From LG’s Prada to Sagem’s Porsche, mobile phone companies seem to tie-up with other well-known brands to create a mobile phone for users who want to flaunt it. The new Motorola unit is no exception – it has ‘merged’ the elegance of Ferrari with its existing V9 model, creating a new flip phone for Ferrari fanatics. But how does this prancing horse stack up?

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The RAZR2 Ferrari Special Edition maintains the product specifications of the already existing V9 model, but adds a Ferrari touch by sporting a checker flag pattern, red accents, exclusive content (screensavers, wallpapers, and ringtones), as well as a Ferrari leather carry case.

With the phone closed, users can find a 2-inch (320×240) external touch screen that displays the time and three touch keys, a battery and Bluetooth indicator, and a 2-megapixel camera that can be used for video calls and taking photos. The left spine sports the USB ‘accessory connector port’ (for charging and connecting the headphones), a smart key, and volume keys, while a dedicated camera button is located on the opposite side.

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Flipping the phone open reveals a 2.2-inch screen and a flat keypad that hosts the left and right soft keys, five-way navigation keys, a video call key, a clear/back key, dial/answer key, end/off button, ‘online’ key, and of course, the number keys. The keys are responsive but may not suit users who are used to touch-texting (the process of composing an SMS message without having to look at the phone).

The main menu is simple and is divided into nine sub-menus: Music (with the Motorola Aria chart service), Phonebook, Messages, Tools, Optus Zoo, Games and Apps, Multimedia, Recent Calls, Alarm Clock, Settings, Connection, and Camera. The V9 has a 512MHz processor that helps loads various programs quickly, with us experiencing fast program loading times in our tests.

The V9 Ferrari phone is HSDPA-enabled, giving us fast Internet and video steaming in 3G-covered spots. The unit also comes with Bluetooth (A2DP profile) and can be hooked up to any computer or printer via USB.

Motorola has pre-loaded the phone with various Ferrari wallpapers, screensavers, and ringtones, as well as a Screen3 service that delivers content (news, weather, sports) directly to the phone’s home screen.

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The 2-megapixel camera was able to produce MMS-worthy shots, but was unable to take shots in dark places because of the lack of a built-in flash. And because the camera is also used for video calling, we either had to close the phone or turn the unit around just for the person on the other line to see us.

The unit can display photos, play music (WMA, WAV, AMR NB, XMF, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC Enhanced, MIDI) and videos (H.263, MPEG 4) stored on the microSD card. The memory card slot is located beneath the rear battery cover, which hinders hot-swapping of cards.

Overall, the V9 Ferrari phone from Motorola is able to balance style with performance, giving users a lot of features for what its worth. But if the price tag of $629 is just too much, then we suggest users to look for other alternatives out there to get your Ferrari fix. The phone is available now for an RRP of $629.

This phone is available through Optus World and Optus Yes stores. For customer enquiries please contact 1300 301 937.

See page over for product specifications and final rating.

Motorola MotoRAZR2 V9 Ferrari Special Edition Specifications:

Size: 103 x 53 x 13.3 mm
Weight: 105 g
Screen:
External: 2.0-inch screen (320×240)
Main: 2.2-inch screen
Memory: 45MB internal memory
Camera: 2MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video (QCIF)
Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (Opera 8.5)
Multimedia: WMA, WAV, AMR NB, XMF, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC Enhanced, MIDI player
Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Instant Messaging
Connectivity: Bluetooth / USB

Battery Life:
Standby: Up to 260h
Talk time: Up to 3h 30min

Motorola MotoRAZR V9 Ferrari Special Edition | $629 |  | www.motorola.com/au

For: Design; Bright external and internal displays; Thin profile; Intuitive interface; Inclusion of Ferrari content; HSDPA browsing speeds
Against: Flat keys may be a problem for some; No built-in flash; 2-megapixel produces mediocre images; Memory card is hard to swap; Lacks 3.5mm audio jack
Conclusion: Feed your Ferrari need with Motorola’s new V9 phone.