ie8 fix

Motorola V60 review (Cingular Wireless)

Set price alert
Review Date:
Updated on:

Average User Rating

2.0 stars 83 user reviews

The good: Ultracompact and stylish; durable; strong features; good sound quality; external LCD; analog roaming.

The bad: No wireless Web access.

The bottom line: Motorola's sleek V60 now comes in a TDMA version, which is good news for AT&T Wireless and Cingular customers.

Pricing is currently unavailable.

Set price alert

When the V60c came out for Verizon's service last year, it made many users of competing carriers envious. Now a TDMA version of this stylish phone is available to AT&T Wireless and Cingular customers. And though it lacks wireless Web service, it's essentially the same phone with a reduced price tag. Like the CDMA version, instead of a plastic casing, the trimode (TDMA 800/1900/AMPS) V60t has an anodized aluminum casing that seems scratch resistant, even when we carried the phone with keys in our pocket. It also doesn't show fingerprints like Nokia's chrome 8860 does. We're also happy to report that after experiencing some problems with the V60c's retractable antenna, which has a tendency to break, Motorola has equipped the V60t with a more durable fixed antenna.

Aside from that, the two models are virtually identical, although this unit includes a high-capacity battery that adds a bit to the phone's size (3.42 by 1.77 by 1.07 inches) and weight (4.3 ounces). Also, as with the V60c, you get a second, external LCD that allows you to view caller ID, text messages, or time and date without flipping open the phone.

The V60t displays only three lines of regular-sized text or two with the larger font on its screen. That's not exactly ideal, but since this model doesn't offer wireless Web access, it's not a major shortcoming. But we do recommend that users with less than stellar eyesight really check out the phone's display before purchasing it. This model has the same user interface as Motorola's other mobiles. Overall, the V60t's menus are easy to navigate, but we can't say they're the simplest or most elegant we've seen. You'll have to read the manual to take advantage of the V60t's shortcuts and figure out how to use its more advanced features. They include a voice-recognition system that allows you to create voice-command shortcuts to favorite features or dial up to 20 contacts by saying their names; a voice recorder that stores up to two minutes of voice notes; a 400-entry phone book; a datebook; and AT&T's two-way text messaging, which must be activated with your service provider. Other standard features include call history, caller ID, an alarm, three-way calling, and customizable ring tones.

To add further functionality, Motorola offers TrueSync software (including the cable), which allows you to sync the V60t's phone book and datebook to a PIM on your Windows PC. The phone is also compatible with Motorola's optional FM radio accessory and data kit, which turns the V60t into a wireless modem. When it came to talking, we had no complaints about the phone's ergonomics and had an easy time finding the earpiece's sweet spot. As with its CDMA sibling, we were pleased with the sound quality and found that signal strength was good using AT&T's service in New York and San Francisco, even when we roamed to an analog network.

As noted, AT&T is bundling a high-capacity battery with the V60t, which means you can get up to four hours of talk time and up to eight days of standby time. Our tests confirmed the talk time number but fell well short of the standby number; expect to get closer to five days at best.

Sponsored Premier Brands on CNET

Where to Buy

Pricing is currently unavailable.

Set price alert

ie8 fix

Quick Specifications

  • Release date11/8/02
  • Service provider AT&T
  • Cellular technology AMPS / D-AMPS
  • Talk time Up to 210 min
  • Weight 4.2 oz

Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel that's available at Amazon, bn.com, and as a Kindle, iBooks, or Nook e-book. Full Bio

ie8 fix
  • Recently Viewed Products
  • My Lists
  • My Software Updates
  • Promo
  • Log In | Join CNET