vB Easy Archive - V3xx experience (limited)/ My search for a new phone

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V3xx experience (limited)/ My search for a new phone
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Posted by: switchbak

Some of this was originally posted by me in another thread. Since I would like to continue the discussion and ask for help picking out my new phone, I thought it best to start a new thread and discontinue the hijacking of another.

Let me start by saying I came to this site today to look for an alternative to motorola. My V3 has performed well( great battery life, reception) but is falling apart and the inner screen is nearly unviewable. I just got a V3xx yesterday to replace my V3. I am not impressed. I don't care about the 3G or web or any of that stuff. I would just like a nice flip phone that has great call reception and is comfortable in my front pants pocket. I have to say side by side my old beat up v3 sounded better inside my house. I called and asked for call tag to send back.

I would also like to get some opinions/suggestions on Att flip phone options. Looking around at different customer reviews I see a huge difference in opinions. The power users seem to have the most knowledge but are looking at different things than a regular user like me who just wants a nice small flip phone with good voice reception and bluetooth that works good in the car so I'm ok when the handsfree law goes into effect.The more I look, the more undecided I become.

Maybe I need to reconsider my preference for flip phone. It's just that I am concerned that I will scratch the display making it unviewable but my v3 display got dust/lint behind the screen so...

Anyway, I started looking at the se 580 and LG shine but I see some unimpressive reviews on those. My primary concerns are call quality battery life and durability(including ability to see the display after some mileage)

V3xx update:

Since the phone was already here and it will take a few days for the call tags to get here I decided to go ahead and give the V3xx chance, after carrying the phone for half a day I think the call quality is acceptable but...

Phone was off this morning with a dead battery. I only made like three calls yesterday for a total of less than 10 min., I used the camera for <5 min., accidentally launched the browser a couple times, and syncronized using phone tools to get the contacts from my old V3. When i tried turning the phone on while plugged into charger the phone would not stay on, Is this normal?

Posted by: MissAllison

that doesnt sound very normal. I have a v3xx and have had it for quite some time and havent had any of those problems. =/

Posted by: switchbak

Maybe this one is a lemon.

Could the old Cingular SIM card be causing problems?

Posted by: neonbright

I do believe you have a dud. My hubby both have the original grey, he has a red (hasn't seen it yet he is deployed) and I got a pink. I love my V3xx, battery life for me with bluetooth, texting and just talking, this phone last me 2-3 days.

Posted by: xsrider8

yeah you probably have a lemon. My V3xx has great reception. It would make calls where a regular V3 couldnt. and about the battery did you fully charge it cause mine would last 3 days.

Posted by: GearTripper

V3xx is the best flip I've ever used, and I hate flips.

Posted by: stevefo

I tried so many phones.

Samsung SGH-a737 & SLM SGH-a747: LOW earpiece volume and very choppy audio quality.

Samsung Blackjack 2: Reception issues.

LG: CU 575 & CU 515: CU 515 has low earpiece volume and hollow sound. CU 575 is better.

Nokia: I gave up on them 3 years ago. They had to lower their quality standards in the U.S. to compete. Not impressed with some reviews I read.

SE: Low earpiece volume and choppy audio quality.

Motorola V3, V3xx, V9 and Motorola Q Global: The best call audio quality and volume on at&t's current lineup.

If you are dead against Motorola. Go with LG CU575. This would be my second choice as of right now. It has bad battery life. Any 3G phone will not have that great of battery life.

Posted by: zephxiii

I have a v3xx among other phones, the only thing i hate about it is iTap.

Posted by: switchbak

Yep, this one must be a dud.

Sitting here at my computer I can't even check my voicemail without the call dropping and the screen goes white. I put my SIM card back into my V3 and it works fine, I just can hardly see the display(internal). Oh, and by the way, I like the external display on the V3 better than the one on the V3xx.

Is it possible that my old cingular SIM card is creating some kind of problem? I noticed the new AT&T card they sent has 3G logo on it. I just took the card from my V3 and put into the V3xx so I wouldn't have to mess with the activation.

I'm starting to think that maybe I should just buy another V3 w/o contract extension and wait for something better to come along.

I really have been happy with my V3's battery life and reception. I was kind of looking forward to get the newer better version but the V3xx they sent me has been totally disappointing.

Thanks for the replies!

Posted by: neonbright

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchbak

Yep, this one must be a dud.

Sitting here at my computer I can't even check my voicemail without the call dropping and the screen goes white. I put my SIM card back into my V3 and it works fine, I just can hardly see the display(internal). Oh, and by the way, I like the external display on the V3 better than the one on the V3xx.

Is it possible that my old cingular SIM card is creating some kind of problem? I noticed the new AT&T card they sent has 3G logo on it. I just took the card from my V3 and put into the V3xx so I wouldn't have to mess with the activation.

I'm starting to think that maybe I should just buy another V3 w/o contract extension and wait for something better to come along.

I really have been happy with my V3's battery life and reception. I was kind of looking forward to get the newer better version but the V3xx they sent me has been totally disappointing.

Thanks for the replies!

I would say get a new sim and change out that dude of a V3xx.

Posted by: rm -rf

My opinion, irrelevant as it may be, on the original question, is that if I wanted a basic flip from ATT that was not Motorola, I'd try the Nokia 6555. I played with one long enough to figure it to be worth a try.

Posted by: vietalogy

I had n95, iphone, and a few others and came back to my v3xx. Last abut 3 days for me with 3g.

Posted by: zephxiii

6555 should be nice, but looks too feminine imo

Posted by: kaibob

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchbak

I don't care about the 3G or web or any of that stuff.

The 3G network carries both voice and data. If this network has been or will be activated in your area, you need to be concerned with 3G .

When I first got my V3xx, I used an older 3G SIM card, but the phone would not work on the 3G network. I got a new card, and everything was fine. So, try a new SIM card in your V3xx.

Most people are of the opinion that the V3 is inferior to the V3xx as to call quality. It would appear that your V3xx either has a SIM problem or is defective.

I have not had any major problems with the battery life of the V3xx. It's not great, but that's true of most new phones--just try a few of the Nokia's.

BTW, if you just don't like the V3xx, then by all means send it back. But, if reception and call quality are important, I don't think anyone can recommend a phone that is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the V3xx.

Posted by: walkguru

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: MOT-RAZRV3xx/96.B0.0AR BER2.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; 11073156) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 Opera 8.00 [en] UP.Link/6.3.1.17.06.3.1.17.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissAllison

that doesnt sound very normal. I have a v3xx and have had it for quite some time and havent had any of those problems. =/

same here.

Posted by: switchbak

Thank You, I really appreciate all the responses!

I will be returning this platinum anyway as I did not realize that even though I got it through premier they stick you with 2yr commit.

Since the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive on the V3xx, I am thinking that I may get a gray V3xx for fifty bucks from the moto store. Good price and I like the no deductible protection plan they offer.

Does anybody know if they count minutes when on the web with media max 200?

Posted by: zephxiii

the gun metal grey is a nice color, i like it a lot, moreso than the platinum

Posted by: kaibob

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchbak

...Since the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive on the V3xx, I am thinking that I may get a gray V3xx for fifty bucks from the moto store. Good price and I like the no deductible protection plan they offer....

That's interesting. I didn't know that you could sign up with AT&T on the Motorola site. Too bad they don't do upgrades--they have the V9 for $199.99.

I happened to notice that the prices of the V3xx vary depending on the color. They include $49.99 for gray, $74.99 for platinum, $74.99 for ruby red, and $3.99 for pink. I guess pink hasn't sold well (LOL).

Posted by: switchbak

Quote:

Originally Posted by modred

Select phones w/plans on the left. It looks like all the carriers are there.

I thought I saw upgrades with contract extension for little more. yep, $249 for V9 w/contract extension. Click buy then on the left you will see ATT customers link

My contract obligation is up, so I can buy from motostore, amazon, or wherever

Posted by: kaibob

Thanks Switchbak--I had to search around for a bit but finally found it.

Posted by: yardman

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchbak

Thank You, I really appreciate all the responses!

I will be returning this platinum anyway as I did not realize that even though I got it through premier they stick you with 2yr commit.

Since the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive on the V3xx, I am thinking that I may get a gray V3xx for fifty bucks from the moto store. Good price and I like the no deductible protection plan they offer.

Does anybody know if they count minutes when on the web with media max 200?

wrong..the deductible is 50 bucks thru asurion/lockline

Posted by: switchbak

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardman

wrong..the deductible is 50 bucks thru asurion/lockline

from the motostore website:

"...Device Protection Service gives you hassle-free repair or replacement of your phone in case of damage or loss through the National Cellular Owners Association for only $49.99 per phone for one year with NO deductible...."

Posted by: yardman

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchbak

but theyre charging you 49.99 for every replacement phone....lockline phones are technically free but there is a 50 buck deductible..so your saving 1 penny by not having the deductible

Posted by: switchbak

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardman

but theyre charging you 49.99 for every replacement phone....lockline phones are technically free but there is a 50 buck deductible..so your saving 1 penny by not having the deductible

What!?

The way I read it, I pay 49.99 once instead of 5 bucks a month or whatever the others charge. So instead of 60 bucks a year per phone, it's 50 bucks a year per phone.

If I lose the phone with one plan in the 12th month I'm out $110, with the other I'm out 49.99. Right?

Posted by: yardman

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchbak

yea your right..i didnt know you didnt have to pay a deductiblethats a real good deal....but i would double check that no deductible thing just to make sure...lockline charges me 5 bucks per month and a 50 dollar deductible...

Posted by: switchbak

Well I decided to get an unlocked V3 replacement for now and wait for more phone options to come available.

the menu is a little bit differenent but everything seemed to work ok 'til I tried to make a long distance call. I get call failed. I called Att customer support and after a few calls they said it's a phone issue and I should contact the warranty dept. I didn't purchase the phone from Att so I have not bothered with the warranty dept.

does anybody have any suggestions on how to remedy this?

Posted by: zephxiii

Yea, get rid of the v3, it is an old terrible platform, with crap QC! Better off with a nokia 6126 gophone refurb

Posted by: timbre

Or if your not past your 30 days yet then bring the v3xx back to the store and if you get a nice mgr then they will swap it out for another one. Unfortunately Moto has quality control chip problems, especially noticable if use Cellular Video where when weak 3G will lock up when network changes over to Edge (should just pause and rebuffer). You need to condition the battery too (Search). If you get good ones, everything considered, the v3xx and v9 are still the best. All brands have some duds.