MOBILE NEWS - April 16, 2004

Test: Motorola A835
This time we find ourselves testing a very special terminal. Not a simple cellular phone, but a videophone, as the operator 3 has officially renamed third generation UMTS mobile phones. The Motorola A835 is the first videophone to be produced and marketed by this well-known American company, because the previous Motorola UMTS terminal did not allow for videophoning.

HARDWARE
The first thing you notice about this terminal is its large size (137 x 55.6 x 26.5 mm) and heavy weight (about 160 grams), if compared to a normal GSM. However, it is not much larger than a Camera Phone or a Smart Phone, because the terminal integrates the functionality of both. We also remind those of you who may have forgotten, that the first GSMs were much larger and heavier than now. The volume of this terminal is 134 cc and the antenna is integrated. Its dimensions are also justified by the fact, as is the case with this model, that UMTS terminals contain very large displays, numerous functions, and powerful, therefore voluminous, batteries.

The plastics used for the shell are nice and good quality (they scratch very little), as well as being well-assembled. The keys are made of hard plastic, and have been adequately sized. They arevery close together, but very wide and easy to use. Instead, the central navigation “mouse” is small and not very easy to use. It does not always respond well and quickly to commands, like the function keys situated under the display, which require hard pressure.

Naturally, the high resolution graphic display (220 x 176 pixels) is very wide (about 4.5 x 3.5 cm). It can show up to 65,000 colours with active matrix, so that the colour are bright and backlighting quite luminous. It can show up to 10 lines of text with easily readable characters. But you can appreciate it the most when using it as a digital camera (VGA: 640 x 480 pixels) and videocamera (QCIF: 176 x 144 pixels). Its side view is also good.

FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES
Thanks to the enormous internal memory of 66 MB included in the phone, it can save a large number of photos and just as many short videos with audio (10 seconds each). In our practical test we saved 40 clips (10 seconds each, compressed in MP4 format) and about 40 photos (JPEG 160 x 120). These, along with a few ring tones, a Java game and 200 telephone contacts, only took up 10% of the total memory.

The length of videos with audio can vary from 1-10 seconds (the maximum allowed for MMS video messages) up to a maximum of 3 minutes. The longer videos cannot be sent via MMS message, but can be saved in your telephone or downloaded into your PC. We noticed an annoying foggy effect with light blue spots while recording and playing video on the screen of this mobile phone. On the contrary, the results of taking photos in JPEG format were much better, with resolutions from 176 x 144 pixels (the format that best fits the size of the screen), up to 640 x 480 pixels (the maximum resolution allowed, to be viewed on your PC). Other resolutions that can be used for taking photos are: 80 x 60 pixels (low), 160 x 120 (MMS message), and 320 x 240 pixels (medium).

This telephone is equipped with two videocameras. Normally, the external one is used for photos and videos, and the internal one for videophoning. If you wish, you can easily invert this function, for example, if you want to take photos of yourself.

The number one multimedia function offered by this terminal is videophoning. This can be done only if both telephones are connected to a 3G network, and the signal is good. In our practical test, we managed to make and receive videocalls without any problems. However, the images are very grainy and jumpy, meaning not very fluid. The other person’s voice often arrives in hiccups, especially when you are in a closed environment. In any case, the overall effect is very exciting, and leaves those who are trying this for the first time speechless. Aside from calling another telephone, it is possible to call a user connedcted to the Internet with thier PC and webcam active (this service must be supported by the Internet provider that you are using).

The multimedia functions do not end herer; another function available is audio support. In fact, this telephone offers the possibility to save a wide variety and large number of items, as well as ring tones that are polyphonic, with qualities that we would dare call Hi-Fi, also in various formats (MIDI, MP4, iMelody and others). The A835 also works as an MP3 audio file player. There is a monophonic earphone included in the sales package, but there is also the possibility to buy the optional stereophonic one.

Java support is also provided, which is present in many GSM terminals for downloading games (there is not even one preoloaded in the telephone!) or utility applications. For this purpose the operator has dedicated a special section on the 3 portal. Another very interesting feature, and a peculiarity of 3’s UMTS terminals, is the operator’s mobile portal, which grants access to numerous services. Among the already active, 24 hours a day services, which could be increased in the future, we would like to highlight: news, the house of “Big Brother”, horoscopes, stock and financial information, traffic and street information, and much much more. The only shame is that these services are for pay and very expensive.

Aside from direct access to 3’s mobile Internet portal (XHTML), it is possible to connect to the Internet with your PC. The terminal can be connected to the PC with the (optional) serial data cable, the USB cable supplied with its synchronisation software, the infrared port (IrDA), or the Bluetooth interface. Naturally, your PC must be equipped with the latter. The Bluetooth interface can also be used for wireless connection to a speakerphone or earphone. As well as data transmission and reception on the large, extremely fast UMTS band, the terminal also supports data transmission with the slower, but still efficient GPRS standard.

Naturally, the A835 supports transmission and reception of MMS messages with images, sounds and video (with compatible telephones); EMS messages; Nokia picture messages; chained and group SMS messages; and email (SMTP, POP3, and IMAP4) with attachments (audio and video, photos and video messages).

Another strength of this cellular phone (though this title seems to be reductive, we should be calling it a super phone) is the possibility to operate on numerous networks. The first is UMTS, which is already working in Italy, as well as England, Germany and even Australia. Soon it will be working in other countries, because it is going to be the first worldwide standard, which will be adopted in most countries of the world. During this transitional phase, this multi-band, multi-standard telephone can also operate on the traditional European and Oriental GSM networks (900 and 1800 MHz), and on the American PCS networks (1900 MHz). It is practically the most universal telephone currently on the market; an excellent, convenient choice for those who travel the world. In inhabited areas, that is, because only satellite phones reach deserted, remote areas where there is no coverage by terrestrial networks.

Among the numerous functions we can find:
- date, time and alarm, which, like on old Motorolas, does not work with the telephone off!;
- calculator and currency converter;
- agenda/organiser with appointment reminder, calendar and monthly view;
- multifield phone book with the possibility to save over 1,000 telephone contacts and related photos;
- the possibility to save numerous SMS, EMS, SMS, and email messages in the telephone;
- Hi-Fi polyphonic ring tones (MIDI, iMelody, MP4 and MP3, and other formats);
- iTAP dictionary (similar to Zi Text and Tegic T9) for easily writing text;
- AGPS for locating interesting spots near you;
- personalisable backgrounds and screensavers;
- integrated speakerphone (very powerful);
- voice recording (3 minutes for each memo); and
- voice commands (for telephone contacts and functions).

HOW IT WORKS
Aside from the initial, Windows-type screen, the graphic user interface is very similar to that of the old, classic Motorolas. It is easy and immediate for those who already know it, but much less for those who have never used a Motorola before.

The signal sensitivity is very good, both in reception and transmission, on the UMTS network (it was tested in Verona where there is excellent 3G coverage) and the GSM network roaming with TIM. In the latter case we did not encounter any difficulties in making and receiving calls. Connecting to the network is fast and stable, but when you go from one network to another you get cut off.

The audio quality is also very good. On the GSM network, and the UMTS network voices reach you quite clean and clear. This changes when you make the famous video calls, where voices are very metallic and often reach you in hiccups.

The operating autonomy offered by the high performing lithium ion 800 mAh battery is surprising. We expected very needy times, and instead in only standby it easily works for over 100 hours. With mixed usage of voice calls, video calls, photos, messages and navigation you easily have 3 working days (off at night), without any problems.

The sales package includes a second battery, like the one we have just seen, a monophonic ear phone (discussed above), the classic travel battery charger, the USB data cable and software (SynchML) for synchronising with the PC, which also contains various utility applications.

The terminal we tested, produced in Germany, with Flex version SE6918AXXW8029 and software version TALINT_U_70.20.18.01 (you can look at it in the settings menu) did not present any problems in hardware or software.

CONCLUSIONS
A third generation terminal that is well conceived and created, with numerous functions and enormous potential. Among the main functions we highlight: the possibility to take photos, record videoclips and make video calls by using the two integrated videocameras as you prefer; sending and receiving MMS messages (with images, sounds and video), EMS (4.2) messages, and email (with attachments); polyphonic ring tones (Hi-Fi quality); Java support (games and applications), interfaces for receiving and transmitting data on UMTS and GPRS networks; USB, IrDA, and Bluetooth (also for voice); integrated speakerphone, and MP3 audio player.

It is also the most universal telephone currently on the market, because it can operate on the GSM bands (900 and 1800 MHz), PCS band (1900 MHz), and UMTS band. In the future, this last standard will be more and more common in most countries. The main limits to point out are the slightly elevated size and weight with respect to GSMs, and the alarm that only works with the telephone on. Therefore, nothing serious, because among its main functions it is lacking almost nothing.

The signal sensitivity and audio quality during normal voice calls are very good. The operating autonomy (about 3 days) is surprising.

Matteo Dal Pra’
(trans. by Miranda Drew)