Screen

A 65K-color external display offers the user a convenient look at the phone's battery level, network status, and date and time. Utilizing STN (Super Twisted Nematic) LCD technology, the 96 x 80 px screen's brightness and color are limited but it offers extended battery life.

By contrast, the 262K-color internal LCD is constructed of TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD technology. A marked improvement over the dated 65K-color display in the V3, the V3i's screen provides rich contrast and brightness, but still trails high-end devices beginning to offer 16.7 million color LCDs.

Compared to TFT screens, STN displays are duller and refresh slower but they offer reduced battery consumption. TFT screens have circuit transistors on the glass to provide more intense colors and by not having to scan pixel locations, they refresh faster as well.

With its small size and limited color and brightness, the external screen can be challenging to use especially outside in sunny conditions, but is efficient in its battery consumption. The more crucial internal display offers greater performance and is a noticeable improvement over the V3.

Audio

Integrated with iTunes, the popular software from the iPod, the V3i is able to access Apple's software with its MP3 player. Consumers can create playlists or sort songs by Artist, Album, and Title. iTunes is easily accessed through a dedicated key on the keypad and the controls are intuitive as the Left / Right navigational arrows can be used to Fast Forward, Rewind, Skip, or Back. Song volume is adjusted through either the Up / Down navigational arrows or the earpiece volume button on the side of the phone.

Well integrated with the phone, the iTunes software allows consumers to listen to tracks while using the phone's other features. The user is able to take advantage of the V3i's music capability while sending text messages, using the camera, or checking email, and the music pauses when incoming calls occur.

With a 512 MB external memory card included in the box, the handset offers sufficient storage space for music, however iTunes imposes a hard limit of 50 songs. Implemented to prevent Apple from cannibalizing its own iPod market share, the V3i shares the same faults that lead to the downfall of the ROKR (which even had a 100 song limit). Users who try to add more than 50 songs to the V3i will be greeted with, "Some of the songs in the iTunes music library were not copied to the mobile phone because this mobile phone is limited to 50 songs."

For users who don't need a lot of songs, they can enjoy the stereo sound quality offered by the included headphones or blast it through the speakerphone's external speaker. iTunes, unfortunately, does not allow the use of Bluetooth headsets.

Through the included USB cable, the V3i can easily transfer songs from a Mac or PC. Songs can simply be dragged and dropped onto the V3i through the included software or iTunes can autofill the V3i with a random mix from the consumer's music library.

Using the included USB cable, songs can be purchased through the iTunes music store on a computer and easily dragged and dropped onto the V3i through the included software or iTunes can autofill the V3i with a random mix from the consumer's music library. Ringtones can be purchased through the phone from Cingular's MEdiaNet.

The iTunes name will be a popular selling feature for the phone although it offers little that could not be provided by a traditional media player. Any benefit of iTunes is severely crippled by the impositions put in place by Apple.

Messaging

The V3i provides all of the standard text messaging options while offering iTAP for faster typing. The handset features SMS (Short Messaging Service) for sending text, EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) for positioning layouts, and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) for sending photos, sound, or video clips.

With the most popular services pre-installed, the V3i allows the user to send and receive messages via AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, and Yahoo. Not just limited to text messaging, the V3i offers easy access to 3rd party email accounts through POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols.

A capable messaging unit, the V3i allows the customer to keep in touch with their friends and family through email and instant messaging even when they are away from their computer.

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