Unveiling Motorola V980 Features Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Motorola V980

The Motorola V980 was a mobile phone that captured the essence of early-2000s mobile technology with a few forward-looking features. Released in the third quarter of 2004, this device was designed as a clamshell or flip phone, which was a popular style at the time. Its design and features made it a worthy contender in the mobile phone market, primarily appealing to users seeking a balance between basic functionality and nominal multimedia capability.

Design and Build

The Motorola V980 was designed with practicality and durability in mind. The phone measured 94 x 49 x 27 mm and weighed 137 grams, making it relatively compact yet sturdy. The clamshell design was not only fashionable but also protected the screen and keypad from unwanted scratches and accidental keypresses. The phone supported a Mini-SIM card, which was the standard format at that time.

Display

The V980 was equipped with a 1.9-inch TFT display capable of displaying 65K colors. The screen resolution stood at 176 x 220 pixels, offering a pixel density of about 148 ppi. While not very high by today's standards, this was adequate for basic usage and simple graphics. The screen-to-body ratio of around 24.7% was typical for clamshell phones, balancing the necessity of a smaller device with a readable screen.

Camera

This model included a VGA camera, which was a modest offering during the early 2000s. With a 0.3 MP resolution and an LED flash, it enabled users to capture images and record videos, though the quality was rather basic by modern benchmarks. The inclusion of a camera added a multimedia dimension to the phone, appealing to users who desired more than just a calling and messaging device.

Battery Life

The Motorola V980 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 820 mAh battery, identified as the BA685 model. Users could expect a standby time of up to 145 hours and a talk time of approximately 2 hours. Although not exceedingly long-lasting, the battery performance was sufficient for light to moderate usage throughout the day.

Memory and Storage

The phone came with 2MB of internal memory, which was typical at the time for storing contacts, text messages, and very few media files. For users needing additional space, the V980 included a microSD card slot, allowing for expanded storage. The phonebook feature allowed for photo call, offering a personalized caller ID experience. Call records could store up to 10 dialed, received, and missed calls each.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM and UMTS technology, the Motorola V980 operated on 2G bands (GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900) and 3G band (UMTS 2100). It offered data speeds of up to 384 kbps, enabling basic web browsing and online activities. However, modern connectivity features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were absent. The phone also did not support positioning services or FM Radio, and its USB connectivity depended on a proprietary interface.

Sound and Multimedia

In terms of audio features, the device had a loudspeaker and supported various alert types including vibration, downloadable polyphonic, monophonic, and MP3 ringtones. However, it lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack, making private listening somewhat challenging unless using proprietary accessories.

Software and Feature Sets

The V980 ran on a feature phone operating system with basic functionalities. It supported SMS, EMS, MMS, EMail, and Instant Messaging for its messaging suite. The WAP 2.0/xHTML browser enabled basic internet navigation. It included some pre-installed games and supported Java (MIDP 2.0), allowing users to download additional Java-based applications and games compatible with the phone.

Conclusion

Though discontinued, the Motorola V980 remains a fascinating example of early mobile phone technology. Its combination of a serviceable camera, expandable storage, and compact design signifies the transitional period in mobile technology between basic phones and the more advanced smartphones. The Motorola V980 was suitable for users who desired a straightforward communication device with a taste of multimedia capabilities during the era of its release.