Sprint, Verizon both announce Motorola RAZR 2 V9m

Neither carrier has launched it just yet, but yes -- the RAZR 2 V9m has now officially found a home on both Sprint and Verizon, with both promising availability in the next few weeks. To split hairs, Sprint will be beating its sworn enemy by a few days, launching its variant on August 22, while Verizon's just promising "September" at this point. Unless AT&T manages to pull a rabbit out of its hat, it looks like the two will be the first in the US to launch what Motorola hopes will be the centerpiece of a turnaround for its flagging handset business. Thanks to EV-DO, attractive styling (yes, we realize we'll be really tired of it in a couple years, but it's still hot for now), and a gargantuan external display with touch controls, the phone is being positioned on the higher end of both carriers' dumbphone offerings -- and the price reflects it. Look for it for $300 with a $50 rebate on Verizon, $250 on Sprint, both on a two-year agreement.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Looks like AT&T didn't want to get left out of this little party after all! The carrier joins Sprint and Verizon in announcing its version of the RAZR 2 today, the HSDPA-powered V9. Look for it in "early September" for $300 on contract. Check the release here.

Read - Sprint press release
Read - Verizon press release

[tyler @ Aug 10th 2007 3:55PM]

I'm hoping to pick one of these up on Verizon!

[Nolan @ Aug 10th 2007 4:01PM]

Yea so am I

[PS3guy @ Aug 10th 2007 4:07PM]

yawnnnnnn it no iphone

[prokanda @ Aug 10th 2007 6:31PM]

Moron.

[MrGam3r @ Aug 10th 2007 8:48PM]

"moron"

for want of a better word...

[Augustos Morales @ Aug 11th 2007 1:03PM]

yea...moron.

[stapleboy @ Aug 10th 2007 4:08PM]

Nice, I just emailed Verizon about estimated RAZR 2 availability earlier today because it's New Every Two time for me.

...And then I see the price, and I remember why I'm not an early adopter.

[Fernando @ Aug 10th 2007 4:11PM]

yawnnnnnn it's no n95 ;)

[Augustos Morales @ Aug 11th 2007 1:04PM]

yawn...it's no Blackberry 8830 World edition.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 10th 2007 4:17PM]

Razrs have gotten...dull.

[MrGam3r @ Aug 10th 2007 5:46PM]

er yeah thats why theres a new model......

and who knows how much these will cost without a contract? because i'm stuck in mine...

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 10th 2007 6:08PM]

True. Until (or perhaps, "unless") Verizon gets the iPhone though, this is the best thing I can look forward to for a long while.

[prokanda @ Aug 10th 2007 6:32PM]

Uhm... the iphone is gsm... and is built on network features that verizon doesn't have. I don't think that'll be happening.

[jae @ Aug 13th 2007 11:40AM]

duhh dats why day made a new 1

[Eddie @ Aug 10th 2007 4:33PM]

It would be really hard to go from the iPhone to any other phone (except for maybe the LG Prada or N95).

Although, the RAZR2 looks pretty hot from the outside.

[John @ Aug 10th 2007 4:40PM]

Hmm... you can access the Pac-Man game from the home screen now

[Corey @ Aug 10th 2007 4:42PM]

After owning the Moto Razr v3c for 2 years.......I dont want a Razr 2.

[Preston @ Aug 10th 2007 4:45PM]

Ditto to that!

[Matt @ Aug 10th 2007 4:44PM]

And of course AT&T/Cingular won't offer it because of the iPhone. Bastards.

[ryantrevisol @ Aug 10th 2007 4:53PM]

AT&Tingular actually has tentative plans to launch the V9. I don't see how it would interfere with the iPhone's sales.

[Vaha @ Aug 10th 2007 4:47PM]

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that AT&T will carry the Motorola RAZR2 V9, an eye-catching new 3G-powered, 2.0 megapixel, clamshell mobile phone. The RAZR2 V9 will be available in select AT&T retail stores and online in early September for as low as $299.99.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=24197

[Scott M @ Aug 10th 2007 4:47PM]

I've been looking forward to this phone coming out on Verizon but after seeing the price (even with my $100 new-every-two discount) I'm not so sure I'll be snatching it up. Like most of the time it's probably better to wait a few months, see how the phone works, and wait for the big price drops.

[AndrewNeo @ Aug 10th 2007 4:48PM]

I wish I was a T-mobile customer. They're getting the V8, which is the phone with the Linux OS on it instead of Synergy (V9 for AT&T) or Verizon's POSBREWOS (V9m).

[brad @ Aug 10th 2007 4:49PM]

here are all of verizons leaked launch dates.... for your viewing pleasure

http://www.bsams.net/front-page/2007/8/6/verizon-phone-launch-roadmap-leaked.html

[Michael @ Aug 10th 2007 5:27PM]

I might be interested in the V9m for Sprint if I hadn't just gotten a Samsung MM-A900 (the "Blade") last Christmas. A friend of mine has the Moto KRZR and the sound quality on that is 10 times better than my Sammy. Oh well, maybe I can wait until Xmas 2009 and check out the iPhone 2.

[CraigJ @ Aug 10th 2007 5:50PM]

OK, not to turn this into an iPhone discussion, but is anyone going to complain about the fact that this "dumb phone" is $250 and it also requires a 2-year contract? IMHO this makes way less sense than spending $500 for an iPhone. If this is worth $250 then the 4Gig iPhone is worth a grand. This really is "just a phone" and comes with a 2-year commitment, and frankly, it doesn't look like anything special. Motorola apparently shot their entire development wad with the original RAZR and just keeps recycling the same basic designs. I liked the original RAZR. In 2004. They will have had to make massive improvements in the software for this to be worth anywhere close to $250. Motorola got lucky with the original RAZR and hasn't designed anything original since.

[decypher44 @ Aug 10th 2007 6:15PM]

I disagree. Does the iPhone have GPS? Is it 3G? Does it have video recording capabilities? Can you send pic/video messages without emailing?

I'm going to get this under Sprint. I've had a RAZR with Cingular/AT&T for 2 years and have had no problems with it. I'm looking forward to this for GPS (w/voice) alone.

[prokanda @ Aug 10th 2007 6:35PM]

Not to mention that this has the same resolution camera, two high resolution screens, and you can just pop a 50 dollar 4 gig card (or a second fully charged battery) into this thing when you need it... now that kinda sounds smart.... rebuttal?

[johnny5 @ Aug 10th 2007 6:37PM]

Agreed. Moto sat on its laurels. They had a fashion/design success but didn't build on it by improving other aspects, like the crappy UI, which makes them look even more out of it when they keep pushing minor fashion tweaks as reason enough to upgrade.

But the external screen - I'm interested to see how that works. If it's a complete touchscreen, imagine being able to control with gestures rather than discrete 'buttons'. Instead of fumbling with which button to press to control, say, music, you could swipe it left/right/up/down to go next/prev track and up/down volume, and tap to play/pause - without looking at it.

[jere @ Aug 10th 2007 6:42PM]

I agree with you. And in response to the first reply, some people are so quick to define the iphone by what it can't do. Don't kid yourself that the RAZR 2 is better than the iphone only because it covers a couple of the iphones bad points.

[decypher44 @ Aug 10th 2007 7:00PM]

jere, I actually LIKE the iPhone. But, for a purchase price point that is far less than an iPhone, and I really want GPS, then this option is far better - for ME. I will also be able to get the phone for a bit less through our corporate account. The company I work for has deals with AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Becuase of the deal between Apple and AT&T, I can't get a deal on the iPhone.

[CraigJ @ Aug 10th 2007 8:00PM]

Granted there are things that this does, (GPS and 3G) that the iPhone doesn't, and my point wasn't that it is a bad phone. It's not. The point I apparently failed to make was that the iPhone (of which I don't have) does a lot more than this phone (I have a current moto phone myself) and I count usability in that. Full web minus flash, wi-fi, full iPod, includes a minimum of 4GB RAM, huge touch screen, visual voice mail, full virtual keyboard (as compared to a number pad), etc. People bitched and moaned about the $500 price and 2 year commitment, but somehow $250 for with a 2-year commitment for this is a non-issue? I was just wondering where the "OMG it's so expensive and you have to sign a 2-year contract" crowd was.

When the RAZR was first introduced it was very cool, and bleeding edge design. This is just recycled design that lacks the cool factor of the original RAZR. Sony and Samsung have much cooler stuff for way less money on all the major carriers sites. If Motorola is banking on this phone to stop their decent into mediocrity, it ain't gonna happen.

[Griff @ Aug 10th 2007 11:43PM]

I don't care who makes which one, but the fact I can easily change the battery on one would sway my decision immensely. :)

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 10th 2007 6:10PM]

There's usually massive specials offered by carriers "FREE-just sign your life away!"

[itsme92 @ Aug 11th 2007 11:14AM]

What's wrong with that? Plenty of us are content with getting a free phone every two years. If you want to get a new phone every month, then yeah, a two year contract probably isn't for you.

[Mr. B @ Aug 10th 2007 6:28PM]

...no way in hell I'd get one of these (or any other phone) from Verizon, you know they're gona cripple this phone like they have in the past... disabling bluetooth transfer/mp3 playback and such.

[Corey @ Aug 10th 2007 7:56PM]

Not only disabling bluetooth transfers....but probably use their stupid verizon interface as well....worst idea ever by verizon.

[itsme92 @ Aug 11th 2007 11:13AM]

You do know that the current higher-end Verizon phones (such as my LG VX8700) have full featured Bluetooth, and the Verizon interface has been overhauled so it's not the red bars anymore.

[JustinD @ Aug 10th 2007 8:24PM]

It really doesn't matter much to me what phone Verizon releases. They cripple the functionality of their phones so much it's pathetic. I can't wait for my contract to end in February to I can dump them.

[Johan S @ Aug 10th 2007 8:59PM]

Too little too late. How embarrassing for motorola. By the time they figure out they need to give it a decent screen resolution (QVGA is horrible for anything other than txt messaging ..forget web browsing in qvga) --in 2010 (they take about 3 years to update the RAZR) .. the iPhone 3 or 4 will already be out and light years ahead.

[Bloobie @ Aug 10th 2007 10:52PM]

Glad to see that Verizon continues to put out crippled phones such as the V9m. It doesn't support CrystalTalk (for noise reduction) and processor speed is slower.

[Joe @ Aug 10th 2007 11:49PM]

Razr is a good phone to avoid like THE EBOLA VIRUS! It might look half decent, but since the first Razr V3x they have a build quality which rivals a kindergarten Lego exhibit.

The proprietary operating system makes the unit excellent as a form of subliminal torture and doubles as a great boomerang! Its probably not so good as a phone though...

[Conner Owen @ Aug 11th 2007 1:59AM]

what? at&t, verizon, sprint, but no alltel? why do they always get the new phones so late?

[Nicholas @ Aug 11th 2007 8:37AM]

Alltel, "Come and get your love".

Psssh, yeah right.

[dee-dee-deetarded @ Aug 11th 2007 12:24PM]

Motorola.com says it will be available with Alltel and US Cellular (now I can see it with Alltel, but not US Cellular, at least not right away)

[John @ Aug 11th 2007 10:52AM]

"(yes, we realize we'll be really tired of it in a couple years, but it's still hot for now)"

Really? For me, its hotness went out for me around 2 years ago. The basic design had been around since 2003. I'm getting kinda sick of the whole theme. We've got RAZR styled clamshells, candybars and sliders. When do they bring out the taco style?

[dee-dee-deetarded @ Aug 11th 2007 12:21PM]

Ha! everyone I know that has/had a RAZR didn't like it. Their problem was mostly durability, the screen hinge, and the battery life.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1243
http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail.jsp?globalObjectId=8557_8487_23

Motorola.com= The MOTORAZR2 will be available from Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless, with availability from certain carriers within 14 days. Consumers should check with their wireless carrier for specific availability dates.

[gangstified @ Aug 11th 2007 12:51PM]

man can they please leave the f'n razrs alone? they are HUGELY oversold. I know little kids and those easily amused will pick them up who wana look cool and be like everyone else (u know those who dont fit in, like all those who use ipods altho they aren't the best b/c everyone else has em?)

i had one over 3/4 years ago when they first came out and no one had b/c they couldn't afford... and got rid of it a year or 2 later when they dropped them to 68 bucks and everyone had .. its terrible

[Blah @ Aug 14th 2007 4:48PM]

Learn2write and stop sniping at iPod users, please. Ok, we get it you don't like the iPod. Don't buy one. But quit faux psychoanalyzing the iPod's userbase so they fit your bizzare little superiority complex.

[Bee Hatch @ Aug 12th 2007 8:40AM]

But can it run OSX?