The successor to the venerable MPx200, this quad-band GSM wonder packs lots of Smartphone power into a small package that can provide all your mobile office needs. Loaded with Microsoft Smartphone software, the handset features mobile versions of all the essential Microsoft applications you depend on, including Pocket Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and MSN messenger. What's more, the unit's software is designed to sync seamlessly with email, contacts and calendar information on your PC.
Design
Click the image to get a closer look at the MPx220's features. |
The MPx220's sleek clamshell form factor is more sleek and svelte than it's predecessor's, while retaining the internal antenna design. The 2.0-inch, 176 x 220, 65-color TFT screen dominates the inside of the cover. A smaller, full-color LCD screen, which displays pictures, incoming calls, current time, battery life, signal strength and other information is located on the outside of the cover. The megapixel camera and flash, as well as the speakerphone unit, are also housed on the outside of the cover. A five-way selection button above the number pad allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. There are also up/down menu selection buttons on the left side of the device for easy access to basic controls. In addition to a headset jack, a miniSD memory expansion card slot is housed in the unit. The power key and infrared port are housed on the left side of the unit, while a universal charger/USB data port is present on the bottom.
Calling Features
The MPx220 has all the latest calling features folks have come to expect. The built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Vibrate modes and custom WAV and MP3 ringtones can also be set to your preferences so you know who is calling without having to look at the LCD. The included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions. Enhanced voice dialing supports voice-to-digit dialing and name recognition for speedy dialing of contacts. The MPx220's voice recognition software supports voice commands from any user, not just a pre-programmed user's voice. Because the MPx220 is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation.
Messaging, Internet and Tools
Designed as a complete solution for people who want to bring their office with them, the unit comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook, Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and email functions. Email support is provided for IMAP and POP3 accounts, as well as corporate accounts. Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB, Bluetooth or infrared connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can select a Cingular data package and tap the MPx220's wireless modem capabilities. The unit supports VPN and proxy Internet connections.
You can use the MPx220's built in Internet Explorer browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as video, picture and sound messaging are also supported by the phone. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the MPx220 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a to-do list, and an alarm clock.
Imaging and Entertainment
The MPx220's powerful megapixel still camera also features video with audio capture capability. In addition to a flash, the camera features a self-timer, multi-frame shooting capability, white balance and color control, as well as a time stamp option. The video camera's capture capability is only limited by the amount of available memory in the unit. The inclusion of Windows Media on the MPx220 means that you can use the handset as an MP3 and a video player, as well. Once again, the amount of music and video you can store is only limited by the unit's memory. For gamers, the phone supports Java-based and Windows Mobile game downloads.
Vital Statistics
The Motorola MPx220 weighs 3.88 ounces and measures 3.93 x 1.89 x .96 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.0 hours of digital talk time, and up to 200 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
Motorola MPx220 handset, lithium-ion battery, power supply, USB data cable, companion CD, user's manual.
1 Worst phone I've ever used!!!
This phone is terrible. The most important feature, call quality has a lot to be desired. Frequently drops calls and/or does not display external caller id. If you shut the phone too quickly or set it down without being extremely careful, it turns off. One would think this would be due to a loose battery but the battery is very secure. There is no pattern or display indicating that the phone is even on if the phone is shut! Frequently changes the date and time by itself! No way to change between call history of recently dialed calls to recently received calls. Vibrate option is not strong enough. Speaker volume, even with the newest revision is STILL not nearly loud enough. At the loudest setting, it is at a normal volume. Using this phone under any but the perfect situation is terrible. Overall, this phone is probably the worst phone I've EVER USED!!!
2 Not happy at all
Bought the phone looking at all the features..., using it for last 2 months, most of the features work as expected.
But phone turns off when you press end-call button. No visible or audible warning that phone is shutting down. There is no specific pattern, but happened more than 25+ times in the last two months.
Unable to access voicemail using "1" key. Cingular blames it on Motorola and Motorola blames it on Cingular.
Cingular coverage (at least using this phone) is not good at all. I was with T-mobile, and I feel they have much better coverage.
Called Cingular, about warranty exchange, not helpful at all. They can't check the phone at their stores, instead they will send a brand new phone, then I need to send my current phone to them, and if they find any physical or liquid damage they will change $425 (they claim it is the cost of the phone). Looks like they have a plan to sell more of this and take the money....
3 Had a mpx200 so READ THIS
Hi,
I have had the mpx200 before I bought this one.
I had this os on the 200, and so cannot explain the os differences.
The 220 is much faster than the 200.
I like the camera, for a phone, the camera is great, I actually used it to get a quote on a car repair estimate.
Here are my gripes:
1. The 200 had a usb "hat" connector, it charged and synced, the cable is the same as the sony camera connector. The 220 uses a standard motorola "fat" plug. So, all of my accessories do not work... And I had a bunch.
2. 200 had a deskstand that charged and synced, the 220 does not have one, and there isnt one from motorola. The stand is necessary so that for 8 hours at work, while the phone is at work on your desk, it is not getting scrached. For the amount of money, they could have thrown in a deskstand.
3. This problem is most likely that of the OS which is MS. The 220 has excellent voice recognition capabilities, yet they do not work with a bluetooth headset, but if you use a regular (wired) headset you can. Yes I checked this, and trust me, this is in their manual.
-Edward
4 I don't know what everyone's complaining about!
I LOVE THIS PHONE!!!! I used to have major internet issues (such as I had to turn it off and on to have any connectivity) but that was resolved by downloading the latest firmware from Motorola. The reason I chose this phone was I wanted a PDA but I didn't want to be one of those ridiculous people holding a palm to my ear. Many people complain about the voice dialing, I think it is the most advanced I have ever experienced (it can dial any number you dictate or any menu command) I do understand the qualms about it not working while using a bluetooth headset (why Motorola? It makes no sense) but I don't really have an issue because I find that it works anyway beause the phone still hears my voice (not thru the headset, but from across the car, I usually have my phone on the passenger seat). Also I hear lots of complaints about the lack of a full keyboard, I think it's better without one (learn how to use the ultrasmart predicitve text people!)I find the full qwerty keyboards on mobile phones slower anyway because they are so tiny. In fact I would go as far as to say that once you get used to predictive text (which they keep making better and smarter), You can type just as fast with it. Perhaps the best part about this phone is the syncronization with Outlook. Outlook is like my lifeline and it is so nice to have your contacts and calendar organzied in one place. Overall I think this phone is great the features and look are unmatched, and trust me I will be the first to know when something better comes along.
5 I am not too crazy about it, but overall i am ok with.
can't resend Messages. i need to forward them.
can't turn off message alert or voicemail alert with the mute button, i needed to wait till the entire song is done.
can't arrange menu items.
I am not too crazy about it, but overall i am ok with it.
I love the way it sync w/ my outlook, this is my palm and phone all in one.
6 Closest thing to Perfect in a Mobile Phone
I have used all kinds of cell phones over the past decade. From the Handspring that came with a SprintPCS module, to old Motorla Timeports, so Samsung mobiles, early Nokias, Sony/Ericson, and even Technophone on LA Cellular before ATT bought them in the 90s.
Anyway, its Friday afternoon and i'm getting ready to leave work, so i'm going to keep this short and to the point. This phone has nearly everything and I love it. From the personalized caller id (only shows to people in your phonebook), to syncing over bluetooth, to the intuitive calendar and email programs and the ease of syncing my calendar with Outlook...its just easy and streamlined. Very customizable. Quadband means it works anywhere. I am very picky in terms of features phones, and this phone satisfies 96% of the things I expect from such a device. My only complaint the speaker volume. However, this can be tweaked if you make your own ring tones (i use audacity). I amplify the tome in software before importing to the SD card slot on the phone. This phone was a bargain at $300 and is a steal at $50. I have use Amazon rebates for phones twice before and they are pretty solid so no worries there. Get a Smartphone while %90 of the rest of the USA are still using boring old gen phones. Best of luck. Oh, and for those folks that swore never to use Motorola phones again because of the external volume buttons that cannot be locked or silenced, fear not. This is the first Motorola that doesn't make that annoying sound when you go from loud to silent when going into a meeting or movie.
7 Not bad, but cost/value?
When reading reviews on the MPX220, you see a lot of mixed feelings, and I guess that's what I have.
I love the size (compact and easy to carry), the feel and style (nice clamshell design), the call quality, the Bluetooth quality (with the exception of the inability to initiate voice commands from a Bluetooth headset).
The controls are good, and the menu offers easy navigation. It was easy to set up my POP3 email account to read my email on the phone (a major requirement for my decision to move to a SmartPhone). Internet browsing seems good, with the limitations that any mobile user will experience (let's put it this way: you won't give up your broadband connection). Unlike a previous reviewer, I have no problem using Cingular's basic multimedia package.
I'm one who prefers small size and can live without a small QWERTY keyboard. Screen offers good viewing quality, though as with most devices it's hard to see in bright outdoor light.
I guess it's pretty well documented that an earlier software fix has cleared up the volume problem early buyers of the MPX220 were experiencing. I'd say volume (and volume control) is good whether using the phone, bluetooth headset (I have a Cardo Scala 500), or speaker phone.
The camera, considering it's just part of a phone, really isn't too bad. The quality of photos is high enough that most people would be surprised they were taken on a camera phone. I get a kick out of what I call the 'vanity key.' They installed a button on the outside for the sole purpose of allowing you to take a self-portrait (since you must do this with the clamshell closed).
However, when I attempted to do a number of simple tasks that I could easily do with my 'obsolete' SonyEricsson T68i, I was disappointed. First, syncronization with Outlook can only be done using Microsoft ActiveSync. If your company doesn't support/allow it (mine doesn't), you're out of luck. (I was finally able to come up with a work-around where I transfer Outlook to my Yahoo calendar, then syncronize from home where I have ActiveSync installed. A pain, but it works.)
I find the alarm function on a phone to be handy, and was shocked to see how anemic and hard to use the alarm function was. I have learned you can buy 3rd party software to improve this, but I believe they could do a better job with the default alarm (really a Microsoft Mobile issue).
Same with text notes. I found text notes on my T68i to be a great way to capture short things (like passwords, addresses). On the 'sophisticated' MPX220, there's NO capability for this! (Again, you can purchase 3rd party software, but why should you have to?)
So, overall, I'd rate my experience with the MPX220 fairly high, but when you pay this much ($300) for a phone, you don't expect to encounter these minor annoyances and limitations.
8 Very Satisifed
I saw several negative reviews for this phone before I purchased. I cant say that I really have any complaints. The volume is fine. If its not loud enough for you, you arent holding it to your ear correctly. The camera is better than I expected on a cell phone. Its definatly not a replacement for a multi-megapixel digital camera and the flash is worthless but what do you expect? I've seen alot worse pics from phones than this takes. If you want quality digital pics, you need to spend $300 on a digital camera. This phone is feature packed and a great device for gadget junkies. I was able to retire my PDA (iPAQ pocketpc) for good now that I have this phone. Bluetooth Active sync is the coolest
9 The Good, The Bad & the ugly
The good:
1. Nice full color screen. Bigger than others.
2. Captures Still images & movies saved to 512mb Mini-SD card.
3. Nice clamshell operation.
4. 2 color screens.
5. Custom backgrounds and images. Done from computer only.
6. Great ActiveSync interface, the best I've seen implemented so far.
7. large dialed number history seperate from rest of call history.
The Bad:
1. Flash is a joke more of a led. Forgot using this phone for pictures in low light conditions.
2. Voice dialing the worst of the worst. No voice number dialing, only prestored numbers. Don't bother! Don't buy the bluetooth earphone since you can't use it to dial unsaved numbers.
3. No bluetooth computer interface that works. Save your money!
4. Phone shuts itself off without notice. SIM card interface problem.
5. No automatic voicemail symbol or notification, unless you power the phone off then back on again.
The Ugly:
1. All calls in call history lumped togther. have to use filters to see only missed calls or any single call catagory.
2. speed dialing is slower and take more buttons/menu opertions than punching in numbers by hand.
3. Ditto for voice dialing.
4. Can't use speaker phone while call is in place.
10 What good is a phone if you can't hear the other person???
I was convinced this was the phone for me when it first came out. I ran down to Best Buy and $400 something dollars later it was mine! I took off all the protective plastic film strips b/c the rep said some people returned the phone complaining they couldn't hear very well, and it ended up being the plastic film over the ear piece. Well it turns out that's the problem no matter what you do. Sitting in a quiet office, if I had the volume all the way up, I could scarcely hear the other person. On the road in a quiet new car, it was even more difficult to hear anything; and inside the data center where I work - forget about it, you can't hear anything even if they were screaming on the other end. The lowest volume setting on every Nextel phone I've had is higher than the highest setting on this phone.
I thought that maybe the phone was defective so I returned it and got another - same problem. I cancelled my contract and after I was finished being bitter about the ordeal, I went to Cingular to try one last time. The rep said the only one they had was returned for the very same reason.
Then, last week a colleague of mine had an MPX220 with him that our AT&T rep gave us to try - same problem.
I'm not hard of hearing whatsoever, but this phone is absolutely useless. If you want to surf the web, do it from a PC and save yourself $400. After four defective phones in a row means - I'd guess it's a problem with the merchandise and not my hearing.
-Eric
11 HELLO MOTO, should be, GOODBYE MOTO
THIS IS MY TRUTHFUL VIEWS FROM USE SINCE FEB. 11, 2005 TILL PRESENT! MOTO IS MY FAV PHONE & ALWAYS WILL BE.
CONS:
1. POOR Battery
2. Worst CAMERA I've ever seen on a phone.
3. Can't control MENU setup for programs
4. Earpiece (EP) & Speakerphone (SP) suck horribly. When did MOTO start using SNAP CRACKEL & POP (SC&P) in their phones?
5. Calling w/ EP is sorta hard due to you have to get it just right on the ear or forget hearing. SP is just horrible loudest volume SC&P happens & hard to hear due to it's POINTED AWAY from you.
6. Mic on speakerphone sux my Siemens a56i is 10x better.
7. Reception is HORRIBLE compared to my g/f's V551.
8. Media Player skips on playback
9. User Assigned Ringtones & Pictures don't come up all the time (sometimes it does, but plays default ringtone for 2 secs then goes to assigned).
10. miniSD slot not fully compliant w/ certain Cards.
11. NOT EDGE only GPRS
12. Keypad goes off way too quick & is hard to see when in a lit room (makes ur eyes go blurry)
13. Key response is very slow all around.
14. Camera FLASH is useless to me it's just there as a selling point.
15. Voicemail doesn't reset unless you have someone send you one to reset it. (doesn't happen all the time, but this could also be cingulars fault I don't know)
16. Some more, but minor stuff
PRO:
1. Build, structure, feel, look, keys, controls, placement, etc...
2. MOTOROLA (Always Good, just not this time)
3. Smartphone (SMP) setup so puts all ya need in one device.
4. Size 3.8oz and awesome for SMP.
5. Ease of ACTIVESYNC w/ PC & Bucktooth. Assigned Caller ID & Ringtone (OPEN AWESOME closed PIC is so so)
7. Hit on the streets w/ coworkers (ENVY FACTOR lol)
8. 176x220 Screen AWESOME & 96x96 Screen SO SO
9. Speech use all around is awesome (dial, open progs, etc.)
All in all this is a SO SO phone and I give it a 2 star rating because to me for "$400 MSRP-Class" phone MOTO should/could develop a much better phone. Come on MOTO where's your PRIDE GOING???
Sidenote: The Samsung SGH-i300, just came out today, another smartphone, it comes w/a built in 3GB hard drive. Not 3MB, yes 3GB! Hope that will give Moto incentive to build a better phone or I may have to buy Samsung.
12 Awesome toy. Not a great phone.
I bought this right when it came out during the initial launch through Best Buy. I love getting the newest thing and this phone fit the bill at the time. It is Windows which is good and bad, you can hook it up to your computer as an external USB drive and browse everything, swap pictures and ring tones, etc. The interface is very simple and the phone does just about everything that you could ask for. There is a movie player in case you want to watch a movie on a tiny screen or just to show off that you can do it to your friends, you can download games like Worms Armageddon and Solitaire, etc. Hooking up a Bluetooth headset is a snap and having it communicate with other devices through USB or Bluetooth is wonderfully simple. When it works, it is a great phone.
The camera was iffy. The phone failed to connect calls. Then it ended up getting recalled. I exchanged mine for a new one and over the next few weeks I got "Error: Could Not Connect" when attempting to answer incoming calls about 1 out of 5 times, the camera started taking pictures of static instead of whatever it was supposed to, and I got terribly frustrated with it so I gave up on it.
The only other phones that worked with Cingular at the time and had Bluetooth were the Motorola V551 and the new RAZR. My supervisor at work had the RAZR and complained about it like I complained about my MPx220 so I went with the V551. While the V551 doesn't have anywhere near the amount of bells and whistles that the other two have, at least it works as a phone. That is something that Motorola seems to have lost sight of with the MPx220 and the RAZR. They became too concerned with making it do so much extra stuff that they didn't make sure that the primary function worked flawlessly.
Now, I don't know if this version being sold here is yet another newer and improved version, but be forewarned that it may be cool looking and have lots of neat features but it may not be the greatest at being a basic reliable cell phone.
13 Nice phone but terrible sound quality
I agree with other reviewers that the quality of the sound from the speaker with and without the earpiece is terrible. I love the other features of the phone such as the calendar and the Outlook sync which means that my phone now carries my schedule, contacts, and tasks. The battery life is not as long as advertised if you continously open the phone and look at your schedule or call your friends. Overall I like the phone but the sound quality is an issue.
14 Very disappointing.
I should have known I wasn't going to like this phone the minute I picked it up. It felt too light and "tinny.". The sound quality was weak with and without the earpiece. The speakerphone was barely audible. Within one day the battery cover wouldn't snap back in place. Before the end of the first week, it shut down and wouldn't start again. I switched back to Verizon and bought the Samsung i600. Love it. No comparison except both have the PocketPC OS.
15 Somewhat Disappointed
The phone has lots of features but they don't live up to the price of the phone. The camera flash is weak and anything out of bright light is grainy even on a little phone screen. The speaker phone/ringer is too quiet except in the best situations. The blue tooth doesn't allow voice dialing. The phone seems to freeze up once in a while although it's not difficult to reset by popping the battery. There is a software update that has come out that may fix that but they aren't saying why you need it - just calling it a "ROM update" which requires a memory wiping hard reboot. The Outlook sync works fine and is the main reason I got it. I would have like the "notes" function of Outlook to also have been included on the phone but it's not. You have calendar, phone/contacts, and task that do sync.
16 terrible speaker volume , good PDA features
I have never written any review on any item. But I feel very compelled to write one this time. I loved this phone a lot but had to return it. It has everything I wanted, except the very basic feature of the phone, the speaker volume! The volume is sooo low on the earpiece, the speaker phone itself and the microphone. There is a few glitches in the software here and there. The side buttons are too big so sometime you may accidently change the setting. But I consider these are minor problems. Outlook, ActiveSync, blue tooth, Media player and everything else pretty much works fine. Despite all of these great features, the low volume is unbearable. I always love moto phones especially they have good sound systems. MPX220 is definitely NOT the one you would expect from Motorola. I'm very disappointed. I will just have to wait until they come out with a new PDA phone. By the way, the ROM version on mine is 1.30.
17 Great phone overall
My fiance was pining hard for the Motorola RAZR, so he and I went to the Cingular store near our house and picked up a RAZR for him and an MPx220 for me. I had gone in originally intending to purchase a V551, which had all the basic features I wanted. However, upon using the V551, I quickly realized that the UI would drive me nuts in the space of a day. As I was playing with the demo phone, I realized I had no idea what I was doing and that randomly pushing buttons would get me nowhere quickly.
After dismissing the V551 on the basis of kludgy UI, I picked up the MPx220. Perhaps it's because I'm a Windows user, but I found it very intuitive to work with. I was changing the wallpaper on the phone and taking photos within 15 seconds of picking it up. The feature-set is very nice, but for me the key point was usability.
The package came with a charger, a USB cable for syncing to your PC, and a CD-ROM with ActiveSync and Outlook 2002. I use Thunderbird as my email client, but installed Outlook (and configured it NOT to be an email client) so I could sync up contacts and my calendar - this phone will happily double as your PDA, and I think it will probably do a better job than my last PDA did.
Syncing was quick and easy, and I was also able to download a number of applications from sites like handango.com.
The sound quality is good (I have the 1.30 ROM) and so far I've had no problems calling my fiance or having him call me. The phone aspect works well, though I have not yet tested the speakerphone or the bluetooth.
My only problem thus far with the phone has been the picture caller ID. The generic picture caller ID is a blue man-blob, so I took a photo of my fiance and selected "Attach to contact". I then tried several times to get him to call me and see if his picture would show up - it didn't. After beating my head against the very obtuse manual (another reason to have a good UI), my fiance said, "Well, it IS Windows - try rebooting your phone." Sure enough, the next time he called, his photo showed up like it should.
This is a great phone overall - sleek, sexy, full of useful features, and easy to use. But it's not without its quirks. I would definitely recommend this phone, as the features are worth an occasional minor annoyance.
18 The first cell phone I have loved.
Everything about this phone is great. I can't say that about any other cell phone I've owned.
The features all work as advertised, so I won't go into repeating how wonderful they are. Suffice it to say that in addition to working as promised, the phone interface is simple and intuitive - making it easy to use all these great features.
I will address an issue mentioned below about the low volume of the earpiece. At first, I thought the same thing. Then I realized that I was holding the phone too high on my ear. If there is a con to this phone it is this; the "natural" way you want to hold the phone places the ear speaker above the ear canal (making it appear that the volume is too low.) But they couldn't lower the speaker without reducing the size of the screen. Once you realize this, you lower the phone a quarter of an inch and the volume is fine.
Didn't get the data plan so I can't address that functionality.
Buy it here, I got mine from Cingular and paid a LOT more.
A great phone!
19 INCOMPATIBLE DATA PLAN (plus bait-n-switch bonus)
The story about my courtship with the MPx220 and Cingular could take up pages, but I need to impart one single thing to everyone considering purchasing this phone:
THE DATA PLAN THEY SELL YOU IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE PHONE.
Cingular's Media Works works with all of their phones EXCEPT for the Treo, one of the Blackberrys, and this phone. What's worse, no one at Amazon or Best Buy or Cingular stores or even Cingular customer support knows this, at least until you ask them SPECIFICALLY about it. It was not until three days after I purchased this phone that they told me that the standard unlimited data plan ($20 for unlimited data + hundreds of texts + several picture messages) is incompatible with the phone, and that I would have to pay $30 for 5Mb of data or $40 for unlimited data. I spoke with many, many managers; 1) none of them knew of this issue before me, and 2) they refused to give me the $20 unlimited data that I paid for. Furthermore I later found out that the various Media Works packages are incompatible with the unlimited data plans; that is, you would have to purchase data and texts and pictures messages separately, as the SMS + MMS packages are incompatible with this phone's data plans.
I ended up returning the phone. Were it not for my experience with Cingular's duplicitous bait-and-switch practices, I really would have married that phone...
...as an update to this review, I went ahead with this phone anyway. What sold me on Cingular was their offer for free MMS through 2005, which is essentially free e-mail. After that I'll probably use my Amazon rebate toward Cingular's early cancellation fee, which means I still get the phone for a platry $200. $200 for a phone that can play movies, record footage, print via Bluetooth, wirelessly exchange files with my PDA and computer, and do my laundry? Money can't buy better.
20 I love my MPX220
I bought my Mpx220 in November and overall have been really pleased with it. Originally I had the old ROM version but exchanged it for a 1.3. This thing is loaded with features! In my opinion, the MS Smartphone setup far exceeds any other conventional cell phone (excluding pda phones). I never want to go back to using a regular cell phone. I wanted some pda functionality in a compact size, and found the perfect (at least almost perfect) match in the Mpx220.
As a phone: it works well... The volume issues are fixed with the 1.3 software. It isn't extremely loud, though loud enough. Reception has been better than any other phone I've owned. I can hear callers clearly and they hear me clear as well. Picture Caller Id uses the external display or the main screen if the flip is open. speakerphone works pretty well. Quad band is great to have if you travel. I recently visited London, Pakistan and Dubai. I bought local SIM cards, popped them in and they worked flawlessly. Cool! (My phone came unlocked). The contact list is excellent. You can basically add all contact info you'd want in the phonebook which also syncs with Outlook on your PC. Searching contacts is also the best ive seen on cell phones. Just start typing the name and it filters the list. It's a lot more convenient than scrolling.
Pda-ish functionality: This phone is really like a mini-PC. Start Menu, windows explorer, internet explorer, outlook, calendar, etc , etc. Syncing with a computer is easy using Microsoft's Activesync. You can use the included cable or even sync over bluetooth. I was even able to set a schedule for my phone to sync with the computer every night automatically via bluetooth. cool! Transferring files is very easy. The file system is excellent, similar to that on a PC. You can search files, sort, manage ect. When using activesync, you can explore your phone and manage files as you wish. Or if you have bluetooth on your computer, just beam any file over. It can play mp3 files (in stereo using a stereo headset), open word docs, excel sheets, picture files, etc. Smartphone apps are coming up to speed and becoming more available. Besides other sort-of-useless things, you can even encode and watch your DVDs on it. If you fill up the 32 mb on the phone, you can add memory (up to 512) via the mini SD slot.
Camera: Compared to other camera phones, unfortunately, the camera is sub par. It doesn't bother me much though since I only intended using the camera for photo contacts and just for fun. don't expect this or most other camera phones to replace your digi cam. There is a 'flash' which is bright but not too useful as a camera flash. (i wish I could use the LED as a flashlight!).
Internet/email: Internet explorer makes it easy to browse the internet on this phone. you can access mobile web pages or regular internet pages. you can access your email using pop or just webmail through the internet. Works pretty well, just be careful of charges. get a data plan if you will be using this a lot. it uses GPRS and ufortunately no EDGE.
Pros:
-Functionality: it does a lot of stuff.
-Connectivity: bluetooth, infared, usb, activesync, internet
-Quad band world phone
-Reception
-Dual screens
-stereo output
-Configurable: there are a lot of options and settings.
Cons:
-A few bugs, you may need to turn it off and on. I had to do this about 4 times since I got it (3 months).
-No EDGE
-Can't voicedial via bluetooth headset.
-Camera is sub par (though i don't care for this much).
If you're looking for a phone that does more than just being a phone in the same form factor, this is a pretty good choice. Fully utilizing its potential may require a bit of tech savy-ness, though Im sure people just wanting it to do basic things will find it pretty intuitive.
Hope this helped those of you shopping around.
21 WARNING NO INTERNATIONAL ACTIVATION
I purchased this phone since it is a GSM world band phone and I was about to travel overseas. However, when I called Cingular to activate international roaming before leaving, I was told that no new activations are offered for countries which AT&T had roaming agreements with. Thus the phone will not work in those countries. So, to make a long story short, this phone will only work in the USA until Cingular and AT&T merge their networks. This may take a long time!
22 Motorola, lowering the bar... again
You have to judge a cell phone primarily by how well it works as a phone. Not as a PDA, or MP3 player or GameBoy or web browser or any other cool geeky gadget. For a phone that retails for $400, the MPx220 has some embarrassing defects. Yes, the 1.30 update seems to have 'solved' the low sound problem, except now my mic has a slight feedback/echo effect that callers find distracting and unpleasant. I also hate that I have to manually enter the date and time, and that I have to scroll through menus to change the ring volume (just let me use the sidebar volume rocker!).
I'm not impressed with a million ringtones, intelligent text messaging and a 65k display, if I sound like I'm in a cave when I talk on it. Here's an idea for the Moto engineers: get the phone part right before you add extra features. Releasing the phone with the original low volume issues shows a lack of testing and quality control. What were they thinking?
The PDA/calendar/browser/text features work fine. But you can get those in a Palm, Blackberry or iPAQ.
AS A FOLLOWUP TO MY REVIEW: I just received my replacement phone, a Sony Z500a. The vocal quality is SO much better. Everyone I've called has immediately noticed the difference. It also gets the time and date from the network (my Moto phone had to be MANUALLY set!), and it starts up very quickly (the Moto phone took some time to 'boot up' - all those cool features come with a price).
23 So far, so good (great, even)...
I have had this phone for over a month now, and the more I learn to use it, the better it gets. A lot of people complain about the low volume, so that was a concern, but I found several ways to make the phone louder. The simplest way is to change your profile (the Outdoor setting is sufficiently loud for me). Another way is to modify the profiles' volume settings (I overdid this the first time and nearly fell off my chair when my phone rang). You can also increase the in-call volume by adjusting it during a call (use a second phone to call yourself and adjust the volume then).
I really just wanted a good phone with some basic PDA features, so this phone truly exceeded my expectations. I can record videos, take high-res pictures (the phone has a MiniSD slot which now holds a 512MB card), listen to mp3s, and assign real music ring tones. Oh, yeah -- it has Outlook and IE, among other things. Lots of neato downloadable software at handango.com. As for how to use/optimize/troubleshoot the phone, I learned a lot by going to howardforums.com (look up Microsoft Smartphone). I'm not exactly the techy type, but so far, those who are that play with my phone get pretty impressed (to quote some of them, "SWEEEEET!").
24 Great
This not a phone. It is a mini computer. An iPod. and more
Sync with Outlook for all of your contacts.
Play all mp3.
Watch mpeg and 3gp movies.
Take flash pictures (yes, not as good as my 5 M pixels camera)
Take short movies.
Play games (Chess, pack-man, space invaders)
And then you can talk on the phone including Bluetooth headset.
25 The best phone I've ever had!
I have had this phone for a month and absolutely love it! It has already changed the way I work and has greatly reduced the amount (and weight) of electronics I carry most days. Without a thought I now carry my entire data base, calender etc. and have my emails updated every 5-30 minutes through my exchange server.
Yes, the speaker could be louder but that is remedied by using Motorola's bluetooth speaker.
I would love a keyboard and more memory, but the small size and weight are a more than reasonable trade-off.
For a compact, useable tool-- this is it! (For now.)
26 Amazon Product Description is Inaccurate
This phone only has a 65K color screen, NOT the 262K screen. Amazon has been notified but has yet to correct the description.
Otherwise this phone is pretty nice. The receiver and speakerphone volumes are a bit lower then desired, even with the 1.3 firmware and Outdoor profile set.
27 Avoid it like the plague.
Returned this phone after about three weeks. Despite it's great feature set, there have been way too many problems to justify keeping it. Several trim pieces have simply fallen off, even though I've never dropped the thing. Battery life is abyssmal. Speaker volume both from the earphone and speakerphone is waaaay too quiet, even at max volume level. MP3 ringtones do not work: no matter what ring tone I program it for, it always defaults back to the standard ring...if it even rings at all when a call comes in! Screens (both internal and external) freeze and garble up constantly. Ring volume (again, when it works) is extremely quiet...inaudible unless you're in a library. Vibrate alert, much like rings, doesn't always work. When placing calls, about 50% of the time, they will "dial" and "connect" but there is absolutely no audio reception from the other party...not just quiet, NONE. Event reminders for the calendar fail to update or function regularly. The camera, for being 1 megapixel+, is terrible. And don't get me started about the bizzaro reception phenomena I've experienced with this phone.
For anyone wondering, mine was the "new" version with the orange sticker and the updated software. I know the phone looks good on paper and even better in person, but once you put it to use there are nothing but problems. I strongly encourage anyone who is considering this phone to look elsewhere. There is simply no excuse for the level of problems existing in such a high end phone. From build quality to software functionality the MPx220 is a disaster.
28 Simply has the complete package!
This phone comes loaded with everything you can ever imagine.
It has a speakerphone, it has bluetooth so you can send your friend ring tones, pictures and etc. It has a 1.2 megapixel camera. The quality of the camera is better than most clamshell cameras ie. V600,V3,SMT5600. It has a beatiful screen, that displays 65k colors. Alot of nice apps that would make your old phone just look outdated. Many people have been quoted as saying that listening to mp3's from this phone and listening to mp3's from a ipod are exactly the same quality. Nice build quality too, this phone just looks plain sexy. Its pretty light, has a built in antenna. Capable of sending and receiving SMS, MMS, recorded sounds, recorded video etc..Make sure you have the newer firmware version for this phone which is currently 1.3 and you will have no problems with call quality, hearing the person your calling etc. Only cons are the small outside screen and its small caller id. This phone has a speakerphone which is very useful. Overall for only $175 you would be hardpressed to find a phone with this many features and this quality.
29 truly superior
This phone is truly a superior phone. I have the latest firmware build so any reviews that complain about prior bugs should be considered irrelevant in regards to the present product. Anyone who is looking for a phone with the intellegence of a pda with most of the features of one should look no further. This phone has: Bluetooth, outlook exchange synchronization, windows 2003, windows media player 9, expandable memory, megapixel camera, and video player and recorder. All powered by a 200 mhz ARM processor backed by 32mb of ram not to bad for a phone. The USB cable is included by the way. The OS runs fast, the reception of the phone is superior due to its quad band feature. The speakerphone is decent although it could have been louder. It fuctions well with bluetooth or wired hand free devices. Mp3's sound great in fact this phone saved me the money of having to buy an Ipod. Camera and video player are decent for a cell phone. The phone is sylish for its feature pacted nature. The battery lasts a very long time even with heavy use. Overall this was a great investment, truly a step above most phones, especially over the over hyped, and priced Razr. Anyone looking for a quality smart phone look no further
30 Nice phone, lousy service
This is my second favorite phone of all time but, unless you must have the "clam shell" form factor and/or 900mhz GSM the Audiovox SMT5600 (also on Amazon) is smaller, higher quality, and and several hundred dollars less expensive. Regardless of the phone you chose, however, I hope you have more luck with Cingular than I did.
There's simply not enough time or room to recount all of my problems with Cingular but I'll provide a brief recap. I have service with Cingular and with AT&T. The problems began when I tried to merge my two services into one account (Cingular did acquire AT&T, right?), upgrade my service plan, and upgrade the AT&T phone. Simple enough, right? Wrong.
After (literally) four visits to the store (and 3+ hours of waiting for a sales person), 10+ phone calls (and speaking with over 30+ people), and completing several forms on the web I thought I had finally solved the problem and everything was fine. THEN my phone showed up ... it was the wrong one!!! Attempts to get the problem resolved on the phone failed (we can't do that here), attempts to return it to the store failed (that was sent to you by our phone sales group, you can't return it here), and a final desperate attempt to resolve it through Cingular's Office of the CEO was meet by "you shouldn't have tried to transfer your service from AT&T to Cingular" (i.e. it's your fault) and "you're trying to order the most expensive phone we have, what do you expect us to do, give you a free one?" (i.e. you're trying to cheat us).
My experiences can basically be catagorized in the following fashion:
* You're an AT&T customer, this is Cingular; you'll need to call AT&T if you need help.
* You're a Cingular customer, this is AT&T; you'll need to call Cingular if you need help.
* You're a corporate customer, this is the retail group. You'll need to call business services for that.
* You did that over the phone, this is a store, you'll need to take up that problem with telesales.
* You did that in the store, this is telesales, you'll need to take up that problem with the store.
* That can't be done over the web.
* Sorry, I don't know how to do that.
Regarless of which phone you ultimately purchase, good luck!
...msg
31 OUT OF THIS WORLD
I Love my MPx220, It's a great phone, it's really neat, I think that the RAZER is to slim and will break easier then, the mpx220, and is much cheaper then the razor. Its Microsoft Windows based so it has many features that other phones do not. I think the MPx220 is top of the line for Cingular.
32 It's ok to buy from amazon
I just got my mpx220 from amazon.com and its is great. There was a review that said not to buy from amazon, but i did and the phone is tha right version. It has the orange sticker on the box and it is ROM 1.3. It is the best phone that ive ever had. What doesn't it have? Iv'e had this phone for a while and it has been great.
33 Only comparable would be the Blackberry 7100t
I've had this phone (2 - another one for the wife) for a couple of weeks. I rate it superior to the Treo 300/600 and Blueberry 7230 all of which I have owned/used. It has all of the functionality of those devices plus a better camera, better reception due to the quad band feature, ability to play MP3s and a smaller form factor. Battery life is superior to the Treos.
The product comes with a battery, AC charger, USB charger/cradle, CD-ROM (for installing software on your PC), and a nearly 300 page manual. The manual is rather daunting until you realize that the contents are duplicated in Spanish. Most users won't bother to even open it up. The device is Bluetooth capable, but a headset is not included with the phone.
The internal screen is noticably smaller than that on the Treo/Blackberry devices, however the screen resolution is extremely fine and text can be read about as comfortably on the MPX220 as on the other devices. The screen is much brighter than on the other devices and I had no trouble using it outdoors in sunshine.
The Windows 2003 Smartphone software accomplishes its main task - enabling the user to access a MASS of features in an intuitive manner. I'd still rate the Palm OS and Blackberry desktops as slightly easier to use, but then again they have the advantage of needing to accomodate much fewer features. In contrast all three of these devices (Treo/Blackberry/mpx) are much easier to use than standard cell phones.
In fact given the low cost of the mpx device (mine was $300 for the pair), I can't see why anyone would get a normal (non-PDA) phone at anything over $100. People who are heavy users of email will still prefer full keyboard phones like the Treo/Blackberry. The mpx does have a text recognition AI system which does an excellent job when typing 90% of a message. However you'll still need to go into multi-tap mode when entering personal names, technical abbreviations, etc. As such, I think the closest comparable device would be the candybar Blackberry 7100t - but that device is more expensive, larger and lacks a camera.
I have noted that several reviews claimed the phone's volume output was too low. Either those people have an older version of the firmware (mine was 1.300) or they simply don't know how to use the phone. There are 8 (count 'em) profiles, each with their own range of sound volume and receiver sensitivity. The Normal setting's volume at the highest level is IMO too low. But this is easily solved by using a different profile. For example I use Max level on the Outdoor setting. Treo 300's had the exact same problem, which I solved the exact same way - I used the lowest volume on the Speakerphone setting.
Perhaps the advantages of the mpx are best illustrated by what happened to me two days ago. We had to drive to a business meeting about 40 miles away. My companion remarked about how frequently cell phones would be losing reception. On entire drive, my mpx was never less than 3 bars. Multiple times I was requested to place a call on my phone because the other phones would not function. On the return trip back, we popped the top on the convertible we were riding in. I placed a call in a top down convertible at 70 mph and had no difficulty whatsoever in hearing the call. Does that sound like a phone with a volume problem? Moreover because the Outdoor setting not only varies sound output but also reduces the range at which the microphone will take input, my voice output was not scratchy. The person to whom the call was placed later specifically remarked upon how normal the call sounded. Try that on a Treo on the speakerphone setting.
Bottom line: If you want a full featured phone but don't need a full keyboard, this is your phone. The dirt cheap price these phones go for compared to similar devices is simply insane.
34 Great phone
I bought phone without contract and I was amused that it came Unlocked! I popped in my old T-mobile SIM and it worked! My phone also featured latest firmware - 1.3.
35 MPX220 Excellent Smartphone ++Reception!++
The best feature on this phone is the reception. It will get several bars in places where the MPx200, even with Windows 2003, had no service. The MP3 sounds excellent and you can add unlimited programs to your phone with the addition of a mini SD card. Note, this phone takes MINI SD cards, not standard, and these have to be ordered online right now (Amazon.com sells them at far better prices than technology stores interestingly enough), so order one with your phone. An excellent investment.
36 This phone is a disaster!
I had my eye on this phone for quite some time, so once I heard Best Buy was carrying it, I ran to the store and purchased it this past October for $399 w/ 1 year contract extension. The phone had the famous low volume problem, which made the phone useless unless using the speakerphone or headset. Cingular/Motorola supposedly fixed the problem, and released the phone again with an updated firmware (the boxes were marked with an orange sticker). After Best Buy replaced my phone, I was very sad to find the updated model had even more problems! The volume is still VERY low and not fixed, and a number of additional bugs have been introduced. The most publicized problem being the Bluetooth headset problem. I eventually took the phone back, after a long battle with Best Buy and was given a store credit (now I'm stuck with an extended contract, and I could not get my replacement plan fees refunded).
I am not the only one with this problem. If you do a Google search using the keywords: MPX220, VOLUME PROBLEM, FIRMWARE, BLUETOOTH HEADSET PROBLEM... You will see NUMEROUS postings and reviews with the same complaints. Sad thing is Motorola tech support is not acknowledging the problem, nor is Cingular.
This entire experience made me a Motorola hater... This is very sad, because the phone does have some great features. The Quad-Band feature is great, and ensures you'll have reception all over the world. The Microsoft Smartphone software is AMAZING, and it was a joy not having to carry my PDA. Windows Media player is nice, and the expansion slot allows you to use the device as an MP3 player, camera, video recorder, etc. I would have to say this is one of the best Phone/PDA combos I have seen. Unfortunately, the volume problem makes the phone useless... And the numerous software bugs are impossible to overlook.
My advice, wait until January/February before giving this phone a try... If Cingular is still selling it, it probably means they fixed the problems. I doubt they will keep selling a defected unit that long, so if it is not resolved by then, they would probably stop selling it.
Most importantly, do your research on the net, and read what others have been saying. If the phone is improved, it will reflect in the buyers comments.
Hope this helps!
37 Warning: Do not purchase from Amazon yet!
There are three revisions of this phone. Two of them are broken. Amazon has failed to provide any information on which one they sell. Customer Service is no help, since all they know is what we all see on the product page. If you purchase this phone now, you may get one of the broken revisions. More specifically the working model has firmware version 1.3. The other revisions have major problems.
38 Excellent phone
Great phone. Got the bad firmware version but called up Cingular and just got the new one - 2 day turn around. Popped in the SIM and battery form the old phone, put the bad one in the return box and good to go. Note- you can get this phone from wirefly.com for $149! They did a great job and I got my phone 2 dya free shipping. I have waited 5 years for a phone like this- upgraded from my Sprint SCH-3500 ...
39 WOW! Fast. Cool, and if you aren't a camera freek, excellent
Phenominal phone with excellent quad band reception, battery life, and if you turn it up, good clarity. Motos have to be turned up during a phone call to stick at loud, and too many people don't realize that.
Screen fonts setup by Cingular are horrific and clear type option under accessibility settings does not engage (to fix it).
Otherwise fast, simple, non-bothersome workhorse. Big enough to grip too. Love it. Also have Audiovox SMT-5600 I am selling because it's way too small, but it has a much better screen, and not as good reception (tri band).
I used Moto 220 on my last trip and used it to photo work sites. They came out great on the computer.
Jaz
40 1.3 ROM
Has anyone ordered the phone from amazon and recieved one with the new 1.3 ROM??????
41 Great Phone!
This phone is awesome! I have had great luck with my Motorola MPX 220, and even better luck with Cingular's reception! However, Cingulars customer service is certainly not satisfactory, and if this review was for that, I would give it a 2. Why? When I first went to get my phone (Best Buy - $49.99), we couldn't connect to the Cingular network. After I was sick of waiting, an hour and a half mind you, I said enough is enough. I told them to get some answers and call me when they knew they could activate my phone. The next day, the Best Buy rep called me and said to come on down and get my phone, because he had just activated a persons phone from my same zip code. After driving there, (did I mention I live an hour away), we ran in to more problems. Not only could they not connect me, they couldn't even recognize the 989 area code. I was fed up, after all, half the state of Michigan is 989, so how could they're system not recognize it? An hour later I was back at home, having spent a total of 3 hours at Best Buy in 2 days. Finally, I got a call from them, drove on down, again, and had my phone activated. (My bill is however not coming to my house, but to my parents!) I have to say though, for all the trouble they gave me, they waived my activation fee and paid my first moths bill for me! Anyway, the phone, as stated in another review, has optimal performance with the new software! Make sure when you buy it, it has an orange sticker on the box! I got this phone for $49.99, but it retails for $299.99. For the money, I would upgrade to the new Motorola Razr V3. All in all though, for $49.99, this phone is a dream come true for a cheap phone enthusiast!
42 poor phone
I bought the phone at Thankgiving. It has a lot of problem with speaker phone, poor quality camera, bad battery. I just return and exchange the new one with the dot orange box. They told me update new software. But when I bring home and try. It come out the same old problem. Terrible phone. Don't ever buy this phone. Waste your money and time to figure out and test free for them
43 Great phone at a great price.
I purchased this phone from Best Buy on 11/26/04 on sale for $49.99 with a one-year contract. The first thing I noticed was the orange dot on the box of the phone. I was told that this phone was recalled and the orange sticker symbolizes that it has been fixed and is equipped with new software. Right away, I came to realize this phone had two major flaws. The earpiece volume in a call was extremely quiet and the camera released a greenish colored tint in all the pictures. I did some research and found that my software version was .342. New software that addressed these two issues was available from Cingular's Exchange By Mail program. Although the tech at Cingular assured me that I had the newest software, he still sent me a replacement phone to address my issues. I did receive the new software version 1.300 and here are my comments:
Reception (9/10)
On my original software version reception was horrible. The phone could not sustain a call at my work, nor at my house. Software version 1.300 is almost perfect. I get full service and crystal clear calls almost everywhere I go on a consistent basis. Only reason I give it a 9 is because of the short time period that I have had the phone.
Phone Build Quality (9/10)
This phone feels very sturdy does not feel like it is cheaply made like my last Motorola product (Motorola T720). I am very impressed with the job that Motorola did on the sturdiness of this phone. The flip gives a nice solid "click" when flipping it open and closed.
Battery Life (10/10)
Better than any phone I have ever owned. I am a heavy cell phone user and by the end of the day, I only lose one notch on the battery meter out of the three notches.
User Interface (9/10)
At first this phone seemed a little complicated, but Windows Mobile 2003 is actual pretty easy to use. It syncs up with my home PC with no problems using the included USB data cable. It automatically converts mp3 audio files and movie files automatically to work on the phone. Windows media player is great feature on this work and so far has worked flawlessly for me.
Camera/Camcorder Quality (8/10)
The camera on this phone is 1.23 mega pixels and takes pictures at a maximum resolution of 1280x960. The image quality of the camera is pretty good. Considering it is a phone and not a 5 mega pixel digital camera, I feel that the camera is pretty good. Camcorder runs smoothly and will record as much video as you have memory for. It will not stop at 15 seconds like most of the cellular phones on the market today.
Earpiece/Speaker (5/10)
The earpiece on my .342 software was absolutely unusable. It was extremely quiet. The upgraded 1.300 software resolved the issue to an extent. It is usable now but in a noisy environment, it is not. I really feel that it could be louder but for most, it is usable. The speaker is fairly loud for ring tones, but in my opinion, it is too quiet for an actual speakerphone call. The speakerphone itself is half-duplex like most other phones on the market so it is mainly used when I am on hold.
Overall, I am in love with this phone. The earpiece is a major selling point with me and I am hoping that with a new software update, it will get louder. Other than the earpiece this phone is everything I have ever wanted. The only thing this phone cannot do is make my coffee in the morning. For $49.99, I won't be complaining anytime soon.
44 Buyer Beware - Unless You are Lucky
I have read many reviews about this phone, and it appears that it has exhibited multiple problems. Also, Cingular had pulled the phone from its sales, but the dealer would not say exactly all the reasons; however, he did mention that the earpiece was defective. But, if you were lucky on black Friday, you could have gotten a "fixed" one from Bestbuy or the day before on Bestbuy.com with a nice rebate. Now, the equation is complex, so take your chance. It's too bad that good old Moto (like a Chevy) could not produce a better quality phone, given the number of people who would like the features this phone has to offer. But, please, who wants a phone that you can't see in daylight, fuzzy pictures, locks-up....anything else? If only, I got one for 50 dollars, maybe I would not complain? How many stars would you give it? I was hard pressed at two.
45 Cool features, mediocre implementation/hardware, great s/w
The MPX220 phone has a lot of cool/impressive features - Bluetooth, quad band, miniSD card, voice dialing, speakerphone, mp3/video player, lots of memory built-in (64MB ROM/32MB RAM), USB cable and outlook sync, etc.
However, both the hardware and implementation / layouts of the different functions are mediocre at best.
Lots of firmware problems - look at mpx200.org -> Microsoft SmartPhones -> Motorola 2nd Generation and there have been a couple of recalls already. Would not be suprised if there was a class action suit on this phone!
The software is top notch - brings up numbers as you type etc.
If you have paid over $50, then you have paid too much.
For $50, the phone is an excellent buy.
Good points
1. Feature-laden - quadband, expandable memory etc.
2. Comes with USB sync and charge cable w/ Outlook and sync
3. Bluetooth works fine with firmware version 0.342
4. 1 Megapixel Camera
5. Phone is unlocked and can be used w/ other overseas SIMs when traveling. All Cingular world GSM phones are unlocked per Cingular Business Customer Service.
6. Speakerphone not bad - works as advertised, not extremely loud, but can be made so using outdoor profile.
On the other hand,
1. Weighs over 6 oz
2. Larger and longer than other phones such as Samsung E715
3. Does not come with any holster, carrying case
4. Camera pictures are so-so and washed out.
5. May need reboot occassionally if it hangs (remove battery)
Make sure you buy using Amex or other card that provides extended maintenance in case it needs to be sent to Motorola for reflashing firmware (to fix bugs such as speaker volume etc.).
46 incredible
This phone is beautiful. Tons of features, my mom jus got it for me for xmas (early lol). Camera is absolutely incredible for a cell phone. 1280x960, all the way down to 120x76 (?) or around there. Flash is decent. Filming is nice, makes good litte clips. Expandable slot (going to buy one of those) for mini (not normal sd!!) cards. Pretty cheap, google them. 64mb should be enough. Tons of features, full internet (IE)....downloadable programs (google - for programs)....lots of nice things. External display is great, u can put ur own pic in there. Anything u can think of, this thing probly has it. It plays videos, music (mp3), and everything else.
150% reccommend it.
47 Big disappointment
This phone has features that sound great in theory but in reality they don't work as advertised.
I purchased this phone from BestBuy and tested another piece at BestBuy's store and both had the same problem: "Speakerphone is just useless", regular phone speaker appears just little less loud (it's not very loud to start with) at highest setting than this phone's speakerphone set to the highest volume. I checked the ROM version and it was 0.342 which is supposed to be the one which fixed this problem, but it looks like it didn't. If you use speakerphone often better stay far away from this phone.
Second major problem is that screen is almost unreadable on external light, especially on a clear day.
Third problem is that is very difficult to use this phone while driving because operations like finding a number in the phone book or turning on the speakerphone always require few additional keystrokes than the regular phones due to multi-menu based navigation interface which can be few levels deep.
Fourth major problem is the camera which is of very poor quality, cheapo phone like Motorala V400 takes photos with much better image quality although it's camera has lower resolution.
Phone is not really made to be primarly cell phone with additional features, but rather the opposite. Some simple voice communication features are made overly complex. Good point is that many features can be customized to high extent but you pay the price in lack of simplicity and user friendliness.
I bought this phone because I wanted to get a phone with camera, speakerphone and few additional calendar/scheduling features and out of these 3 features that I wanted only calendar/scheduling seems to be useable, but that feature I can get in much cheaper phones. Speakerphone didn't really work and camera was quite bad, so it didn't make much sense for me to pay over $300 for it. You would expect that a phone with this price tag would have some decent build quality while MPx 220 has below average build quality. It would've been a nice phone if all it's features would work as advertised.
48 Great Phone- Once you go Smart you never go Dumb.
I just got this phone 2 days ago, as an upgrade from my ageing T720. A huge step up. It is considered a medium to large flip phone. It is the same size as the T720 (including antenna). I do not consider it large, plus I like that it feels like a full sized phone when opened and in use. This is a business oriented phone and has the features to back it up. But the entertaining media features are why I bought this phone.
Design: The antenna that seems to go across the top of the phone may only seem odd in pictures, but is actually not. It also makes holding the phone open more comfortable. Button layout is good. And the internal screen is colorful and big (2 inches diagonally).
My only problem here seems to be that the phone's left side earpiece volume rocker is too easily changed. This only changes the level of sound in the earpiece (not speaker phone or ring tones). It is the only button that is not recessed into the phone's side. (I wish it was) Power and camera button on sides work fine. While the phones external screen turns off after a few seconds to save power, hitting the volume button quickly turns it on to let you see the time and date as well as battery and antenna levels. It's a trade off here useful and bothersome, but after a while its fine.
Features: The camera's quality is another problem for some people. It is a mega pixel camera, but its pictures lack the fine detail of other comparable camera phones. The highest resolution pics are "1280 X 960". They look fine in bright outdoor settings. Any where else and the pics quality get noticeably worse. I would not even try to use it at night.(unless very well lighted) It does have a flash, but should only be used for face shots only a few feet away. Even then at night the pics may be ok to view for awhile, and then delete.
All that said I could have typed 10 times more about how great this phone is. I just wanted to let you know what some of the problems were and how they might annoy you.
The GOOD :
+++ Voice clarity (quad band = better reception in more places)
+++ Speaker phone (loud and clear)
+++ Windows Media Player 9 (allows mp3 and video playback) I can watch recorded TV from my PC on the player and listen with the speaker phone. Just use "Windows Media Encoder 9", and their "Pocket PC" setting. It can even encode clips taken with my Canon camera. (Note: the larger or longer the media the longer it will take to encode.) Runs clips at 259KB per second. Look fine with little to no lag. (4 min clip = 6.5mb) Clips can be run sideways in full screen mode. There are no fast forward or rewind options.
+++ Easy sync with PC (Sync calendar, contacts, task, inbox)
+++ Bluetooth (I haven't used this feature yet)
+++ Mini SD expansion (now available up to 256mb, soon 512) great for packing in music, video or pics from other sources.
+++ Runs newest version of Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition.
The phone works great, plays mp3's and video. This alone will justify the cost. The fact that it is a smart phone means that there are many more applications that can be added to this phone. (check www.handango.com for more) This makes it more that worth it, this is a great phone.
49 Nice phone, Cingular dissapointing
It seems as though Cingular has crippled certain Bluetooth protocals in the MPX220. I bought one at BestBuy, and returned it whe I realized that I could not connect it to my computer with Bluetooth. I will be waiting for an unlocked, non Cingular branded version to purchase.
As for the phone itself, well I would give it 5 stars if it weren't for Cingular. I will say that the return and cancellation process went smoothly (so far, haven't received final bill yet!)
50 Very good device
I have been using this phone for a week now and the low ear-piece volume is not a big problem for me, though I have to turn it all the way up. I have tried it on the streets but not in a mall. BTW, the bad version is .325 and the good version is .342. One constant annoyance is the volume button on the side gets too easily changed. That means every time you use the phone, you may accidentally change the volume. The digital camera is a joke so only use it when you have to...like in a car accident. Also don't expect the phone to run Excel or Word like in the pocket PC...I was disappointed in that. But if you are a developer, you can easily write .NET programs for it...way cool. The voice recognition is the best: it can dial the digits you said, it can dial the phone book entry without you pre-recorded the voice for it. The solitaire doesn't have the draw-one option...disappointing. Reception and sound clarity are the best I have ever experienced. Just these 2 are worth getting it. Also you can use it as an MP3 player...it accepts up to 512 Meg MiniSD card so you can have a day's worth of high quality songs to enjoy...be sure to get a stereo headset, though. Battery is very good. I suspect it can last a few days in my normal use which isn't much.
51 Excellent phone with few flaws...
If you're looking for a phone/PDA with "phone first" functions, you can stop looking. This little beauty is lightning fast, and has four different GSM bands giving unmatched reception. GSM reception had previously been a problem for me, but with this phone I have yet to see any calls dropped. It runs Microsoft's "Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition" operating system, meaning that it has outlook and email functions that are second to none. Your productivity will skyrocket soon after learning how to use all it's bells and whistles. It's also the fastest Microsoft smartphone to date, giving you excellent performance when running compatible programs.
One thing to note- The very early versions of this phone had low volume, but that is being corrected now with a ROM update. If you buy this phone and your ROM version is under .342, you may want to update. Calling Motorola customer service will make the process go painlessly.
You can check your ROM version by hitting the left soft key labeled "Start", then selecting "Settings", and "About". The Rom version is listed on the "Manufacturer: ..." line.
Good Luck and Good Choice!
