Features
Multimedia is a big theme on all of the Razr2 models, and Verizon's V9m is no exception. As an EV-DO phone, the Razr2 V9m supports the full range of Verizon's 3G services, including the V Cast video service as well as the V Cast music store. The music player's interface is identical to those on other Verizon phones, but we like it just a bit better than Sprint's music player design.
Verizon's Razr2 V9m includes a 2-megaixel camera that's slightly different from the Sprint version. It takes pictures in four resolutions (1,600x1,200; 1,280x960; 640x480; 320x240; and a special size for photo caller ID). Editing options are plentiful and include a self-timer, brightness and white balance controls, three color effects, nine fun frames, and a digital zoom. The camcorder takes clips with sound in two resolutions (320x240 and 176x144). Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at 30 seconds, but you can shoot for as long as the available memory permits. The brightness and white balance are adjustable and you can select a color effect. The V9m has a generous 65MB of available user memory. That's shared between all functions, so you're better off buying a MicroSD card for maximum storage. Photo quality was good but not great. Images were slightly washed out and some objects looked grainy.
The V9m has a 1,000-contact phone book with room in each entry for five phone numbers and two e-mail addresses. You can save callers to groups and pair them with a photo and any of 12 polyphonic ring tones. Other essentials include a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, text and multimedia messaging, a calculator, a calendar, an alarm clock, a notepad, and a world clock. That's not a bad offering, but the Sprint phone has a few more organizer applications. Bluetooth is also onboard, and music fans and Verizon loyalists will be pleased--and somewhat surprised--to find a stereo profile.
You can personalize Verizon'sV9m with a greeting and a variety of wallpaper, screen savers, clock styles, and alert sounds. You can always get more options from Verizon via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers get demo versions of two titles: Pac Man and Tetris. You'll have to buy the full versions for extended play.
Performance
We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) in San Francisco using Verizon's service. Call quality was very good. Voices sounded natural, and the reception was crystal clear, with none of the background hum we noticed from the Sprint model. Volume could be just the tiniest bit higher, but on the whole, the calling performance was outstanding.
On their end, callers said we sounded great as well. They did notice some slight wind noise at times, but otherwise they had no complaints. It was the same story with the speakerphone and Bluetooth headset calls. We had no real issues regarding either.
As with the Sprint V9m, the music quality on the Verizon model is quite agreeable. The single speaker at the bottom of the phone provided loud output and clarity. At the highest volume level, there was little of the distortion or bass-heavy effect that we've found on other music phones. It still won't replace your standalone MP3 player, but it does a decent job for short listening stints. Though Verizon's V Cast streaming media content is lacking when compared to Sprint's Power Vision offerings, Verizon's V9m handled the content better. There was still a fair amount of pixilation, but it made for a better viewing experience.
Verizon's Razr2 V9m has a rated battery life of 3.6 hours talk time and 12 days of standby time. Our tests revealed a talk time of 5 hours and 2 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests the V9m has a digital SAR rating of 0.71 watts per kilogram.
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