Motorola V70 review

While the majority of PCs are still housed in the stereotypical beige box, the mass-market appeal of the mobile phone has allowed it to develop into more than just a tool, becoming a fashion accessory as well. One of the most obvious examples is Motorola's highly stylised V70, which will no doubt gather sales momentum from looks alone. But how does it shape up as a humble communications device?

First, this isn't a phone for the world traveller, as it offers just dual-band support. Considering the V70's diminutive proportions, it's no surprise that something had to give, but if you mostly travel around Europe a dual-band phone should suffice. What may be more of a concern, however, is the lack of wireless connectivity, with both infrared and, more importantly, Bluetooth not included.

For PC data synchronisation and to use the V70 as a PC modem, your only option is to purchase a PC connectivity kit separately. This kit contains Starfish's TrueSync PC data synchronisation software and a GPRS Manager, plus a traditional serial cable or a speedier USB 1.1 cable. There's also a desktop charger for either cable option. The TrueSync software offers synchronisation with most PIMs, including Microsoft Outlook 97 and above, Lotus Notes and Organiser, ACT!, Sidekick, Schedule +, as well as Palm Desktop. That said, it's not very usable and is overly complex to set up, meaning you're probably better off using the included TrueSync Desktop, which, although basic, is well suited to use with the phone.

A GPRS connection took considerable effort to configure manually. Whereas Sony Ericsson offers excellent Internet-based automatic WAP and email configuration utilities, it appears Motorola is playing catch-up with regards to the usability of these higher-level functions. However, once the phone is configured, Internet connection is a relatively simple affair and, with four downward slots, speeds were similar to a 56K modem.

Motorola's phone menu navigation system has been marginally redesigned for the V70, offering some intuitive shortcuts. This is probably to compensate for the tiny 96 x 64-pixel screen. Unfortunately, any thought put into this system is let down by the fact the phone is sluggish in operation, with noticeable lags - due to loading times - as you progress through the menus. Two programmable shortcut keys are placed at the lower circumference of the screen, with the main menu access button between them. Although small, the navigation rocker switch is surprisingly easy to use, and the same can be said of the dainty metallic keys.

Of course, all of these features take a back seat when it comes to the V70's looks. From the MicroTAC through to the StarTAC and V3688, Motorola's design ethos has clearly revolved around the ultimate in pocketability. At first glance, the V70 would appear to be similar in size to the Sony Ericsson T68i (see Reviews, issue 93, p125), although the V70's chunky exterior aerial makes it slightly longer. Beyond size considerations, the metallic build and switchblade design instantly appeal. You can also change the fascias from the shiny silver supplied with the review unit to a matt silver or shiny gold - far removed from the tacky snap-ons offered with certain Nokia handsets.

Motorola has addressed the current trend of displaying the caller's ID by having its watch-like display screen always in view. The main keypad's rocker switch is located on the revolving cover and when the phone is closed its functions are reduced to simply adjusting the ring volume. The screen itself is also striking, with bright text on a dark background. Initially, we had concerns over how viewable this would be in practice. During use, however, the clarity of the screen can't be faulted and the layout is fine too, with basic icons placed above and below the paltry three lines of active text. The screen's backlight is hardly required with this setup, which will prove to be an excellent battery-saving option. Battery life doesn't seem to be an issue though, and during testing we comfortably exceeded the stated talk and standby times.