Motorola Q Global Phone (AT&T)

My first Smartphone December 23, 2007

Reviewer:  Dean!  (Dallas, TX) -

I've been an AT&T (SWBell, then AT&T, then Cingular (forced me to use a Cingular SIM card, not an ATT one), now AT&T) customer for almost 10 years now (yeup, same number).

I purchased my Moto Q (Q9H) online and received it in 2 days right before Thanksgiving and had the chance to use it in Europe (voice and data) with no issues recently. I live in the Dallas Texas area and have had no issues in this area, nor most of the major cities in Texas I've been to, plus the driving duration.

Migrating to my first Smartphone:
===================================
I upgraded from a Motorola L7 SLVR (basically a non-flip Razr). Migrating my contacts was easy ONLY BECAUSE of the Motorola Phone Tools CD that came with the phone (or findable on the Internet with a lot of searching). For whatever reason the Motorola Phone Tools software absolutely would not detect that Outlook was on my laptop and therefore I could only export the list in a CSV format and import it into Outlook. After arranging the fields in order - I could THEN sync all my numbers to my Moto Q Smartphone (Windows Mobile 6)

Well, duhh, what about my silly SIM card - well, that's a great concept and all, but the SLVR defaults to save contacts on your phone, not the sim card. So either I manually open 300 entries and click Edit then click Save To then click SIM card on a SLVR/RAZR OR...do the export/import from the Phone Tools program - the export was faster for me. Also, back in 2003? or so my Pre-Cingular AT&T sim card would NOT work in my Cingular SLVR/RAZR so I didn't even attempt to see if my Cingular SIM would then work in my Post-Cingular AT&T phone anyways.

[Yes, an AT&T retail store could have likely synched the contacts between each phone, but this was Thanksgiving and I was anxious to use my new phone, so keep that in mind too. ;-)]

What's in the Box:
===================
1. A post-Cingular, now new AT&T Sim card
2. A mini-usb to micro-usb keychain (unfortunately the phone uses micro-usb, not the ubiquitous mini-usb of the entire Motorola line and most other devices, oh well)
3. A regular USB (computer) to micro-usb data cable
4. An A/C outlet micro-usb charger
5. A micro-usb to 3.5mm audio jack adapter
6. The phone!
7. CD and Manuals and a 30 day unlimited AT&T music download coupon
8. Two batteries, slim and extended

What I don't like:
===================
1. Why Micro-usb ? It's not that much smaller than mini-usb - mini seems more sturdy and micro-usb feels uhm, plasticky and fragile...
2. 1/8 battery bar means your phone is about to completely turn off with no warning whatsoever - but don't get me wrong, the extended-battery life is pretty phenomenal at 3+ days of regular usage with voice and data. My SLVR/RAZR would beep to let me know it was low, the Q simply goes dead real quick (after 3+ days as I was testing it out) - there may have been a warning, but I never got to see it.
3. Apparently Windows Mobile software (on our work phone and this one) doesn't remind you that you missed an appointment alert, missed call, or have unread messages - I fixed this by downloading the Don't Forget Freeware app that does exactly that.

What I do like:
================
In 10 years, this is one of the best phones I've owned. I like it better than our Windows Mobile 5.0 Blackjack 1 we use at work. Battery life is great with my regular usage and I specifically wanted this phone because it is almost as thin as my SLVR/RAZR. I've seen the Treo and HTC's and others but those things are as thick and heavy as the cell phones back in the 90's. I personally wanted Windows Mobile software for all of the many apps, as opposed to the new Blackberry devices (Curve or Pearl) - plus the fact we use a Microsoft Exchange server that directly pushes to a Windows Mobile 6.0 smartphone.

Also, I wanted GPS and I did a ton of research and enough people got the "free" GPS software to work that I trusted others' experiences and the phone has practically paid for itself just for the amount of frustration/time the GPS has saved me! Yes, Google Maps and Windows Live Mobile Maps DO work. I took all default GPS settings and launch Google Maps to lock in on the satellite, then use Windows Live Mobile for my GPS navigation because it has voice recognition and the screen centers on my GPS location and will auto-recalculate if you go off route - haven't figured out how to make Google Maps do the same. (I have no need to pay $10 a month for TeleNav - the free stuff works great)

I have unlimited data and yes the MP3 and video work fine, though video is too small for anything serious to watch. I bought and put a 4gb SD HDSC?? card in the microSD slot - the guy told me HDSC is the newest and fastest or whatever. Not sure what the capacity is, but 4gb holds a lot, like thousands of pictures and music and probably half a day of video. I'll assume they make 8gb and 16gb microSD cards too.

The camera (with built in steady flash-light) is 2.0 megapixel which is more than the 1.3mp Verizon version of this phone. Highest resolution is 1600x1200 and I think the pictures look good for a camera phone, but of course it is not a digital camera substitute, though for me, it was my substitute for when I was in Europe and I'm happy with all pics, even at night.

Keyboard is full QWERTY and super easy to use and I'm so fast with it now, I turned text prediction off since it would actually mess me up.

Volume (ear and speaker) is pretty incredible, I actually have it slightly more than half way because it can get too loud - which is a good thing.

Voice recognition is an exponential step up - in old school days you had to "program" the voice names by recording your voice - this one is smart enough to guess based off your contacts and it recognizes pretty good. You can say Call John Work or Call Sally Home or even Send Text Sally Mobile or Open Windows Live Search, etc. (All with no voice programming)

I won't go into all of the other Windows Mobile features or apps - as I assume they'd work the same on any smartphone, I'm just highlighting the unique things for this specific phone.

Screen is nice and clear and readable in the brightest of sunlight (unlike my old Slvr/Razr).

Overall, this is truly one of the best phones I've ever used and I've been extremely happy with it. All of my apps are installed on my 4gb microSD card and I've only had one lockup when I had the media player, Outlook email, text messages, Google Maps, Windows Live Maps, and Opera all running. Now I specifically choose to exit each app if I know I won't need it anymore and I've been fine.

I feel so extremely productive and I have it all in one slim device; bluetooth, Internet, phone, incredible volume output, no-training-needed voice recognition, sync, MS-Office, GPS!!!, mp3 player, video player, 2mp camera with 8x digital zoom, great battery life, email, text message, bright screen in sunlight, 3G and Edge data, great ATT phone network (US and Intl), and microSD for storage expansion.

Motorola Q9h Review February 4, 2008

Reviewer:  E. Arias 

Recently purchased this phone through Amazon, and after about 1 month of ownership, I'm pretty happy with it.

I've gone through various PDA/Smartphones before this one (Treo 650, Treo 700p, Q (silver), T-Mobile MDA, the V from Verizon), so I knew what to expect w/the phone. Its very sleek, very "hold-able", sound quality is very decent (when my chin is not rubbing the mic).

The OS isn't the most responsive, but becoming acquainted with the task manager and several other task apps out there should help some.

Overall the phone is nice, and as a Mac user I purchased Missing Sync in order to work my iCal and Address Book- it's been more reliable to my Treo 700p... by folds.

Pros:
- Sleek
- Simple
- Works reliably
- Nice QWERTY
- Great camera quality
- Loud everything
- Decent vibrate
- Very hold-able
- Available apps
- Rubberized back reduces slipping
- Well equipped (through Amazon)

Cons:
- WM6 a little slow
- loaded w/AT&T apps
- GPS unreliable


Have to add that through Amazon is definitely worth it. The extended battery, and all the additional adapters were great to see in the box, and with no need to purchase in addition to

Excellent phone - good Smartphone December 10, 2007

Reviewer:  SSK "SSK"  (Santa Barbara, CA) -

I have been using this phone about a week now. Although my 1st phone was faulty, my 2nd set is actually living up to the spec. Call quality is excellent rivaling land line quality. It's loud and clear - better than any other cell phone I've used. Battery life with extended battery is excellent - I'm on my 4th day on the 1st charge which is unheard of with PDA phones. I use ActiveSync that syncs every 2 hours and I probably use the phone about 3-5 times a day. I love the keyboard on this phone. It's built like a tank and keys press and feel real solid. Camera comes with a flash even.

Negatives: onboard memory is 64MB which is okay if you're not running lot of apps. Not easy to close applications unless you "kill" it but that's Windows Mobile for you.

My First Smartphone--A Great Choice!! March 7, 2008

Reviewer:  TMStyles  (California) -

After considerable research, I finally took the plunge and purchased my first smartphone, Motorola's Q Global 9h. I had used a PDA off and on but was disenchanted with docking stations, stylus usage, and carrying both a phone and a PDA. I am extremely pleased with this purchase but bear in mind, I have not owned other brands.

Compared to similar offerings, the Motorola Q is much slimmer and lightweight. I was attracted to its functionality, its looks, and its potential to do what I needed done. The voice and sound qualities of the phone exceed my expectations as does the built in camera. I have not yet tried to use the music aspects but that was not important to me in my selection. The full QWERTY keyboard is easy to use compared to others in this class and the interface to the internet is very easy to manipulate. Its voice recognition component has been outstanding so far. The standard battery has been so functional to this point, that I have not even charged the extended battery.

Since my corporate system is based on Windows, I needed a Windows Mobile software unit to sync with my corporate requirements. I was amazed with how quickly I was able to sync with my work units, how quick the interface is, and how accessible my emails and corporately based data is now available in my handset wherever I am in the US or world (mostly). All my contacts, my calendar, and all incoming emails appear in my handset within seconds of arriving at my office computer.

I especially appreciate the ability to receive my Windows based email from work on my MOTO Q9h but also my email from accounts at AOL and Yahoo. One glance at the screen and I can see email waiting on my Outlook account, my AOL account, a text message, and any voicemails. I assume other smartphones can do this, but it is pretty slick, nonetheless.

All in all, this is a great smartphone and I am extremely pleased with it. It is reassuring to know I have the equivalent of everything from an MP3 player to a camera to an internet portal to a video player--all that and a great phone too! After 3 weeks with this device, I unequivocally recommend it those in search of a quality smartphone.

The Best Business Phone You Can Buy February 19, 2008

Reviewer:  James P. Caldwell "JC"  (Chicago, IL) -

The Q9h has an incredibly fast user interface. The keypad is probably one of the best I have ever used...even better than the Blackberry 8800. The keys are large and easy to use. The dedicated speakerphone and camera buttons come in handy as well.

I have used this phone since it was first released, and I am very happy with it. Email works great! Web browsing is very fast on the 3G network too. I have recommended this phone to many of my friends.

Nice phone June 25, 2008

Reviewer:  TheMemoryHole  (USA) -

I'm a defector from the iPhone (yes, despite the approach of the 3g) and after some research finally settled on the q9h. Even though I think the form factor and user interface on the iphone are terrific, I mainly bought the device because of its internal memory. Now, with the devices like the q9h and others that can accomodate 2.0 high capacity cards the game has changed. You can equip yourself with lots of storage space for songs and other media without internal memory. As for the phone itself, I've been using it for about three days now. Here's what I like...

1. The signal strength is very, very good
2. The volume level and call clarity are amazing for both phone AND speakerphone. Iphone version 1.0 doesn't come close.
3. Windows mobile 6, which is a more productivity-oriented platform than what I had on the iphone.
4. Keyboard is amazing. I missed tactile texting and data entry.
5. Screen is good, but not great
6. Processor seems fast enough to take advantage of 3g and programs. Seldom do I deal with lag when navigating.
7. Seems durable.
8. Fairly light and thin
9. As mentioned, SD 2.0 compatible. This should allow the phone to accomodate up to 32 gigs of memory. As of now the MicroSD's are at 8 gigs but that will change soon.
10. I read [...] that the phone is actually wired for WIFI but will require some kind of software upgrade to activate it. Sounds dubious, but it'd be a big plus if it's the case, and would raise my review to a 4.5 or 5

Cons

1. Side-mounted micro USB (I would've preferred top or bottom)
2. No WIFI, but with 3g this isn't much of an issue (see #10 above)
3. I've heard phone is "counter-blocked", which means you could encounter issues if you buy an unlock code and unlock it. FYI.
4. A little wider than I'd like but the keyboard feels good for a reason

Overall I think this is a very solid phone. I would recommend it to others in a heartbeat. As far as the device's fundamentals go I can't find anything wrong with it thus far.

My first smartphone April 19, 2008

Reviewer:  Marie Guerierri "PC Analyst/Programmer"  (Hollywood, FL USA) -

Ok I was surprized at the size. It's a bit larger than I thought (since I ordered it online) and now my marketing introduction to the phone is: "it also doubles as a personal protection device..." You can always hurl it at a thief, the impact should be stunning.

The screen is bright indoors, but, can't read it well in direct sunlight. Which means if you are using the fabulous camera in daylight, you are going to have to guess at the backlight, or maybe I haven't found that feature yet.

I installed an 8GB storage card, which I thought, at first, wouldn't work. The Device has two icons: "Storage Card" doesn't recognize the card until you save something on it. "format Card" (which you really don't need) says the card is greater than 4GB. That aside, when I used the synch manager I was easily able to synchronize music, videos and photos to my phone.

I was also able to synch contacts from my outlook address book, without problem. First clean them up and remove those that you don't want, and make sure it is the only contacts book that is configured for your outlook email.

Hooking up to POP/SMTP mail was a breeze - and Live Messenger integrates seamlessly. Google maps also works on the phone.

The external speaker is really wonderful. Clear and full, both with music and phone calls.

I found the phone call headset quite loud and clear. The volumn was really surprizing. The speakerphone, folks tell me, sound like I'm in a big room.

So far the batteries are good, two to three days on standby. I haven't used the extended battery. And I haven't found an external charger for the batteries, yet. Right now, if you want to charge the extra batteries, you have to put them in the phone. Charging is fast, though.

Connecting to the computer is a breeze, and the phone seems to charge while it is connected. Although I have read other reviews that say it doesn't. I am not using a charging station, just using the USB to MicroUSB to hook up to the computer.

Media Player and ITunes will automatically synch with the phone.

The keyboard is really nicer than other blackberry-styled phones. Easy to find the keys, although I do agree with one review - the letters and numbers aren't synchronized, so if the phone number is: 1-800-call-me, you are going to have to figure out which numbers to dial.

Voice recognition does work, but only from a headset or when a headset is plugged in and the device is set to hands-free. I had an older bluetooth, and had to remove it from my ear and put it in front of my mouth for the phone to recognize the caller. (the same was true for my old phone). There are no instructions that tell you this, but at least you don't have to record each contact name for the phone to recognize it.

The phone comes with Windows Mobile, and depending on your provider, with a lot of applications.

The phone comes with a wall charger - very quick charging, and travel adapters for the microUSB, and bluetooth stereo headset adapter to microUSB.



Cons:
You can have a lot of programs running. To save power, you have to go to the task manager and kill programs.

Photo snap shots saved to the storage card you have to search for, although I did manage to see them in the thumbnail viewer, once, but can't figure out how I did it. :)

The video screen is small, about an inch, with the Media Player header and footers taking up most of the space. I'm going to have to see if there is a setting to view full screen.

My super Jabra battery-bluetooth doesn't work with the phone. Rats. It doesn't recognize it. My old Motoroloa bluetooth (with about 2 hours of talk time) worked fine, but then you have to haul the second charger around or invest in an Igo power system and the appropriate adapters.

Not all Motorola bluetooths come with the same microusb charger connector.

The controls are really easy to use, and I haven't quite gotten to the part where you can configure soft keys, so I have to spend time searching for stuff.

Now, the size. Yes, it is not a tiny phone. If you put it in a holster, it is a large holster. Works fine for a purse, briefcase, or suit pocket. If I am out walking, the holster looks like a growth under my T-shirt. :)

There are a lot of little attachments that you need to keep around: stereo headsets, bluetooth headset, extra battery.. a nice case would be helpful.
---------

Other than that, I am thrilled that I don't have to buy a media device and carry two things around. If you like gadgets, then this phone meets the bill.

Q9 is Second to None February 19, 2008

Reviewer:  Christopher S. Warrix "Chris Warrix"  (Jackson, KY) -

I've been carrying my Q9 (Motorola, American Engineered) for a couple months now. Compared to the rivals, the handset just felt like true quality the first time I picked it up. The Blackjack (Korean) and Blackberry (Canadian) both felt like a toy instead of true engineering. I have had no issues and the experience has been a delight.

I would recommend this handset to all.

Close to smartphone nirvana August 29, 2008

Reviewer:  M. Hook  (Tennessee) -

I got one of these in May, heard about the iPhone 3G coming and returned it within my 30 day buyer's remorse window to wait.
Thought a lot about it, did my homework, and ended up going back a few weeks ago and picking up another Q9h instead.
Reviews on this one are all over the place-- folks either seem to love it or hate it. I have had some issues on and off but on balance it's an exponential step up from my old Treo, and I really have come to love it (never thought I'd be saying that about a Motorola phone after some of the others I have had).
A couple of things I don't see mentioned a lot in other reviews that make a big difference for me are:

#1: the camera flash. Not that it's too useful for its intended purpose (low-light sensitivity on the built-in camera is not too great just like almost every other fixed-focus part on other phones), but that thing is GREAT as a little flashlight. I used to use the screen from my Treo as a little utility flashlight but the LED on the Q9h is about 5 times brighter and a bit more focused; about equal to one of those little keychain LED flashlights. It's easy to turn on and off, too, and it has saved my bacon a few times already. Sounds silly but you won't know how handy this is until you have one around all the time.

#2. All the nice quick launch keys along the bottom combined with 10 speed-dial contact/application launch keys means this phone is one of the easiest Windows Mobile devices to interact with out there (especially with the 6.1 update, which improves the home screen DRAMATICALLY in terms of its functionality, especially if you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty with some configuration). I am including the touchscreen devices in that comparison as they all require a stylus somewhere sometime (except for the iPhone and maybe a couple of the higher end HTC devices right now) and I just can't stand using one of those things. Once you get used to the layout of the launcher keys and the navigation shortcuts in the menus you'll be able to breeze through it to get to whatever you want.

#3. The software. There are some seriously cool and functional Windows Mobile apps out there and a thriving, helpful community of people developing for the platform and (slowly) making it more friendly to use (it's already highly functional, it just needs... polish). Just the other day I discovered Kinoma Play which is one dazzling media player for WinMo devices. It's so refined and pretty with fancy menu transitions and a slick interface it makes me not pang so much when I see somebody tickling their lovely iPhone, and when I go to write a text message or email I remember why I ultimately didn't choose one of those handsets, as the Q's keyboard really is stellar. Sometimes I can be sitting at my desk and I'll choose to go over and sit in an armchair or in the conference room or something to tap out even a lengthy email just because the keyboard on this device is such a pleasure to use (especially coming from the old 680, whose small, slick keys were the bane of my existence).

Other strong suits that get mentioned a lot that I also want to emphasize are the earpiece and speaker volume (super loud and good sound, especially the speaker. I use it to listen to music while I wash dishes or something and it's not too bad of an experience), good call quality and RF reception, respectable battery life for a 3G smartphone (I can get 2-3 days on a charge, but only my work hours are spent in a 3G area each day), nice design, durable and solid-feeling.

Cons are mostly related to Windows mobile and especially Active Sync. I have had several issues getting my calendar to sync properly but I think that is due in part to some of my usage habits (or bad luck, probably a bit of both).
Also should mention that the GPS chip is nice but won't be replacing your dedicated navigation device anytime soon as I tried that on a trip to Indiana and it screwed me pretty bad a couple of times. Fine in a pinch but I wouldn't try to take a road trip without an atlas or something.
If you get one of these make sure it has Windows Mobile 6.1 on it. If it doesn't, go to Motorola's site and get it updated before you do anything else-- the update will reset your phone and erase all your data so you should just go ahead and get it out of the way first.
All in all highly recommended and I'm pretty hard to please and very critical of my devices. There's still an old phone of mine way out in a field somewhere near my backyard... Ironically it was a Moto! Don't think this one's gonna go out that way though...

Shoddy construction and forget about AT&T's "warranty" February 25, 2008

Reviewer:  G. A Wheeler "gramix"  (Seattle, WA USA) -

In December 2007 I renewed my AT&T contract and got a Motorola Q9H. Yesterday (Feb 2008), when unplugging the phone from the charger, the charge socket on the phone came right out of the phone - it appears that it is held on by a small amount of solder on the junctions, and the solder joints are dull and look dry. I called my local AT&T store and they said, no problem, there is a 12 month warranty, and I need to call a 1-800 number and they will send out a replacement.

So I called the number. They tell me that they will send out a replacement, and I must send in the phone, but should they determine that this is due to "physical damage" they will bill me $399, and there is no way to get the old phone back. I asked why I can't send the old phone in without them shipping out a new one and have them call me to tell me whether it is covered under warranty (which is should be; I did not mistreat the phone) and if not, give me a quote to have it repaired. They can't do that, they said. My only options are to decide up front to send it for repair (and pay for the repair), or gamble $399 that they will do the right thing. Obviously the phone is "physically damaged" but that is due to a defect, not abuse, so this doesn't sound like a good gamble to me. So I'm left with a broken phone less than 3 months old.

It was a nice phone while it worked.