The Mobile Phone Saving Network

Motorola MPx220

Wireless/Mobile Phone/Cell Phone

Rated 3.0 out of 5

The successor to the venerable MPx200, this quad-band GSM wonder packs lots of Smartphone power into a small package that can provide all your mobile office needs. Loaded with Microsoft Smartphone software, the handset features mobile versions of all the essential Microsoft applications you depend on, including Pocket Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and MSN messenger. What's more, the unit's software is designed to sync seamlessly with email, contacts and calendar information on your PC.

Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the MPx220's features.

The MPx220's sleek clamshell form factor is more sleek and svelte than it's predecessor's, while retaining the internal antenna design. The 2.0-inch, 176 x 220, 65-color TFT screen dominates the inside of the cover. A smaller, full-color LCD screen, which displays pictures, incoming calls, current time, battery life, signal strength and other information is located on the outside of the cover. The megapixel camera and flash, as well as the speakerphone unit, are also housed on the outside of the cover. A five-way selection button above the number pad allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. There are also up/down menu selection buttons on the left side of the device for easy access to basic controls. In addition to a headset jack, a miniSD memory expansion card slot is housed in the unit. The power key and infrared port are housed on the left side of the unit, while a universal charger/USB data port is present on the bottom.

Calling Features
The MPx220 has all the latest calling features folks have come to expect. The built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Vibrate modes and custom WAV and MP3 ringtones can also be set to your preferences so you know who is calling without having to look at the LCD. The included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions. Enhanced voice dialing supports voice-to-digit dialing and name recognition for speedy dialing of contacts. The MPx220's voice recognition software supports voice commands from any user, not just a pre-programmed user's voice. Because the MPx220 is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
Designed as a complete solution for people who want to bring their office with them, the unit comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook, Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and email functions. Email support is provided for IMAP and POP3 accounts, as well as corporate accounts. Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB, Bluetooth or infrared connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can select a Cingular data package and tap the MPx220's wireless modem capabilities. The unit supports VPN and proxy Internet connections.

You can use the MPx220's built in Internet Explorer browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as video, picture and sound messaging are also supported by the phone. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the MPx220 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a to-do list, and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
The MPx220's powerful megapixel still camera also features video with audio capture capability. In addition to a flash, the camera features a self-timer, multi-frame shooting capability, white balance and color control, as well as a time stamp option. The video camera's capture capability is only limited by the amount of available memory in the unit. The inclusion of Windows Media on the MPx220 means that you can use the handset as an MP3 and a video player, as well. Once again, the amount of music and video you can store is only limited by the unit's memory. For gamers, the phone supports Java-based and Windows Mobile game downloads.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola MPx220 weighs 3.88 ounces and measures 3.93 x 1.89 x .96 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.0 hours of digital talk time, and up to 200 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Motorola MPx220 handset, lithium-ion battery, power supply, USB data cable, companion CD, user's manual.

Features of Motorola MPx220:

64mb flash rom and mini-sd removable memory for extra storage
built-in 1.2 megapixel camera with flash
compatibility with windows mobile applications (pocket outlook/pocket internet explorer)
e-mail phones
fully synchronize your email, calendar, contacts and tasks
link your phone to your pc with activesync or bluetooth

Reviews:

Most Excellent

Rating: 5

Different people find different features useful with the phones they buy. What I liked about this one best is this:

1. You can rip/download any music and make it your ringtone. You don't have to pay a fortune for a ringtone.
2. You can charge the phone from the USB connector to the computer. You don't need the travel charger all the time.

There are other small things for me that make it good, it has a slot for inserting a mini-SD card and expanding memory. It's got a host of tools including a video record/play, media record/play, games, sync-up capability with outlook for contacts and calendar.

It has a few problems in terms of locating items, the navigation is not very friendly ( It runs Microsoft Windows Mobile, What do you expect ? ).

Great first effort, but has some problems,

Rating: 3

I've had my MPX220 with Cingular service since Dec 2004 (15 months) and with some exceptions has more than met my expectations. For my needs I found this much superior to the Blackberry which I tried for a month- i.e., much more convenient phone functionality. I believe that many of the "limitations" that I have read regarding this product are from persons who are familiar with cell phones, but are unaccustomed to the inherent differences between a camera phone and any phone that is running the MS Mobile/Smartphone suite - i.e., phone's time does not change automatically when relocated into a new timezone.

There is a boot-up feature that can only be "tweaked" by the service provider (i.e., Cingular)that will adjust the volume to a higher level. This greatly helped in my case.

Also, it is my understanding that the often-mentioned problem with the phone occasionally turning off for no apparent reason is due to the MS software's use of memory, and the problem can be mimized or eliminated by simply turning the phone off and back on once per day. I was experiencing this problem until I was made aware of this, and have had no further problems with this in over a year.

Pros
This is a great first effort on Motorola's part for combining:
> Cellphone
> Outlook synchronized Contacts
> Outlook synchronized Calendar
> WEB browsing
> WEB email
> Voice-Activated Dialing
> Bluetooth works fine for me, including the bluetooth keyboard - and is a must for serious emailing.

Cons
>This product is only a meodiocer as a Camera
> Although I have found that he volume of the phone is generally adequate, it is not adequate in some.
> I have had two hardware problems that prevent the phone from recharging. Initial problem satisfactorarily addressed under warranty. Am currently experiencing the problem again (intermittent) and plan to have the phone serviced.

Small PDA with issues

Rating: 3

I am using this phone for last 2 months..

Pros
- Small compared to many other PDA phones like Palm
- Cheap compared to other PDA phones.
- Easy PC syncing. I got lotus notes calendar synced

Cons:

- As many mentioned here the phone rattles at 75% of the volume. It does not matter the phone is on speaker or not. It rattles if you increase volume. In effect, volume is low and not clear.
- Intermittent lock up. It is a good idea to reboot the phone occasionally and especially before an important call
- Intermittent miss call, when you try to answer.
- Low battery life

Great Features, Poor Quality...

Rating: 2

I've gone through two of these in a little over a year. The phones are known to be of poor quality. In both of mine, the volume was low (I've done the upgrade) and they phone died by not being able to recharge the battery. I have a number of chargers and while they work on other phones (with my battery) none of them will charge the battery on my phone.
Expensive phone for only a year's worth of use. I know of a couple of other people who have had problems with the phone as well.
Motorola outsourced the development of this phone and not only is it discontinued, but Motorola discontinued the relationship with the manufacturer and cancelled the plans for an MPX3.. series phone. This makes me think it was poor engineering since they could have had someone else manufacture the phones.

By Motorola