Motorola Q9 Review

Motorola Q9 – The Slimmest Qwerty PDA Phone

By Susan Hargreaves

Motorola originally announced the manufacture of a new PDA offering a Qwerty keyboard and the thinnest dimensions available on the market around 12 months ago, the model was to be named the Motorola Q.

The handset was dubbed the 'Blackberry Killer' and the 'RAZRBerry' for its keypad that roughly resembled that of the trademark Blackberry phones and because of its 'razor like' measurements, and PDA enthusiasts were all adding the new handset to their wish lists ready for when the phone was released, there were even rumors that some overseas companies were taking pre-orders for the phone for the extra publicity it generated.

However, the manufacturer has stumped them all and released a new version of the phone called the Motorola Q 9h.

This new handset runs on Windows Mobile 6.0, the latest version of the software and is robust and sleek in design whilst packing power and functionality.

The handset will appeal across a broad spectrum from busy professionals through to gadget lovers and even the fashion conscious for its cool design and thin dimensions.

The Q 9h offers HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology allowing for fast download speeds of up to 3.6MB per second which makes for quick instant messaging, email access and downloading of new files, applications, ring tones, games and other mobile content.

The device is equipped with a fully optimized Qwerty keyboard for quick and easy text input for emails, text messages and presentations and notes which can all be viewed on the very large 320 x 240 pixel display.

There is also a 2.0 mega pixel camera with flash, digital zoom and vide record and playback support via a media player which also facilitates streaming video clips such as news and sports headlines via 3G.

Being a 3G enabled handset opens up a whole world of media download possibilities including new movie trailers and the latest music tracks and albums but more importantly the Motorola Q 9h also features a secondary VGA camera on the front of the phone for video calling where the user can actually see the person they are conversing with in real time.

Wireless connections are possible thank to Bluetooth technology allowing for easy file sharing with compatible mobile phone and other devices such as TVs and laptops whilst the handset can also use bluetooth to connect to a hands free car kit for safe conversations whilst driving. There is even a stereo headset that uses the handsets stereo bluetooth to transfer music and speech wirelessly to the users ear.

With all of this technology the manufacturer has included a MicroSD card slot for extra memory of up to 2GB for storing all of those music, games, downloads and video files plus with a USB 2.0 the handset can be connected to a PC and data can be downloaded and backed up quickly and easily.

The new Motorola Q 9h may not be exactly what the masses were expecting but it certainly does not disappoint when it comes to features and technology. A marked improvement on the original Q-Series and a phone that will sit comfortably in a suit pocket.