Telecommunication part 2

[unixronin]

So, let's see ....

1. Sprint/Nextel contract expires.  Ditch Sprint/Nextel like a used Kleenex.
2. Order a new Motorola Razr V3 phone through Wirefly, with GSM service from Cingular.
3. Receive new phone.
4. Install Motorola Mobile Phone Tools software.
5. Determine that new phone has a hardware problem that makes it go catatonic any time you try to download anything onto it, including more than a handful of contacts at a time.
6. Call Wirefly.  Get RMA number.
7. Wait about a week.
8. Receive replacement phone... which cannot connect to network.
9. Call Wirefly.  Learn that I need to call Cingular to have them switch service over to the new SIM and IMEI number.
10. Call Cingular.  Get service switched.  Determine that new phone appears to have the same problem.
11. Call Wirefly.  Verify that they can't even do anything to troubleshoot the problem.
12. Call Motorola.  Spend about half an hour on the line with a Motorola tech doing diagnostics.  Verify hardware fault in phone's memory.
13. Call Wirefly.  Obtain another RMA number....

Having gotten two defective Razr V3 phones in a row, both with the same defect, I'm getting a different phone this time.  But not too different, because I do very much like that slim-clamshell form factor (it's the first mobile phone I've used that fits comfortably in a pocket, even a shirt pocket or inside jacket pocket).  This time, I've requested they replace it with a Razr V3i, which is an updated version with a slightly redesigned keyboard, higher-resolution camera, higher color depth external display, about 60% longer (claimed) battery life, and a lot more memory.¹

The V3i isn't available in black.  (Sigh.)  But I can deal with the basic silver finish as long as I can transfer data to it without it going catatonic.

[1]  12MB plus up to 1GB of flash RAM in a MicroSD slot (and a 512MB MicroSD card included in the box), vs. the original V3's non-expandable 5.8MB.

[2]  There is actually a gunmetal-grey model available, but it's not available through Wirefly.

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

And frankly, this is the first time we've had a problem with a Motorola phone. The Emerson prepaid phone we got when we moved from CA was horrible beyond words.