Motorola V551 / V330 / V547 / V555 / V557
Average Ratings
Nothing but problems
At first I owned the V551 and had nothing but problems. It first would just shut off randomly, I exchanged it. The second, you couldn't hear anything and the 3 button wouldn't work. The third phone I got wouldn't hold a charge. So Cingular sent me a brand new RAZR....which just shuts off randomly as well. I thought that I was just an idiot who couldn't work a cell phone. So I went out and bought the V557. BIG MISTAKE!!! This phone will just shut off or sometimes just blink constantly. Anytime I try to open a text message it takes me about 5 tries...I'm so over the Motorola..I want a decent phone that will actually work!!! Any ideas??? If its a good phone I'm willing to pay!
OK, but with "major" flaws
V557 review, Cingular
I recently transitioned from the Samsung E317 in order to obtain Bluetooth functionality (the e317 lacks bluetooth and requires a propreitary/low performing handsfree wired headphone).
PROs:
1) The exterior display is very clear in any lighting conditions. No key press is required in sunlight, and a single key press of any button gives a "cool blue" display in dark condictions. The display gives the usual time/signal strength display as well as voice/text msg indicators.
2) Flip phone seems durable and precise. Slightly larger than the E317 but easily fits into a jeans pocket.
CONs:
1) Bluetooth: I have the Motorola HS700 headset. Forget 30ft, I had to have the phone in my right pocket close to the phone. Switching to the left pocket produced considerable static. Reproduced this problem several times just to be sure.
2) Reboots: Had to reboot the phone several times in as many days. Customized menus/options frequently just "disappeared". I've never experienced this in a cell phone before and finally just gave up on the customized options.
3) The phone frequently dropped calls upon answering them or just experienced "odd" behovior (e.g. prolonged delays in menu selections).
Summary: If the phone didn't have reliability issues I think it would be a very good phone. But the reliability problems combined with poor BT reception have made up my mind to return the phone tomorrow (first time ever returning a phone). For reference, my priorities in a cell phone are phone reception / call clarity, text messaging, and ease of use. The phone was adequate in the first two, but in the "ease of use" area, I felt like I was having to treat my phone as a problematic computer requiring constant attention... not the complexity I wanted in a phone. I'm making a second try at the Sony Ericson 600i tomorrow.
WOW.. Amazing
This phone is completely amazing.. I HATED my V220, and I swore that I wouldn't buy another phone from Motorola unless it were the Razr. Well I bought this because it's basically a razr just not thin. But, it is a very good phone.
Pros:
Awesome, big screen.
Very Colorful.
Nice ringtones, I bought 4 the day I bought it.
The Camera is AMAZING, its as good as my 5 Mega-pixel digital camera. I have the size set to medium so that I can take more pictures, it definitely doesn't affect the quality of the pictures.
Quad-band phone, The best RF I've ever had.
I can lock applications that I don't want people on.
Edge internet, the internet on this phone is speedy fast, but it can be too fast for the phone and it can freeze.
I have the V557 and it's black, I like it a lot better considering I wanted the Black Razr.
Cons:
Could have some more skins, but I'm not complaining, I am fond of the Moto Skin.
AIM for my phone is messed up, sometimes it types fast for me, and sometimes it lags pretty bad.
Battery Life, SUCKS.. I use my phone a lot, I'm a teenager and its expected.. I text message all day long and make a lot of phone calls.. It didn't even last me 2 full days.
This phone is pretty cool all in all.. Definitely a good phone is you're looking for some awesome features and great quality. It has a very easy interface and its definitely not hard to get lossed while using it.
v551
i have the v551 the camera quality is horrible. it is very blurry and distorted. my question is how is the camera quality on v557?
Muy Bien phone! =u)
Pros; Camera, very good. Video cam isn't the best but it's a phone. Nice outside colors. You can see all the nessicary needs on the outside display. like 10 ringers, only one is good! Very good Signal strength in my area. i even get the EDGE services. Speakers is very good. Looks heavy but isn't. compared to an LG VX3200. If you want more than JUST a basic phone, and a few nice features, u can't go wrong with the Motorola V557 for Cingular.
Pretty Good
I have had this phone since February of 2005 and it is not a bad phone at all. I have Cingular which have gave me problems in the past, but not with this phone.
PROs
-Camera pic's are pretty good unless you zoom
-Easy to manuver buttons
-Loud speaker phone
-Easy to change volume by the side keys
-Blue tooth capatibility
CONs
-Hard to hear sometimes, volume is low
-Side buttons sometimes on an accident change volumes
-Charger sucks! Will no charge sometimes when put into the phone
-Will not power up when on charger if phone is dead
-Dropped calls, signal flunkuates
-Battery life does not last, have to charge every night (but that is normal usage its over a year old now)
-Sucky stock ringtones, only comes w/ 3
A Must Read Review!!!
I travel extensively via motorcycle. Before purchasing my V-551, I averaged 7-10 phones per year. I've had this phone 11 months now and can honestly say it is by far the best cell phone I've ever owned. I switched over to Cingular from AT&T and have yet to drop a call or have no signal. I believe this to be a combination of Cingular, and a great phone made by Motorola. As far as the infamous black screen goes, the only time I've ever seen it is when I've left the phone open and after a short period of the Wallpaper/Screensaver being on, the screen goes blank. This to me is not an issue. I simply close the phone or press any key and it's back to normal.
Pros:
No dropped calls to date.
Excellent volume control.
Blue Tooth is awsome [first time user].
Display has been great from day one.
Decent battery life. [10-20 calls a day]
User friendly. For me anyways...
Durable - Dropped from motorcycle at 55mph, retrieved from medium strip and still fully functional though scratched and banged up [replaced via phone insurance upon return home].
Cons:
Was only available in Blue at the time of purchase.
Problem with the charger not working properly. I plugged it in and went to bed. Upon awakening, phone did not charge. After wiggling the plug at the bottom of the phone, it began to charge. Replaced charger and have not had this problem since.
Side buttons are too easy to push resulting in "Phantom Dialing" when I put the phone in the front pocket of my jeans.
Overall, this really is a great phone. So far it's been drop tested at 55mph, used in the backwoods of rural America with absolutely no dropped calls with a great signal via Cingular and Motorola V-551 combination. The Motorola V-551 also has user friendly features, even for a technology challenged guy like myself. The only reason I didn't give the phone a 5/5 is due to the cons portion of my review. But believe me when I say the Motorola V-551 is well worth the purchase.
V551 Phone review
I purchased the V551 after switching due to billing issues with Verizon.
Pros: Bluetooth - Although quirky at time, with a motorola HS820 wireless you don't even want to put a phone to your ear again. Hands-free is the way to go.
- Screen is easy to see with except in direct sunlight, easy to customize or personalize the screen for ease of use.
- Good reception for my area, few dropped calls.
- Camera, I don't really use, but I think it is ok.
Cons: Motorola software: take heed....
Phone book- unable to store multiple number under one name. sUckS.
- Software - Lags at times and is "O" so slooow at times when you are trying to perform various task quickly.
- As many i have experienced the white screen of death, sure pwr dwn and it clears but what the heck.
- Recent calls - only stores last 10 missed or dialed calls.
Overall, I would recommend the phone but not motorola if that makes any sense. The software is the main culprit not the hardware, so therefore any phone that uses software by motorola is suspect and until they take the time to really improve the software I would recommend any phone but motorola.
My first few days as a new owner of a V555.
PART 1
As a preface I am a brand new user of the V555 as of yesterday. I use the Dobson Cellular One system in Northern Michigan. I traded up from my V60S and use the phone almost exclusively in my car driving around 33 counties in Northern Michigan.
The V555 upgrades so many things such as Bluetooth, color screen, polyphonic ring tones and SIM card technology.
I have no experience yet using the GSM network to see if I get better reception but I certainly have an opinion so far in the two days that I have been programming the phone.
First of all I decided on this phone 1st because of the decent reputation of Motorola and secondly because I want to use Bluetooth while in my car. Cellular One offered the V190 as free for a two-year contract, but I decided to spend the extra $100 to get this V555 specifically for Bluetooth.
I love the look and feel of the phone. It is much lighter than the V60S that I had (granted- I had an extended battery on that). There are many positives which you can read about here and I will mention as the spirit moves.
more to comeâ¦
V551 1 Year old and it has many problems
My phone is one of the very first V551s out here. I have software problems, the phone shuts off on me while in middle of conversation, has no reception, shuts off on me, cant send emails any more cant video any more. Never been dropped, or hurt like the customer Service Reps try to say. Took real good care of. In the beginning I loved it and just recently started having troubles with software. Am told to buy new one or fix this one.
