RSSCan the RAZR 2 Bring Motorola Back?
By Nate Mook | Published August 10, 2007, 3:42 PM
It's no secret that Motorola has been struggling in recent years since demand for its iconic RAZR phone has faded. The company posted a first quarter loss this year, and does not expect to be profitable in 2007. But Motorola is hoping to change its fortunes with the RAZR 2, which goes on sale this month.
The RAZR 2 V9 will be offered by AT&T while the CDMA V9m will be sold by Verizon, Sprint and Alltel. Because the V9 supports EVDO and HSDPA 3G networks, T-Mobile is not on the initial list of RAZR 2 carriers, but it could carry the V8 model that only supports EDGE networks.
From a design perspective, the RAZR 2 carries a look similar to the original RAZR and its updated variants like the KRZR - with minor updates. The casing is now steel and glass instead of plastic, and the phone is slightly thinner than its predecessor. The RAZR 2's high-resolution display also offers on-screen touch controls, although not as extensively as Apple's iPhone.
A new CrystalTalk feature will help the user place calls in noisy environments by automatically adjusting volume. Voice technology has been added to speak what is on the screen, and Windows Media Player is included for playing music files. The browser on the RAZR 2 will also support full HTML to view standard Web pages.
Motorola gave carriers a fair bit of leeway when it comes to branding, meaning the touch controls and screen designs will vary. But the RAZR 2's 2-megapixel camera, microSD memory expansion slot, Windows Media Player 11 software, and USB 2.0 syncing will be standard across all versions.
The big question that remains is whether the RAZR 2 will be enough to bring Motorola back into black. Increasing competition from Nokia, Samsung, LG and now Apple have reversed Motorola's position as market leader when it comes to style and technology. In fact, many consumers see the company's phones as dated, and the RAZR 2 isn't that big of a departure from 3 year-old designs.
Motorola also trails its competitors by a large margin when it comes to shareholder returns. Since Ed Zander became CEO in 2004, shareholders have only seen a return of 13.5 percent, leading to calls for his resignation by some big Motorola investors. Nokia shareholders have seen a return of 37.8 percent during the same period.
Pricing for the RAZR 2 V9 and V9m is expected to be around $249 USD with 2-year control.
I am looking forward to purchasing my first Razor phone. I looked at the current razors and they fit well in my pocket. The new Razor has all the features I am looking for. That's the two most import things for me. I have been using a Samsung E317 since it came out. So when is the V9 going to be released for cingular? My phone is half dead and I am tired of waiting. Does anyone think it will support higher than 2gb cards? What size and format of sd card will it use? The only things it's missing IMO is a flash for the camera. Will the V9 come in black or just that ugly red color? Can the case be changed if not?
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|Ok, so its narrower? I'm still concerned about the battery life. The RAZR was new when I last got my phone, but I chose the Motorola E815 which had 2x + the battery life and all the same features. A few hacks and the E815 supports MP3 files from MicroSD and Blutooth OBEX. I wish there was an E815 Replacement, its a much better built and usable phone then the RAZR.
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|nice I hope my cell carrier will have these in December so i can upgrade my RAZR
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|I'm curious. Betanews posted a previous article that stated due to the ITC ban on Qualcomm chips the Motorola RAZR 2 phone was one of the phones banned from being imported into the USA. Did Motorola make a last minute design change to the RAZR 2 phone or did the ITC suddenly reverse its ban on Qualcomm chips?
"http://www.betanews.com/article/ITC_Bans_Import_of_Qualcommbased_Phones/1181322138"
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|I don't think it has been re-designed, and neither has the ban been reversed, but I read elsewhere that the mobile service providers have been negotiating with Broadcom to pay a license fee to the latter for each phone the former sells that carries the Qualcomm chip in question.
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|I've had a V3i for a while and I must admit I like more than the Nokia800, amongst other things because I can hook it up to my laptop and operate that way. Aside from the style etc., I can add MP3's as ringtones. I up from Nokia.
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|As somebody who previously owned two motorolas, I could care less. The craptastic battery life in the RAZR, their flagship phone for gods sake, was enough to make me never look at them again. Due to 2 cases of fate, I'm back at using a 4 year old nokia I had laying around, and quite happy.
Pretty design, much cleaner, and a little better than the KRZR, but no thanks. Best of luck to Motorola though
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|My buddies company got these new ones a month back as a bonus for doing a commercial for the phone. Activated over ATT I believe.
They are very nice looking and the screen was very impressive. The touch screen works as advertised and I love the new buttons on the keypad. There's a tad more space between them and it makes it easier to push them (correctly).
He did have some issues with his BT headset that did not resolve quickly.
Surfin the web was fine and quick. That was the one thing noticed by all is how "fast feeling" the phone was at most tasks. That and that sharp bright screen.
I plan on looking at it again once they are finally in stores but I am still not convinced.
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|I don't doubt it has a nice screen, but how's that on the battery life? The s***s like the first model?
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|It's currently impossible to have a high capacity battery in a thin phone. The battery simply won't fit in the phone. Maybe if a better technology than lithium ion becomes available this will change.
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|Every person I know that has one has a busted screen
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|Same here. They either go all black or break completely.
I've had others who's battery just falls out due to the flimsy design.
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|I never liked the Razr, a mate of mine got one and I used it a couple of times and to be honest it is not the nicest phone to hold. It is fine making phones thinner, but it is no good they are not nice to hold. I got myself a V547, software was more or less the same as the Razr, but after using it for a few weeks, I took a dislike to it, nor only was the ring tone quiet, but the battery lasts for one day. I will never buy another Motorola.
I got a Samsung s500 now, nicer to use, nicer to hold and the battery will last for 3 days on standby, not the one day of the mootrola.
Motorola have lost the plot.
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|The shampoo bottles from a hotel room lasted longer than the original Razr so hopefully they worked on that problem
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|I don't get it, this phone is the most popular one on the planet. Why can't this company make money?
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|When the phone was a couple hundred bucks, they did. When your getting 2 for 1 deals at $50 dollars, there isn't much room for a profit...
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|Have you seen how many of their products fall apart? Sure they sell phones, but warranty repairs are just as high. I'll never buy a Motorola again,
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|i think if Razr 2 has 3G/3.5G techology, i think it will be more popular and such...
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|the razr v3xx models all currently support 3g technology.. and no the are not more popular and such because of it.
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|touchscreen razr would = win.
this razr = minor win =(
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|I dont think a full blown touch screen on a phone this thin would work out. It would break very very quickly.
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|I hope it brings them back, I rather like my Motorola phone and I've generally found them easy to use and pretty decent.
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|It is the phone of my dreams, except for the keyboard's straight horizontal lines across the numbers that male it flat, plain and dead boring! Change that suckers!
Despite being very nice, it is true that Moto's designs hold a bit of oldness at their heart but if they keep doing their best they might not fall in the abyss... in the short term.
@ dlab21: the screen will not be as clear as a desktop monitor, but it will be extremely good (well, almost as your desktop monitor). Today's best quality in screens is to be expected.
This is a very good site for reviews:
http://www.mobile-review...ws/main/index_eng.shtml
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|wonder if the screen it is infact as clear as it looks.
looks sleek... enoguh to save motorola.. probably not as its still a razr and the vanity has worn off.
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|I agree, this change is way to similar to the old design. The Razr was so popular because its design was so revolutionarily different from anything that had been on the market before. It was so simple looking yet so unique, and that was what made people want it. Walking down the street, you'd really have to be looking to tell the difference if someone was talking on this new one or the original. Today, there are tons of phones on the market that have mimicked the Razr's design.
If you ask me, if Motorola is really serious about getting back on track, they need to steal some of the people working on the design teams at companies like Apple and Sony.
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|Have had a Razor since they came out. Still using it and like it. Much better than the non moto phone I had. This may be a great upgrade
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