Motorola and smartphones

Motorola is the only phone maker that uses three OSs for its handsets: Symbian, Linux and Microsoft Smartphone. Nowadays, smartphones are getting very popular and almost every company is paying attention to them. Basically smartphones are those phones which run their own operating system. Previously, only Symbian operating system was there for smartphones, but then Microsoft also entered into the competition. Motorola mpx200 is the Microsoft Smartphone-powered phone.

Motorola mpx200 design

This time, the Microsoft-powered smartphone comes up with the clamshell form factor. Size and weight can be said a bit above average i.e. 118 grams and 89 x 44 x 26 mm but this can be compromised. The internal TFT screen 176 x 220 pixels is capable of showing 65 colors which is impressive under many conditions.

Mpx200 Distincive features

While I was having a look at the specifications of Motorola mpx200, I thought that I am reading something about a personal computer or a laptop. The phone has a powerful 200 MHz processor and 32mb built in memory. Memory card slot is there, so you can expand the memory up to 1GB. A USB data cable comes with the phone which is just plug n play, no drivers required. Hence, the phone can act like a portable flash drive too. Synchronization is also not a problem; the cell phone uses Microsoft Active Sync for synchronization purposes. Another impressive feature of Motorola mpx200 is that, the phone can charge itself while connected to the USB port of the computer. Microsoft media player is there which can play both audio and video files such as mp3, wma, wmv, MPG etc. You can use it as a complete mp3 player. Msn messenger is there which almost looks likes the windows msn messenger. Furthermore internet explorer and an email client is also installed. In other words, you are getting a complete windows experience with that phone.
Furthermore, a lot of applications are present and new ones can be installed. Motorola mpx200 also has the ability to compress word and excel files for the purpose of transferring them form one place to another. You can also view files in different formats on the smartphone. There is also a handy file manager present, which looks like the windows explorer. This smartphone also has almost all the required features of a cell phone, like a very huge contact list, GPRS, MMS, polyphonic tones etc. Actually, you can define four types of connections i.e. Internet, Corporate VPN, Secure WAP, and WAP.

A talk on shortcomings

Motorola mpx200 is a new phone of its kind, some shortcomings and disadvantages are also present in the phone. Infrared port is present, but many people like the presence of Bluetooth in a phone like that. Hence, absence of Bluetooth can be a disadvantage. Similarly, lack of camera can be considered as a shortcoming. It is said that the phone runs a relatively older version of the OS according to current market situation and the memory card standard is also not the latest. All of the above aspects may be shortcomings but on the other side of picture, they are trying to control the price of the phone. Some people are not satisfied with the reception quality and the menus. Similarly, the input can only be done via the keypad which can be cumbersome sometimes if you are writing a message or chatting.

Motorla future plans regarding mpx200

Motorola mpx200 has become widely popular among different people of different classes. Motorola has decided to take further steps and develop this series. A new phone naming Motorola mpx220 is expected to come in the market with the known shortcoming removed such as presence of camera, Bluetooth, a handy design etc. After its release, it is said that Motorola will be working on another update, which will also support EDGE data.

Price and Conclusion

The time it was released, you could get Motorola mpx200 around 170$ with AT&T service plan and around 400$ with SIM free. Now, you can get it free with Orange plan and around 250$ for SIM free. The above examples were given just to give you an idea of the price of the phone. In my opinion, the price is extremely low for a smartphone like this.
Some people don't prefer buying this phone or say it as a mediocre phone due to the shortcomings described above. But, in my opinion if I am getting a mp3 player, video player, msn messenger, portable drive and a lot of things like that, in a cell phone with that price, I don't find any reason that could stop me buying that phone. The new updates of the phone will remove the shortcomings and add new features such that the user circle of this series will increase further.