AT&T V9
• Best call quality thanks to CrystalTalk active sound-quality management during calls
• Best web experience because of Opera browser
• Free built-in e-mail
• Worst battery life
• No video sharing
• No Napster/Yahoo! DRM music
• A dedicated button for Cellular Video, a VOD service that "absolutely no one uses"

Sprint V9m
• Obigo HTML web browser works well
• Can view video on external screen
• Start camera from external screen
• No e-mail option

Verizon V9m
• Start camera from external screen
• Very good sound
• Best for basic Windows Media users
• WAP browsing (which sucks)
• E-mail for extra pay

Alltel V9m
• View text messages on external screen
• Best for experts and iTunes lovers
• WAP browsing (which sucks)
• No e-mail option

T-Mobile V8 (which Segan did not review)
• Linux-based OS
• CrystalTalk active sound-quality management during calls

Bottom line: All this variation represents carrier control, not freedom of choice. Says Segan: "We're stuck with the mediocre choices picked by our carrier overlords for us—and if you want something different, no soup for you!" I hate to say I told you so, but I freakin' told you so.
[PC Mag summary and individual reviews of each carrier's RAZR2]

•The RAZR V9m is the CDMA version, and will be available on Sprint, Verizon, Alltel, Us Cellular, and MetroPCS. Many of the differences here are on the "CLI", the RAZR2's haptic external touchscreen. Oh, and none of the CDMA versions have crystal speak, the tech that turns up volume of the earpiece when a bus rumbles by, while also noise cancelling the rumble in the microphone. (CDMA quality is better than GSM, and doesn't need this, according to Motorola.)

Alltel and US Cellular's V9m has the CLI buttons in this layout: Recent Calls, Music, Messaging.

Verizon's V9m has vCast music stores, and it's CLI buttons like so: Camera, Music, Voice.

Sprint has its music store, TV, and a multimedia CLI like this: SprintTV, Camera, Music.

•The V9, sans "M" is AT&T's. It's a hair thicker, because it has a lot of stuff in there for GSM/GPS (Assisted, likely)/ HSDPA, UMTS. AT&T's CLI interface is actually very music oriented: Play, FF, and RW. It also has MobiTV, XM streaming, and a full HTML browser.

•The V8, which is not so dumbed down that it needs a different number designation, is T-Mobile's. It is different, though. EDGE, of course, and 2GB of built in memory that can't be swapped out by MicroSD like the other phones with the "9" in their names. It also has a music oriented CLI interface, with Play, FF, and RW, but that won't show up until your music is playing. The home page has that TMO faves menu, too. It also is a linux based OS, maybe their MOTOMAGX OS. Like the AT&T GSM phone, it has a full HTML browser.

All have stereo bluetooth streaming, and all the specs we noted back on the handset's May launch.

[RAZR2 at Giz]

Sprint Launches RAZR2 press release:

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Aug. 10, 2007 - Bringing the "third screen" of mobile video to two screens instead of just one, Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced plans to launch the latest Motorola handset, RAZR2 V9m with key features that make it stand out from the crowd. Sprint's RAZR2 V9m provides the ability to watch video on the external screen with the flip closed - a first for the U.S. wireless market.

Harnessing the speed of Sprint's Power VisionSM EVDO network, the RAZR2 will deliver exclusive access to multimedia content1 including:

· NFL Mobile, a Sprint-exclusive wireless application that brings fans access to same-day audio and video highlights, a live stream of NFL Network's broadcast, real-time statistics and scores, customizable team and player alerts, injury reports and other information updated every two seconds.

· Sprint Music StoreSM, powered by Groove Mobile, which allows users to browse and wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone from a selection of more than 1.6 million songs.

· Sprint TVSM with more than 50 channels of live television and on-demand video and audio including a comprehensive portfolio of ABC news and entertainment video programming from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel such as on-demand, full-length episodes of ABC programs, including the hit shows "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Ugly Betty."

· Sprint Power View, the industry's first made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video programming network.

· Sprint Navigation, powered by TeleNav, providing full-feature GPS navigation including voice and on screen turn-by-turn driving directions with real-time traffic alerts and more than 10 million business listings.

(Standard data charges apply to all downloads from Sprint.)

"We are excited to pair our advanced multimedia capabilities and network speeds with this beautifully designed wireless phone," said John Garcia, senior vice president of product management and development for Sprint. "Customers will find Sprint's version of RAZR2 to offer exclusive video content that is both enjoyable and relevant. They will also appreciate that this device is the first clamshell in the industry to provide the option of watching video on both the internal or external display."

The design of RAZR2 has a sleeker, more sophisticated look and feel than its predecessor. At the core of RAZR2 is a stainless steel internal frame to help provide strength and durability. The large exterior lens is made with chemically hardened glass to be more scratch resistant.

Both the internal and external screens on the RAZR2 are significantly larger than the original RAZR- external is 2.0" and internal is 2.2" - with twice the resolution. The external display incorporates Motorola's breakthrough haptics technology, which provides users with vibrating feedback in response to their finger taps. This allows the user to effortlessly control their music, video and camera without opening the flip.

Additional features available on RAZR2 V9m by MOTOROLA include a 2.0 megapixel camera with digital flash and zoom and advanced stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology.2 The device will also offer OnDemandSM with customizable up-to-date sports, weather and news information, Sprint PCS® Picture Mail for sharing and printing digital pictures and Wireless Backup to quickly restore contact information if the device is ever lost or stolen.

The RAZR2 V9m by MOTOROLA will be available at www.sprint.com and by calling 1-800-SPRINT1 on Aug. 22. It will be in all Sprint retail outlets by Sept. 4. The device will cost $249 with a 2 year agreement (without any required rebate).

Customers purchasing RAZR2 V9m by MOTOROLA as a replacement for an existing mobile phone are encouraged to recycle their current phone, battery and accessories through Sprint Project Connect. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from Sprint Project Connect are used to help keep kids safer online through Sprint's 4NetSafetyprogram with partners that include the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the NEA Health Information Network. More information, including a free postage-paid mailing label, can be found at www.sprint.com/projectconnect.

1 Network dependent feature, not available in all areas. Airtime, data charges, and/or additional charges may apply.

2 This device supports Bluetooth BIP-ImagePush, BPP-SenderDev, DUN-GW, FT-Server, GAP, GAVDP, Headset-AG, HFP (1.5) AG, OPP-Client, OPP-Server profiles. In order for Bluetooth devices to communicate with one another, they must utilize the same Bluetooth profile. To determine the profiles supported by other Motorola devices, visit www.hellomoto.com/bluetooth. For other devices, contact their respective manufacturer.
Certain Bluetooth features including those listed may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices, or by certain wireless carriers.

The press release trips me out a little bit, because it talks about how great the RAZR2 is for such Verizon apps as V CAST Music and VZ Navigator, rather than singing the praises of the device itself as a unique product that might do something that other Verizon phones can't. There's no Linux-Java, for instance, and I'm not sure about Highspeed USB 2.0 for sideloading songs you didn't buy from Verizon. I'm also pretty convinced there's no Windows Media Player compatibility, or AAC friendliness. All of those features will be available in one of the GSM-based RAZR2s, probably just the one that T-Mobile will sell.

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE MOTORAZR2 V9M Next Generation RAZR Features External Display and Touch-Sensitive Keys and Bluetooth Support

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless company with the most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), today announced the sleek multimedia MOTORAZR2 V9m will be available to Verizon Wireless customers in September. Offering a combination of sophisticated style and Verizon Wireless' first-class multimedia features, the MOTORAZR2 V9m is perfect for customers seeking a sleek, music-centric multimedia mobile phone.

Equipped with external touch-sensitive keys for quick access to music, camera and advanced speech recognition and wrapped in cool stainless steel, the MOTORAZR2 V9m is V CAST-capable and perfect for use with popular Get It Now® applications, such as VZ NavigatorSM. Customers can enjoy over-the-air full-track music downloads from V CAST Music, Verizon Wireless' exclusive catalog of over two million songs. To enhance the true mobile music experience, the MOTORAZR2 V9m comes equipped with Bluetooth® stereo support for listening to music.

Adding to the list of impressive multimedia features, the MOTORAZR2 V9m also has a 2.0 megapixel camera with 4x zoom and picture, video, text, and instant messaging (IM) capabilities, which allow Verizon Wireless customers to capture priceless moments while staying in touch on-the-go.

Pricing and Availability

MOTORAZR2 V9m will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $299.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement.

They remind me of the Samsung Sync phone, both in sleek angular style and in their ability to sideload music from Napster and Yahoo (and, I am guessing, other PlaysForSure services you may subscribe to).

The badass app for these phones is Video Share, which we first saw demoed during the introduction of Motorola's RAZR 2. While you are talking, you can stream video in one direction as sort of a show-and-tell. (Your listener must have a compatible 3G phone as well, of course.) AT&T says its got over 160 markets with HSDPA, meaning throughput of 400 to 700 Kbps on average. Jump for close-up shots and facts straight from the horse's mouth. – Wilson Rothman

AT&T AND SAMSUNG UNVEIL NEW ULTRASLIM HANDSETS

New Clamshell and Bar-Style Phones Lead Growing Portfolio of AT&T's 3G Devices

SAN ANTONIO and DALLAS, June 1, 2007 - AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) have announced the availability of the Samsung SGH-a717, a clamshell-style phone, on June 4, and the SGH-a727, a bar-style phone that will be available in the coming weeks. Both devices offer a rich multimedia experience in an ultra-slim form factor.

The a717 (12.9 mm) and a727 (8.9 mm) are currently the slimmest 3G phones available from AT&T. They also offer a multitude of services a customer would want in a device, including AT&T Mobile Music, Cellular Video, access to MobiTV™ and MobiRadio™, Bluetooth® technology, a microSD™ memory card slot and multiple messaging options.

"The a717 and a727 are packed with the advanced features our customers demand and are stunning additions to our growing portfolio of 3G devices," said Carlton Hill, vice president of product management for AT&T's wireless unit.

The phones will also support AT&T's forthcoming Video Share service, launching this summer. Video Share allows users to add a live, one-way video stream to a standard voice call, allowing the called party to view what the caller is seeing during a voice call. Both customers must be in an area served by the company's 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.

AT&T Mobile Music features connectivity to allow customers that allows customers to use Napster or Yahoo! Music to load music onto the devices, and also includes Music ID, XM Radio, music videos, The Buzz music news portal, and more.

"The a717 and a727 are our slimmest handsets optimized for AT&T's 3G network," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president, Samsung. "Both devices embody Samsung's commitment to developing slim, stylish devices that boast a number of multimedia, messaging and music capabilities."

Additional features of the a717 and a727 include:
• 2.0 and 1.3 megapixel cameras, respectively
• Quad-band GSM technology (1900/850/900/1800 MHz), which allows AT&T customers to make calls in more than 190 countries and to download data in more than 125
• Dual-band 3G (850 MHz, 1900 MHz) which provides average download data speeds between 400 and 700 kilobits per second with bursts of more than 1 megabit through AT&T's HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) network
• Bluetooth 2.0 and a microSD™ memory card slot
• SMS, MMS, Instant Messaging and Mobile E-mail
• MobiTV and MobiRadio

Pricing and Availability
The SGH-a717 is available June 4 through select AT&T retail locations, formerly Cingular Wireless, or via www.att.com/wireless. The SGH-a727 will be available soon. The a717's and a727's suggested retail price is $149.99 and $99.99 respectively, after a two-year contract activation and a $50 mail-in rebate.

The haptic-feedback external touchscreen steals the show button-wise, leaving no doubt that the phone has registered your commands. Generally speaking, the buttons all around have gotten a substantial usability upgrade thanks to the extra space afforded by the phone's added length; the lone exception is the camera shutter button, which for some reason was fairly loose.

The new Moto UI is a major upgrade from the original one that is substantially faster and more customizable: "People will have to forget about how they felt about the old Motorola UI used in the original RAZR handsets, because things are completely different in the new system."

In short, the RAZR 2 "is a good looking, solid folder that is everything the original RAZR V3 was — and then some." Odds are, then, that if you weren't a fan of the original RAZR, you might not fall in love with RAZR 2, either. – Matt Buchanan

Hands-On With Motorola's RAZR2 V8 [MobileBurn]
RAZR 2 [Gizmodo]

Hmm...that's not much of a sell. What did you expect, it's 4 a.m. – Brian Lam

Fergie likes RAZR 2[YoutubeThanks Matias]

Two things: First, I'm very glad to see Motorola reemphasizing their UI and OS development.

Secondly, it's also nice to see their ultra hyped "Media Monster" device, the z8, get interesting updates like the cable box programming, youtube uploads, and feature movies on chips. (BTW, that last one is doomed to fail, like PSP movies on Memory Sticks).

But remember, we've already seen this device at 3GSM in Barcelona. This isn't news; this is spin. As far as new phones go, the new ROKRz6 is a subvariant of the z8. If anything, the RAZR 2, previously unheard of before today, deserved the hype gathered around the event, too perfectly held a month after Moto's first quarter loss since 2004 was revealed a month ago.

But let's face it: Even with updated hardware and software, the RAZR2 is going to be perceived as merely another RAZR design evolution. Sure, it has significant updates to help keep it competitive. See all the posts we did today on it.
And no doubt reviewers will like these phones in the official reviews. But I also have no doubt that the same journalists and analysts will be sitting at the lunch table with their colleagues talking about how much Motorola needs a true flagship phone. The truth is this: If no one wants your high-end phones anymore, it's because your high-end phones look exactly like your low-end ones.

Motorola's loss was blamed on weaker demand for more expensive models. This report makes it sound like that's because people want low end phones like a $50 RAZR or $100 Q, but the truth is, back when the RAZR was unveiled and Moto's marketshare jumped, it was a highly coveted $500 device, not a low-end variant. You gave people something unique we all wanted to put in our pockets. Please do that again.

Note to Zander: Let your engineers build you your Blue Steel. – Brian Lam

[Gizmodo]

It all started at 10am, in cute little brick building in NYC's Chelsea district. If you want to relive the fast paced, down-and-dirty, marketing-speak-laden event, click over to our Play-By-Play. It's in reverse chronological order, so if you really want to feel the suspense, scroll to the bottom first. (Don't forget to check out our immense gallery of Zander & Co. in full PowerPoint effect, too.)

Do you want to skip the fanfare, but still get the next best thing to feeling a RAZR 2 in your own clammy palm? We recommend you start off with our Huge Gallery, a fetishist's delight of phone shots. That's just an appetizer to our main course, the immersive Video Tour.

Maybe you want some context for this shiny newcomer, especially in America where the carrier is king. Check out our outline of the different RAZR 2 editions, and why we think they were each tailor-made for a particular carrier.

We've seen some skepticism today, and I think a lot of it is directed towards the RAZRs of yesteryear. If anything, keeping the name has made those of us who didn't like their RAZRs pessimistic about the experience to come. But it must be said that none of us knows exactly what that experience will be like, yet. So take it all in, throw in your two forty-seven cents, let Moto know how you feel. But recognize that whether it turns out to be an all-star or a supersucker, this is not your grandfather's RAZR. – Wilson Rothman

Special Launch Website [Motorola]

Essentially, Motorola has gone far beyond simply anticipating the network needs of AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and (maybe) Sprint. I've posted a chart from the press materials that you can click to enlarge. But there's more to it than that. Here's my (educated) guess as to which carriers will pick up which RAZR 2 versions:

•RAZR 2 V8 (July 2007) - Totally T-Mobile - It a slender model with 512MB or 2GB of internal memory, its instantly compatible with Windows Media Player 10 or 11 for access to all-you-can-eat "sideload" music. T-Mo isn't in the business of selling music over the air, so it's the most codec friendly (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+) and it's got highspeed USB 2.0. In addition it supports Motorola Linux-Java for super flexible software development. It may be the "slowest" in terms of network, but it very well may be the sweetest palmtop.

•RAZR 2 V9 (August 2007) - Up AT&T's Alley - With its WCDMA 850/1900 or 2100 and HSDPA 3.6, it's clearly developed to be a part of AT&T's aggressive 2007 lineup (not just higher bandwidth than the iPhone but also higher than Sony Ericsson's US HSDPA phone). Optional memory up to 2GB, but nothing to write home about in terms of built-in memory (you gotta watch out for the "upsell"). It will have video telephone and video streaming, including the "See What I See" technology for live in-call video streams. It will not support Motorola Linux-Java, however, favoring what Moto calls "Synergy" (meaning "carrier friendly") software. This will support Windows Media files, but will not come ready to sync with Windows Media Player 10 and 11. (There is a slim chance that AT&T will also sell a RAZR 2 V8, but I'm willing to bet that only happens if there's a serious V9 delay or a huge price step-up.)

• RAZR 2 V9m (July 2007) - Qualcomm Was Here - The good news is, there will be a CDMA version of the RAZR out early. Last time, it took a while for Verizon Wireless to get one, and even longer for Sprint to introduce it. That means highspeed EVDO plus sGPS location technology. The downside is that CDMA carriers will have their way with this handset, and fewer of the options Zander bragged about will be guaranteed. Video streaming is "network dependent" and the software is Motorola Synergy or "carrier proprietary." Music options? "Proprietary customer music players," says another Moto data sheet.

Dear Sprint and Verizon Wireless: when you do get this, please check out some of the software advantages Motorola is introducing. I swear your customers will thank you for it. – Wilson Rothman

Motorola RAZR 2 Launch Coverage [Gizmodo]

10:55 - Ed Zander: "RAZR is not just a product, it's a brand, a brand we'll continue to market for years to come. Over 98 million RAZRs sold. This quarter, 100 million RAZRs worldwide. I believe it's the fastest selling consumer device ever. Five new colors for GSM markets. But..."

RAZR 2 - Super thin, super strong, RAZR 2: Worlds ultimate feature, style fashion phone - larger 2-inch display on outside. Twice the brightness and 10X resolution. Vacuumized metal front. Stainless steel and cast aluminum housing support. More scratch resistant cast aluminum. One-piece molding means less chance of breakpoints.

Features: 3G HSDPA, EVDO, or EDGE/GPRS. 500MHz ARM 11 processor. Race through menu to get apps you want. Rich graphics. Linux/Java phone - available on some versions of the RAZR 2. Complete UI redesign.

Crystal Talk noise-reduction technology. Talking phone. MP3 player with Windows Media capability. Highspeed USB 2.0. Stereo Bluetooth compatible with ROKR S9 headphones and front touchscreen. Google Maps application in cluded. Movies can be viewed portrait or landscape, multishot mode in still camera, "see what I see" video conferencing with live streaming footage. "Really simple," says Zander. Available in all technologies this summer.

10:45 - The new Moto Z8: this is the phone we saw Ed Zander using, which he calls the "media monster," a camera phone with cool bent slider action. "When form meets function this well, convergence becomes a reality. People want form to define function." Z8, 3.4Mbps. 2MP camera, video at 30 fps; first high-res screen with 16 million colors. HSDPA. Up to 4GB MicroSD card (10 movies); partnership with Universal Pictures; Bourne Identity preloaded; also working with Sony and Warner. Program it to download TV shows from DVR. SSX snowboarding will be preloaded at summer launch. Send photos to Flickr, MySpace or YouTube with just one click. "Complete out of the box multimedia experience; more capable than an iPod," says Jeremy Dale. Ships across Europe in June.

10:40 ROKR Z6: First true Linux Java product; solid feel "like Mercedes car door," says Jeremy Dale; music sync, music management, music enjoyment. Transfer speeds: download in less than 3 seconds. Storage capacity: external slot for 2GB cards (1,000 songs). Windows Media Player, album art, playlists. Simple "drag and drop" process. ROKR Modality: shut, it's an MP3 player with only keys for music; open it's a phone. Stereo audio, and stereo Bluetooth, with new pair of sweet red Bluetooth headphones (S9, to be included in-box in Europe).

10:25 Q8 and Q9 Introduction: Jeremy Dale - "At Motorola, we want devices to work for us rather than against us; single device, cell phone will be that device...Today we're announcing worldwide availability of Q8 and HSDPA-version of Q9. It redefines what a smartphone should be, Europe and other regions this summer. 3.6 Megabits per second, twice as fast as nearest competitor. Q9 is the fastest smartphone in the world today, and critically, where currency of the realm is time, speed matters."

Q9 details: New ergonomic design; seven dedicated keys, adaptive display for sunshine and indoor situations, using dual light sensors not found on any other product in this space. Only 2MP camera smartphone; Windows Mobile 6; 325MHz processor that can handle three activities simultaneously; stereo speakers. "Beautiful slim design."

10:21 - What's after RAZR? Jim Wicks, corporate VP of design: "Motorola invented thin, and will continue to do thin. We do it right, without compromise. Going forward, introducing a layering effect on top of thin, through Linux Java, touch; more digital than mechanics. Modality: when in music mode, it transforms itself to look like a music player; when a camera, it will look like a camera. Going forward, the focus will be less about one particular product, more about a suite of products that define the brand. Going forward, best of hardware will be married to the best experience. The resulting behavior is what becomes iconic. In doing this, we're able to launch a suite of products with immediate impact: not thin for thin's sake, not arbitrary form factor - it's a rich experience."

10:17 Here's Ed! Introducing peeps that are making it happen. He says "products", plural. New and exciting products. Plural. For sure.

10:15am - Movie pf people with Moto phones - including Will Ferrell and a bunch of much prettier people. Motorola all over the world. Moto on QVC. Kanye and Moto. RED Moto (with Charlie Sheen?) Lots of drums. Moto: Big in Japan.

10:12am - Some crunchy new electric folk music is playing, and the slideshow on the big screens depicts a multiple choice quiz about Motorola's history and trivia. (Motorola executed the first VOIP cellular phone call in what year? What was the year the first Motorola insignia appeared? One of the world's most expensive handsets, the Motorola SLVR L7 Diamond mobile retails for? Answer: 193?, 2006, $75,000)

– Noah Robischon & Wilson Rothman