Clamshell won’t impress technophiles, but might satisfy basic users
In selling the MOTO VU204 for Verizon Wireless, Motorola uses words like “ergonomically sleek,” “soft-touch paint,” “begs to be touched” and “draws just the right amount of attention” to say that this is your basic, blend-into-the-crowd kind of clamshell.
While there isn’t one standout feature found in the MOTO VU204, it’s designed to be a low-cost phone with most of the features needed by a basic user without any of the more stylish sophistication of its more advanced brethren.
Need a touch screen or GPS for satellite-based driving directions? If so, the MOTO VU204’s not for you. Need simplicity and most features on a low budget? Read on.
Price
Because you’re not getting anything in particular from Motorola on the feature or design front that’d drop your mouth, you should expect not to have to break the bank for the MOTO VU204.
Verizon Wireless has indeed priced this budget cell phone at $69.99. It starts, though, at $119.99 with a two-year service contract.
The MOTO VU204 only comes down in price to $69.99 after you wait to receive a $50 mail-in rebate. It’s a whopping $189.99 (or $139.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate) with only a one-year contract.
Feature List: General
* Bluetooth short-range wireless (i.e. for a wireless headset)
* Alarm clock, calculator, calendar, stop watch, world clock and notepad
* 2.5-millimeter headset jack
* Emergency contacts
* Embedded ringtones, vibrating alerts and silent mode
* Voice commands
* Speakerphone
* Bilingual interface (English and Spanish)
* Phonebook up to 1,000 contacts
* TTY compatible for the deaf or hard of hearing
* Hearing aid compatibility (M3/T4)
* Handset insurance is available
Feature List: Camera
* VGA camera with 4X digital zoom
* White balance (auto, sunny, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent or darkness)
* Color effects (normal, antique, black/white or negative)
* Dedicated camera key
* Picture ID
* Resolution adjustment (to 640x480 or 320x240)
* Timer (off or 3, 5 or 10 seconds)
* Brightness adjustment
* Shutter sound selection
* Multi-shot mode
* Fun frames
* Zoom, rotate and crop pictures
Feature List: Services
* Mobile Web access (“VZ Navigator”), mobile email and chat
* Picture messaging, text messaging and instant messaging
* Software upgrades over the air
* Voicemail
Battery
The MOTO VU204 is rated in the middle of today’s average battery range at 238 minutes of talk time (or 3.97 hours).
It’s rated at the longer-than-usual standby time (if you’re not using it at all) of 447 hours (or 18.63 days).
Size, Weight
This clamshell measures in at a height of 3.65 inches, a width of 2.09 inches and a diameter of 0.76 of an inch. The MOTO VU204 weighs in at a relatively light 3.4 ounces.
Differentiation in the Marketplace
The MOTO VU204 doesn’t have a single standout feature to differentiate itself in the marketplace. It blends in with a sea of other budget cell phones with similiar feature sets.