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March 31, 2008 3:55 PM PDT
Motorola Q9c gets Verizon business customers on track
Motorola Q9c for Verizon
(Credit: Motorola)Verizon Wireless opened the floodgates today, introducing a number of additions to its cell phone and smartphone lineup, including the Motorola Q9c shown here.
Unlike the multimedia-centric Motorola Q9m, the Q9c goes after the road warriors with its integrated GPS and VZ Navigator support. In addition, it offers Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition with the Documents to Go suite, Bluetooth 2.0, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and 128MB Flash memory.
Being a more business-centric device, Verizon will not offer the more flashy lime-green version, which was announced for U.S. Cellular and Alltel. The Motorola Q9c for Verizon will be available in April for $249.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.
Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie.
This leads to the second problem; the stupid thing controls its battery charging via a software interface! Most phones will charge via a simple wiring interface, ie charge when the battery is not full, stop charging when battery voltage reaches X number of volts, regardless of OS state, and then completely power the phone off of AC. Due to this design flaw, if you get the fatal error aforementioned, you are basically screwed unless you get an external battery charger, because you only have so much charge left to reinstall the OS, as the OS reinstalls only off of battery power!
The USB cable will not even power the phone and update the OS at the same time! This has resulted in countless people losing their phone's OS even when updating Windows Mobile from motorola.com!
The bottom line: If you are not experienced with computers or can't take the time to fix the phone, or you want a reliable phone which doesn't die on you at completely random times, the Motorola Q series is not for you, as I've heard that this problem has persisted, at least in the Q9h and Q9m.
If you are willing to take the risk, go ahead. Bewarned: I've heard stories of people going through 3 (yes, 3!) replacement phones which have died before getting a stable version or their warranty ran out.
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by bluesneaky
May 31, 2008 8:40 AM PDT
- I disagree. I have had my Q for two years and never had such a problem. I have replaced the phone once. I droped it in the river and it was submerged for 5 minutes. After drying out it still worked but some keys on the keyboard didnt work.
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by fritzswiss
December 20, 2008 5:38 PM PST
- I agree. I had mine for nearly two years and no white screed of death. I had to drop mine in a toilet and had the keyboard not work before I had to stop using it. I am now going to get the Q9c since my 2year contract is coming up (Verizon). And at $64 you can not beat it. I have the 2500mAH battery from my Q, so this will be great. Yes it does get overwelmed at times when running skyfire, word, and incoming messages, but that is not a common thing. Great as a phone, speakerphone as well. Google maps runs great on it.
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(3 Comments)The replacement has worked fine as did the original untill its untimely demise. No screen of death, no problems. Like any Windows device it has a "moment" here or there but the wealth of porgams available for WM Smartphones is worth an occasional reboot much like my computer. I have over 50 programs that i have added to the Q and run a 4gig card in it. It has been a fantastic piece of equipment. I have ordered the new 9c and am looking forward to 2 more years with the Q!