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The latest Motorola device is the E815 to which anxious fans gave it mixed reviews. Unfortunately, its wonderful design and multimedia features were overshadowed by the dissapointing connectivity features.
As the latest Verizon Wireless release, the E815 relies on functionality and features, strong imaging and audio capabilities, and its broadband EV-DO high-speed transfer rates, hoping to win over the consumer market yet again.
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Motorola e815 features
Large internal and external color displays with picture caller ID Built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with 4x zoom, day and night lighting modes, auto timer, slide show viewer, and video clip capture and playback
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Available 40 MB internal memory with TransFlash memory expansion slot for up to an additional 512 MB of storage Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free connectivity Integrated MP3 player and 64-chord polyphonic sound engine with stereo headset support for mobile music Personal Information Management (PIM) features including 1,000 entry phonebook, currency converter, and calculator Office-quality speakerphone and speaker-independent voice-activated name and digit dialing WAP 2.0 browser with next generation (EV-DO) technology for near-broadband speed downloads Video-on-demand and music via Verizon VCAST  BREW 2.1.3 support for application, ringer, wallpaper, graphic and game download
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Design
The Motorola E815 looks nothing like the V710, covered in a conservative metallic casing. Measuring 94 x 50 x 23 mm and weighing 126 g, both feature a typical form factor, neither razor thin nor overly large.
When closed, the 1.3-inch external screen conveniently displays time, signal and battery strength, and phone status information.
Pressing the Camera Key on the right edge activates the 1.3-megapixel lens located above the external LCD. Allowing for low-light conditions, bright and clear photos are possible by trigging the built-in flash positioned on the lower left edge of the front cover.
Should users run out of internal memory storing photos, an expansion card slot along the top accepts TransFlash memory for an additional 512 MB of removable storage, though SanDisk reportedly is releasing a 256 card. Also incorporated within the top, a 2.5 mm jack is used for wired handsfree access.
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User's thoughts
The good: The Motorola E815 has a great internal display, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a speakerphone, a TransFlash card slot, Bluetooth, an MP3 player, 3G EV-DO support.
The bad: The Motorola E815 suffers from a slippery keypad, touch-and-go EV-DO reception, and no analog roaming. Also, Bluetooth file transfers have been disabled.
The bottom line: Verizon's new V Cast flip phone, the Motorola E815 scores with a sharp 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, plenty of RAM, and an MP3 player.
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Conclusion
High expectations were placed for the E815's predecessor, the Motorola V710. And when it was announced, groans could be heard afar. And as the faithful anxiously awaited the release of the Motorola E815, they were holding their breath once again.
This time around, Motorola seemed to get it right; redesigning subtleties like the keypad to put to rest annoyances with text messaging and improving and enhancing multimedia features putting the E815 ahead of the competition. But perhaps the two most significant changes were the improvements to memory and the addition of EV-DO.
The V710 was a jumble of great multimedia features; brilliant internal and external screens, a decent yet underperforming camera, and MP3 player. Alone, these features were great, yet nothing tied these features together.
Motorola alleviated the problem with the E815, taking multimedia one step further; allowing users share their experience after capturing it with their phone. As the backbone, EV-DO's lightening-fast transmission rates enable users to do what a multimedia-rich phone was designed to do.
After recording videos and taking snapshots, consumers can now conveniently send them to friends and family. Impossible with traditional networks, sending high-quality picture and video messages enables others to share in the experience, captured with the E815, without leaving them squinting.
But the E815 is not the perfect phone. Unfortunately, what disappointed V710 consumers were hoping for wasn't going to change; Verizon Wireless had once again disabled Bluetooth transfer and dial-up capabilities. More concerned about profit than pleasing its consumers, Verizon Wireless cripples all its Bluetooth-enabled phones.
Overall the Motorola E815 is a great phone at a affordable price. But as with all consumer electronics, prices drop quickly. Given the well-rounded multimedia capabilities in imaging, audio, messaging, and entertainment, 3G EV-DO streaming and transfer rates, and abundant storage space, its hard to find a better suited phone for the above average consumer.
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