobile (Which has the absolute worst service in Michigan, at least with a T-610) to AT&T. I did not do it through Amazon because I found out that amazon does not have the capability to port numbers with AT&T or Cingular yet. Instead, I did it through intelenet.com (which, I believe, is affiliated with Wirefly.com). Anyway, I ended transferring my old numbers from my other phone onto my sim card and presto - no tedious re-entering. I also love the fact that this phone, like the T610 has Bluetooth integrated within. It also takes Mp3 format so I was able to take snipits of songs I love and transport them onto my phone as ringtones. The only problem that I have had with this phone is the side buttons. Unless your ring mode is on Vibrate or silent - you might come across a loud beep sound if you keep your phone in your pocket... Whenever the phone is in ringer mode, the side buttons make a loud beep when you press them and I hate it - sounds like a wanted glitch to me... otherwise - I can't say I have any other complications - takes pretty good pictures too - I also saw a member mention that you can take videos with this phone. They are not correct. This phone only takes pictures. Hope this helps you potential buyers out there.

Rating:
Summary: overall it pleases
Review: I used Nokias before this, and my last one was much less sexy than the V505, gray scale, no internet, etc etc, no picture ID, no camera, but very functional and reliable, except when dropping calls.

The step up to the V505 has been pleasant. I like the
visual look of the phone and graphical interface. I find it easy to use.

The manual sucked, useless. Motorola supposedly has a better manual downloadable on their site but it wasn't working.
Both AT+T and Motorola tech support were very helpful and got me up and running int he absence if a manual.

No ear phone was bad. I bought one at the AT+T store and it was awful. I got one for free with another cell accessory on eBay that works great.

However Bluetooth was one of the main features I wanted when I got the phone, and I've gotten the HF800 speaker and a Plantronics headset. They're easy to activate, especially the speaker, all i have to do is push one button and the phone and speaker immediately work together.

To use the bluetooth with my PowerBook to send and receive photos and mp3s, all i had to do was search for the phone with my computer and voila, it worked immediately. I didn't need any software. it was plug and play, easy as pie. Works great, fast and convenient, same with the speaker and headset. Very cool.

Another feature i really wanted was the speaker phone and that has been a real disappointment for the reason someone else mentioned. i wanted it for handsfree safety while driving. Instead, it's tricky and difficult to use. Instead of being able to just turn on the speaker phone and make the call, you have to first dial the number, then you have to watch the little icon of the phones connecting, and when they connect, only then can you click on Speaker, so it's not very safe while driving, because of the need to keep an eye on that little screen in order to be able to activate the speaker. And, if you're using the speaker phone and you want to switch to regular mode in the middle of a call, which I often want to do, for example, if it's too hard to hear the speaker, you can't switch. Once you activate the speaker, the 'Speaker' selection goes away, replaced by Store. You are stuck, you have to keep the speaker on.

For this reason, i wanted to exchange my V505 for a V551, which does not have this problem, but AT+T gave me a great deal on my plan, about 1100 anytime minutes, free mobile to mobile, free long distance, and evenings starting at 7pm. To use the V551, i would have to switch to Cingular, and Cingular would not give me a plan anywhere near that good. So, with some regret, I chose to stay with the V505. It's still a great phone, very classy, and generally functions well.

So my favorite things are, the look and feel, sound quality, bluetooth, ringtones, picture i.d., camera, voice dialing and large memory/storage capacity.

Least favorite things are, the speaker phone is too hard to use, the internet is nice to have, but slow and not so easy to navigate, one phone number entry per person, unless you retype everything for each number, and some times i don't receive calls, related to reception I guess--I suppose that's the AT+T's GSM network's problem rather than the phone? I don't know.

Another thing I don't like that was not a problem on my Nokia is that sometimes, fairly often, when I am pressing the keys to dial a number, the key sound sustains really long and i can't go on to the next number. It's never easy or fast to dial the number because of this, i have to dial very carefully.

I like the V505 so much that I want the V551 because it's almost the same phone, it has all the things I like, plus some others that i want. I like the look of the V505 better than the V551. I don't like the brushed metal on the V551 nearly as much as the style of the v505. To me, the V505 is more tasty eye candy.

I would think most people would be happy with this phone.

Rating:
Summary: Great Phone But Spotty Reception (With AT&T Service)
Review: Just upgraded my Moto from the V220 to this V505. Had the phone for 3 days and so far NO REGRETS in switching. It's certainly a "looker" with a nice finish outside. Only bummer is the spotty reception using AT&T's service. I'm hoping with AT&T's buyout from Cingular that the reception can only improve within next few months as the service makes its final transition over to Cingular.

I am not one who hangs on the phone constantly so I have not had the battery recharge problems that some others have commented. Actually I keep the phone turned on throughout the day and so far I've only done one full charge the past three days, which is a pretty good sign if you ask me.

There are many PROS with this phone and a few CONS:

Obviously the PROs far outweigh the CONS --

1. Beautiful blue-gray exterior finish,
2. Sharp LCD screen,
3. Nice size keypad (no fumbling or hitting the wrong number, especially those with big clumsy fingers).
4. Good sound quality (when reception is working thru AT&T --- please, I hope that Cingular has BETTER reception !)
5. Nice, solid comfortable feel (no accidental "slippage" or dropping the phone). This phone definitely looks and feels expensive --- not a plasticky toy look-a-like.
6. Even the rings that come with the phone are neat (my fav is the "Soft" ringer setting -- a very catchy jazzy-disco beat).

A few CONS ---

1. Spotty reception problems with person's voice dropping out in the middle of a conversation. At first I thought I lost the call only to realize the call wasn't dropped, but the voice is already gone.

Again, I'm hoping this is an AT&T problem, but I had the same problem with the previous Moto V220 model, so sounds like it's not a sample defect, but reception problem.

2. Can't activate Speakerphone BEFORE a call is completed. Which means you have to wait until a call goes thru before the Speakerphone option pops up on the screen, which stinks. Who has time to wait for this to happen? What if you're driving ??

3. Compared to Nokia models, it takes a bit more time pulling up your phone list on the Moto models. Which means a few more strokes before getting to your friend or loved one's number. Moto REALLY needs to make the phone list feature A LOT more user-friendly. This is probably my biggest pet peeve with this phone. I hate hitting more than 3 strokes just to pull up somebody's number.

4. The "Send" and "Hang Up" buttons are REVERSED on this model, which is a Very STRANGE decision from Moto. What gives for making this decision ?? Most if not all models these days have the "Send" button on LEFT side and "Hang Up" on RIGHT side. If this is no big deal for you, then no worries. It kinda irked me the first day or so, but now, it's no big deal. Maybe for a Lefty, this reversal is more preferable.

Otherwise I would say get this Moto V505 if you feel the AT&T Wireless reception is not a factor where you live. Around here there are many hills, so most of the time I have to wait until I leave the area before attempting any calls. On good days, I can make / receive calls at home.

Overall, a "Best Buy" for those signing up with AT&T Wireless (which may not exist by the time you read this !) If you're stuck with Cingular, Moto has a similar model -- the V551 which is almost the identical twin to this V505. But I still prefer the 505 simply because it has a more flashier look to it. I am sure I will grow to love this phone very much.

Rating:
Summary: Cool Phone.............with some side effects
Review: This phone is very good. ie. in terms of it's features: bluetooth,vga camera,video playback, ect. it ranks among some of the best. Side effects...... it is locked to AT&T, It's phonebook does not faciliate multiple numbers to one name,doesn't come with atleast the little crappy ear peice which comes with most phones,after being kina on the expensive side does not come with tha cable or software package for the phone. (...)I've had this phone for about 3 weeks now and i must say call reception is great, camera is impressive its camera is even sharper than the v600, You may have a problem with the side buttons which get press at odd times when u have the phone in your pocket but this is not too much of a big deal, Its bluetooth connectivety with other bluetooth headsets and items is very reliable. This phone deserves 5 starts all how i look at it.