Sporting a silver aluminum casing and a sturdy flip design, the trimode Motorola V60i combines an intuitive user interface with handy features such as caller ID, voice-activated dialing, and SMS messaging, making it an excellent choice for basic day-to-day business use. With the V60i, Motorola kept all that was good with its predecessor, the V60t, and added some impressive upgrades such as interchangeable faceplates, the option to download ringers, as well as a few new games.
Tiny is the trend these days, and the V60i fits right in, measuring a minute 4.11 by 1.81 by 0.83 inches, and weighing only 3.4 ounces. Once the phone is flipped open, it feels quite small, but still is remarkably comfortable to use, regardless of the size of your hands.
At first glance, we were struck by the phone’s stylish exterior. Constructed of a lightweight aluminum, the casing feels solid, but not clunky. The casing is also highly resistant to scratching, unlike the plastic design of similar counterparts, and held up very well when we dropped it on an office floor.
The external LCD screen is another welcome feature, with caller ID alerts that did not require flipping the phone open. The headset jack is on the very top edge of the phone, a nice touch that keeps the headset cord untangled during use. With a special stereo radio headset from Motorola (sold separately), the phone can access FM radio. Compared to other phones this size, the V60i’s stub antenna did seem a bit large, making it difficult to slip the phone into a pocket comfortably.
Once we flipped the phone open and hit the power button, it took only six seconds for the phone to power up completely, the oval-framed four-line screen revealing improved graphics and quick access to the phone book and message menus. The keypad is comfortably designed, with the keys nicely spaced and just slightly raised, making for fumble-free dialing, while still maintaining the phone’s thin profile. Some phones tend toward top-heaviness when open, but the V60i is nicely balanced--a definite bonus for the thumb-dialers out there. Such balance is also important for accurate use of the phone’s side panel buttons. The buttons on the left side of the phone control call and ring volume, including the ability to discreetly silence a call or switch the phone to vibrate during a meeting. The button on the phone’s right side controls two different voice features. A quick press of the button activates voice dialing, while a press-and-hold move activates the voice recorder.
Three buttons below the screen and just above the numeric keypad basically control the phone. The key under the left corner of the screen gave us quick access to the phone book, and pressing the right key brought up the phone’s message menu, which keeps a listing of voice mail, text messages, and e-mails close at hand. The centrally located Up/Down key made scrolling the phone’s menu simple, and we were able to choose from a list of seven options fairly easy. That said, browsing the menu is not overly intuitive, and while this new interface was designed to give the user the ability to customize the menu to his or her needs, it could still use a bit of improvement. It took us quite awhile to figure out how to set up the voice-activated calling and short-cut features. How to delete a name from the address book was a mystery for longer than we’d like. Once we got voice-activated dialing set up, it was fun to use, and the sound was crystal clear, allowing us store up to 20 names for voice-activated dialing. The shortcut feature was new to us, and involved preprogramming a number or voice command that connects directly to any item on the phone’s menu, such as the date book or phone book. We were able to create a shortcut after some practice, programming the "1" key as the hot key to access the date book. We also recorded the word "date book" as a voice command to reach the same feature. By taking the time to sit down and preprogram the phone with similar shortcuts, and combined with the use of a headset, the V60 becomes almost completely hands-free.
The V60i also features a handful of other tools tailored for the business user. Besides text messaging, voice mail, and e-mail, it also works as a memo recorder. The voice-notes program lets you record notes to yourself, and the notes are saved for your aural perusal whenever you need them. To record a voice note, we pressed and held the button on the right side of the phone, and we were able to record a 20-second message. The phone is can hold about two minutes of voice notes, which is fine for recording ideas on the way to the office. Many of the phone’s personalization features, including the short cuts, quick-dial programming, date book, and even the ring settings, seem ideally suited for use in the business world. Our phone included 26 different ring tones, ranging from beeps, to sonatas, to funk (we were fond of the Uh-Oh ringer), along with five vibrate patterns to help you silently differentiate between voice mails, text messages, and calls. The V60i includes PIM functionality, and you can buy the TrueSync software and cable from Motorola to synch info on your phone with the calendar and phone book on your Windows PC. The one major business tool missing from the V60i is a wireless Web browser.
The V60i’s battery life was consistent with Motorola’s guidelines of 240 minutes of digital talk time, and 190 hours of digital standby time--good battery usage for a phone of this caliber. With no games or Web browser to drain the battery, charging the phone is a pleasantly rare occurrence.
On the whole, we find the Motorola V60i a solid, practical phone, ideal for the business user, and a refreshing addition to the AT&T Wireless phone family.
--Heather Campbell
Pros:
- Stylish, yet sturdy design
- External LCD screen with caller ID
- Menus customizable to suit user
- Voice-activated dialing and shortcut features
- Capable of e-mail and SMS messaging
Cons:
- No wireless Web browser
- Bulky antenna
How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time
When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.
Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.
To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.
1 Avoid this phone
This V60 joins a long line of very bad Motorola handsets I have had the displeasure of owning. I will no longer be getting any Motorola phones.
Bad:
1. Very low battery life. This phone needed to be charged at least every other day and I didn't talk too much on it (60min/day).
2. Not intuitive. Menus were not where you would think they should be placed. The SELECT and CANCEL buttons changed places depending on the menu. This was very annoying. Either keep the button on the right or the left at all times. Contacts were poorly organized. Most people have several numbers that could be organized under one entry, i.e. John Smith. Mobile, Home, Work, etc. This phone had a different entry for each type of number. Why not use a regular directory tree like Samsung or Nokia!?!?!
3. B/W screen for the price of a color... What a deal? This phone costs the same as the Nokia 6015, but gives you a state of the art (1990s) two color screen! What a deal!
Good:
Replaced the phone with a Nokia 6015. No problems since.
Don't walk away from this phone, run! It seems like this phone was designed as an afterthought....
2 Excellent phone, never had a problem
I've owned this phone for over a year and never had any problems with it. Good reception too. If you have bad reception then its the provider not the phone. And if you wanted all the bells and whistles (mp3, color etc.) then you shouldn't have bought this phone in the first place.
3 zero customer service when things go wrong
After 2 antennas I called their customer service looking for an explanation and/or warranty consideration. I should have just talked into the phone before dialing....for all the good it did. This phone was not used as a football. It was treated like a $400 jewel. Yet, just using the phone gently seemed to break antennas, I think due to the property of most metals called "work hardening" - ie when you use a metal (antenna) too much, it eventually becomes brittle and then breaks. So I built my own. Take a piece of speaker wire about 4 inches long, expose some strands at one end. Remove the old antenna base. Jam the wire into the hole and secure it by snapping the back case over it. It's work fine that way for me for a couple of years now, better than the original antenna(s).
4 Dissappointed
for $145 this phone should have color, web browsering, and mp3 tones. The antenna broke on my phone and everyone else who who bough this phone. Even with the antenna i had a hard time getting dignals anywhere, while my friend's samsung worked fine.
5 Best product for use as a comunication device
The Motorola V60 cellular phone is the best phone i have ever owned. It is a very simple to use phone, yet for the more advanced users, you could get it to do almost anything you wanted. The phone always had a great signal in comparison to other phones i have owned with the same service provider. The phone was very compact, and its best feature of all was the battery. It would fully charge in only 3 hours, while it would last up to ten days on standby. During periods of normal use, i could get by with only charging the phone every 6 days or so. I really hope the new Motorola color phone that is taking the place of the V60 lives up to its predecessor.
6 DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE
It is a total piece of junk.
The antenna will break every 3-6 months. I also have experienced the problems reported by another user where the phone turns off by itself, etc. This is my last Motorola phone. I just ordered a new Samsung.
7 OH MY GOD..tengo un v60 virgoo... vacilatelo enrique marquez
Estas lineas van dedicadas al magnifico!... El prof. y diputado a la asamblea de la repœblica, Ciudadano Enrique M‡rquez (por cierto, salimos de circuitos ya... Estamos volando verdad prof!):
OH MY GOD.... ahora puedo echar pinta con un perol de estos... solo me faltan los cobres y el civic 2003 en el estacionamiento!!!
perro e'ca–ada (edicson parra), ya puedo grabar la conversaci—n de la wona (andrea) diciendole vainas al WON (Jaime Villa)...
pilas won... mira vale tu si eres linda wonaaa(andrea)!
cara e nalga, vamos a destruir el imperio... gisus HENTAIIIIII
no tengo nada mas que decir, esto es un rato de mucha pelaz—n!
8 Do Not Buy
This phone is total junk. I would have given it a rating of zero stars if the option were available. Problems include--shutting off on it's own in standby--shutting off during coversations--won't turn on--ring tones changing to silent mode by themselves--need I go on? I feel fortunate that I did not have to use this phone during a life-threatening emergency. I have owned several cell phones over the last 10 years including another Motorola (which was also junk) and am not cell phone "illiterate". These problems are not due to "operational error". I see some of the same problems with this phone that I had years ago with another Motorola. You would think they would get a clue. No more Motorolas for me.
9 love this phone
i have had no trouble with this little phone. it is small enough to carry in just about any pocket, and very light. the antenna is just fine as long as you use this phone responsibly and take reasonable care. it is very easy to use with one hand while driving, walking, etc. i have used it on military duty with no problems, submitting it to harsh weather, sand, rain, etc and it has never failed me. i am sorry to see it discontinued.
10 Great Phone-But Needs Work
I bought this phone about 3 years ago and I have had no problems with it functioning. The menus and functions are easy to use thanks to the idiot proof programing.
However, I have always had a hard time hearing out of it while in any place where there is noise. I can almost never use it in the car while driving unless I have it hooked up to the $100.00 Hands Free Car Kit. Even when I use it at home, I have to put the TV on mute and shut off fans, radios, etc.
The other problem with this phone, is that the antenna is large and not sturdy. It broke off about 2 1/2 years after I bought it but I always keep it in my pocket. I think it stood up well to my abuse but I think Motorola should redesign this antenna.
So overall a great phone, but it would be even better if it was redesign by Motorola to fix these two problems
11 Worst reception on any phone I've ever had
I give this phone 1 star because it has a great speaker phone, which I do like. Otherwise, DON'T get this phone. I've never had a phone with such bad reception. If I'm on my own breezeway, where 2 walls aren't even solid, if I turn my head the wrong way, my voice starts chopping up. My friend's husband just bought this phone also, and is having the same experience with it. In their case their ancient 4 year old brick of a phone had 10 times the reception of this one.
I am extremely annoyed that Motorola would charge so much money for this piece of junk, and next year when my contract is up with Verizon I'll switch to another company that thinks more of its customers than to sell them crap.
Got it! DONT get it!!
12 Good thing this phone is discontinued...
Don't buy this phone. I've had one for little over a year, bought as an emergency, light-use phone. The antenna broke off and the charger doesn't charge the phone unless you plug it in and out a few times. Now I have to buy a new phone since the repair costs aren't worth it.
13 worst phone i have ever owned
antenna breaks constantly, user interface is abysmal, the reception even when new, is poor at best. stay away like the plague
