Motorola W315 Phone (Verizon Wireless) Review

Looking for Motorola fashion, but not the high price tag? Look no further than the little cousin of the wildly popular MOTO PEBL, The Motorola W315. The W315 sports a chic, PEBL-inspired clamshell design with a vertical external display. Key features include speakerphone, BREW, MMS, and voice dialing. Design The phone features a traditional clamshell design with a large 128 x 160 color display that supports over 65,000 colors. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's backlit control pad. A supplementary external screen can display call information, time of day, battery and signal strength, and more. Lastly, the unit also sports a stub-extendable antenna, a built-in mini-USB port, and a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets. Calling Features Robust calling features are at the heart of the W315. The built-in voice dialing feature allows you to make calls without ever touching the device. The W315's built-in address book can store up to 1000 contacts, with up to six numbers per name, for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. In addition to having a discreet vibrating alert, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones, which means you can really jazz up your incoming calls with cool ringtones. The W315 also allows assigned ringer and picture IDs so you can easily identify incoming calls from your address book by a glance at the screen, or from across the room. A built-in two-way speakerphone makes it easy for you and others in the car to talk hands-free. Lastly, the W315's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911. Because the W315 is a tri-mode phone, it can operate on Verizon's digital networks, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas. Messaging, Internet and Tools The W315 covers the messaging basics with support for sending and receiving text and graphics via messages. Getting on the Internet anywhere is easy with the W315, as well. Verizon's optional Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings, and find directions to the theater. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the W315. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads and digital photo-sharing tools using the Get It Now service. The W315 ships with a calendar and a voice memo application, as well as an alarm clock and a calculator. Imaging and Entertainment The W315 features customizable theme colors, screen backgrounds, fonts and caller ID graphics and pictures so you can make your phone reflect your personality. Games and other applications are available via the Get It Now service. Vital Statistics The Motorola W315 weighs 3.53 ounces and measures 3.48 x 1.97 x 0.89 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.05 hours of digital talk time, and up to 217 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 850, and CDMA 850/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one-year limited warranty.