Motorola RAZR2 V9

The Motorola Razr V9 is clearly the come-back kid!

Its distant cousin, the original Razr, did for “slim” what the iPhone did for “touch”. But trouble lurked as the novelty wore off, necessitating numerous firmware updates, problems with weak hinges, faulty displays, and so on.

The Motorola Razr V9 is much more than just the latest incarnation of the Razr franchise. In fact, it’s a marvelous, well-constructed device packed with technology so fresh the designers are only now lifting their fingers from their programming keyboards!

For example, the Motorola RAZR2 sounds great, both ways, due to the companies’ latest, and best, voice technology ever: Crystaltalk. Crystaltalk uses a technology not unlike Bluetooth 2.0, which samples ambient sound and makes appropriate corrections on-the-fly. This means that if you are talking near a busy street corner and then go inside a building, the modulation remains consistent. Crystaltalk is clearly superior sound (pun definitely intended, as I think of them so rarely).

Another great feature is the addition of a 2.0” high resolution external screen, complimenting the 2.2” internal screen. Both displays provide vibrant colors and crisp text.

The Razr V9 also comes with “See What I Can See” capability, which allows users to share video in real time. You can talk to and see the person you are talking to, or stream other video, all while maintaining the call. “Can you see me now?” Hmmm.

The Razr V9 may look like just a shiny, stylish flip, but it packs considerable functionality. It uses Opera Mobile for its’ browser, uses the OZ Mobile Email program which handles Yahoo!, AOL and Windows Live. Also, OZ runs in the background, regularly pushing Yahoo! Email to you.

Included with phone is MySpace Mobile, MobiTV / MediaFlo and XM Radio. Unfortunately, all of these applications are buried three levels deep. You can, however, assign these apps to the home screen via an obscure setting menu.

The Razr V9 also syncs both Napster and Yahoo music and using Windows Media Player, can stream video as well.

An ironic downside to this fine device is that because it runs on HSDPA, the fastest data speed evolution yet, it places a significant drain on the V9’s otherwise most powerful battery to date: a 920 mAh BX50. Still, you’ll enjoy about 3.5 hours of talk time should you take advantage of the V9’s full suite of features, and perhaps longer if you primarily make calls and and send text messages.

Overall, this phone really has all the features everyday cell phone users want, packaged with style and flair. With a little key customization, you can place some of the buried apps in a more convenient location.

Features Include:

• – Touch-sensitive external music keys
• – Independent Voice Recognition
• – Video Telephony and See What I Can See capable
• – Stereo BT
• – Up to 2G external memory

The V9 received the PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award.

by Scot Cerullo