New phone

I've sent a text message (Or at least I think I've sent a text
message, one can't tell with new phones) to about 10 of you giving my
new mobile number.

If you haven't got it and think you want it please email me and I'll
give it to you.

Ta.

 

Feed lines R us.

Oh, I've got a new mobile too.

 

On Sat, 9 Sep 2006 12:41:24 +0100,

I bet it's not a Motorola Fusion RAZR v3b.

 

Out of interest:

a) Have you had Motorola phones before?
b) What influenced you to buy the RAZR?
c) What's your favourite feature on the RAZR?

 

Oh look, free market research!

 

<fx: darsy>

It's shite.

 

And I'd have got away with it if it wasn't for you meddling...

 

The hype.

It worked with my iMac (till I washed it anyway). I replaced it with a
SLVR.

<fx: darsy> Stupid septic.

But it works with my iMac, see. Besides, I couldn't get one of those
Sony W801 whiz bang phones here.

 

Yes, I had a Motorola c520 and an L7089e TimePort (Tri-band) back in
the day. I've used Nokia and S-E (Tri-band) phones since but decided
I wanted a change.

It's not a standard Quad-band RAZR v3 for a start, it's a Motorola
Fusion RAZR v3b which means it has a very interesting feature which
makes no sense as a business plan: Calls at *real* land line rates
from your mobile (Although there is a monthly subscription)

Along with the "BT Total Broadband" package one has the option to use
"BT Fusion." BT Fusion uses a Fusion RAZR v3b as a handset. BT
Fusion is the network (but it's actually re-branded Vodafone) and the
RAZR works like any other RAZR when out and about. However, when at
HOME the RAZR 'roams' from the GSM network onto your home[1] wireless
network (via Bluetooth) seamlessly. What does this mean? Well, the
GSM signal is deactivated and all of your calls are routed as GSM data
via the BT HomeHub (glorified yet very functional router.)

I've used the BT Broadband Talk service before on a normal phone and
the quality is fine, but for BT Fusion the quality is very good
quality - exactly the same as with a normal GSM mobile phone call. As
no air space is being used there is no real cost so the call is
charged at landline rates which are something like 5p for an hour. You
can upgrade to the Evenings & Weekend service for another £2 which
means you have unlimited evening and weekend calls but at 5p a pop I
don't think it's worth it.

When someone calls your mobile number and you're at home it's also
routed via the HomeHub.

When I say the service is seamless I really mean it. I walk into
range of the HomeHub which appears to cover the entire street and the
phone's Bluetooth light flashes once every 5 seconds. Go out of range
and it's back on the normal GSM network. If I start a call at home
and walk out the door, down the road to go out and about the call
flips from the HomeHub to GSM without so much as a click or crackle
which IIRC was called Hot Roaming back in the day (Having a
conversation on a UK network on a ferry, go over to France and the
call hops over to the French network without disconnection.)

Umm, vibrate.

I've only been using the handset for a day so I've not really got used
to it yet to tell you about my fave feature.[2]

I've been a mobile junkie for many years and this will be the only
recent phone that I've used that hasn't been able to play Doom so I'm
used to feature back handsets. This one seems to be pretty much a
phone that flips and is a bit thin, but wide.
The camera on it isn't anything to write home about, either.
<http://www.bgn.me.uk/poppy/poppy4.jpg> 640x480 maximum.

The Fusion RAZR package comes with a RAZR V3b in the One True Colour
(matte black), TWO chargers, TWO batteries, USB cable and some
earphones (which I assume is a hands free kit.) The software that it
comes with (Motorola Phone Tools) does the usual stuff with Outlook
for your schedule and contacts. However, it also speaks to Lotus
Notes to grab the same crap plus you can send text messages by typing
them on your 'puter keyboard if you're bored.

The one thing I *do not* like about it is this handset: I have my
contacts set up like this:

Nick Mooney (photo should I wish it)
Email:
Address: Blah, blah, blah, Kent, UK
Mobile: +447890 123456
Home: +441234 567890
Work: +44891 50 50 50

This means I could just select the person from the address book to
expand the entry and select the correct number or email address from a
list. The RAZR doesn't seem to work this way even if I have it throw
contacts on just the phone and not the SIM.

I end up with:

Nick Mooney (picture of mobile)
Nick Mooney (picture of rotary telephone, etc, etc...)

As separate contacts in the phone book. However, this was the same
with my last Sony Ericsson k608i so it's not exclusive to the RAZR v3.

I suppose I can't really answer your questions properly as I'm using
the handset because of the Fusion service and not because there is a
massive selection. It's either the v3b or some old Motorola BRIK.

[1] One can have up to six RAZR v3b's hooked up to the same HomeHub
and if you have a friend who also uses BT Fusion you can pair the
handsets with more than one hub so if you walk into range of your
friends place the calls are routed via his HomeHub. It's not an open
network, but requires a PIN for the initial pairing so only people who
know the PIN can use it, but once you've paired via Bluetooth it
registers automatically.

[2] I suppose the lack of a GSM signal would mean you wouldn't be
frying your brain when you make and receive calls either. And if you
have shit mobile coverage at home/work then just get a HomeHub stuck
there and you'll have a perfect signal.

 

I wasn't expecting the purchase of it to be a life changing event.

 

Here it is:
http://www.salvo.co.uk/images/userimgs/78/22073_1.jpg

 

That's the old v1, the v2 has a better interface:
<http://www.gadgets.dk/bigfiles/Telephone Box open.jpg>

 

<snip>

Thanks for the extensive response. It's interesting.

 

Do you work for Motorola or summut?

 

Not Motorola but in the industry. Supposedly Engineering, allegedly
Marketing.

 

Make me a phone that speaks to Outlook in the same way that Nokia
phones do. Ta

 

Windows Mobile.

 

Don't think that does it in the way that Nokia phones do.

 

Oh. I like the way Windows Mobile talks to Outlook. My last knowledge
of how Nokia phones do it, is circa 2002.

 

Which, surprisingly enough, is fairly good and stable.