17
Feb
Feb
- Compatible with T-Mobile’s MyFaves service–unlimited calling to your five most called contacts
- Chat with your IM buddies using Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, and ICQ instant messaging services
- 1.3-megapixel camera with video capture; MicroSD expansion; Bluetooth connectivity with music streaming
- Up to 7.5 hours of talk time, up to 10 days of standby time; measures 1.8 x 3.9 x 0.7 inches (WxHxD)
- Includes: Battery, Charger and Hands-free Headset
Amazon. com Product DescriptionBlending RAZR high style with an affordable price tag, the sleek Motorola W490 offers compelling communication features to keep you in touch with ease. With a vibrant color screen and lengthy talk-time, this c. . . More >>
I’ve had this phone for one year and 2 months and like it just fine. . . until two days ago. I put my phone in the charger, woke up, and suddenly none of the keys worked when the software was running. If I take the battery out and put it back in, I have to hit the power button to turn the phone back on. Strangely enough, that works, but that’s the only time any buttons do anything anymore. Once the software boots up, even the power button doesn’t work, not even to power down the phone. I brought it to Tmobile today, and they told me I’m pretty much out of luck. I’m stuck in a contract for 10 more months and my phone is almost useless. It only has a one year warranty too – yippee, two months too late. All I can do with it is receive calls – answering them by flipping the phone open. That’s why I’m on Amazon tonight, cause I need to buy a new phone ASAP, and I don’t get the advantage of subsidies, since I’m in the middle of a contract.
This is not an isolated incident, but, like any other issue, you don’t know about it until it happens to you. Just Google something like, “W490 keypad does not work,” and you’ll see. It’s common enough for google to have an autocomplete ready when you start typing that phrase. The forums are full of people like me, powerless to do anything but buy a new phone at full, shameful, price.
Rating: 2 / 5
I’ve had the W490 for a couple of years now, and it has done everything I needed it to do, nothing more, nothing less. Call sound is clear and loud enough, even with the headset. The clamshell hinge is sturdy, rather than being the weakest link of many such phones. Battery life was very long until recently. The only bug I found was that I needed to remove the headset after each call, otherwise there was risk of calling back the last number for no apparent reason. No biggie.
Sure, the Motorola OS is nothing lovely, but the calling and call log UI make sense, the address book makes sense, the alarm clock works fine and I can even set a calendar reminder if needed. Photos are passable for a mobile phone, but I didn’t even want a cameraphone so again, no big deal.
My parents even use this phone. Enough said.
I work in Web and mobile technology. I don’t need my phone to be ridden with the bugs and complexities that I see every day. This phone is not. I might just get it again if no one else is making anything like it.
Rating: 4 / 5