Released for T-Mobile, the Motorola V188 offers the mass market a chic choice for mobile connectivity inside a customizable clamshell design. Motorola remains connected to the mass market with the debut of feature-rich handsets at a compelling price. The V188 features MP3 ringtones, downloadable games, AOL Instant Messenger, a color screen, and much more making it the preferred choice for the fashion-forward, value-conscious consumer. With great design and advanced features, the V188 is a tremendous value for consumers.
Motorola V188 Features
Stylish and lightweight clamshell design
GSM quad-band technology for communication around the globe
Motomixer application to mix unique MIDI ring tones to play on 24-chord polyphonic speakers
Personal Information Management (PIM) features including Datebook, Calculator and Currency Converter, Voice Recorder, and Alarm Clock
Enhanced iTAP predictive text for messaging via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS), and Short Messaging Service (SMS)
WAP 2.0 compliant browser with GPRS Class 10 for high-speed data transmission
J2ME MIDP 2.0 support for application, ringer, wallpaper, graphic and game downloads including peer-to-peer 2-way games (SMS and GPRS)
Motorola V188 User Reviews
1. Posted by letaylor
Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:33 am
I travel extensively along the West Coast of the US and have been plagued with spotty or poor cellular service for many years. I've tried several different companies and a number of different phones. I now have a family plan with 2 phones. Initially one was a Motorola v180 (predecessor to the v188) and the other a very popular model from another manufacturer. I encountered many situations where the Motorola would work and the other phone would not. While I loved the style and the larger screen of the other model, a phone is useless if your calls don't come through. So I traded it for a Motorola v188 and am very happy with the choice.
There are lots of things the sales people won't tell you (or don't even know!) Among these is that the number of bands (dual, tri or quad), the presence of an external antenna and the number of "modes" of service the phone can access (analog, digital, or digital PCS) make a BIG difference if you often find youself in less than optimal reception areas. In my opinion, the Motorola v188 is the best instrument out there for areas with poor reception. The talk time and the standby time are among the best in the industry. The screen is a bit small, but if you experiment with the color settings and ditch the wallpaper you can have a highly functional phone for voice calls and text messaging.
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327 out of 353 people found this review helpful.
2. Posted by PsychoI3oy
Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:05 am
I've had mine for just over a month and I'll try to summarize my thoughts.
Good:
-Call clarity is good, even with just 2 or 3 bars.
-Handsfree headset works great.
-Long battery life.
-Bright crisp screen.
-Bloo backlights for the keypad.
-Useful external LCD.
-Decent speeds websurfing.
-Feature rich for something so cheap/free.
-Runs games well, though I've only played Tetris and card games.
-Sturdy: I've dropped it a few times to no ill effect, obviously you don't want to test this for yourself.
-The software is as intuitive as any other Motorola phone, which is good cause that's all I've ever really used.
Bad:
-The chrome on the D pad arrows has been flaking and chipping since the 2nd week I had it. Minor and cosmetic, though.
-The processor could use more umph, it gets bogged down in larger webpages or long text messages (or other text entry points when there's more than 200 chars).
-AIM comes on the phone but watch out, T-Mobile will charge a text message not only for messages sent but also recieved messages, refreshing the buddy list, setting away status, etc.
-No Java Sockets support such that Java networking programs (IRC, SSH, etc.) don't work. HTTP transport for the IRC programs doesn't work if you just have T-Zones/T-MobileWeb for internet access.
-The green and red (answer/hang up) buttons are on the opposite sides of every other Motorola phone I've ever used (a V66g and several iDen/Nextel phones). The green's on the left and red on the right.
-The power connector is also different than most newer Motorola phones. It's a stubby barrel connector, not the 3 prong clippy kind (also not the long skinny barrel from those old contractor iDen phones). Hopefully they'll stick with this though as it seems much less prone to breakage than the 3 prong clippy kind, so maybe it's good.
All in all I'm very happy with it, other than the few minor disappointments. For the price (free with $50 MIR when I purchased, now even cheaper it looks like) you really can't go wrong for an entry level cell phone.
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108 out of 118 people found this review helpful.
3. Posted by xerosphere
Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:26 pm
I've had my v188 for about 6 months. Its been dropped, sat on and otherwise physically abused and still works just fine. I just now ordered a new faceplate (for 5 bucks) since mine is developing a crack across the exterior display.
The features are well-documented elsewhere, so I won't recap them. Where this phone excels is in the reception. I have been in a car with two other people on the same carrier (T-mobile) but different phones, and I have service and they got nothin. The speakerphone is nice, and while I find the handset volume to be a little low at times, the volume is fine with a headset/earbud.
I wish the side buttons were a little more useful, and I wish they didn't beep for no reason when they get pushed. This phone is so small I usually just stick it in my pocket. The side buttons are really sensitive and if it gets wedged up against your wallet or something your pants start beeping.
This is a great phone for the money (mine was free), and it has standard bells & whistles plus SMS, AOL instant messenger (i don't use it), java games, mp3 ringtones (i just ordered software & a cable so we'll see about that -- i won't pay for ringtones, that's crazy)
Four out of five stars from me.
Cheers,
X
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17 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
4. Posted by Farslasher
Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:24 pm
Just got this phone a couple days ago, and so far its great. There are good things and bad things about every phone, I know i really havent had this phone that long to decide on all the bugs, but i can name a few annoyances....
So far, This phone is very light, small, and convienent, wont look emberassed pulling this phone out of your pocket, unlike a pda. The antenna is nice too, dont have to worry about fiddling with that, and you can easily switch it for a much nicer looking one. Faceplates on this phone are what im waiting for, I dont care so much for the Silver/Black look, but it does not bother me at all while I wait. Few things i have noticed so far is that after storing only five voice dials, it refuses to let me add more, the ringtones that come with this phone are incredibly plain. The phones sound is amazing but if you do not go download some mp3 ringtones your gonna be a bit dissapointed. You can not change the volume of the phone if it is not flipped open, the buttons on the side act for nothing when it is closed, I think that is kinda pointless. Other than those few things this phone is terrific, the time on the exterior of the phone is convienent, the phone is very easy to use, and can dial a number one handed without a problem.
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201 out of 249 people found this review helpful.
5. Posted by indulgentia
Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:08 pm
When I first signed up with T-Mobile the woman on the other end of the phone assured me that the Motorola V188 was a great product. I was looking for functionality - I never use my cell for anything but conversation!
The second day I had the phone I put it in my front pocket and when I pulled it out the screen was cracked. It worked alright for a while although I never had service at home or at work so I had to establish a land line with the local phone company, costing me an additional $35 a month...
By the fourth month I began having problems with static and reception anywhere in town. Now at six months I can hear people fine but nobody can hear me at all - the phone is useless.
I have never dropped the phone and yet now I am faced with a $200 cancellation fee because of this terrible product. The whole experience has soured my impression of both T-Mobile and Motorola. I will never support either company again.
* I've called T-Mobile on many occasions and get the same runaround every time. A salesman at the T-Mobile shop at the mall told me that because of the cracked plastic (caused by normal wear and tear) the warranty will not apply to this phone.
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40 out of 56 people found this review helpful.
6. Posted by flybob
Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:14 am
Motorola went out of their way to make the volume buttons on the outside of the phone (exposed even when closed) make a loud, stupid beeping noise. These buttons are not recessed, so about three times a day this phone makes this stupid beeping noise from my pocket with EVERY step I take until I pull it out and carry it in my hand. (And no, I'm not fat and wearing tight pants.) No, there's no way to turn it off that T-Mobile or I can find, except to turn off the ringer, which kinda defeats the purpose of carrying the phone in my pocket anyway. I guess the point Motorola is trying to make is that this phone should always be carried in your hand and looked at. Who knows if Motorola knows how to turn off this beeping, since they don't offer customer support on this phone.
I have to carry this phone for work, but at least I've saved two friends from making this Motorola Mistake by showing them how obnoxious this phone is to carry around.
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7 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
7. Posted by Walter
Sat Nov 26, 2005 4:04 pm
Ordered a V188 to replace a crapped out V66.
T-Mobile "Customers? We Don't Care" Dept, euphemistically called "Customer Care" by T-Mobile, said that the V188 carried the same capabilities as the V66. I was very specific that I needed international 900/1900 banding, and that I needed voice dialing for 20 separate numbers.
T-Mobile said the V188 had those features.
They were 1/2 right. It has the quad-band (850/900/1800/1900) but has only 1.8 Mb of memory for voice dialing which, thus, can handle only 5 to 6 numbers.
The only phones with both features and adequate capacity are the V330 and the RAZR. However, as an existing customer T-Mobile says I am not eligible to buy the V330. To get the V330, I have to cancel the extension contract I just signed when I ordered the V188 (fee, $200) then sign up for a new two year contract to get the V330, the only reasonably priced phone that offers the voice dialing capacity I need (5.0 Mb).
Or I can get the RAZR for "only" 219.99 and they'll waive the cancellation requirement but will not refund what I already paid for the V188.
In other words, says T-Mobile, if you are an existing customer, we have no interest in you. "We gotcha now because you signed a contract so don't ask us to stand behind our misstatements or to try to help you out. You picked T-Mobile, that was your mistake. Tough. Deal with it."
Summary - I love the phone except the voice dial capacity issue, but I have lost all respect and loyalty for T-Mobile that I built up since I first signed up in 2002. They have no respect for their customers or for basic ethical dealing.
Caveat emptor.
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39 out of 56 people found this review helpful.
8. Posted by annml
Thu Oct 27, 2005 2:04 am
I got this phone on a family-share plan with T-Mobile. While my boyfriend's phone choice works fine, I experience static with every call, many dropped calls, and have on numerous occasions been unable to hear others or be heard. Since my boyfriend’s service is good, it is rather obvious that it is not the network, but the phone itself. Upon calling and complaining several times, one employee finally gave me the option of returning the phone and exchanging it for another of the same model. When the new v188 came in the mail, it had exactly the same problems. Once again I had multiple calls with customer service, (most of which were unbelievably rude, one woman told me "what do you expect from getting a cheap phone?") and they advised me to switch SIM cards with my boyfriend. STILL wasn't any better. The other day I got in a cab and was complaining about T-Mobile to my friend, when all of the sudden the drive exclaimed, "Yeah T-Mobile is horrible! I get nothing but static!" He then whips out his Motorola v188!! Please, save yourself the trauma and the money. Do not get this phone, and do not go with T-Mobile.
Ann.
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53 out of 82 people found this review helpful.
9. Posted by Ayana2818
Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:46 am
I got this phone from Tmobile and had if for exactly 3 days. The reception was terrible ( my old Samsung r225 was better) the phone simply refused to hold a charge, and I had to try several times to end my calls. I guess the button was sticking. The wallpaper/games/ringtones were awful too. ( I guess you could download some, but the bad reception turned me off quickly.) Also- theres the lack of features. I mean- a cameras not necessary- but its nice. Im a big moto fan- but this phone made me think twice. The only thing i can say is that the tmobile people were very helpful with my exchange.
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15 out of 24 people found this review helpful.
10. Posted by caribe travel
Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:56 pm
I chose this phone for its international capability and the Motorola name. It is the first - and likely last - Motorola phone I will buy. The instruction manual is a joke; I've gone in twice to have the T-Mobile staff make needed changes in the setup. I took the phone to the Dominican Republic and could never get a network. Three others in my travel group had no trouble; we could see the tower from our hotel rooms. The minimal wallpaper, tones, and instruction all make me say no to Motorola.
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10 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
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