Motorola V197 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty

The successor to the popular Motorola V190, the clamshell Moto V197 eliminates the external antenna and adds Bluetooth connectivity for easy handsfree communication. Nicely affordable and perfect for those who don't want to deal with a lot of extras, this quad-band GSM phone is also great for global voice roaming. Other features include an external display, speakerphone, Java for applications and games, MP3 ringtone capability, and extra-long talk time of up to 10 hours.

The clamshell V197 offers excellent voice communication features as well as dual LCDs and Bluetooth connectivity.

This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider. This phone comes with a one-year warranty from a third party provider.

Phone Features
The phone features a sleek clamshell design with a large 128 x 160 color display with 65,000 colors. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 32 monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. Meanwhile, there's a USB-capable data port for data connectivity (the USB connector also supports charging), as well as a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets.

The V197 supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. You can also assign pictures and ringers to your most common callers. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone, and ringer and Picture ID functions let you assign ringtones and pictures to your most common callers.

For those time when you want to be silent and discreet, the V197 has a vibrate ringer mode. Plus, a built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names.

This phone provides Bluetooth version 1.2 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and dial-up networking. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones.

The V197 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. There's a built-in web browser (WAP 2.0) for wireless downloads and mobile web browsing. Traditional text messaging, as well as 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 V197 including a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. The phone also supports the SyncML synchronization protocol, so you can sync it with your PC-based calendars and contacts.

The V197's USB connectivity can be used to transfer pictures, sounds and graphics to the phone's memory from your PC. Screensavers, themes and wallpapers can be set to your tastes. And the phone is Java enabled, meaning it supports games and application downloads written on the Java platform. Other features include:

• Up to 500 contact entries
• Real-music ringers (MP3) and 24-chord polyphonic ringtones
• 2.5mm headset jack
• Speaker-independent voice dialing
• Bluetooth version 1.2 with the following profiles: HSP (communication headset), HFP (hands-free profile), BIP (basic imaging), BPP (basic printing), OPP (object push for sending images and virtual business cards), DUN (dial-up networking), and FTP (synchronization with another PC)

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V197 weighs 3.55 ounces and measures 3.58 x 1.85 x 0.94 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 10.4 hours of digital talk time, and up to 525 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. This phone comes with a one-year warranty from a third party provider.

Customer Review: 3rd Party Trash Reseller: Amazon Profits But Not Responsible

Motorola V197 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Charcoal)

Don't even consider buying from Amazon.com. I've spent thousands through them, & made the fatal error that they actually monitor the resellers they profit from, but disclaim all responsibility. Bought this "new" "US" cell from HassleFreeCell (irony aside)--which they STILL sponsor: 1)"SUBTLE" indication that it was returned, not new: no plastic wrap on (slightly crushed) box (cheapo packaging), clear plastic shipping protectors slapped on worse than a a very uncoordinated 3-year old, no install disk; & 2) (what a surprise) DOESN'T WORK--both XP (2 different computers) & Vista return fatal hardware install messages--small wonder it was returned goods.

And Amazon??? Too bad, deal with the nice folks who cheated in the 1st place (& don't even have the cell listed on their own website). Add idiot customer "support"--clear message that the main issue was used goods--later found out it was defective for good measure--& these bozos respond "sorry it was damaged during shipping."

Caveat emptor--shop at a reputable website.

Customer Review: Good Phone

I had this Phone. It gets great signal and is very sturdy... I'm a teenage boy who is extremely hard on phones...this phone took everything i dished out and then some. I wish i had never sold it. It is a good buy especially for those who aren't exactly "nice" to their phones.
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