The Motorola Q is a smartphone first announced in the Summer of 2005 as a thin device with similar styling to Motorola's immensely popular RAZR. Motorola in a partnership with Verizon Wireless released the Q on May 31, 2006[2]. A version for Sprint was released early in January of 2007 [3] and one for Amp'd Mobile in April of 2007.
 | |
| Manufacturer | Motorola |
|---|---|
| Type | Smartphone |
| Lifespan | May 31, 2006 [1] |
| Media | MiniSD |
| Operating system | Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone |
| CPU | Intel XScale PXA272 312 MHz processor |
| Display | 16-bit Color 320 x 240 TFT display |
| Input | Illuminated QWERTY Keypad & Side Thumbwheel |
| Camera | 1.3 Megapixel |
| Touchpad | None |
| Connectivity | CDMA, Bluetooth |
| Power | Battery |
The Q differs from Verizon's flagship Windows Mobile phone, the Treo 700w, in that it is very thin, runs the Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition OS (lacking touchscreen support), and has a landscape 320x240 screen. It also employs a thumbwheel on the right side of the unit, similar to the industry-leading BlackBerry. Motorola hopes to position the Q as an attractive alternative to the BlackBerry.
The Q was first released in Canada on June 15, 2006 with Telus Mobility. Bell Mobility began offering the phone later that year (September 22) and then became the first North American carrier to offer a black version of the Motorola Q on November 13, 2006.
In July 2007, the new model of the Moto Q, Motorola Q 9h will replace this.
Limitations
Picture messaging with Verizon: Picture messaging is pay per use if user does not subscribe to a data package. When using the Moto Q with Verizon, picture messaging is no longer treated as data transfer. If you use the Moto Q with Verizon and disable data transfer, then you no longer lose the functionality which all non-smart phones have of sending and receiving picture messages
The following is a quote attributed to Verizon technical support: (Source: discussion forum post)
"You are correct that you do not require a data package to synchronize the Motorola Q with your computer using ActiveSync. The data package is available and suggested if you plan on using the device to check email, browse the Internet or wirelessly update your device using Exchange ActiveSync or Wireless Sync on the Verizon Wireless network.
If you choose not to use data on the Motorola Q you will have to request a data block. The data block disables the device from using any of the above services including Picture Messaging. The Pay-As-You-Go KB package allows you to use data access at no charge monthly unless you use the Verizon Wireless network. Anytime data services are used you are charged $0.015 per KB sent or received"
With the Moto Q and Verizon, if you are to use the pay-as-you-go KB plan, you will now no longer pay much more for a picture message than you will using a normal phone where the picture message would either be covered under your plan or cost as much as $0.25.
Picture messaging with other carriers
Some carriers appear to limit sending and receiving pictures to e-mail transfers and according to some reports do not allow picture messaging to other cell phones from the Moto Q or from other cell phones to the Moto Q.
Specifications
Quad band GSM / GPRS / EDGE and Singleband UMTS / HSDPA version called the Motorola Q q9 is expected to be available in Q2 of 2007[4] (early-to-mid July).
- Intel XScale PXA272 312 MHz processor (Bulverde) [5]
- Runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition; Optimized for Microsoft Exchange 2003 and a variety of third party email solutions that enable a broad set of corporate email capabilities
- Very thin – 11.5mm
- Full, ergonomic QWERTY thumbboard, 5-way navigation button and thumb wheel
- Video clip capture and playback
- Connectivity via Bluetooth, IrDA and mini-USB
- Multi-Media Messaging (MMS)
- Stereo speakers
- Audio formats supported: iMelody, MIDI, MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, WAX, QCELP
- Image formats supported: GIF87a, GIF89a, JPEG, WBMP, BMP, PNG
- Video formats supported: H.263, MPEG-4, GSM-AMR, AAC, WMV
- Mini-SD removable memory card slot
- Large, high-resolution display (320 x 240 pixels, 65K TFT)
- 1.3 megapixel camera with photo lighting
- PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID
- Advanced speech recognition and speakerphone
Camera Specifications and Options
Camera
- 1.3 Megapixel Digital Camera / Video Recorder
- Normal, Burst, and Timer camera modes
- 7 brightness levels
- 5 photo resolutions: 160x120, 176x144, 320x240, 640x480, and 1280x1024
- 4 zoom levels: 1x, 2x, 4x, and 6x
- 6 white balance options: Automatic, Sunny, Cloudy, Indoor Home, Indoor Office, and Night
- Camera "Flash": A white LED on the back of the device (On / Off; Not synchronized with camera shutter)
Video
- 7 brightness levels
- 3 video resolutions: 128x96, 160x120, and 176x144
- 6 white balance options: Automatic, Sunny, Cloudy, Indoor Home, Indoor Office, and Night
PC Synchronization
The Motorola Q has the ability to synchronize via USB or Bluetooth to a Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Exchange Server database via Microsoft ActiveSync, allowing the user to synchronize contacts, emails, tasks, and calendar appointments to the Motorola Q. Microsoft Office files may also be synchronized, but Windows Mobile only supports reading them, not editing them.
Motorola Q wiki
Motorola operates a public wiki dedicated to the Q, which uses MediaWiki, the same software that runs Wikipedia. The wiki was originally seeded with the contents of the Q's instruction manual, which has since been edited and added upon. Specifically, information on how to make operator-specific functions has been described in practical detail that could not be covered in the manual - such as how to set up the laptop Internet access tethering feature. The wiki can be found at http://www.motoqwiki.com.
Motorola Q support forums
Motorola offers the Q community six discussion forums. Topics include getting started, email setup, bluetooth technology, synching, multimedia features and third party applications. The forums are supported by Motorola Q users and are located at http://qsupportforum.motorola.com/pe/.
Black Motorola Q
Verizon Wireless released a new version of the Q in mid January 2007 in a new color. They are now producing the Q in black. The outer casing is now made in a rubber compound to resist scratches. The new Q also features 15% more battery life and an update to fix bugs.
Complete List Of Q Features & Specifications
The complete Motorola Q list of specifications are :[6]
| Type | Specification | |
|---|---|---|
| Modes | CDMA 850 / CDMA 1900 | |
| Weight | 4.06 oz (115 g) | |
| Dimensions | 4.57" x 2.52" x 0.47" (116 x 64 x 12 mm) | |
| Form Factor | Bar Internal Antenna | |
| Battery Life | Talk: 4.00 hours (240 minutes) Standby: 192 hours (8 days) | |
| Battery Type | LiIon 1130 mAh | |
| Display | Type: LCD (Color TFT/TFD) Colors: 65,536 (16-bit) Size: 320 x 240 pixels | |
| Platform / OS | Windows Mobile for Smartphones version 5 | |
| Memory | 64 MB (built-in, flash shared memory) | |
| Phone Book Capacity | shared memory | |
| FCC ID | IHDT56FQ1 (Approved Dec 14, 2005) | |
| GPS / Location | Type: A-GPS | |
| Digital TTY/TDD | Yes | |
| Hearing Aid Compatible | Rating: M3 (mostly compatible) | |
| Multiple Languages | Yes | |
| Polyphonic Ringtones | Chords: 42 | |
| Ringer Profiles | Yes | |
| Vibrate | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP, OPP, FTP, A2DP, AVRC, DUN, HID, BIP, PAN version 1.2 / DUN, HID, BIP, | |
| Infrared (IR) | Yes | |
| PC Sync | ActiveSync | |
| USB | built-in mini-USB connector | |
| Multiple Numbers per Name | Yes | |
| Picture ID | Yes | |
| Ringer ID | Yes | |
| Voice Dialing | speaker-independent | |
| Custom Graphics | supported formats: GIF87a, GIF89a, JPEG, WBMP, BMP, PNG | |
| Custom Ringtones | supported formats: iMelody, MIDI, MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, WAX, QCELP | |
| Data-Capable | Yes | |
| Flight Mode | Standard Icon: No | |
| Packet Data | Technology: 1xEV-DO r0 | |
| WAP / Web Browser | Browser Software: Pocket Internet Explorer | |
| Side Keys | thumb-wheel on right | |
| Text Keyboard | Layout: QWERTY | |
| Memory Card Slot | Card Type: miniSD | |
| Email Client | Yes | |
| MMS | Yes | |
| Text Messaging | 2-Way: Yes | |
| Text Messaging Templates | Yes | |
| Music Player | Windows Media Player | |
| Camera | Resolution: 1+ megapixel | |
| Streaming Video | Windows Media Player | |
| Video Capture | Yes | |
| Alarm | Yes | |
| Calculator | Yes | |
| Calendar | Yes | |
| To-Do List | Yes | |
| Voice Memo | Yes | |
| Games | Yes | |
| Headset Jack (2.5 mm) | Yes | |
| Speaker Phone | Type: Full-Duplex |
External links
- Dedicated Motorola Q Wiki
- Qusers.com - The Original Motorola Q Discussion Forum
- Motorola Q news, reviews, software and discussion
- Specifications at Phonescoop
- Motorola launches 'BlackBerry killer'
- Cellphones.ca - Motorola Q reviews, specs
- Detailed Motorola Q Specifications at FreePhones.CC
- Motorola Q Review - MyCellPhoneBlog.com