Motorola Motofone F3 Review
posted terribly early in the morning by Constantinos. Filed under Review
I bought the Motorola Motofone after being introduced to it by this post on my friend Nick Baum‘s blog. For as long as I remember, I’ve been reading about how phones keep getting more and more complicated. Yet many people want their phone to do only one thing: make calls. The trick was getting a phone that was usable and friendly at the same time. When Motorola finally came out with the Motofone, it appeared that they had achieved just that. The only problem was that the phone was only available in India! Fortunately for me, I’ve been in India for the last 3.5 months. So I decided to buy one (or two), and write a hands-on review for it. Well, after writing a single-spaced narrative that spanned 3 pages and finding myself only half way through the things I wanted to say about this phone, my friend Nick came to the rescue with a list of questions for me to answer. So I’ll just break my unnaturally long essay into pieces and post the review in interview format-.
Update 2007-03-07: Cross-posted on nickbaum.com
Update 2007-03-27: For those of you looking for a manual of this phone, I found two, in English. Motofone Draft Manual [pdf] is one, and Motofone Digital Manual [pdf] is another. The latter doesn’t contain the list of ‘advanced’ codes.
Without further delay, the brand new Motorola Motofone F3:
Nick: How is the packaging, the new user experience? What’s included in the box?
Me: The phone came in a cylindrical container, aka a tube. Opening the box revealed inside the device itself (without any protective plastic bag/screen cover), a battery in a nylon bag, the back cover of the device, a charger, a user’s manual (in Telugu, Kannada and English), and the standard warranty papers.
The package is a standard cardboard tube with plastic tops, which makes it feel a bit cheap. However the finish is good, and if it’s sitting on a table it looks better than expected, so it might actually work in places other than India, like Europe or even the US. Most phones come in solid & glossy cardboard boxes with the phone securely tucked away in polystyrene or a plastic casing, but the Motofone’s case is different enough that it might get away with it.
Nick: Tell me about the physical design of the phone. How does it feel?
Me: The phone is extremely light. The face is completely flush, with no nicks or grooves for dirt to get into (not even around the screen, which is simply a transparent piece of plastic as far as the outer shell goes). Even the keys are completely flat, which I love.
I read somewhere that the phone was built for the weather in countries like India, where there’s a lot of rain and dirt in the air. I have not tested the rain claim, but I will take Motorola’s word for it. As for the dirt, the only place I can see dirt getting into is the speaker, but even that seems hard. Everything else is either completely flat or sealed with rubber. There’s still tactile feedback through the protruding rubber lines above and below the buttons. Both the buttons and the click wheel in the middle feel very natural. The clickable area is quite large, and you can easily feel the button being pressed.
The only input slot is the charger/headphone jack, which is smaller than any other charger jack I’ve seen.
However, the fit of the plug is extremely snug in the phone (it will not fall off if you dangle the phone from the cord, but at the same time it does not require much strength to push it in/take it out), and it seems that it uses the same plug for headphones, which I have not tested. The thickness of the phone is about the same as an Apple Remote.
Nick: How about performance? In practice, how long is the battery life? How is reception?
Me: Motorola claims 300h of stand-by battery life which, for the less mathematically inclined, translates to 12 days. That might be true if you turn on the phone, leave it on a table and never touch it or receive any calls. The screen consumes absolutely no power when it’s not changing the contents of the display, so on stand by the only power drain is the signal reception and updating the time every 60 seconds. However, I would not expect the battery to last anything more than 5 days under any circumstances where the phone is actually being used. I did let the battery run down completely, but I did get a solid 4 days of constant use from it before the 5-segment battery indicator dropped to a single line (just barely dropped below 2, where the last line can easily go for another day).
As far as reception goes, I only have one word: outstanding. I’ve been using this phone for 2 weeks, and I still have not seen the reception indicator fall below the full 5 lines (and no, reception is not generally this good in my area). In line with this, the excellent speakerphone is a feature I did not expect. Voice clarity on this device is up to par with any phone I’ve ever tried, including land lines. I have no problems understanding anything anyone says to me on this phone.
Nick: How does the screen perform in different light conditions? How does it compare to regular screens?
Me: The screen is definitely the most innovative power saving feature of the device. I already knew that the E-ink technology used for the screen requires no power to keep the screen on, but it’s a different feeling when you take out the battery without turning the phone off, and the screen keeps displaying the last characters on it! (Yes, it does reset without any trace when you turn it back on). The contrast is excellent and the characters are clearly visible in any light condition from any angle (unless there’s complete darkness).
This being said, it’s not all rosy. The character display is exactly like the old 16-segment LCD displays of yesteryear. 2 rows of 6 characters, that’s it. What’s even worse, only the first row is used for actual alphanumeric characters, which makes reading messages a big pain. I do believe there’s a valid reason for doing this (read on about the user interface), but it doesn’t stop it from being extremely annoying. Also since the characters are constructed from segments, there’s no notion of upper/lower case. You will see an upper case letter or a lower case letter depending on which one will make the most sense when formed by the segments.
Nick: Describe the user interface? Is it immediately intuitive, or does it take getting used to?
Me:
The interface is by far the most interesting aspect of the device, even more so than the screen. The phone has a language setting, but not in the traditional sense as none of the menus have any text in them. Instead, any action you might perform on the phone and might need some instruction, comes with a voice-over, in the language chosen by the user. As this phone is targeted for the low-income family, there’s a good chance that a user of the phone might not even know how to read. For this reason, I believe the choice to preload the phone with voice messages in the native languages of the region it is being launched in instead of simply having text in different languages is an excellent choice.
The first time I turned on the phone and entered my PIN, I was greeted by a man speaking in a language I did not understand. After a few seconds, the same man said, in English, “For English, press 3″. Since I bought the phone in the Karnataka district of India, the phone comes with 3 pre-set languages: Telugu, Kannada, and English, where the first two are the official languages of the district. These options come up whenever the SIM card is replaced in the phone, which makes sense. Once the language is selected, if you wish to change it you must either change the SIM, or go through the ‘advanced menus’ (read on).
As soon as I pressed 3, the same voice asked me if I wanted voice prompts while using the phone. 1 for Yes, 2 for No. I pressed 1 just out of curiosity. This option is presented to me every time the phone is switched on. Note that wherever I make a note of what the “friendly voice” says, this is always dependent to whether or not voice prompts are enabled. If they’re not, then the voice will never be heard from again (at least not until you turn the phone off and back on).
Since I had just powered on the phone, I was presented with the option for setting the time on the phone (with the voice telling me “Enter time”). After telling it the time and date, I was pretty much done with the setup.
There are exactly 6 menu choices. The menu can be accessed by pressing right or left on the click wheel. Pressing up or down while on standby changes the volume of the phone. The menu itself contains no characters, just icons. The same friendly voice tells you the menu you are on, which you can access by pressing the action key (top left). These choices are (as narrated by the friendly voice): Send a message, Read your messages, Call history, Change ringtone (7 possible pre-defined choices), Set alarm, Change time. Scrolling to the menu you wish to use you can press ‘up’ or ‘action’ and the menu will be selected, where the voice will tell you what you can do (“Write your message” for example).
There are a few other (advanced) options you can mess with: change language, select time format, set voicemail number, keypad tones on/off, auto keypad lock on/off, set SIM pin, SIM pin on/off, restricted calling – phonebook only, prepaid balance display, set balance inquiry number, and the obligatory reset factory settings. All of these options are accessible by pressing *** [3-digit number code] * [action]. These settings obviously require the manual which lists all the 3 digit codes, and are generally the kind of thing you would only set once and then forget about it. I haven’t tried to see if there are any easter eggs in there.
All in all, it took me about 10 minutes to get used to the interface. It did not immediately come to me (I spent a few seconds being utterly confused), but I believe the reason for that was because I’m so used to the standard interfaces that come on every phone. After getting the hang of this one (which was very fast to do so), it became almost second nature.
Nick: How does the address book work?
Me:
There’s a phone book button (top right) which takes you directly to the phone book. There is no memory on the phone itself for an address book, so it uses the SIM memory which is limited to 12 characters per contact name, and one number per contact entry. Pressing the phone book button will bring up the phone book, which you can navigate with up/down, or press a letter to jump to that point in the phone book. To scroll through the 6 character limit of the display you must press right. Pressing right multiple times will display the phone number of the contact, and then an option to delete the contact (shown as a trash can, you must press ‘up’ to delete it when the icon is shown). Furthermore, each contact has a number associated to it (the SIM card memory location), which can be used for speed dialing. If an unknown number is on the display, an icon appears above the phone book button which indicates that pressing it will let you add that number to your SIM.
The Call History menu has a memory of the last 15 dialed/received calls (the menu icon indicates whether the number was dialed or received, depending on the direction of the arrow).
Nick: How does text messaging work?
Me: There are two ways you can send a text message. The first way is to start writing a message by using the “Send a message” menu (first choice), then entering the number or going through the phone book. Alternatively, whenever a number or a contact (either through the phone book or through the Call History menu) is visible, a “Send a message” action is available and accessible through the action button, which will take you to the same “Send a message” menu. Writing the message and pressing send will send the message to the number you already selected.
I already mentioned that only the top row is used for text, and that this makes reading messages extremely annoying. However, you do get used to it. If a word is less than 6 characters long, it will definitely be shown in its entirety. I.e. if you receive the message “hi how is california?” then “hi how” would be on the first screen, “is” would be on the second and “california” would span two screens, split at the ‘o’. The reason behind all this, in my opinion, is consistency. Browsing anything (messages, contacts, call history, etc) is a top to bottom action, and reading a message is a left to right action. If the message spanned two lines, it might be a bit more confusing, but the initial confusion might be worth the convenience. On the up side the response time of any action is next to nothing, so reading a message on this phone is NOT considerably slower than on any other phone, provided you’re not using T9 or any other sophisticated input method. The only way a message can be composed is by typing each letter in the standard way. Furthermore, there’s no ‘back’ button in the sense that you can navigate your message. If you make a mistake, you have to erase all the letters from the end of the message to the mistake in order to correct it, and then type everything again.
Nick: What do you like best about the phone?
Me: I’d have to say the large characters that display the time, the visibility of the screen, and the intuitiveness of the interface (after you take 10 minutes to learn it, mainly because we’ve all been conditioned to expect a lot of counter-intuitive interfaces from phones). Oh, and the price. You just can’t beat a $40 price tag on a phone that looks this good.
Also, I was surprised by the alarm. It’s quite loud, annoying, and must have a very well constructed sound loop because when it starts “chirping”, it appears as if the frequency/tone of the sound is slightly randomized, so it’s not a constant beat. Let’s just say it has more success waking me up than most other alarms I’ve tried (with the possible exception of The Matrix soundtrack CD starting at full volume).
Nick: What do you miss most? Is the simplicity a blessing or a curse?
Me: I think what I miss the most is the ability to synchronize my contact list with my mac, and slightly less I miss being able to connect my mac to the internet through the phone from wherever I am. However I still force myself to not carry my bluetooth enabled phone everywhere with me, because I believe having that kind of access to the internet should be reduced. As a computer scientist I spend a LOT of time on the internet as is, and having the ability to connect to the internet from anywhere at any time is just distracting. Feel free to disagree with me on this.
Beyond that, I do not miss the camera, the color screen, or the mp3 capabilities (I even have an iPod that I never use). If anything, I’d say the simplicity is a blessing. I never really used any of those features on my phones for any reasonable purpose, and simply having them there caused me to take ugly photos, waste time with 100px color photos, and suffer through low quality songs. Granted there are a lot of smartphones out there that get a lot of these things right, and maybe it is convenient to some to have a low quality 2MP camera in their pocket at all times. As far as I’m concerned however, if I believe I’ll want to take some photos, I’ll take a real camera. There’s just no way a phone can be designed to do all those things, and at the same time be small, light and usable. It always takes away from the primary purpose of the phone: making calls; which is why I believe the simplicity of this phone is a step in the right direction.
Nick: What are the greatest flaws of the phone? How would you improve it?
Me: I’d have to say the way the screen displays the characters. It seems that e-ink technology is able to create finer text, though I don’t know how that would affect the stand-by battery life (not that it matters much in real-life terms). Reading/Composing messages is troublesome at best, which is a problem concerning a lot of cellular communication now occurs via texting. I realize that a lot of the marketing around the phone is targeted to people who potentially don’t know how to read and/or write, but it’s a mistake to not consider the vast number of people who do and will be using this phone for that purpose. Other than that, I couldn’t be happier with it.
Nick: How popular is the phone in India? How is it marketed?
Me: I have not seen any ads for it, nor have I seen anyone else carry it or use it. That being said, I had a hell of a time finding a unit, as it was out of stock in every shop I went to. On the flip side, one shop owner I chatted up said they only brought 20 units total which sold in a couple of weeks, but they have no plans of bringing more. A few other stores hadn’t even heard of the device. I was finally able to locate a store that was having some stock brought in, and I reserved a device from them. The store attendant seemed to be very curious as to why I would choose a phone that had no features, and kept trying to get me to buy something else. Then again I’m in Mangalore, which is a city of 800,000 people in a country of 1.2 billion, and is also considered by many as a backwater village (i had to go to 4 different computer stores to find a 6-pin to 6-pin firewire cable). It’s extremely likely that Motorola has just not focused any marketing efforts in my parts of India, but I can’t confirm that.
Nick: Would you use this as your primary phone in the US?
Me: Probably. I’ve definitely given up a Nokia 6230 and an Ericsson K700i for this phone. Both of the other phones are turned off and stuck in my closet. That being said, I would not get rid of secondary phone with some more wireless capabilities, because I often find myself needing some mobile access which a simple phone cannot provide. I don’t know if I’d give up a blackberry for it, as I’ve never owned one (re: my comment on the simplicity of the phone).
Update 2007-03-28: Since some people have started adding undocumented key codes to the comments, I’ll try to maintain a complete list here and update it as more undocumented settings codes come up.
To access the advanced settings, press * * * [number code] * [action]
| Phone Setting | Number Code |
|---|---|
| Reset Factory settings | 000 |
| Restricted Calling (Phonebook only) ON | OFF | 160|161 |
| Keypad tones ON | OFF | 250|251 |
| Auto keypad lock ON | OFF | 260|261 |
| Set SIM Pin | 300 |
| SIM Pin ON | OFF | 310|311 |
| Select time format | 470 |
| Prepaid Balance Display ON | OFF | 500|501 |
| Voice Prompts ON | OFF (can also be toggled by pressing [action] on the volume menu) |
510|511 |
| Change Language | 520 |
| Set Balance Inquiry Number to # * | 642 |
| Set Voicemail number | 644 |
Those are the ‘official’ codes, covered in the manual. Now for the experimental part…
Note: Use these at your own risk, even before these codes were posted here phone numbers were lost from a SIM card because of them, so back up your numbers before you use them!
| Undocumented Codes – Use at your own risk! | |
|---|---|
| Display total time of accepted incoming calls | 111 |
| Display total time of outgoing calls | 121 |
| Switch Audible call minute counter (beep) ON|OFF | 130|131 |
| Region Code display ON | OFF | 400|401 |
| List available networks with option to change to another network | 402 |
| Display network currently receiving service from | 480 |
| Display list of networks within range | 481 |
| View / Edit Service Cell Number (SMS Service) | 643 |
| Delete ALL stored messages | 700 |
| Enter SMS prepay query code (?) | 701 |
The following codes work AS IS, i.e. without entering the * around them
| Phone information details | * * 9 9 9 9 * [action] |
| Cell phone serial number | * # 0 6 # [action] |
That’s it for now! If you find more, post them in the contents, I’ll pick them up and put them here.
1. Comment by Cleber Ferreira
on 2007-03-03 @ 9.34 am · Quote #673 ·
Well, gentlemen.
Nice report indeed!
Very useful information. I love technology. I have a Nokia 9210i, a Samsung Mitz I330, a Palm Tungsten and a pair of laptop,all to work and kid. I have bought a F3 motofone for my kid of 15, because he is most of times not concerned to details. It is a nice designed e easy to use mobile. Now could any one help to have the US Motofone F3 manual just to unblock the use of different service providers?
Many thanks, any way.
Cleber Ferreira
2. Pingback by nickbaum.com » Blog Archive » Motofone Review
on 2007-03-07 @ 11.59 pm · Quote #681 ·
[...] This interview cross-posted on cneophytou.com [...]
-. Comment by MightyAdsense Google Ad
on 2013-05-24 @ 1.10 am · Quote #0 ·
3. Comment by Iain
on 2007-03-08 @ 12.49 am · Quote #682 ·
Excellent review. It persuaded me to buy one of these and they are very nice phones. They’re now available in the UK for £15, but you must buy £10 prepay top-up with it. So…£25 really…but they all appear to be unlocked.
4. Comment by Taras
on 2007-03-16 @ 12.01 am · Quote #712 ·
If you get the red one from the phones4u website it doesn’t force you to buy credit – so it’s £15. The black one, however, does. (I got both, one for a relative!)
Thanks for the “complex options” guide, I really need to turn off these keypad tones…
5. Comment by Trish
on 2007-03-18 @ 12.45 am · Quote #715 ·
I have this phone and I need help. I keep getting an error x up on the right hand corner. Does this mean I have no signal? I have tried calling different numbers, but no joy. Can anyone please help me?
6. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-18 @ 2.36 am · Quote #716 ·
Well, the manual doesn’t say anything other than ‘Error’ with respect to the x icon… However there are a few things you can check for.
First of all, is it the round icon with the x in it? There’s three icons with x’s in them (one of which is the ‘new sms’ icon, an envelope, and the other two are a ‘home’ icon with an x indicating ‘Out of network’ and the last one is a bell, indicating ‘silent’ or ‘vibrate only’.)
If it is indeed the ‘Error’ icon, then check the signal strength / reception indicator (top left, above the screen). If it’s empty or ‘sliding’, then indeed the phone has no signal from a network it can connect to, and you should check with your service provider.
If none of the above is the issue, then I don’t know what to tell you. Try using different area codes, maybe enter the full number with a country code and a + in front? Don’t see how that would do any good other than filter out any possibilities of miscommunication with your network…
I hope your phone starts working.
7. Comment by Trish
on 2007-03-18 @ 5.06 am · Quote #717 ·
It is the round icon with the x in it. The reception indicator is empty, so I guess I have no signal. I live in Southern Ontario and my provider is Rogers. Would a new sim card from another provider help?
8. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-18 @ 4.11 pm · Quote #720 ·
I’d first check with Rogers to see if they offer GSM coverage in your area, and if they don’t then ask what providers do. The Motofone F3 is a GSM-only phone, and for a CDMA network you’ll need the Motofone F3c instead.
9. Comment by Trish
on 2007-03-18 @ 9.21 pm · Quote #721 ·
Thank you very much for your help. I will let you know.
10. Comment by Trish
on 2007-03-18 @ 9.30 pm · Quote #722 ·
I have a SIM card from my provider so doesn’t that mean that Rogers is a GSM network?
11. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-19 @ 12.45 am · Quote #724 ·
Probably, but you still want to check about coverage. Also, I believe the F3 is a dual-band phone, meaning it cannot work both in Europe (or Asia) AND in the US. It’s one or the other (it does come for both, but not on the same handset).
I’m not sure what bands Canada is using, but I’m guessing the same as the US. Is your phone 900/1800 MHZ (EU/Asia) or 850/1900 MHz (US/Canada), and is your network offering those frequencies? If not, then I’m afraid you’re out of luck. Changing a SIM or a provider won’t fix it, as all providers must use the same frequencies in each country.
12. Comment by Roshan
on 2007-03-21 @ 9.32 am · Quote #727 ·
Hey , just got the phone a couple of days back , was wondering wether it had the option for call waiting ? and how to activate it
13. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-21 @ 9.38 am · Quote #728 ·
No, it doesn’t. However there is a (small) chance call waiting can be activated with your service provider, where the provider will hold the call for you (so the phone doesn’t have to do it). I know for sure this can be applied to landlines irrespective of what handset is being used.
So no, the phone doesn’t have that capability, but you might be able to get it through your provider.
14. Comment by Roshan
on 2007-03-21 @ 10.24 am · Quote #729 ·
Thanks
one more quick question, somehow i didn;t get the manual with my phone , is there any chance of uploaidng on here? How do u turn on the vibrating alert ?
15. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-21 @ 11.20 am · Quote #730 ·
Well, I don’t have a scanner here (if you noticed, everything in the review is a photo take with a camera – including the manual captures!) but everything about this phone is straight forward. Beyond the advanced codes, you don’t need the manual for anything else.
To manage ring volume/vibrating alert, just press ‘up’ or ‘down’ while the phone is not in any menu. From observing it, the levels are (lowest to highest):
– Silend Vibrate
– Silent (no vibrate)
– Volume levels 1-5 (no vibrate)
– Vibrate / Increasing ring volume
Also from the same menu you can press ‘action’ to toggle voice prompts.
16. Comment by def
on 2007-03-21 @ 4.25 pm · Quote #734 ·
Hello! Does anybody know how to put a space between words when typing a message ? Is the right arrow the only way ? Thanks.
17. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-21 @ 4.46 pm · Quote #736 ·
That would be the ‘*’ button (bottom left). Just press once when typing a message.
18. Comment by comrpnt
on 2007-03-21 @ 9.35 pm · Quote #740 ·
Just received a Black F3 from Phones4u on-line (with Virgin £10 pre-pay) and it works fine on Orange. Just popped out the Virgin SIM and put in my existing Orange SIM and away it went. Lovely phone. Well done Motorola, just what I was looking for.
19. Comment by def
on 2007-03-22 @ 5.20 am · Quote #749 ·
Thank you !!!
20. Comment by pasha
on 2007-03-22 @ 9.47 pm · Quote #767 ·
I’m plannin to buy motofone. Can anybody tell me how many messages can be stored in this phone.. N is it user friendly???
21. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-22 @ 11.49 pm · Quote #770 ·
The number of messages that can be stored is however many your SIM card can hold (no phone memory for messages).
As far as ‘user-friendlines’ goes, it depends on your defiition. It’s got the most intuitive and clutter-free interface I’ve seen in any such device, but it’s EXTREMELY basic. Also, the phone is not very SMS friendly (you can only read messages on a single, 6-character line, which makes you have to scroll to read anything). Having said that, I have found this to be less of a problem than I thought it would be.
22. Comment by new-F3-owner
on 2007-03-24 @ 11.53 pm · Quote #782 ·
It is the best ever review of Motofon F3 I’ve read. When I bought the phone as a one week old toy from its first owner on allegro.pl (sort of e-Bay) in Poland; did not have to shop in India. Browsing the allegro pages, I learned that the motofon attracts attention, yet the owners frequently resigned for not having a sense off humor and proportion. For this reason I paid a bargain prize of less than U$50. I like this novel feature: although I still keep my Samsung 450 but am happy with F3, as it offers exactly what is needed. MMS, e-mail, pictures and sounds – all have only be tried, no real need for it. My SMS experience was perhaps only 20 messages per year, thus I feel not affected by the lack of F9 dictionary or the beauty of the fonts. The F3 fonts look ugly but are readable even at Sunlight and the 7-segments E-ink digits are perfect. Your arguments about the 300h of stand-by battery life are very convincing and the entire review deserves a wider publication as an appendix to the minimalistic “manual” by Motorola.
regards, Pawel B. Sczaniecki
23. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-03-26 @ 4.29 am · Quote #809 ·
I bought this unlocked Motofone in the Netherlands for 35 Euros, and I love it! Its design is beautiful and classy. It does exectly what I want from a telephone: I can make phonecalls, nothing less, nothing more.
It reminds me of the good, old, primitive times, when I programmed a Sinclair ZX81 computer, and used DOS instead of Windows.
There are a few strange things however.
I: Though the field strength meter is at it max, the ‘no provider’ sign always lits up. Nevertheless, it works without a problem.
II: I found it impossible to change the ringtone for receiving an SMS. That tone is not very loud, I would like to be able to change it, like the ‘normal’ ringtone.
III: My battery was nearly empty within 3 days, without making any phonecalls. That’s not what Motorola promised. Now I’ve loaded my battery overnight, mayby that helps….
24. Comment by def
on 2007-03-26 @ 6.23 am · Quote #812 ·
Hello, Can anyone tell me how can I make certain characters when writing a SMS. The only way that I know is to press the “1″ button and it will show 4 different characters.
The thing is that I receive sms and my F3 displays certain characters that I don’t have or I don’t know how to input. Thank You.
25. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-27 @ 4.04 am · Quote #822 ·
@Max Hollemans:
Are you sure it’s the ‘no provider’ sign and not the ‘out of network’ icon? the latter just indicates you’re roaming..
Yeah, there’s no way to do that. At least none that I found.
Was that from its first charge? I think you need to keep it plugged in for at least 8 hours the first time, or something along those lines. Also with these new batteries, it’s good to cycle them at least once (full charge, then deplete them completely and charge them fully again) before they start performing as expected.
@def:
I have no idea. Doesn’t appear to be a way. If anyone finds a way to do that, please let us know!
26. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-03-27 @ 4.17 am · Quote #823 ·
A very active person on a Dutch forum discovered the following ‘Easter Eggs’
400 / 401 –> switches something unknown on/off
130/ 131 –> switches something unknown on/off
700 –> only shows OK
701 –> entry first a number, then text
480 –> shows the provider of the actual connection
481 –> shows a list of available providers (and maybe a possibility to choose one?)
Watch out! I tried 701 and it messed up my telephone book!
27. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-03-27 @ 4.21 am · Quote #824 ·
This is cool… Yes, it will let you select one!
28. Comment by khairuk
on 2007-03-27 @ 8.50 pm · Quote #841 ·
Anybody out there has the whole list of the “easter eggs”?
im from Singapore and i bought it for $73 and its worth every penny… its not offically launch yet, i bought it at an export shop… love everything about it, just that the message tone is too soft and there isnt any T9 input… hope motorola can do something about it…
Anybody out there who has more useful hidden information out of this cool phone?
29. Comment by jason
on 2007-03-27 @ 10.34 pm · Quote #843 ·
Very nice to find people with similar interest in this phone. I bought mine in The Netherlands for 44 euro. What a beautiful phone! I could go on and on about it’s design, it is the most consistent I’ve seen on any such device. The philosophy behind the thing and the thing itself are perfectly harmonious!
But the lack of T9 bothers me, so I’m looking for the f3c. Anybody know if or when the f3c will become available?
30. Comment by def
on 2007-03-31 @ 5.22 am · Quote #867 ·
That’s not true
Just use the Up and Down Arrows to navigate.
31. Comment by def
on 2007-03-31 @ 5.25 am · Quote #868 ·
I also discovered that you can Lock/Unlock the keyboard by pressing: Action Key then *
32. Comment by Vincent
on 2007-04-01 @ 2.14 pm · Quote #871 ·
khairuk > Anybody out there has the whole list of the ‘easter eggs’?
I wish it were possible to display both the time AND the date.
I bought this unit a couple of weeks ago for 45E. It’s nice, slim, long battery life. Besides its not showing the date, I only have two issues with it:
- typing/reading SMS is a big pain: It only shows a few characters at a time, and they’re all the big LCD type, ie. you can only type in UPPERCASE. I guess people will think you’re screaming at them
Motorola said that using LCD instead of pixels saved battery life.
- no calculator. It’s useful when going to a restaurant with a group of people
33. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-01 @ 2.22 pm · Quote #872 ·
Not on my phone you can’t…
34. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-01 @ 2.26 pm · Quote #873 ·
Actually received messages are all in lowercase… at least from my experience.
It seems to me that devices vary a LOT from one version to the next, depending on what market they’re built for.
35. Comment by Laura
on 2007-04-01 @ 4.13 pm · Quote #874 ·
hi, i just bought the motofone. when i text, the letters are not always exactly digital in nature but rounded i the corners. i’ve never had a motorola before. is this normal or is there a fault with it?
also, how do you turn on the ‘alphabet’?
36. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-01 @ 5.08 pm · Quote #875 ·
The Motofone’s display is not your standard cell phone display, as it uses LCD segments to show each character on the screen. Some of those segments are curved, so if that’s what you mean by ’rounded corners’ then yes, this is normal behavior.
As for the ‘alphabet’, what do you mean? The phone does not have T9 support, if that’s what you’re referring to.
37. Comment by bianca
on 2007-04-01 @ 7.40 pm · Quote #876 ·
Hi,
I just got this motorola phone and I was wondering how I can select another provider..I tried to do the above thing, but the only thing I could do is looking at those providers, but choosing….Well, that doesn’t work…So please feel free to help
Cheers,
Bianca
38. Comment by Angelo
on 2007-04-02 @ 1.49 pm · Quote #881 ·
i got a motorola f3 & my gsm provider has given me 2 connections in one sim
line 1 & line 2
how can i switch between line 1 & 2
is there any code for this..
39. Comment by Laura
on 2007-04-02 @ 2.20 pm · Quote #882 ·
apologies, i was rfering to the predictive text feature. does the motofone have it and if so, how do i access it?
40. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-02 @ 3.32 pm · Quote #884 ·
No, it doesn’t.
41. Comment by Andy
on 2007-04-02 @ 5.04 pm · Quote #885 ·
Thanks for your outstanding write-up of the F3. Its always good to get a first hand impression rather than relying on the manufacturer. Bought my F3 last Friday from phone4u in the UK. £15 + £10 of Virgin airtime. Replaced the Virgin SIM with one from TESCO to keep my old number without any issue, it just worked. Will use the Virgin airtime later.
A note on SMS, I have found no way of selectively deleting characters from a message, if you make a mistake, the LEFT arrow deletes a character at a time until you get to the letter you need to correct. The UP and DOWN arrows scroll you through the message you have typed so far, they don’t let you correct it.
Has anybody discovered a way to get the time and date displayed rather than just the time. It does it when setting the date and time so I am guessing there must be some way to turn it on.
42. Comment by ozjin4
on 2007-04-02 @ 8.13 pm · Quote #886 ·
Nice review of a nice phone. Like everyone else i m a bit disappointed by the segmented character display. Makes it worse u r restricted to the top line only for sms!
Thumbs down to Motorola for not including a more comprehensive list of “advance settings” codes. I know their guiding vision was for a simple phone without language / literacy restrictions but at least put a list up on the web.
I’ve seen in promo shots of the phone with the date displayed under the time, hopefully someone will work out how to turn that on soon.
Finally has any one figured out what the symbol that’s been placed with the # key is and what does it do!??
43. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-02 @ 8.20 pm · Quote #887 ·
Are you talking about the lock symbol, or the space symbol? The third character on the # key is the space…
44. Comment by gigel
on 2007-04-02 @ 11.43 pm · Quote #888 ·
it’s about prepay credit. depends on network operator. that icon represents a stilisation of “money”
my questions:
how to download new ring tones
how to unlock
how to turn off the keyboard backlight
cheers
45. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-04-03 @ 3.01 am · Quote #889 ·
Errrr that’s on the *! Next to the # is a symbol with -as it seems- three coins. Does it have something to do with the money that’s left for pre-payers?
46. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-04-03 @ 3.07 am · Quote #890 ·
When I tried the # (pushing it for a second or 2), I received what I typed in function ***701* back as a SMS message ?!?!?!?!?!
47. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-03 @ 3.08 am · Quote #891 ·
Oh.. heh, sorry, I thought you meant the * button!
That’s related to advanced setting 642 (Set Balance Inquiry Number). Pressing and holding # should show you your remaining credit balance provided that 1) you have a pay-as-you-go SIM card, and 2) you’ve set the 642 setting correctly.
48. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-03 @ 3.10 am · Quote #892 ·
I’m not sure those are related..
49. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-03 @ 3.20 am · Quote #893 ·
Sorry gigel, your comment was caught by Akismet..
Yes, that’s pretty much it. As for your questions:
You can’t
I was under the impression that f3s were sold unlocked?
No idea – must be a hidden advanced setting, if it exists
50. Comment by James
on 2007-04-03 @ 7.10 am · Quote #894 ·
I just purchased an F3 in the US, from a US distributor. I got the phone today and now realize that the places I’d been seeing the phone described as a quad band phone were wrong (or in the case of the Motorola website, just arcane in the way they displayed the specs). So I can’t use this damn phone here! I got a reply from Moto support explaining that it’s a dual band phone, either 900/1800 or 850/1900, but no indication as to how I might switch to 850/1900 or if I can actually do that. One of the comments here indicates that it’s a different physical phone for each pair of bands. Is that true? Or is there a way to switch which pair of bands it operates on? I would really like to get this phone working here in the US.
Thanks,
James
51. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-03 @ 3.13 pm · Quote #896 ·
I’m afraid it’s true, you’re gonna need a new device… Sorry.
52. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-04-04 @ 2.00 am · Quote #899 ·
Nice movie in which the Motofone is reviewed and… mistreated!
It keeps working
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwHPK1LMXtk
53. Comment by doncze
on 2007-04-04 @ 8.22 pm · Quote #904 ·
*#06# = Cell phone serial number
F3 inside
http://www.volny.cz/schweitzer/MOTOFONE_F3/
54. Comment by Geoff
on 2007-04-04 @ 11.59 pm · Quote #905 ·
Anyone been able to get hold of a headset for this phone yet?
Also, I’ve found that to get the speakerphone to work I need to press the action button twice. I guess it’s a feature to prevent you from accidentally deafening yourself.
55. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-05 @ 12.10 am · Quote #906 ·
Sorry, no luck on this end for the headset. I asked around, but nobody in India seems to know that this phone has a headset accessory!
As for the speakerphone, yes, this is a feature (documented in the manual as well).
56. Comment by Sue Little
on 2007-04-05 @ 12.38 am · Quote #907 ·
Nice one!
Thanks.
Bought in UK. Lovely design. I wanted a phone with an alarm and was told the F3 didn’t have one! It does and it works well!(I let the vendor know!)I always carry my digital camera and pda so I just don’t need anything else.
Nice site on the design concepts (by the designers) can be found at http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/motofone/experience/experience/index.html
I love this phone because I can use it without my reading glasses! This is a boon when you use your phone as an alarm clock! Scrolling to read a message is not a pain – having to find your glasses to read a message is!
Another positive is that it works inside a plastic bag when I am gardening!
Finally at this sensible price is anyone likely to steal one!
Must bookmark this site!
57. Comment by Sue Little
on 2007-04-05 @ 1.03 am · Quote #908 ·
I have a different set of instructions. This may be useful…
Hold the * button for 2 seconds to set/unset the lock on the keyboard.
A “lock” symbol appers on the screen when the keyboard is locked.
To change ringer to “vibrate” press the down arrow navigation key until the phone vibrates.
If your voicemail number is set as phonebook contact 1, press and hold the 1 key, to quickly access your voicemail messages.
58. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-05 @ 1.57 am · Quote #909 ·
Actually I don’t use this method. I press the action button and then the star button. It’s 2 buttons vs 1, but there’s no waiting involved
Same to unlock…
59. Comment by doncze
on 2007-04-05 @ 2.31 am · Quote #910 ·
full specs : Single jack for power and HEADSET!!!
downloadable monophonic and imelody ring tones
60. Comment by Compass
on 2007-04-06 @ 7.41 am · Quote #921 ·
By accident I found another code:
***643*
This code will display the phone number that is used to send and receive SMS, or so was told to me by a person that works in a shop for my provider.
Important: DO NOT PRESS THE LEFT ARROW ON THIS SCREEN! IF YOU DO YOU’LL DELETE THE NUMBERS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AND PERHAPS LOSE THE PHONE NUMBER!
Write it down if you want to, but I recommend that you only navigate (up and down arrows) and use the action button. If you change this number by mistake you’ll disable your phone to send or receive SMS.
You have been warned.
Compass.
61. Comment by Joost
on 2007-04-06 @ 4.53 pm · Quote #928 ·
Same question… how do you select a provider?
thanks!
62. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-06 @ 5.15 pm · Quote #929 ·
Hmm… I’m not so sure if it does work anymore. It appeared to work on my phone, but now I’m not so sure it did (I have to confess, I’m not very persistent at testing, it looked like it was working, so I assumed it would… never actually managed to get a connection to a different provider)…
63. Comment by Joost
on 2007-04-06 @ 5.23 pm · Quote #930 ·
aah ok, thanks for your help!
64. Comment by Joost
on 2007-04-06 @ 5.54 pm · Quote #931 ·
Ok, I just found out another code from another website:
***402* gives you a list of available providers and gives you the option of choosing one
65. Comment by Compass
on 2007-04-06 @ 11.15 pm · Quote #935 ·
About ***400* and ***401*
One thing I noticed when I used ***401* (disable) is that only the provider name appears now. With it enabled I saw the provider name, state name (abbreviated) and state code scroll on the screen.
Still not sure what this does, but I suspect that perhaps it might stop scanning for the provider from time to time as it does? If I’m correct, I’m quite sure this could extend the battery even more.
After ***400* it went back to normal. You can test it by pressing the on/off after enabling or disabling. I believe it should act the same for everyone with the same phone.
Compass.
66. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-04-07 @ 2.46 am · Quote #937 ·
It’s what we in the Netherlands call the Region Code. It shows in what region you’re in. Not all providers offer that service. My provider doesn’t. So for me it doesn’t matter if 400 is on or off, I always get the same display content.
67. Comment by Onikon
on 2007-04-07 @ 3.28 am · Quote #938 ·
Does anyone know what the sign (is it an “I”?) on the left side of the display beside the time means? When the F3 changes to the time-display, the phone symbol on the upper left side blinks about three times with the “I”-symbol. After that, the phone symbol disappears and does not blink anymore.
Any ideas?
Have a look at the photos:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5627/f31ax3.jpg
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/2200/f32ba8.jpg
Strange thing, because with another SIM-Card of a different provider there is neither the phone symbol on the upper left nor the “I”.
68. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-07 @ 12.16 pm · Quote #941 ·
Good call, yes I’ve actually confirmed that this works
69. Comment by Onikon
on 2007-04-08 @ 12.32 am · Quote #953 ·
Hidden code: ***111* shows “46″ and a symbol of the call history.
Any ideas?
70. Comment by Onikon
on 2007-04-08 @ 12.52 am · Quote #954 ·
Ok, found it out myself. ***111* shows the number of accepted incoming calls.
71. Comment by Onikon
on 2007-04-08 @ 12.57 am · Quote #955 ·
Sorry for another post (cannot edit my old posts)…
***121* shows the number of outgoing calls.
72. Comment by sebastian
on 2007-04-09 @ 5.15 pm · Quote #963 ·
Hi!
I’v got this very nice phone from my provider t-mobile in germany. I like it very much. The only problem is that I need to be sending my own number, when I call others. It doesn’t do that.
Does anyone know the key code, which activates that fuction?
73. Comment by vala
on 2007-04-09 @ 5.16 pm · Quote #964 ·
how to loud sound message tone f3?
plz hellp me ?
74. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-09 @ 7.48 pm · Quote #965 ·
There’s no way to do that that I know of…
75. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-09 @ 7.52 pm · Quote #966 ·
Did you try any of the ‘unknown’ on/off codes?
76. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-09 @ 7.58 pm · Quote #967 ·
Are you sure this is the number of incoming calls and not their duration?
77. Comment by sebastian
on 2007-04-09 @ 9.18 pm · Quote #969 ·
Yes, I did try 130/131 and 400/401 … they did’n do it.
78. Comment by Onikon
on 2007-04-09 @ 10.11 pm · Quote #970 ·
@Constantinos
Yes, you’re right, my fault
79. Comment by Ronald
on 2007-04-10 @ 12.05 am · Quote #973 ·
I have a question.
In the signal strength area is one segment scrolling from left to right. When completely right, two segments becomes black and then the process starts again. Who does know the meaning of this?
80. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-10 @ 12.30 am · Quote #974 ·
It means your phone is trying to connect to a service provider, or that its searching for a signal. Either way, if it keeps doing that, then it means you don’t have a signal you can connect to.
81. Comment by Ronald
on 2007-04-10 @ 12.44 am · Quote #975 ·
The strange thing is that the phone works fine. See also the picture at http://www.gsmarena.com
The moment i dial a number all the segments become black! Finished the coversation, the signal indicator scrolls again and again only one element is visible.
82. Comment by ozjin4
on 2007-04-10 @ 4.00 pm · Quote #983 ·
I noticed the “Out of network” symbol (house with the cross) is also on. Is the SIM card from the service provider you bought the phone from or did you buy it outright.
Only possible explanation is the phone is locked to a network.
83. Comment by country
on 2007-04-10 @ 8.08 pm · Quote #988 ·
Hi,
I’m from Hungary and i have the same problem as you. I called Motorola and they had no clue about it.
84. Comment by Edge
on 2007-04-10 @ 8.38 pm · Quote #990 ·
Maybe this will help you: My provider is a discount carrier what operates “virtually” in an other physical network. In this case the display shows the real, not the virtual carrier and the “out of” symbol appears. Try to test this by using a friend’s simcard from a different network.
85. Comment by vala
on 2007-04-10 @ 9.00 pm · Quote #992 ·
hi there
how can i turn off increasing ring tone in f3 motorola?
thanks
86. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-10 @ 9.06 pm · Quote #993 ·
While viewing the stand-by screen, press ‘down’ twice.
87. Comment by Andrei
on 2007-04-10 @ 9.20 pm · Quote #994 ·
Hi,
Instead of showing the provider i would like to write something else. Can it be possible with the key codes?
Still thinking on what the ***700* really do!
Tchau.
88. Comment by vala
on 2007-04-11 @ 3.39 pm · Quote #1004 ·
hi there
when i have a message my mobile ringing tone is too low to hear
how can i increase this?
your guidance did not solve my problem
plz help
thanks
89. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-11 @ 4.34 pm · Quote #1005 ·
There doesn’t seem to be a way to increase it…
90. Comment by vala
on 2007-04-11 @ 4.46 pm · Quote #1008 ·
my dear friend
my message alart is too low
you mean there is no way to increase it.
it is very srange i cant hear this at all
my ringing tone is in increasing mood if i can turn off this i think my message alart will loud but i cant turn off this
ok thanks for your help
another question
how can i send a message from inbox to another person (i cant find “formard”)
thanks
91. Comment by vala
on 2007-04-11 @ 4.49 pm · Quote #1009 ·
i cant find “forward” to send a message from inbox to another person
92. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-11 @ 4.54 pm · Quote #1010 ·
I don’t think there is such capability on this phone.
93. Comment by vala
on 2007-04-11 @ 4.59 pm · Quote #1011 ·
my dear feirnd
hi there
thanks a lot for all of your answers
94. Comment by Ronald
on 2007-04-13 @ 12.22 pm · Quote #1024 ·
***743*
Is the code for how long a sms is offered / will be tried to deliver.
You can choose between 1hour/6hours/24hours/3days/7days.
95. Comment by Ridwan
on 2007-04-13 @ 12.27 pm · Quote #1025 ·
Hello…
Im an F3C(CDMA version) user from Indonesia..
the package came with headset and ‘rubber’ case..also my F3c preloaded with 15 ringtones and it display both time and date when standby..
i love the design very much, but there is one issue that bother so much..
sms sent from f3c will received in upppercase, does anyone know how to make sms received in lowercase?
plus lack of symbols when available for sms (even there is no ‘dot’ symbol)..i hope motorola can improve this in the future..
thanks
96. Comment by khairuk
on 2007-04-14 @ 11.41 am · Quote #1033 ·
Hi Ridwan,
Just curious, what are the colours that they are offering? and how much?
thanks!!
97. Comment by Ridwan
on 2007-04-14 @ 12.45 pm · Quote #1034 ·
Hi khairuk,
only two colours available here, black for F3 and silver for F3c
The F3c were sold at higher price than F3..i dont know about F3 price, but F3c sold around US$45-US$50..
thanks
98. Comment by doncze
on 2007-04-14 @ 9.49 pm · Quote #1037 ·
tried with gsm f3 in Czech Republic with Vodafone provider
*#21# off..?
*#22# invalid service code
*#30# on..?
*#31#off..?
*#33#off..?
*#35#off..?
*#43#…ok
*#61#off..?
*#62#off..?
*#67#off..?
*#76#off..?
*#99# you are not registred user of this service for info contact r-d- centre
*#101# {i think some function for prepaid cards]
99. Comment by doncze
on 2007-04-14 @ 10.15 pm · Quote #1038 ·
Type 1#, 2#….99# on the keypad to get the phone number used for with this key when speed dialing
100. Comment by Gezza
on 2007-04-15 @ 4.08 am · Quote #1041 ·
Motofone F3
As I noticed code *** 700* turns on notification of message delivery.
101. Comment by khairuk
on 2007-04-15 @ 8.59 pm · Quote #1047 ·
anybody out there…. using a red motofone f3? or the blue one… wanna get hold of it… but i cant find it anywhere in Singapore…
cheers!!
102. Comment by Lincoln
on 2007-04-21 @ 3.25 am · Quote #1085 ·
I also have the X in a circle in the upper right hand corner and can’t get the phone to make or take calls (everything else works). I’m also in Toronto. My phone is from TelCel in Mexico and I’m thinking maybe it’s locked to that network as when it powers on the phone lights up TELCEL, even with a Rogers card in it.
However, Rogers staff told me that the card screen should just say “Invalid Sim” if the phone is locked.
Any suggestions?
103. Comment by Lincoln
on 2007-04-21 @ 3.27 am · Quote #1086 ·
Actually, I just turned it on with no SIM in it at all and it still lit up TelCel so I assume that means it’s locked. Grrr.
Anyone know how to unlock this sucker?
104. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-04-21 @ 3.37 am · Quote #1087 ·
Actually that doesn’t mean anything. The message that comes up is simply a ‘welcome’ message, displaying the provider the device was sold under. For example my phone, purchased in India, starts up with ‘BSNL’ (a network provider here), but I’ve only used the phone with an AirTel SIM card (another Indian provider) and a CYTA SIM card (a provider from Cyprus) both of which worked just fine.
I’d look into other possibilities, like network availability on the frequencies the phone can receive on. Is it the F3 or the F3c? And if it’s the F3, which bands – EU or US? And after you found those questions out, you need to check with Rogers to see what frequencies they cover in your area.
105. Comment by Jeroen
on 2007-04-21 @ 6.38 am · Quote #1089 ·
***700* deletes all text messages
does anyone know how to display date and time, i bought it in the Netherlands, mine only shows time.
thanks for the great review
106. Comment by Jeroen
on 2007-04-21 @ 6.51 am · Quote #1090 ·
here is a site not suited for those who sincerely love their motofone. it has pictures of a disassembly of the F3.
http://www.ururk.com/
scroll down to blog date 3/12/2007
the horror!!!
107. Comment by Lincoln
on 2007-04-23 @ 12.28 am · Quote #1104 ·
Thanks, Constantinos. The network is the same (I’m in Americas–phone is from Mexico (GSM 850/1900) and I’m in Canada (GSM 850/1900)).
When I run some of the easter eggs things it lists ROGERS (my provider) as the service it’s seeing. However, it won’t take my sim card and there is an X in a circle in the upper right corner, which I believe means the handset is locked.
I emailed another chap who had an online review (he’s in the USA and bought his phone from the same Mexican provider I did) and indeed, he says his phone was locked and he paid $20 to get it unlocked so I’m checking into this process now.
I sent my IMEI number to an unlocker and he says he can’t find the number in his database though he’s checking into it further. If anyone knows how to unlock, my IMEI is 011115003304618.
Thanks!
108. Comment by John P.
on 2007-04-23 @ 8.12 am · Quote #1110 ·
> the horror!!!
It survived!!!! And it was the wrong frequency, so it wouldn’t work in the US anyhow.
Motorola made it very very difficult for some of us, exposing the 4 screws to look at every day. Many people will be faced with the temptation to take it apart, and I feel they have every right to
109. Comment by chris
on 2007-04-23 @ 11.44 pm · Quote #1120 ·
Hello,
I got my phone from t-mobile, too. You can enable the sending of the phone number by a GSM standard code. I did google for it and typed in the number code, unfortunately, I did not bookmark it. But it is luckily possible!
110. Comment by Lincoln
on 2007-04-24 @ 10.40 am · Quote #1134 ·
I still haven’t unlocked my phone so can’t confirm this but it seems to me that if you hold down * it will set a Pause. So, when entering stuff into your address book if you need to insert a pause to make the phone wait before, say, entering an extension, you can use this. It shows up on the screen as a P.
111. Comment by Joyal
on 2007-04-29 @ 2.20 am · Quote #1287 ·
Hi,
Great Review. One doubt. How can I access address book while making a call?
Thanks in advance.
112. Comment by andrei
on 2007-04-30 @ 12.56 am · Quote #1351 ·
great review! thanks for everything. i’ve read it last week and by friday i already bought mine. i’m very pleased with it. it was just the phone i was looking for. (all of my friends, and i mean everyone that saw the it, said the same thing: strange!)
today the phone scared me a bit: i received a call, was able to hear the other person very well, but she couldn’t hear me at all. just got another call 2 min ago and it seems to work properly now. i just hope that it never happens again.
i
113. Comment by cadoc
on 2007-04-30 @ 8.11 pm · Quote #1411 ·
I’m fairly happy with my pay as you go F3 but two things :
I can delete received SMS messages easily enough but how do I delete the ‘received calls’ history ? (If I can’t delete them how many records of calls received does the memory hold ?)
Does the # key serve any particular purpose other than writing the letter ‘H’ ?!
114. Pingback by [20] f3 « beautyfull shit
on 2007-05-01 @ 12.46 am · Quote #1422 ·
[...] thanks to [voodoo] [...]
115. Comment by khairuk
on 2007-05-02 @ 6.57 am · Quote #1434 ·
Anybody out there having a red or blue moto f3?
116. Comment by WAMONO MOSES
on 2007-05-02 @ 8.03 pm · Quote #1437 ·
GUYS THIS IS REAL. IVE LOST MY LOVELY MESSAGES
Any way, some one was looking for the headsets, ive got a hold of them here in uganda. they have tyhe same pin a sthe charger.
PLIZ HELP, HOW DO I DOWNLOAD RINGTONES (MOTO F3)
117. Comment by WAMONO MOSES
on 2007-05-02 @ 8.08 pm · Quote #1438 ·
IN UGANDA. THE F3 4NE IS LOCKED TO UTL-GSM NETWORK, HOW CAN I UNLOCK IT AND USE OTHER NETWORKS
118. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-05-03 @ 7.27 pm · Quote #1440 ·
Confirmed…
119. Comment by cadoc
on 2007-05-06 @ 4.31 pm · Quote #1456 ·
I’ve got an ‘arrow’ symbol to the left of the time on the normal display e.g. > 11:57 and whenever I carry out a function, e.g. end a call, a phone icon flashes briefly above the ‘arrow’.
Any ideas why ?
I’m on Orange but when I used a Virgin sim card the display anomaly disappeared.
120. Comment by F3 Lover
on 2007-05-08 @ 10.57 am · Quote #1482 ·
I’m also interested to find codes for the following:
1. how do I delete the ‘received calls’ history ?
2. does anyone know how to display date and time ?
Thanks,
121. Comment by Guancio
on 2007-05-09 @ 12.10 am · Quote #1488 ·
Hi,
I have a motofone. After 4 days sounds stop to works. Te phone does not produce any sound when I change the volume or when I use the keypad. Also the vibration does not work anymore.
Can motorola write a buggy software for a so simple phone?
Sorry for my bad english
122. Comment by Dan Lurie
on 2007-05-09 @ 3.22 pm · Quote #1490 ·
I think I’m in the same boat as Lincoln. I had a phone sent to me from mexico, locked to TelCel. I can’t even get it to show the info screen or IMEI, and the hardware IMEI I sent to the unlocking people supposedly isn’t in the database.
Are we out of luck? Any ideas?
123. Comment by peter
on 2007-05-11 @ 12.52 am · Quote #1512 ·
hi anyone
today i bought f3 can you told me how i can turn on date whet time is showed?
124. Comment by rif
on 2007-05-11 @ 1.18 pm · Quote #1515 ·
The date is only for show in the comercials. I didn’t found a way to display it on the real phone.
125. Comment by Pubs
on 2007-05-12 @ 11.59 am · Quote #1522 ·
“oj, same problem: PLZ!! Who does know how to TURN OFF this scrolling, in signal area ??? “
126. Comment by Helen
on 2007-05-12 @ 3.27 pm · Quote #1525 ·
I bought one of these purely for the geek novelty, and i love it, but it doesn’t ever seem to charge. From what I’ve read when it’s plugged in to charge the battery lights should flash, but it just remains with one bar black and even when I left it all night it didn’t charge. Does this mean the phone is broken? The charger is broken? Or maybe the battery indicator is faulty?
Anyone else had this problem?
Thanks!
127. Comment by GPal
on 2007-05-15 @ 3.42 pm · Quote #1541 ·
I have bought this phone from Mumbai. First charging took 3 hours and as blinking stoped, I unplugged. The battery emptied within 36 hours. This is the case ever since even if set is not used. I then tried charging 12 hours which did not help. Another problem some incoming messages are not readable (scrollable/movable) and deletable. On receiving of one such message my handset got hanged for two hours. Any advice/help please ?
128. Comment by x3qt0r
on 2007-05-16 @ 12.28 am · Quote #1543 ·
Your review made my day.
I have ordered it right away.
I never liked mobile phones with too may features.
Always all I wanted was a phone which would JUST make calls and receive them.
Finally this is the one.
Thanks for the review.
Well one thing i would like to know about the codes.
The code for phone info.*9999*
129. Comment by GPal
on 2007-05-17 @ 12.36 pm · Quote #1548 ·
I think the reviewer should have shared his experience of charging the battery especially for the first time, which he has omitted.
130. Comment by Feri
on 2007-05-18 @ 3.35 am · Quote #1552 ·
I am from Hungary like someone above and I managed to stop the moving signal strength indicator. I simply used the code 402, chose my service provider from the list and voila! the indicator works as expected. I need to repeat this procedure every time I turn the phone on, though.
131. Comment by Constantinos
on 2007-05-18 @ 3.41 am · Quote #1553 ·
I recently did some traveling with this phone, and found that it takes a relatively long period of time of searching for a network (at least a minute) before it gives me a list to choose from (this also goes for my home network, but it only happens the first time I arrive back in my network).
I found that hitting the red button would not select a network, and the signal strength indicator would continue moving. After a while I’d get the list again, but selecting a network would not stop the signal strength indicator from moving…
132. Comment by Martin
on 2007-05-18 @ 4.45 pm · Quote #1556 ·
How to turn off the minute reminder? (My reminder makes first click at 55 seconds and then every minute – I find that odd).
And how to change phonebook entries, is it even possible?
TIA!
133. Comment by country
on 2007-05-18 @ 9.24 pm · Quote #1559 ·
kösz szépen én is ismertem a kódot csak az hogy minden indÃtásnál az nekem kicsit sok volt. pötyögje be a motorola állandóan. vettem 1 sonyericssont inkább.
sorry about the language
134. Comment by Mark
on 2007-05-20 @ 8.54 pm · Quote #1567 ·
Hi,
I bought a black F3 a month or so ago in the UK from Phones4u on the Virgin network and am delighted with it apart from one problem…
As I have read from a few people above my phone too displays the round ‘x’ error sign at the top right of the screen every now and again (it seems to be when it has a loss of signal but i am not sure this is the case). This is very fustrating as the phone does not state to be ‘out of network’ (house with cross symbol) and i can communicate with nobody when it happens. My SE W850i often has plenty signal in places my F3 appears to lose it completely. Is it faulty?
Mark
135. Comment by joh
on 2007-05-23 @ 12.49 am · Quote #1575 ·
Some users from Italy have reported that their F3 sends a text message to a certain UK number several times all on its own. Motorola has responded with a firmware update, so this seems to be a valid concern. If you have any way to check on sent SMS, please do so (the F3 doesn’t save sent messages, so you have to either check your balance or have other means of tracking that).
I got my F3 today (29 € from eBay, unlocked) and, well, I love it. Great phone. But this thing, being sold mainly in India, Pakistan etc., *may* (just may) tickle our western overlords too much to refrain from nosiness and with Motorola maybe too chicken-hearted to resist, this phone might be reporting your location to someone you never thought of.
That being said, my provider has a number to check for the last five calls or messages and the phone seems to behave itself up to now.
136. Comment by joh
on 2007-05-24 @ 3.10 pm · Quote #1579 ·
There’s an advanced setting to set the voicemail number (***644*) — but how is this number utilized, once set? There’s no dedicated key for voicemail and the manual hints at setting the voicemail number as the first contact in the phonebook, so you can call it by pressing and holding the “1″, but this doesn’t utilize the advanced setting at all… Am I missing something here?
137. Comment by Robin Ashe
on 2007-05-25 @ 1.51 pm · Quote #1584 ·
Sounds tempting, but I think I’ll be waiting for a version to come out that has viable SMS. Really, they need to release it as an option, even if the battery life isn’t as good, because there are a lot of people who only use phones for SMS and not for calls. iTAP/T9 is obviously not necessary, but SMS is just as important as making phone calls these days. MMS/MP3s/Camera, that’s all secondary, but a cell phone has become more than just a phone, it’s a voice/SMS device.
I realise it does support SMS, but having smaller characters that can display all but the longest words as a whole would be a necessary upgrade.
138. Comment by Matthijs van der Vleuten
on 2007-05-26 @ 1.40 am · Quote #1589 ·
When entering the code ***701* and pressing the action key, the voice help says: “Enter SMS prepay query code”. Any idea what that means?
139. Comment by Matthijs van der Vleuten
on 2007-05-26 @ 1.49 am · Quote #1590 ·
Also, ***700* just returns OK, and ***702* apparently contacts something, but fails.
140. Comment by Matthijs van der Vleuten
on 2007-05-29 @ 3.04 am · Quote #1605 ·
It appears that using undefined codes results in the phone calling that number. Since, hopefully, ***xxx* are invalid numbers, the call fails.
141. Comment by Max Hollemans
on 2007-05-30 @ 2.50 am · Quote #1609 ·
Sommige providers tonen je beltegoed als SMSje. Ik heb begrepen dat dit toestel na ieder gesprek dat je gevoerd hebt, dit nummer belt en dan op je beeldscherm je beltegoed toont. Vooropgezet natuurlijk, dat je dit nummer hebt ingevoerd.
Oh ik hoop dat je Nederlands leest, gezien je naam
142. Comment by joh
on 2007-05-30 @ 4.33 am · Quote #1610 ·
You can be quite sure that later this year Motorola will introduce similar phones that have a matrix display, internal memory and everything you will need to have SMS working as you may expect (most probably even an MP3 player, calendar and so on). But you won’t get these phones for *that* price, of course
After one week with the F3 I have to say: Motorola is moving in the right direction with that thing. The display could use a higher resolution and a bit more of memory wouldn’t be bad, but generally it’s just a great phone which feels great both in the pocket and in the hand. SMS is overrated (and overpriced) anyway, in most cases you can talk for one minute for the same money as you have to spend for one SMS. I’ve decided to minimize SMS and to phone instead. Works fine so far. Most people are a bit surprised and sometimes you end up talking for two or three minutes, but compared to a SMS and an answer and another SMS back this is still OK.
In the overall daily usage the thing works just great. I think for a MP3-player I will spend my money on a iPod shuffle instead, so I can listen to music without caring for the battery of my phone. Too bad Apple has the Shuffle in half a dozen of colors, but not a black one which would be a nice fit for the Motofone (you could probably even clip it on the phone if you want
BTW, I got exactly one week (and a few hours) from the first charge (with moderate use but without switching it off at all), which is enough for me. Surely enough to last for a really long weekend and since I don’t have to think of my phone battery when listening to music or so it’s a no-brainer.
143. Comment by Stefka
on 2007-05-30 @ 8.39 pm · Quote #1633 ·
I’ve got a problem to get my voicemail notification set up. i’ve got 2 sim card (orange and t-mobile) i tried ***644* and put my voicemail number but it doesn’t seem to work for both of them.
Any idea on how to do that?
144. Comment by khairuk
on 2007-05-31 @ 10.22 pm · Quote #1720 ·
anybody here have a red moto? cant find one in Singapore… anybody could help me with this?
145. Comment by lurita
on 2007-06-11 @ 8.23 pm · Quote #1979 ·
How do i download ringtones on my Motofone F3
146. Comment by Compass
on 2007-06-12 @ 2.59 am · Quote #1980 ·
You can’t download ringtones on a Motofone F3.
Compass.
147. Comment by Lincoln
on 2007-06-12 @ 5.32 pm · Quote #1981 ·
Okay, I’m new to cellphones and have never owned one before. I have two of these that were bought in Mexico and are locked to Telcel. I can’t figure out how to unlock them.
I’m wondering if anyone with an unlocked model for North America would want to trade it for my two unlocked ones. Obviously you know how to unlock them so you would then have 2 and I’d have a functioning cell phone. You can contact me at hurlyburly at google’s email service. Thanks!
148. Comment by Edward
on 2007-06-13 @ 6.20 pm · Quote #1982 ·
I think if your operator charged you by the minute, it would make sense to know that you are about to enter a new minute 5 seconds before, so you would have time to say a quick bye and disconnect… similar to when your credit is about to finish in a public coin phone.
149. Comment by Hans
on 2007-06-17 @ 12.37 pm · Quote #1983 ·
I purchased a brand new F3 Yesterday.
The basic simplicity just to be able to make calls and send an sms from time to time was the main reason, since I’m already surrounded by complex devices every day during working time.
Well, it is a pleasant surprise that things can be easy, still.
And You know what? sending DTMF tones in long strings works too!
So it is no problem to check my Bankaccount/ operator bill/ etc.. by a pre-entered string in the phonebook, or to make money transactions just by call. Someone mentioned to press “P” for a couple of seconds to achieve the needed dial pauzes.(That is the correct workaround)
One thing I mentioned is that the battery-indicator does not work.
The receiver indicator works fine.
Resetting the device did not help.
Let’s hope its just the indicator and not a flaw battery indeed.
Anyone else confronted with that symptom?
150. Comment by Hans
on 2007-06-17 @ 2.17 pm · Quote #1984 ·
I still need to make this correction: DTMF dialtones can be entered by pressing the “star” button (*) a few seconds and the dial pauze shows up as a (P) in the phonebook.
I would like to get the battery indicator up and running, since this is a rather essential function.
Greetings,
Hans
151. Comment by Matt
on 2007-06-18 @ 12.05 am · Quote #1985 ·
I too have a Motofone bought in Mexico and locked to TelCel. However I was able to get an unlock code for an ebay auction. The problem is if you have a non-TelCel SIM in the phone (in my case Cingular) in will only let you type a few numbers (911 for instance) as well as give you an error message (No SIM 3-020) the same error that pops up if you actually don’t have a SIM card inserted.
Therefore I can not enter my unlock code. I emailed the guy I got the code from. He wanted to verify that my phone operated on 1900 GSM – I told him it did and he hasn’t responded since.
Other people (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=9353744) seam to share this problem but they haven’t seam to made any progress either. If anyone could help I would appreciate it very much.
152. Comment by meharvan
on 2007-06-19 @ 2.33 am · Quote #1987 ·
Hello.
First of all, GREAT review!!
I just wanted to know,
once I press ***250*, it says ‘ON’ and the ‘Ok’ icon blinks.
I want to turn it ‘OFF’.
How to do that??
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
153. Comment by Arthur
on 2007-06-20 @ 4.44 am · Quote #1988 ·
Is there any way to import an additional language beyond the three that are already programmed into the F3? I bought one in Slovakia, has only Slovak, Czech, Hungarian…but no English!!!!
Unfortunately, I dont speak any of the three available languages…
154. Comment by Hans
on 2007-06-23 @ 4.45 pm · Quote #1990 ·
Hi everyone.
After using my new Motofone F3 one week (!), the battery-indicator suddenly popped up at full strenght, minus one bar. So this is no longer a topic for me.
Strange that it took so long but probably the indicator works randomly?
It proofs that the battery has excellent capacities and also, after one week, I can tell that this phone has a superb voice quality and loudspeaker. The interface is probably the most intuïtive approach for phone-management and use.
The Motofone meets all my expectations about it.
155. Comment by Bratislav Metulsky
on 2007-06-26 @ 1.46 am · Quote #1991 ·
Larger post offices in Germany (“Deutsche Post”) sell the F3 including a T-Mobile prepaid SIM with € 10 of credit for only € 19.90 and they neither have a SIMlock nor a netlock. Supported languages are German, English and Italian.
However F3 prepaid packages sold elsewhere in Germany (including T-Mobile stores) do have a SIMlock.
156. Comment by Vinicius
on 2007-06-27 @ 7.11 am · Quote #1992 ·
“Switch something unkown ON | OFF 130|131″
something unknown = automatic network scan ON | OFF
157. Comment by Dr timothy bleary
on 2007-06-28 @ 10.42 pm · Quote #1993 ·
NO IDEA AS I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! Someone please help!
158. Comment by Aldo
on 2007-06-30 @ 6.31 am · Quote #1994 ·
For any of those who are interested in the codes…
130|131 Switches Audible call minute counter (beep) ON|OFF
Has anyone figured out how to personalize the initial splash screen or the message diplayed every time you finish using the phone? Mine displays the ATT network number I am on (they have two in the area)… Having “31038″ show up every time I use the phone is getting a little annoying… would prefer something like “smile” or “hello” or my name there…
159. Comment by Aldo
on 2007-07-09 @ 12.10 am · Quote #1996 ·
130|131 to turn the minute counter on|off
Anybody figure out if there is a missed calls list anywhere?
160. Comment by gagah
on 2007-07-10 @ 10.14 pm · Quote #1997 ·
The damn f3 is not simple, it is simplistic. You cannot edit a message or even a contact, the arrow will actually ERASE any of the two. I hate the idea of having only 7 ringtones and reading messages only in a way (i mean that straight long liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine). Battery doesn’t last long as the manual say. So, basically the thing is pretty basically , and basic, TOO basic. And not cheap here in Brazil.
161. Comment by neenee
on 2007-07-13 @ 11.31 am · Quote #1998 ·
Thank you for the wonderful review.
Since yesterday I am the proud owner of a Motofone F3. My old phone is a Motorola Razr v3, but I found myself not using the camera, bluetooth, calculator, I rarely switched backgrounds, always used the same ringtone, I even removed most of the menu options using some software tools and the data-cable.
I was looking at the Philips Xenium, which are simple phones as well, though still more feature-rich, but their main attraction is a very long battery life, of up to one month. I do understand that the Motofone F3 can not remain on standby this long without recharging (It must be the capacity of the battery, perhaps there’ll be some 3rd party batteries soon, from MaxCell for instance that can help here), but that’s okay.
I love the e-paper display. Very clear and very good viewing angles. No more blocking the sun just to see the display.
And well, no-one can argue with the price =]
The only thing I miss is proper SMS support. I did read and send them semi-regularly, but I can probably do without.
And I may order a case somewhere, a leather one with a strap/clip, or better yet, something which barely distorts the look of the phone, perhaps a glove-like cover, rubbery to protect against bouncing and scrapes. I’ll have to search a bit, as the phone is still quite new and there doesn’t seem to be much out there that was specifically designed for the Motofone F3.
In short: Thank you for the review, it helped me decide on this phone.
Have a nice day one and all [=
162. Comment by pradeep
on 2007-07-16 @ 2.07 am · Quote #1999 ·
I did buy a F3 in the UK. Mine only came in a box from Orange. Everything included, but yeah, the lettering could be better for texting. Its just that, when u switch from a normal cell phone, with regular ‘signs’ and a lil bit of complexity, this phone seems out of the ordinary. Like, sometimes, I have this phone symbol that flashes when it goes into the ‘time only’ mode, and then a symbol like > shows up. Any1 know what that is?
other than that, the display is genious.
163. Comment by Marcin
on 2007-07-19 @ 11.01 am · Quote #2000 ·
I’ve bought f3 yesterday and I do not know if it works properly. May anybody confirm if phone works improperly:
Few times per hours strange thing happends:
Display start blinking, antenna led “is mowing” from left to right. Whole process takes 10 seconds. During this time the name of the operator appears for a while. It looks like phone is connecting to the base station – but is blinkink is proper behaviour?
hank You for help
164. Comment by MMMF3
on 2007-07-21 @ 10.30 am · Quote #2001 ·
Sorry, no luck on this end for the headset. I asked around, but nobody in India seems to know that this phone has a headset accessory!
If you mean handsfree headset , it was in the original package
165. Comment by Marc
on 2007-07-21 @ 8.36 pm · Quote #2002 ·
I got this phone for £10 in the UK at phones4u or car phone warehouse. Its not locked to any network. Has anyone experience this problem or is a fone “feature”. I have my ringtone volume at ‘Vibrate / Increasing ring volume’ – the vibration kicks in as soon as the phone rings but its a good 10 seconds before the ringing kicks. I miss the call most of the times. Anyone else have this same problem?
I wish it had a T9 dictionary too.
166. Comment by canadianeh?
on 2007-07-24 @ 9.56 am · Quote #2003 ·
so i’ve got the f3 from mexico locked to the telcel network like everyone else in canada. i’ve purchased an unlock code off ebay for $14 but have no way to enter the code. the only sim i’ve tried with is my rogers card but to no avail. I’m wondering if i try with a fido sim card (prepay service in canada) if it will work because its supposed to be a prepaid phone. has anyone tried this or found a way to enter the unlock code? maybe one of the easter eggs that allows numerical entry?
167. Comment by Paweł B. Sczaniecki
on 2007-07-25 @ 1.21 pm · Quote #2004 ·
A very active person on a Dutch forum discovered the following “Easter Eggs”
400 / 401 -> switches something unknown on/off
==========
The code has been a remedy for my problem, namely “the motofone hanged-up” each time I made a time/date adjustment.
Three times it was serviced, to no avail! Today I took the chance, used the Dutch undefined discovery and the time/date problem is over. Before, I had to take battery out and in, and enter the time & date from the very start. What a relieve…
168. Comment by Bob
on 2007-07-27 @ 12.53 am · Quote #2005 ·
Bought mine today at Aldi UK for £9 it came with a Orange pay as you go sim which I have not activated. As Im already on an Orange contract I thought it would be handy to ease the wear on my contract phone by placing my Orange contact Sim into the F3. Charged the phone then tried to enter the Phonebook but all I get is my own number displayed, refuses to show any of my contact numbers
Any ideas anyone —– Help
Cheers
Bob
169. Comment by Tony
on 2007-07-27 @ 10.20 am · Quote #2006 ·
Just bought an F3 from Asda in Leeds, England. Cost £9.00. Comes with an Orange sim which when registered gives you a £1.00 free. Unit is very basic, but for less than a ‘tenner’what more do you want. Great 2nd emergency phone.
170. Comment by Matthew
on 2007-07-31 @ 2.14 pm · Quote #2007 ·
This is just that a very nice simple phone , really any one over the age of 30 dosent use a phone for any thing but calls and the odd sms ie. home soon etc
I have shelved a Nokia 6300 with this as my main handset now , I have even bought some for gifts for my friend and family ….
Pure simple reliable clear looks like a $1000 dollars and does what it is ment to be a MOBILE PHONE not a mobile head ache
PS my F3 charged up in 1 hour out of the Tube …. Can say enough about this simple little handset
Great work Motorola
171. Comment by Tony
on 2007-08-01 @ 2.49 pm · Quote #2008 ·
Bob. Only thing I can think of is that your address book is on the contract phone and not on the sim card.
172. Comment by rednose
on 2007-08-02 @ 4.59 pm · Quote #2009 ·
Hi All. I wonder if anybody found out how to do a couple of things.
1) How to turn on the “hide number” on call. My previous mobile was a Nokia, and I had the possibility to “obscurate” my phone number on calling other mobiles.
2) How to know if anybody called, and you missed the call.
Any help apprecitaed.
Thanks!!!
173. Comment by monty111
on 2007-08-04 @ 1.35 am · Quote #2010 ·
hey can anybody tell how many contacts this 1 holds (or how many the sim card holds ? plz help
174. Comment by rae
on 2007-08-05 @ 3.20 pm · Quote #2013 ·
how to set speed dial. some contacts had it, some doesnt.
175. Comment by Bob
on 2007-08-05 @ 4.05 pm · Quote #2014 ·
Yes Tony you were right. Using the F3 I re-entered all my contact numbers back into the Orange contract sim card I then put the sim card back into my Contract phone only to find that all my numbers were showing twice. Obviously my contract phone had enough memory not to use the sim card. while the Motorola has no memory and has to depend on the sim card entries.
Im outdoors quite a bit as I have a keen interest in photography. I always have my pockets full of junk and I can carry this one without worring about wear a tear. By the way my phone came from Asda and not Aldi my mistake. Anyway it has turned out to be fabulous buy for £9 .
Cheers
Bob
176. Comment by neenee
on 2007-08-05 @ 9.12 pm · Quote #2015 ·
Hi everyone.
I’ve been enjoying my Motofone F3 for several weeks now, but I was wondering about the standby time. Various sites mention standy times anywhere from 5 days to 14 and more.
I was wondering, what are the standby times of the readers here?
Thanks for sharing
177. Comment by Alexander
on 2007-08-06 @ 12.03 am · Quote #2016 ·
No idea about standby-only time (never tested), but my F3 can make it up to 5 days with about an hour or so spent on talking each day… moto promised it to be a bit longer, but I have a feeling I’ve screwed something up with initial charging. Anyway, it’s still not a bad result, as my L6 will make it for 2.5 days approx. with a lot less talking going on (about 20 mins./day), so I’m quite ok with the F3 (:
178. Comment by Tony
on 2007-08-06 @ 12.47 pm · Quote #2017 ·
Hi. Initial charge of 3 hours gave me a standby of 4 days. A full charge overnight on 30 July and it is still going, showing a remaining charge of 40%.
Tony
179. Comment by neenee
on 2007-08-06 @ 10.44 pm · Quote #2018 ·
Okay, so that’s at least 7 days. Thank you for your prompt response
180. Comment by john
on 2007-08-07 @ 10.50 am · Quote #2019 ·
Hi guys?thanks for the tonne of information provided.Im in Kenya and ive been looking out for the F3c but i cant seem to find it.Anybody out there who might be of help, i would realy appreciate.
Please ensure its not locked.
181. Comment by aaron sneddon
on 2007-08-07 @ 2.00 pm · Quote #2020 ·
I had an 02 XDA11, and a HP Ipaq before this, i am happy with this one.
If i need to do some serious web and emailing i take the laptop in the car, most phones internet capabilities are limited anyway in terms of using outlook to download attachements etc, so i only ever used the likes of this on my k800i every couple of days or so (I still have the K800I but its going to my wife who likes it)
The F3 is likeable, it has a great design and doesnt put a bulge in the pocket, so even with the basic functions it will stay out of the way but bring looks of admiration from other people seeing just how thin it really is!
Think i’ll stick to this, downgrading has been a release.
182. Comment by Tony
on 2007-08-08 @ 6.26 pm · Quote #2021 ·
Bob. Just out of interest, was it an Asda in Leeds you bought it from ? It would be interesting to know if this was a local or wider offer.
Thanks
183. Comment by J
on 2007-08-09 @ 4.25 am · Quote #2022 ·
I recently bought the Motofone, and I can say that is an excellent choice for a person that just want to make calls. The design and simplicity are perfect. I bought it in Mexico for 300 pesos (25 dollars, more or less) and it works very well.
Well done Motorola!
184. Comment by Jon Long
on 2007-08-09 @ 11.41 am · Quote #2023 ·
I have the same problem so I never use the vibrate function. This way the phone starts to ring as soon as it receives a call – no annoying 10 second delay.
185. Comment by Dmitry
on 2007-08-10 @ 12.39 am · Quote #2024 ·
I have unlocked T-mobile F3. Battery model BD50. I don’t see where capacity listed. Phone works around 3 days. In 24h after recharge 2 bars are empty.
Tony mentioned that night recharge gives him a week of work. I didn’t try that. I was charging it until bar become full and stop blinking (around 4h). I believe phone is not charging after that.
186. Comment by Dmitry
on 2007-08-10 @ 12.44 am · Quote #2025 ·
I have unlocked T-mobile F3. Battery model BD50. I don’t see where capacity listed. Phone works around 3 days. In 24h after recharge 2 bars are empty.
Tony mentioned that night recharge gives him a week of work. I didn’t try that. I was charging it until bar become full and stop blinking (around 4h). I believe the phone is not charging after that.
187. Comment by Bob
on 2007-08-10 @ 3.03 pm · Quote #2026 ·
Tony. It was from one of their Newcastle based stores. In fact we acted after seeing the full page Asda F3 advert which appeared in the Daily Express went up to the store that day and bought two
Cheers
188. Comment by Jack
on 2007-08-11 @ 6.55 pm · Quote #2027 ·
any solution on unlocking the Mexical TELCEL F3s yet? Has someone been successful? If so, please post how
189. Comment by gagah
on 2007-08-13 @ 5.29 pm · Quote #2028 ·
Sometimes when I call my friends from my F3 they don’t answer because they say i’m showing up in their mobiles as a “retristcted call”, but sometimes my number|name does show up. Can anyone explain this? As the phone has no menu I really don’t understand what is going on. Is there a code for restricted call| non-restricted call (show my number wahtever)?
PLEASE HELP
190. Comment by Frances
on 2007-08-14 @ 5.56 am · Quote #2030 ·
please Help. Im writing from australia. trying to unlock my f3 so i can send it to a relative in tonga. ??? how can i do that without having to pay my provider $80?
191. Comment by Tony
on 2007-08-14 @ 5.47 pm · Quote #2031 ·
Try
* * * 161 * [action]
Should turn off restricted calls (* * * 160 * [action]will turn it on again)
192. Comment by Oleksiy
on 2007-08-15 @ 1.33 am · Quote #2032 ·
I’m willing to try it out – contact me at opikalo (to prevent spam ) hotmail dot com and we will arrange the details
193. Comment by Alan
on 2007-08-15 @ 11.52 pm · Quote #2033 ·
how to loud sound message tone f3? or how to download new ring tones?
194. Comment by Richard
on 2007-08-18 @ 9.08 pm · Quote #2035 ·
Hi,
Does anyone know how to get rid of the voice mail icon when all voicemails have been listened to? It won’t dissapear in my phone
195. Comment by Rafael
on 2007-08-19 @ 1.31 am · Quote #2036 ·
I just returned to the US from Colombia where I purchased an F3 for use while I travelled with family. The packaging and instructions are in Spanish and Portuguese. There are at least two Colombian service providers offering the F3, Comcel and Tigo, both as prepaid providers. I purchased mine from Comcel for 57,000 Colombian Pesos, which translated to roughly $30.00 USD and which included promotional connect time. I purchased the phone at a kiosk at the front of a supermarket which relied on the customer service department of the market to conduct transactions. The SKU rung up as 46,000 Pesos and the “promotional” connect time and the IVA (either sales or value-added tax, I forget which) added the 11,000 Pesos and change.
I saw the F3 on offer in the cities of Bogotá, Armenia, Neiva, and in many smaller villages in between. All were offered for roughly the same price. The signal coverage was excellent, and the phone behaved exactly as advertised. I met one other individual who was using the F3, and he was happy with it.
I have been very happy with the phone and would like very much to continue using it in the US. I have been using another Motorola phone with a prepaid plan – the C-139 – but it has too many features. I fall into the “less is more camp” as regards phones. Using the Easter Egg codes, I find that the phone recognizes the Cingular/ATT GSM network in my area. Cingular/ATT offers a prepaid plan, and I’d like to see if using one of their SIM cards I can get the phone to work. I can’t use it with my current plan.
Thanks for the lively and informative posts.
196. Comment by Simon
on 2007-08-20 @ 6.59 pm · Quote #2037 ·
I’ve just bought one of these from Asda (Walmart) in the UK. It’s locked to the Orange network here and won’t accept another network’s SIM. Has anyone figured out how to unlock these phones yet? Thanks.
197. Comment by Aaron
on 2007-08-21 @ 10.26 pm · Quote #2038 ·
I purchased The F3 to be used in Israel with an Orange SMS card. I could not pick up any of the voice mail. They claim the DTMF tones are to short to pick up the mail. Do you know how to make the key tone longer so their voice mail system can pick up the mail?
198. Comment by neenee
on 2007-08-23 @ 10.18 am · Quote #2040 ·
As mentioned before, You can not change the volume of your
text-message tone and you can not download ring-tones.
Please read the entire thread or at least search through it
before posting a question which may have been answered before.
199. Comment by Eze Uba
on 2007-08-24 @ 9.14 pm · Quote #2041 ·
I have been using my F3 for at least 5 months now here in Nigeria. It turns out to be one of the most hassle-free phones I have ever used, actually I bought it when my last phone, a Nokia, crashed and it was due to budget reasons that I settled for the F3, but I am now counting my blessings to have such a wonderful phone. Battery issue is a bygone problem now, sometimes I even forget to charge it for two days and it keeps on and on. Simplicity of use is another thing I love about it; no frills, just normal everyday phone functionality. Up until today it has been bliss for me and this phone, until I decided to dabble into the dark world of phone codes. I was just trying out a code I saw on the net about caller id blocking, *#31#, I tried it and it blocked my caller id, for good. Even uptill now I have been unsuccesful in my attempts to change it back and everyone I call now keeps asking me who is on the line? Please if anyone out there has any clue to how I can re-enable my caller id to appear when I call people, I would appreciate it very much. I have tried to re-enter the code again but it doesn’t work; I had assumed it was a toggle thing.
Thank you all for any and all attention to my post.
Cheers,
Eze Uba
200. Comment by Eze Uba
on 2007-08-25 @ 9.41 am · Quote #2042 ·
Aaaah… I got it fixed. I just reset to default factory setting with ***000* and it did worked. Now my caller id is shown again.
Cheers everyone.
201. Comment by Jon Long
on 2007-08-26 @ 2.07 pm · Quote #2043 ·
I’ve owned my F3 for 2 months now and the standby times are between 8 and 10 days depending on how many calls I make/receive. I always let the battery drain completely and recharge it fully.
Has anyone had their F3 unlocked in the U.K?
202. Comment by neenee
on 2007-08-27 @ 9.12 am · Quote #2044 ·
Thanks for your reply Jon Long
203. Comment by Ian
on 2007-08-28 @ 10.06 pm · Quote #2045 ·
Just got one today (blue) from carphone warehouse (UK) £25 inc £10 loaded worldpay sim, or £50 without, work that out lol! Anyway phone is unlocked so I am using my vodafone sim in it. Very impressed with its simplicity, ringer volume can be very LOUD if desired, only drawback as mentioned in previous posts is the sms alert tone is so quiet that you will certainly not know you have received an sms unless you visably look at your phone, or you are in a quiet room
Personally I think I like it!…anyone want to buy a Nokia 6200 classic on 3 with TV, slingbox, website access, blah blah blah…oh and a battery life of about 2 days max lol
204. Comment by gabs
on 2007-09-01 @ 7.29 pm · Quote #2047 ·
how do u view your outbox if possible?!
205. Comment by neenee
on 2007-09-02 @ 2.00 am · Quote #2048 ·
If you had searched through the thread, you would have found:
“the F3 doesn’t save sent messages”.
Kind regards.
206. Comment by Terry
on 2007-09-02 @ 10.12 pm · Quote #2049 ·
I just bought my F3 from JAG for £4.99p although I did have to put £30 credit on it but with Orange’s £1 credit when registering that makes it a pretty cheap phone. But I’m having problems setting a SIM PIN. When I enter ***300* I get a message – Failed 1-070. Any suggestions?
207. Comment by Terry
on 2007-09-03 @ 1.23 pm · Quote #2050 ·
Problem solved. Just found out I have to set SIM Pin on (***310*) then change Pin using Set SIM Pin (***300*)
208. Comment by djnick
on 2007-09-04 @ 11.46 am · Quote #2051 ·
I know where to get the US Unlocked versions of these, claims it runs 850/1900 band, however how much should one expect to pay? Is $80 too much?
209. Comment by Tarun
on 2007-09-05 @ 10.11 am · Quote #2052 ·
Superb review, so detailed yet so very comprehensive! It is the best review of any product I have ever come across. I bought this phone from Futurebazaar.com (it is the online reseller of the India’s supermarket giant ‘Super Bazar’). I got a great deal. The actual street price of the phone as printed on the package in India is Rs. 1655.00 (~ $41 /GBP 20 /EUR 30). However there was a 3 day discount sale at Futurebazaar.com a few days back. The F3 was priced at Rs. Rs. 1140.00 (~ $28 /GBP 14 /EUR 20)plus there was a SanDisk 1GB pendrive free. So the final effective price of the phone for me (after deducting the cost of pendrive) comes out to be Rs 540 (that is, ~ $13 /GBP 7 /10 EUR). Isn’t that amazing. So it just costed my dirt cheap.
Its a great phone, great design, light weight, very slim, good voice quality. All in all it makes me feel geek and good!
However here are a few bad things about it:
1. No SMS forwarding. This is something very crucial at times, forwarding a text message. And f3 lacks this capability. Its too bad.
2. Battery life is not that good as claimed. I have recharged the phone 3 times in last 10 days (and have completed the ‘full charge-full discharge’ cycle each time). On top of that the phone doesn’t warn you that its gonna die. Each time it so happened that I checked the phone (already low on battery) and found it switched off.
3. I found a residual effect of the e-ink. For example after unlocking the keypad, the lock symbol on the screen still ‘glows’ even afterwards for a few minutes. I hope the electrophoretic screen technology used here improves over the coming years and probably we may have colour electropgoretic screens in future as well. That will be interesting!
4. “SMS received” tone too too faint.
Final verdict: A good phone for making and receiving phone calls and for occasionally using SMS feature. Alarm is powerful to wake me up even from deepest sleep. I hope the future versions of this phone will have necessary rectifications.
210. Comment by Jorge
on 2007-09-13 @ 1.17 pm · Quote #2054 ·
I read somewhere that you have to put your card in and leave the Phone on for 8+ hours, then “enter sub code” appears. This in unconfirmed
211. Comment by Cat
on 2007-09-15 @ 10.25 pm · Quote #2056 ·
Hi,
I live in the U.S. and just picked up an unlocked F3 from cellhut.com for use during my trips to Europe… Since I’ll be moving around a lot, I picked up an international prepaid SIM card (travelsim) for it, so I’m wondering…
I cannot set the phone & SIM card up right now, as it just gives me a “—- [Error icon]” and there’s no signal because it is a GSM900/1800 Mhz phone. I assume that I will be able to set it up upon arriving in Austria, without the need for unlocking codes and whatnot.
Does anyone have any experience with using this F3 phone with the TravelSIM international prepaid SIM card in Europe? If so, do you think there’s any information I should have available (PIN numbers, etc?) before I can setup and use this SIM card with my F3?
212. Comment by sinagra
on 2007-09-17 @ 3.46 pm · Quote #2058 ·
How do you set the phone so that it keeps ringing when someone calls and does not go to voicemail after several rings? Doesn’t ring long enough to give my wife a chance to find it in her handbag and answer.
213. Comment by LW
on 2007-09-17 @ 9.44 pm · Quote #2059 ·
A friend just bought me an F3c in India, but it doesn’t have a SIM card. I’m in the US and live in a remote area serviced only by Verizon. How can I purchase a SIM card that will work with my provider?
214. Comment by Alexander
on 2007-09-18 @ 8.21 am · Quote #2060 ·
Well, what I can recommend is to take your phone with you to the local verizon store and ask them if there is something they can do with it. I rather dare doubt (: but still worth a try, I guess…
215. Comment by fahad
on 2007-09-19 @ 11.21 pm · Quote #2062 ·
how to activate call waiting options
216. Comment by domertas
on 2007-09-21 @ 2.28 pm · Quote #2063 ·
I bought this phone in Lithuania (because I live there). It was in a different packaging and it also came with 2 local languages – lithuanian, russian and english. Most of it is the same exept there was an easy-to-remove plastic sticker on the screen. Also, it is mentioned in manual that the phone should not be exposed to any form of humidity. I like this phone very much. it is very easy to use it.
217. Comment by domertas
on 2007-09-21 @ 2.33 pm · Quote #2064 ·
Oh yes, and I forgot to mention, I bought it without any sim card from “Mobili linija” (lith. Mobile Line), so I can connect any network with the card from it.
218. Comment by aaron
on 2007-09-23 @ 10.15 am · Quote #2065 ·
i just got my f3 in the mail, and it keeps flashing odd numbers on the screen. is it changing networks? what’s going on? it also frequently has an out of network symbol on the screen, thought the phone was sold as unlocked… the sim card is from my cell phone plan carrier, and there is excellent coverage here, so it shouldn’t be out of network…
any help greatly appreciated.
219. Comment by SergeK
on 2007-09-25 @ 5.52 pm · Quote #2067 ·
Does anyone now, how to reflash it to another language?
I bought one on eBay. Voice prompt in English is OK, but sometime i need read SMS on russian. But there are only dashes instead of russian letters.
220. Comment by neenee
on 2007-09-28 @ 4.21 pm · Quote #2068 ·
This phone can not be flashed. What you buy is what you get.
I am not even sure there is a Russian version you can buy.
221. Comment by SergeK
on 2007-09-29 @ 4.12 pm · Quote #2069 ·
See message 217.
So there definitly is russian version.
The only question – how to reflash?
222. Comment by Dave Raeburn
on 2007-10-02 @ 11.05 am · Quote #2073 ·
I think this Motorola F3 is a nifty little phone. It looks like a fully featured phone to other people with its slimline looks and minimalistic design.
I think its mint.
223. Comment by neenee
on 2007-10-03 @ 9.09 am · Quote #2074 ·
I know there are versions with different language-sets, but those languages are on the phone when you buy it and can not be changed.
If you want a phone with Russian, buy one that includes that language.
You might be able to buy the hardware component that houses the software and languages and replace what you have currently by opening the phone, but that’s as close to flashing as you can get.
Good luck
224. Comment by Jason
on 2007-10-05 @ 7.08 am · Quote #2076 ·
Hi,
I am on Cingular and just got my F3 moto and am extremely impressed. The only issue I have is that the voicemail icon never appears, even if I have an unheard voicemail.
Can anyone help with this??
Thanks!
225. Comment by Hello
on 2007-10-08 @ 7.12 am · Quote #2077 ·
Does anyone know whether this Motofone F3 has call display which supports both name and number on incoming calls? My old Motorola ROKR did not have this newer feature (only shows one) but my current Nokia 6133 does.
226. Comment by Miles-e-piles
on 2007-10-16 @ 5.07 pm · Quote #2080 ·
Just got my Motofone F3 from the UK last week (I live in Ireland). Really like it, wanted a basic phone without all the frills.
One problem I have encountered is that the clock (time display) seems to go ‘asleep’ when the phone is not in use.
The clock counter does not progress when the phone is inactive; it can be wrong by a couple of hours, if I haven’t used the phone for that long.
I have to press a button (any button) to ‘wake’ the phone and refresh the time/display.
Has anyone else had this problem? or have I just got a damaged/faulty phone?
Any/all help greatly appreciated. Thanks, Miles-e-piles.
227. Comment by neenee
on 2007-10-16 @ 9.21 pm · Quote #2081 ·
I have had this problem once before, but not in a long while. I am not sure how to reproduce it, as my phone is often not used, I just have it with me to be reachable or to reach others when something is afoot.
I do not think you have a faulty phone, as mine works without problems apart from that one incident long ago.
What I do mind a bit however, is that when I turn off the phone and turn it back on, I have to re-enter the time and date. So I keep it on instead of turning it off like I did with my previous phone to save power.
228. Comment by Jay
on 2007-10-22 @ 9.26 pm · Quote #2082 ·
Hello,
I having the same issue no voice mail icon appearing when I have messages that I have not heard on ARR network, also the call waiting does not work which I can live with. Just wondering if anyone found a way to correct this so the icon will display when I have a voice mail?
Thanks,
Jay
229. Comment by Dmitry
on 2007-10-22 @ 10.08 pm · Quote #2083 ·
I have a version with Russian language, but its only about Russian voice prompts. Received Russian SMSs are not readable – dashes instead of letters.
230. Comment by Sivadev
on 2007-10-25 @ 4.09 am · Quote #2085 ·
Very good review and very informative feedback. As for me, I reside in Malaysia and bought it for 140 ringgit malaysia which is equalent to around USD30. Currently the cheapest phone here. I find it very useful (most people who own phones that have the works; ie 3G, video, camera, MP3, GPS and other ABC or ZYX or #$% still use it for making voice calls most of the time). Very basic, very easy to use but a pain in the neck when SMSing. But Overall I am happy, and due to its slim design, you hardly feel it in your pocket. When i bought it, it came with the phone, charger, earphones (simple but does the job) and a silicone case (the one that is whitish and protects the phone from dirty hands like mine). I will recommended it to anyone (or more precisely to anyone who does not want the ABC or ZYX or #$% functions in a phone)
231. Comment by Trygve
on 2007-10-25 @ 11.50 pm · Quote #2086 ·
“Any way, some one was looking for the headsets, ive got a hold of them here in uganda. they have tyhe same pin a sthe charger.”
Can you please give me the model number of a headset that will work with the Motofone? I can’t seem to find one with the correct plug.
232. Comment by gary
on 2007-10-27 @ 3.04 am · Quote #2088 ·
Whenever i press the red off button- random numbers appear. How do i change this or turn this off?
Somebody please help…
233. Comment by Hans
on 2007-10-27 @ 9.20 pm · Quote #2089 ·
Right now and here in Belgium, Vodafone and Base allow obscure calls initiated by entering the prefix #31# followed by the number. The number does not shows up on the dialed phone/ receiver’s phone bill.
(However,keep in mind that local laws/providers can prohibit/prevent anonymus calls)
234. Comment by edmund
on 2007-10-28 @ 1.52 pm · Quote #2090 ·
Hi I just have my f3 with contract extension in one of the Polish providers and it’s exactly what I wanted. I have only one problem when changing the time/date. When you set everything as needed and pressed action button the time/date is blinking for a couple of seconds – if then during that short blinking you press action button again the phone crashes, no key is working, impossible to turn off and only the time/date menu icon is visible, however you can’t anything. The only thing I can do is then to remove the battery and turn it on again. Can you check whether yours do the same? Usually you do not change the time/date very often and it’s not serious problem, however anyway it should not crash like that…
235. Comment by neenee
on 2007-10-28 @ 8.17 pm · Quote #2091 ·
I can not reproduce your problem.
236. Comment by neenee
on 2007-10-31 @ 5.41 pm · Quote #2092 ·
Has anyone been able to find a battery-upgrade for the Motofone F3?
I can ofcourse buy a second genuine battery, but if there’s something with more ‘oomph’ out there, I’d like to try that.
237. Comment by Z
on 2007-11-04 @ 10.22 am · Quote #2095 ·
i see a hidden menu on F3c, it’s right icon after alarm icon, how to unlock it??
238. Comment by neenee
on 2007-11-04 @ 10.13 pm · Quote #2097 ·
You don’t have to unlock anything. Just use the wheel to move right of the alarm menu option. The option right of the Alarm option, is the option to configure your date and time setting.
It’s not a hidden option at all, at least, not on the F3.
239. Comment by Annette
on 2007-11-12 @ 4.46 am · Quote #2102 ·
Hi, I just bought an F3 in Costa Rica. I had the guy at the store put my SIM card in, he had me entered my PIN and away we go. Then I was changing some things and I got the red X with a circle at the top right and then I somehow got the little padlock on the screen. So I turned the phone off and back on and it is asking me for a PUK code. I have no idea what this is or how to find it and thus am not able to use my phone now. Can anyone help me?
Thanks.
240. Comment by neenee
on 2007-11-12 @ 8.32 am · Quote #2103 ·
You got a Red X? But the Motofone F3 is monochrome.
As for the PUK code, you should have gotten that with the sim-card.
241. Comment by Robert
on 2007-11-26 @ 1.54 pm · Quote #2119 ·
Hi, It appears to me that my F3 do not support “tone” dialing?
Anyone know if it is possible to change some setting (code) to enable “tone” dialing ?
242. Comment by neenee
on 2007-11-26 @ 6.34 pm · Quote #2120 ·
Tone dialing is used by the Motofone F3. Pulse dialing is an outdated standard and is only supported by some phones and services for backwards compatibility.
243. Comment by Rafael
on 2007-11-27 @ 10.07 pm · Quote #2121 ·
Hi, I just bought an F3, I need some help. When I turn on the phone the battery life and the signal stregh appear but after a minute or two it disappear and I don’t know how to see how much battery I have left…
244. Comment by neenee
on 2007-11-29 @ 2.15 pm · Quote #2122 ·
That sounds like a bug, try going back to where you bought it.
Perhaps you can get a replacement or have it fixed. Probably the former though.
Good luck
245. Comment by juanpa
on 2007-12-01 @ 2.36 pm · Quote #2123 ·
Hi everyone! I am very very happy with this ‘geeky’ phone (i even consider it is kinda historic phone, due to the endophoric display!!!). The speaker function is awesome (when in a call, press two times up the action key). I bought it in Colombia for $33.000 (that is about us$16; earphone was not included in the box – cilinder, it is-, and was mandatory to buy a us$5 credit charge for TIGO operator – wich has a *10#[send] number to ask for the remaining credit, wich works just great asigned to the ‘# and coins’ key in the F3).
Emergency calls can be done without unlocking the phone (only 911 and 112 – this last one is the police number here. 911 does not work in colombia, instead we have 123, but any other number will show the ‘error-X’ – could this be programmable?).
For the people waiting for important SMS, simply activate the vibrator function.
All my friends want one, old parents and relatives too -it’s a very pretty-well designed phone.
Tnx fr the rview!!!
246. Comment by je
on 2007-12-04 @ 10.04 am · Quote #2124 ·
Hi is there a way to make the ringing last longer? The phone diverts to answer phone after three rings, unless I actually happen to have the phone in my hand it isn’t long enough!
247. Comment by neenee
on 2007-12-04 @ 6.27 pm · Quote #2125 ·
Nope, there’s no way to do that. I think it depends on your provider.
248. Comment by Eddie
on 2007-12-07 @ 2.51 pm · Quote #2126 ·
I’m having this problem as well. I’m using the phone on the SunCom network in the US and everything seems to be working fine, but this is annoying. When I first power the phone on, SunCom scrolls across the screen and appears when I press the red power button. However, after the phone has been on for a few seconds, pressing the red button displays ’31049′? Does anyone have any ideas?
249. Comment by neenee
on 2007-12-08 @ 11.11 am · Quote #2127 ·
So, these numbers are not random? They are the same each time?
Perhaps the number corresponds with some internal code used by the phone to recognise the network. It is a long shot, but as the phone is still working as normal in your case, I think the problem is comparable to a DNS server being down, hence the readable name for a website not being displayed/used. Instead, the IP-address is used. I think the number is comparable to an IP-address.
Functionality is not altered nor hindered, what you see is just different.
250. Comment by Sly
on 2007-12-14 @ 5.14 pm · Quote #2128 ·
Hi all, thanks for all the great comments! Has anyone in the US had success with using this phone on t-mobile USA network? Thanks!!
251. Comment by Tomas
on 2007-12-16 @ 3.50 am · Quote #2129 ·
I brought mine unlocked at a Tiger Direct store on Miami (USD 40 approx.). Works perfectly on my home country (Panama).
I am very, very happy with this phone, since I have an attraction to minimalistic designs in general.
252. Comment by Ustas
on 2007-12-17 @ 6.49 am · Quote #2130 ·
I use unlocked F3 with T-Mobile SIM in Chicago area without a problem.
I’ve used various cellphones for past fifteen years and this one by far is the best… kills all the geeky phones around here. Bravo Motorola!
253. Comment by Lefteris
on 2007-12-18 @ 12.54 am · Quote #2131 ·
from the official motorola site in the Full Specifications motofone f3 section
so how can i dowload monophonic ring tones???
254. Comment by Mitchell
on 2007-12-18 @ 3.58 am · Quote #2132 ·
This phone is pure crap. I’m not into high tech phones, to me a mobile phone is for texting and making calls, but this phone is just horrible. I started using alot more credit once getting this phone because I couldn’t stand to write text messages on it so I would just call people to make it easier. The only good thing about this phone is that it is as strong as an ox, but it needs to be considering the number of times you will be throwing it at the wall after spending 10 minutes writing a messages only to have it not send on you, meaning you have to write the whole thing again (and you just know you left out that witty pun that made the message special to begin with). This phone is terrible to talk into and it’s hard to hear the person at the other end, somehow it also manages to barely ever have reception in places where people on the same network have perfect reception.
A fucking failure of a phone if I ever saw one, even with the volume right up you won’t hear the message tone unless it’s right next to your face. For the same price a cheap Nokia is by far the better choice – this phone caused me nothing but grief for the 6 months I had it.
255. Comment by neenee
on 2007-12-18 @ 7.30 pm · Quote #2133 ·
Hi Mitchell,
I’m sorry to hear you do not like the Motofone.
This review, as well as many others, don’t pretend the text-messaging function is any better than it is.
Your issue with messages being sent is something I have not encountered.
I do not share your problem regarding reception either, nor your problem with hearing people talk. As for ‘being terrible to talk into’; Perhaps you are used to phones with a different model, rounger or longer; With some shape you find more pleasing to use as a phone, but again, reviews should have prepared you for how the phone looked.
Indeed the text-message sound has quite a low volume, but that too has been mentioned it at least this review/the comments. Perhaps you should have tried setting your phone to vibrate.
All in all, I think you could have saved yourself some aggrivation if you had read some reviews or had tried out the phone at a shop before purchasing it.
Instead, you choose to blame the phone.
Ah well. Good luck with your Nokia.
256. Comment by inedible
on 2007-12-18 @ 7.30 pm · Quote #2134 ·
juanpa: 112 is the global standard emergency number for GSM phones. Dialing 112 will connect you to 123 in Costa Rica.
I’m in Canada and I accidentally dialed 112 once.. The lady answered “Hello, 911.”
257. Comment by Chris Grillo
on 2007-12-21 @ 6.51 am · Quote #2135 ·
Hi, I got the phone last week. I live in Malta (Europe), and got the phone via relatives from PLAY DOT COM. The F3 came with an orange sim card, which I removed, and put in the local provider (GO). It worked instantly.
The phone is blessing, so simple to use and above all, so so sexy. The thinness of the unit is amazing! Anyone who sees it wonders at the simplicity, style and simplicity of it all.
Motorola have gone back to basics with this one, and receiving and sending calls is the most important thing. OK, the SMS don’t look all that great, but don’t knock it, I have become addicted to the phone. So easy to slip into your jeans or shirt, you forget it is there until you are startled with the phone ringing LOUDLY.
Reception is brilliant, and the speakerphone loud enough to have everyone enjoying the conversation.
Battery life is amazing too! This phone cannot be compared to other phones, simply because Motorola designed it in a different way, so please do not compare this to the others. You call, you receive calls, and make the odd SMS now and again, but even that is ok, we turn the T9 off to write in Maltese!
Great Great phone..and for 12Euros? It’s a bargain… costs less than a 6-pack of beer!
258. Comment by GaryB101
on 2007-12-21 @ 9.50 pm · Quote #2137 ·
I just got one of these for my wife and when we finish doing ANYTHING (basically hitting the red button) it shows the number “31041″ before the screen goes black with the time showing. Does anyone know what this number means? Does anyone know how to change it or erase it?
259. Comment by Ustas
on 2007-12-22 @ 3.37 am · Quote #2138 ·
That has mentioned before… The number you see is the local station number of your mobile service provider.
260. Comment by inedible
on 2007-12-23 @ 4.45 am · Quote #2139 ·
For anyone who’s experienced the antenna bars “scanning” back and forth, and not being able to make a connection:
1: Make sure the phone has the correct frequency band for your country. Most of North America uses 850/1900, while most of Europe and the rest of the world uses 900/1800.
2: Have you been fooling around with the “Advanced Options”?? I tried ***402* to see what networks were available, and since then was unable to connect to any network. If this is the case, entering ***000* will reset the phone to defaults and should get you back online.
261. Comment by Nate
on 2007-12-23 @ 5.24 pm · Quote #2140 ·
Does anyone know if the touchtone feature is adjustable and how to adjust if it is. Not being able to use automated services is a pain in the ass.
262. Comment by Twins
on 2007-12-24 @ 1.26 am · Quote #2141 ·
Hi,
For anyone who’s experienced, how to delete the icon “Callouts”, even I hear/open all voice mail, and call to the provider, the icon still appears.
gracias
263. Comment by Dave
on 2007-12-25 @ 7.11 pm · Quote #2144 ·
All those people who are complaining about this phone. You have missed the point. The phone was design to be simple to use with a large character display and large keys. If you won’t an all singing, all dancing phone that does nearly everything except make tea. Go and spend more money and stop moaning.
264. Comment by Laszlo
on 2007-12-25 @ 11.42 pm · Quote #2145 ·
RE: Comment 225 by Jason and 230 by Jay:
I’m using Cingular as well and am encountering the same problem with voicemail notification. Is there an icon for this? What does it look like? Another issue with voicemail is that if you use speedial(#1), it doesn’t go through, even though the settings were modified via ***644*. Calling voicemail directly DOES go through, however. ??? Is this problem related only to Cingular users? I know the 31041 stands for the network (Cingular), but is there any way to change that? Using the ***481* command to display available networks shows 31041 along with the name Cingular spelled out. Seems like there should be a way fix this. Great review by the way, the advanced settings table was the icing on the cake!
265. Comment by fred
on 2007-12-26 @ 4.05 am · Quote #2146 ·
I’d like to have answer to this question as well…
266. Comment by George
on 2007-12-26 @ 8.32 am · Quote #2147 ·
Hi,
I received my Motofone f3 without a functioning backlight. Does anyone know if this is a setting with a code that I can enter? It is really annoying because I can’t see my phone in the dark. If someone knows how to fix this, please let me know.
Thanks
267. Comment by neenee
on 2007-12-27 @ 10.04 am · Quote #2148 ·
Return the phone and get a new one.
No code can fix a hardware problem.
268. Comment by Ben Allison
on 2007-12-27 @ 3.07 pm · Quote #2149 ·
Is there a code for forwarding the phone to another number?
Ben Allison
269. Comment by neenee
on 2007-12-28 @ 4.13 pm · Quote #2151 ·
No such code is known.
270. Comment by inedible
on 2007-12-29 @ 11.48 pm · Quote #2152 ·
#269: re call forwarding: call your provider and ask that they set it up on their end or ask them what the code is, it’s often carrier-specific and handled by the carrier, not the handset.
#266: re touchtones: ***250* should enable keypad tones.. my F3 works fine for navigating automated systems like voicemail and such. if it doesn’t, the phone in broken.
#267: re backlight: There is no known code for enabling or disabling the backlight, if yours isn’t working it’s probably physically broken. That said, I’d trade you for my F3, the backlight works fine, but I have no use for it and I’d like the extra battery life. My email address is: pseudolobster at gmail dot com if you’d like to set up a trade.
271. Comment by Eno Ibanga
on 2007-12-30 @ 12.46 am · Quote #2153 ·
How do I unlock the Motorola MOTOFONE F3 that I just purchased from a shop in Nigeria. The IMEI number is 355072016692881 and is registeredto T-Mobile network. Please send me the code to unlock.
Ibanga
272. Comment by Bratislav Metulsky
on 2007-12-30 @ 10.43 pm · Quote #2154 ·
As on every GSM phone you can use the standard GSM codes for setting up call fowardings. Just enter one of the following codes and pick up the phone:
##002# Unregister all call diversions
**004*PhoneNumber# Set all configured call diversions to PhoneNumber
##004# Unregister all configured call diversions
**21*PhoneNumber# Register and activate divert all calls to PhoneNumber
*21# Activate divert all calls
#21# Deactivate divert all calls
##21# Unregister divert all calls
*#21# Check status of divert all calls
**61*PhoneNumber# Register and activate divert on no answer to PhoneNumber
**61*PhoneNumber**DelayInSeconds# Register and activate divert on no answer to PhoneNumber after DelayInSeconds (enter value of 5-30 seconds)
*61# Activate divert on no answer
#61# Deactivate divert on no answer
##61# Unregister divert on no answer
*#61# Check status of divert on no answer
**62*PhoneNumber# Register and activate divert on not reachable
*62# Activate divert on not reachable
#62# Deactivate divert on not reachable
##62# Unregister divert on not reachable
*#62# Check status of divert on not reachable
**67*PhoneNumber# Register and activate divert on busy
*67# Activate divert on busy
#67# Deactivate divert on busy
##67# Unregister divert on busy
*#67# Check status of divert on busy
Find further GSM codes for call barring, call waiting, PIN code change and caller ID settings at http://web.telia.com/~u47904776/gsmkode.htm
273. Comment by Name
on 2008-01-02 @ 3.43 pm · Quote #2155 ·
You’re holding the phone upside down.
274. Comment by Brian
on 2008-01-02 @ 9.23 pm · Quote #2156 ·
I LOVE my but I’m having such a weird experience. Like a few other people here I was having trouble with voicemail and text notifications not showing up. When I leave the phone on vibrate, all that happens is the screen blinks a few times, and the small envelope icon appears. Same if I increase the volume. Here’s where it gets weird: this is what happens when I’m in NYC. I was just out on the West coast, and when I got a text, the phone vibrated, and a large envelope icon/animation appeared. What’s going on?
275. Comment by jon
on 2008-01-04 @ 1.52 pm · Quote #2157 ·
Comments 242 and 262 Robert and Nate-
I had the touch tone problem right now. I had to enable tones, which didn’t work (**250*) and then I tried disabling tones (**251*). Now I can use my voicemail again!
276. Comment by Tony
on 2008-01-05 @ 4.42 pm · Quote #2158 ·
To Eno Ibanga comment number 272.
Hi, Just bought a subsidized F3 in the UK. I removed the supplied sim and popped in the one I was using for another network, Works great! -don’t think you need worry about unlocking codes!
Regards Tony.
277. Comment by Arjun
on 2008-01-06 @ 7.38 pm · Quote #2159 ·
anybody know how do delete the call list one by one ?
278. Comment by Dan Hightower
on 2008-01-10 @ 1.00 am · Quote #2160 ·
I just got the motofone F3 and as stupid as it sound I tried to check my voicemail by doing the whole “*86″ thing and it just tell me that I have dialed an incorrect number. Could anyone help me out with checking my voicemail???? Thanks.
279. Comment by Gracious
on 2008-01-10 @ 9.17 am · Quote #2161 ·
to delete call history… ***000* maybe used…peace
280. Comment by Matt
on 2008-01-16 @ 5.27 pm · Quote #2166 ·
I’ve had one of these for about three weeks now and have been using it with at&t on the east coast. I think it’s a pretty sweet phone for voice and only voice (and the occasional rare text message.) After using this phone I’ve learned a lot more about my sim card than I ever knew before. With the F3 your phone book is your sim card database, Period, so however the data is organized on the sim card is it. Also, speed dial numbers are not programmable. The second number in the card database is dialed with the number 2 speed dial, and that’s it. When I started using the phone I noticed what I thought was a nicely organized phonebook on my old nokia was actually a mess the nokia was sorting out. Any numbers on the sim were dumped there from my old verizon phone by the cingular salesperson and any new numbers since were only in the phone memory. In addition, numbers on the sim were in random database slots but if I told my nokia to move/copy a contact to the card it would put it in the first open spot. Eventually I worked out that I could assign useful speed dial numbers by moving all my contacts off my sim with the nokia, then manually copying the first nine so they became my keypad speed dials, dumping the rest onto the card, and then putting the card in the F3. A pain to figure out initially, but only a mildly labor intensive one time thing in the end. During this process I learned that the voice mail call in number had to be on the 1 speed dial. The first time I manually moved the contacts around I forgot to put it back in the number 1 place and broke my voice mail speed dial. Dialing it from another speed dial location wouldn’t work, although I think manual dial still worked (can’t remember). Either way it was definitely an ‘oh ish!’ moment when I did that.
Other observations: Like other people have observed, on at&t/cingular my new voicemail flag doesn’t come on, although the missed call indicator covers for that issue. I get about 5 days of battery max. I have no idea what silly tricks motorola used to get the insane numbers they quote. I kinda like the ring tones it comes with. Vibrate settings not being separate from ringer volume is really annoying. Having it tell you the carrier code is cool, if mystifying at first. Not being able to delete the call history is vaguely irksome. You can delete other things and there’s a trash icon, so why not? Having to set the time/date manually is dumb. It talks to a network that can wirelessly tell it the time/date with atomic clock accuracy, so why do I have to set it myself? This is the loudest cell I have ever heard, which can be good or bad, depending on your perspective. The speakerphone mode works great and you press a nice, big fat button to access it. It charges quite slowly. From dead a full charge is around four hours, so a top-off is no quick thing. The phone’s geek factor is sky high.
My favorite feature: It Doesn’t have a web browser!
281. Comment by gene
on 2008-01-19 @ 12.33 am · Quote #2167 ·
If you want to go to a number in your phone book quickly, just press the phonebook key to get into your book, and press the corresponding letter on the keypad to the first letter of the contact. In case it it for example Edward, press 3 twice or 33. Brilliant!
282. Comment by Sinclair
on 2008-01-20 @ 4.46 pm · Quote #2168 ·
I don’t wish send my own number in my calls. Can I do it ? Thanks from Brazil, the ‘Country of the Sun”…
Sinclair
283. Comment by Paul
on 2008-01-21 @ 1.10 am · Quote #2169 ·
I need a bit of help. I left my charger at the hotel while on vacation. I have found several chargers that have the correct jack to fit the phone, however I don’t knwo and can’t seem to find anywhere on line what the output voltage of the charger really is. Could someone please look at your charger and tell me 1) what the output voltage is and 20 if it indicate the polarity of the charger output (ie center + and shell -) Thanks in advance!!
284. Comment by Constantinos
on 2008-01-21 @ 1.23 am · Quote #2170 ·
Purchased in India, specs on the charger read:
Output: 6.4V, 200mA.
Doesn’t have a traditional +/- polarity diagram, has a solid line above a dotted one. But typically the standard is +.)- and it seems the charger (apart from the plug part) is universal… 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz 0.1A Input, so I’m guessing they made all of them standard?
Mine has model number SPN5322A (remember, one of the first batches made in India).
285. Comment by Constantinos
on 2008-01-21 @ 1.26 am · Quote #2171 ·
Try dialling *31#PhoneNumber
This will probably work, but it’s not phone specific, it’s network specific.
286. Comment by Hari
on 2008-01-23 @ 5.24 pm · Quote #2175 ·
First of all, a big thanks to the guy who wrote this entry. It is awesome!!
Nor, I am looking for a feature which according to one of my friends should be there in any phone according to phone standards. That is, conference call! How can I put a call on hold and dial another number?
Please let me know!!
287. Comment by Alex
on 2008-01-24 @ 3.21 am · Quote #2178 ·
The Motofone looks like exactly what I need. I have a few questions for current owners.
1. What does the phone display when you have an incoming call? The phone number? The associated phone book name (if there is one)? Both? Nothing?
2. Does the phone indicate that you have missed any calls, or do you have to go to the call history screen to find out if you’ve received any calls while away?
3. Are people still having problems with the voice mail indicator flag on AT&T?
Thanks!
288. Comment by David
on 2008-01-24 @ 4.07 am · Quote #2179 ·
I just bought an unlocked motofone and so far it’s great, but when I call my voicemail, I can hear my mesages, but not do any of the touchone options…it’s so far the only thing that doesn’t work…i have t-mobile.
289. Comment by Constantinos
on 2008-01-24 @ 11.26 am · Quote #2180 ·
Associated phone book name, or number if there isn’t one.
There’s a missed call indicator, specifically the incoming call history icon flashes.
290. Comment by neenee
on 2008-01-24 @ 4.19 pm · Quote #2181 ·
The call history icon does not flash, it’s just displayed, until the user checks missed calls.
291. Comment by neenee
on 2008-01-24 @ 4.21 pm · Quote #2182 ·
Hari – Please read the previous comments before asking a question that has already been answered. The Motofone F3 can not put a call on hold, but there is a chance that your service provider can do it for you.
292. Comment by gene
on 2008-01-25 @ 2.51 am · Quote #2183 ·
I have ATT, and the message indicator does not work. Sure wish it did. My biggest gripe with the phone.
293. Comment by Inderjeet sahu
on 2008-01-26 @ 5.40 pm · Quote #2184 ·
I have a Motorola F3c and I thing it has many codes which are not given in the manual. Like ***777*^and***100*^and but I don’t know the meanings of these codes. Could you please tell me the meanings of these codes
294. Comment by gene
on 2008-01-26 @ 11.25 pm · Quote #2185 ·
I jst picked up a Kyocera car charger at the flea market and the jack fits the F3 perfectly. FYI
295. Comment by Goxy
on 2008-01-27 @ 12.59 am · Quote #2186 ·
This phone rules! Is it possible though that there is no code for sms delivery report? It would be great if someone wrote it here…
296. Comment by Hari
on 2008-01-27 @ 5.14 pm · Quote #2188 ·
That is what, Neenee, any phone should have this ‘hold’ facility because of some technical reason. I mean, it is in built in any phone. Only thing is that, we don’t know how to do it in F3!!
297. Comment by neenee
on 2008-01-27 @ 5.48 pm · Quote #2189 ·
Why does a phone need a hold facility? Which technical reason are you referring to?
298. Comment by Obiman
on 2008-01-28 @ 12.25 am · Quote #2190 ·
For some reason my red on/off button seems to have stopped working. This is a real pain as its the only real way of exiting back the clock display or ending a call! So when I make a call and I want to end it, I have to quickly pull the battery out of my phone so it powers down…its a pain!!! Apart from this technical glitch the phone works great. Is this a known problem? Is it a hardware problem or have I just disabled something by incorrectly pushing a whole series of buttons? Any suggestions? Thanks.
299. Comment by neenee
on 2008-01-28 @ 6.35 pm · Quote #2193 ·
I’ve never heard of your problem. If you just bought your phone, try returning it to the store for a replacement. If you somehow caused the problem yourself, I think you’re out of luck, as I think it won’t be covered by warranty. I think it’s a mechanical problem, that the button-press no longer registers. A faulty contact perhaps.. I can’t say without seeing the phone or opening it up.
Good luck
300. Comment by pishkinn
on 2008-01-30 @ 6.46 pm · Quote #2199 ·
I’ve been trying to reach my voicemail but can’t seem to get it to work. I set a voicemail number (does any number work??) but when I call it, it says it’s not a valid number. I’m confused about the system, does it have to be on speed dial to work? What number should I set?
301. Comment by yochai
on 2008-01-30 @ 10.39 pm · Quote #2200 ·
Having the touchtone problem. I used to be able to use them; now I can’t. I’ve tried enabling/disabling tones using BOTH the codes and the menu; nothing helps!
Also, anyone know how to make the phone vibrate when you receive a message?
Thanks!
302. Comment by yochai
on 2008-01-30 @ 10.53 pm · Quote #2201 ·
Okay, so I restarted the phone (after enabling/disabling 250/251) and now touchtone works!
303. Comment by neenee
on 2008-01-31 @ 11.22 am · Quote #2202 ·
yochai – you can not make the phone vibrate for messages.
304. Comment by Steve
on 2008-02-04 @ 6.12 am · Quote #2203 ·
help!!!! i used the code *#31# because i wanted to hide my # when i called ppl.. but now i can’t figure out how to change it back… does anyone know and/or does anyone have a complete list of all the advanced codes for this phone? the link on this site doesn’t work anymore.. also i know it is the phone because i put my chip in another phone and it shows my # when i call ppl and i put my friends chip in this phone and his # won’t show up from this moto f3… if u know please reply back to this message or email me at moc.liamtohnull@024__uyr thanks!
PS. i tried to restore factory defaults it didn’t seem to do anything…
305. Comment by Rotarydoc
on 2008-02-05 @ 1.45 am · Quote #2204 ·
Hi,
I just purchased one of these phones, and so far, like it alot. However, I am not getting anywhere near the expected battery life on standby that I have been reading about…I can only seem to get about 3 days of standby time out of the battery, after a full, overnight charge…that’s with no useage of the phone, alarms, or any features, and no calls made or received, only being on standby.
Thinking I got one with a defective battery, I took it back to the store, and got an exchange, another brand new phone with batttery. I just got done checking it, and it’s already down to 2 bars on the battery, and it has not even made it 48 hours yet…again, with a full, overnight charge, and no usage except standby (literally sitting on the kitchen table, not being used).
I looked up the battery supplied with the phone, and it’s a Motorola BD-50, which is rated at 750 milliamp hours, (mAh), which is a pretty decent battery rating.
I know that with Ni-Cad type batteries, there is a “learning curve” so to speak, and as the battery gets used (charged and discharged fully for a few cycles) it develops a longer “run time”…but I have read and been under the impression that Lithium Ion batteries do not have this characteristic?
At the same time I bought this phone, I also bought a Nokia 2610, which has so far shown absolutely stellar battery life, it’s been on standby for 4 days straight, and the battery meter has not budged!
I really WANT to like this little Motorola, but the disappointing battery life is a bummer. I mean, after all, isn’t that one of the biggest selling points of this phone, and the entire reason for the E-ink display?
I welcome any and all comments, suggestions, etc. otherwise really neat little phone!
Thanks, Glenn
306. Comment by jay
on 2008-02-05 @ 4.08 am · Quote #2205 ·
I got my f3 from india .buh its locked……..how to unlock it???????????
307. Comment by neenee
on 2008-02-05 @ 4.11 pm · Quote #2206 ·
Rotarydoc, I agree.
Though my F3 lasts about a week, I find the battery life disappointing as well, considering the minimal feature set and the e-paper screen. I would have thought that it would be able to last a few weeks, like many *many* announcements stated.
Ah well, hopefully a new release will come out someday, rectifying the situation.
Regardless of it all, I like it and will keep using it.
308. Comment by Steve
on 2008-02-06 @ 10.45 am · Quote #2207 ·
oh by the way, i’m on the rogers network and i called them and they said its phone specific.. does ANYONE KNOW HOW I CAN MAKE IT SO MY CALLER ID IS SHOWN TO PEOPLE WNEN I CALL THEM?! some houses won’t even accept blocked calls and its really annoying..
309. Comment by neenee
on 2008-02-06 @ 10.55 pm · Quote #2208 ·
Steve, there is no known way to change whether or not the phone sends the caller ID. Therefor, I think your problem can not be caused by the phone, as by default the caller ID is shown. You can not have disabled that, so I think it’s a network setting. Good luck though.
310. Comment by Steve
on 2008-02-07 @ 12.56 am · Quote #2209 ·
well.. i got a solution.. im selling my phone to someone and just buying a new one off ebay again haha.. i’ll even turn profit off it since noone i know has ever seen one of these phones!
311. Comment by Goxy
on 2008-02-08 @ 2.35 pm · Quote #2211 ·
Rotarydoc, your battery must be defective… Mine lasts for full 10 days on standby, and around a week with 5-10 calls a day… Everything works great… If only someone could figure out a code for turning on the delivery report…
312. Comment by yochai
on 2008-02-12 @ 3.33 am · Quote #2220 ·
okay now i’m having this problem where it tells me I have a voicemail when i don’t… any ideas?
313. Comment by gene
on 2008-02-12 @ 9.08 pm · Quote #2221 ·
314. Comment by gene
on 2008-02-12 @ 9.10 pm · Quote #2222 ·
Don’t pay a lot of attention to the power bars. I talked for an hour one night with only 1 bar showing…
315. Comment by grey
on 2008-02-18 @ 2.03 pm · Quote #2224 ·
hi, nice review
in fact, you made me buy one for a second number)
Question: is there any chance to disable the display of the operator name on the screen?.. it kinda boring…
thanks!
316. Comment by neenee
on 2008-02-18 @ 7.54 pm · Quote #2225 ·
Nope, that’s not possible grey.
But usually you see the time instead of the operator name =]
317. Comment by grey
on 2008-02-19 @ 10.06 am · Quote #2226 ·
well, what can i say..
i just love this phone)
and my family, too. i guess i`ll buy another one for my father)
318. Comment by neenee
on 2008-02-19 @ 6.25 pm · Quote #2227 ·
Hehe. My father has one too, as does my brother =]
319. Comment by grey
on 2008-02-19 @ 8.02 pm · Quote #2228 ·
already spoken 52 minutes and 2 of 5 battery bars are gone.
don`t know is it good or bad for this phone.
any suggestions ?
thanks!
320. Comment by grey
on 2008-02-21 @ 9.33 am · Quote #2229 ·
update:
spoken 128 minutes from Monday (and did NOT a full battery charge)
for a phone which costs 43USD – it`s pretty nice!
have one battery bar left, we`ll see how much it will stay
once again, i just love this phone!
321. Comment by Alan
on 2008-02-21 @ 11.31 pm · Quote #2230 ·
For those UK readers, TJ Hughes are selling the F3 for £5 but it is locked to Orange PAYG. UNlock code would be very useful
322. Comment by JH
on 2008-02-22 @ 7.50 am · Quote #2231 ·
Is there anyway to remove the Roaming / Out of Service Indicator. My phone is unlocked but must have been locked at one time because it always stays on.
323. Comment by neenee
on 2008-02-22 @ 4.46 pm · Quote #2232 ·
Is that ‘house with a cross’ icon?
If so, it will not only be enabled when your phone is locked, but also when you are using a service provider which makes use of other networks for its service. Lebara is an example.
There’s no way to remove or disable that icon that I know of.
324. Comment by JH
on 2008-02-23 @ 2.35 am · Quote #2233 ·
Yes its the House with the cross. It used to be locked to some other network in South America. I am using it unlocked on AT&T.
325. Comment by Mark K
on 2008-02-23 @ 10.56 pm · Quote #2234 ·
Got mine from Tescos mobile in the UK (£15 including £10 call time) as an, effectivly, ‘disposable’ phone for skiing. Who cares if it gets wet/frozen/squashed). Is still in one piece and works great.
The only thing I can’t yet find is a ‘delete call history’ function. Don’t want ‘er indoors’ to find out about ‘er wot I met on the slopes’
326. Comment by mubeen
on 2008-02-26 @ 8.47 am · Quote #2235 ·
hi i just bought a motorola f3 its nice and amazing but only with minute set of queries.could you please let me know hoe to delete the call history and whats the code for it
awaiting for reply
327. Comment by neenee
on 2008-02-26 @ 10.20 pm · Quote #2239 ·
There’s no code to clear the call history.
328. Comment by Al K
on 2008-03-05 @ 7.51 pm · Quote #2244 ·
I just received shipment of it. The phone looks very cool and the reception is better than my higher end Samsung. Where the Samsung gets 1 out of 5 the F3 gets 5 out of 5! Text messaging is a pain and I think biggest setback was the lack of decent menu options, otherwise if you just want to talk this phone is all quality!
329. Comment by Greg
on 2008-03-06 @ 10.38 am · Quote #2246 ·
I have a new F3 that is requesting some 4 digit pin #. Any idea on where I find it? It was a new unlocked phone.
330. Comment by berto
on 2008-03-08 @ 8.51 pm · Quote #2247 ·
for those of you having voicemail problems, i.e. you can’t get rid of messages, try turning on the touchtone option (***250*up) and then turn your phone on and off. It worked for me. A simple restart tends to solve a lot of problems.
331. Comment by spyder
on 2008-03-09 @ 12.03 am · Quote #2248 ·
It’s not the F3 which needs the PIN, it is your SIM card, look a your contract from your provider where you got the SIM from.
332. Comment by PB
on 2008-03-14 @ 12.40 am · Quote #2253 ·
Am I to understand that the clock has to be set manually (i.e., phone does not get it over the network)?
333. Comment by richard norwood
on 2008-03-14 @ 6.38 am · Quote #2254 ·
I love the idea of this phone but what’s the bottom line for someone who wants to get a motofone in the United States? F3 or or F3c? Who do I go to to get prepaid minutes and how much is it per minute. Many thanks.
334. Comment by neenee
on 2008-03-17 @ 1.56 pm · Quote #2256 ·
The F3 is GSM, the F3c is CDMA, which is used for instance, in North America. As for the cost of prepaid minutes and where to get them, if you buy an unlocked Motofone F3(c), you can make use of the service of any provider selling prepaid simcards, and the per-minute cost for calling with them is something only they can tell you, it’s completely unrelated to the phone itself.
Good luck
335. Comment by neenee
on 2008-03-17 @ 1.58 pm · Quote #2257 ·
PB – yes. Time/date are set manually.
336. Comment by peteski
on 2008-03-18 @ 9.54 pm · Quote #2260 ·
got my second f3 – J&R music world on line for $40
337. Comment by Andrew
on 2008-03-27 @ 4.40 pm · Quote #2263 ·
I’ve had an F3 for a few days, and I like it fine. Tolerable range of ringtones, easy setup, super-light and cool. I wish it had programmable profiles, so I could switch it to silent for the duration of an appointment and not have to remember to switch back: but it’s supposed to be a hyper-simple rig, so I understand.
Caveat: even if locked, if the red button is held down, the unit will turn off. It happened in my pocket, and I really wish it couldn’t.
338. Comment by Jeff
on 2008-03-28 @ 9.23 am · Quote #2264 ·
I bought two of these phones 6 months ago, one for myself and one for a friend.
This phone looked perfect on paper- no extraneous bells and whistles, long battery life and a great form factor. I was aware of the screen text limitations, and was willing to accept that.
On the plus side, the phone is very slim and attractive. The screen is easy to read. The foreign language voice prompts are initially very amusing.
However, the phone turned out to be a huge disappointment:
Build quality is shoddy- mine had a creaking chasis and my friend’s phone simply died after 4 months.
Usability was disappointing- the buttons are not responsive enough for fast texting and scrolling through phone numbers is awkward. I knew that there was little screen real estate for texting, but coupled with the very laggy and inaccurate scrolling via the keypad, this made text messaging completely useless.
Voice quality is mediocre- callers reported poor sound quality (admittedly I could hear others fine).
Battery life was a major disappointment- I would have to recharge every 2.5 days on very minimal use (less than 20 minutes of talk time per day). Given the very low power requirements of such a basic phone, coupled with an e-paper screen, this was highly disappointing, especially after reading about battery life estimates of 10 or more days.
Overall, this phone was not worth even the tiny purchase price. My friend’s phone broke, and I ended up giving mine away. If you want a cheap phone, just get a low-end model from another manufacturer instead.
339. Comment by Marty
on 2008-03-28 @ 1.42 pm · Quote #2265 ·
I’ve had the phone for about 2 months now. I live just outside Toronto Ontario. It works well with the Rogers network.
Here are my experiences:
Overall, a great phone that I’m quite happy with for the price
I have also experienced the problem reported above that after about a 7 wks of use, when calling my voice mail and trying to type in my password, the system wouldn’t recognize that I was entering numbers. Similarly, If I called a business and had to type in an extension, it wouldn’t recognize that I was pressing any buttons. I reset the phone using the ***000*enter code, removed the battery, replaced the battery, and now it’s fine again.
Battery life is not as advertised but I get about 4-5 days of normal use out of it leaving it on all the time.
Reception is excellent.. no other problems.
340. Comment by PB
on 2008-04-24 @ 11.56 am · Quote #2274 ·
My first phone was a bust (wouldn’t speak English, wouldn’t recognize the SIM). It did not come in a cylindrical container, but rather in a regular box. I appeared to be sold with a SIM as part of prepaid plan in Mexico. Maybe it was a return?
The second phone came in a tube and works as advertised.
- The reception is the best on any cell phone I’ve used. I agree with the reviewer that it rivals a land line.
- Only had it a couple days so too soon to judge battery life but so far, so good.
- The interface can be mastered in a matter of minutes. If the lack of features is going to bug you, then this is not the phone for you.
- It would be nice to have a few more features though (editing an existing contact instead of deleting and starting over, assigning speed dial keys rather than having them assigned in the order you enter the contacts, clock updated via network). But I understand that if I ask for these features, others will ask for more and different features and pretty soon, it will be just like any other phone. There are plenty of “every other phone” phones and only one of these, so stick with what you got, I say. Consider it an enforced simplicity so you get on with on with more important things in your life than fiddling with your phone.
Anyway, nice phone, nice price. Love the super-thin case, great reception, always on screen, and simplicity.
341. Comment by cynthia smith
on 2008-05-01 @ 8.38 pm · Quote #2276 ·
IBUY TWO OF THe PHONE IN THE U S A TAKe THEM TO JAMAICA AND BOTH OF THEM NOT WORKING .i dont understand to open them I buy them because they says they are open.what must i do.
342. Comment by PB
on 2008-05-05 @ 10.55 pm · Quote #2278 ·
I’ve had my phone for a couple of weeks now. Very nice but the battery could be better. I suspect that once you set the clock, it then works off the network after all. I can’t prove it but once you set it, it keeps time to the minute and every so often, the phone will turn itself on and the time will update. Most devices that don’t synchronize the time over network will go at least a few minutes off every week and what’s the point of the phone turning itself on to update the time anyway? That’s why I surmise this. Anyone care to comment on this?
343. Comment by SB
on 2008-05-17 @ 12.18 am · Quote #2280 ·
my F3 displays a 5 digit code when i first press a button when bringing it out of clock mode, it also displays that code right before going back into the clock mode. what is this 5 digit code supposed to be, also can i stop or change it?
344. Comment by CB
on 2008-05-20 @ 4.10 am · Quote #2281 ·
My question also… what do those 5 numbers mean and can I get rid of them? They annoy me. Otherwise, neat phone. Thanks.
345. Comment by PB
on 2008-05-22 @ 7.26 pm · Quote #2285 ·
I think those numbers refer to the service provider the phone is connecting to.
346. Comment by Anthony Felino
on 2008-06-04 @ 7.07 pm · Quote #2286 ·
I got mine about a week ago. It seems to do what it does well, with
great RF and audio performance – definitely a notch above most of
the phones out there. The display is excellent and so far I have not
encountered any conditions where I could not read it. As I read up
on the ‘net I found that the phone did indeed do the things that I
thought it would not do and that I would miss. This includes getting
the correct time from the provider. It must, because mine was still
within a second after using it for a week, and I didn’t set it that
close to begin with. The only problems now are that I can’t get it
to ring without also vibrating once (not too big a deal) and that
I have ATT and they can’t turn on the message waiting icon. I called
their tech support, and they were patient and cooperative but they
could not find a way to make it work. Mine is a South American model,
and I’m wondering if the phones that Motorola is selling on their
US website have the same problem. Anyone know the answers?
Thanks, af
347. Comment by PB
on 2008-06-04 @ 11.13 pm · Quote #2287 ·
@Anthony Felino: see this regarding voice mail icon
http://forums.wireless.att.com/cng/board/message?board.id=motorola&thread.id=98603
348. Comment by Mec
on 2008-06-06 @ 7.37 pm · Quote #2290 ·
I love this phone, I bought it in Peru for about 28 US dollars and I am loving it, one question though, does anybody know how to edit an entry in the phonebook?
349. Comment by neenee
on 2008-06-08 @ 8.56 am · Quote #2293 ·
You can not edit entries in your phonebook. If you had read the other posts, or at least searched through them, you would have known this.
350. Comment by PB
on 2008-06-11 @ 1.20 pm · Quote #2302 ·
Anyone know what this icon means and how to disable it?
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobish/Bucket/photo#5210594869918107346
351. Comment by PB
on 2008-06-11 @ 4.25 pm · Quote #2303 ·
Never mind. I figured it out. It means that there no messages in memory. I just deleted them all and that triggered it.
352. Comment by Homer
on 2008-06-22 @ 8.07 pm · Quote #2333 ·
Hi
Bought this excellent little phone in the UK yesterday on Tesco (£15) but it seems to have one major problem. Tesco have filled up the first 18 phone numbers on the Sim card with their service numbers and used up all the speed dial setting etc so if I want to scroll thru my numbers, I have to wade past Tesco’s 17 numbers! These numbers cant be deleted or moved so There seems to be no way around it. Does this happen on other UK networks or is it just Tesco?
I think the phone is widely available on Orange or O2 so I may have to swap networks to get get one without this ‘feature’!
Homer
353. Comment by nakadude
on 2008-06-25 @ 1.26 am · Quote #2336 ·
Just got one on my trip to Guatemala. It came already with the SIM and battery in place. How does one get the back battery cover off? The chrome latch won’t move in any direction that I can figure out. For the less that mechanically inclined, walk me through getting the battery door off. Thanks…
354. Comment by PB
on 2008-06-25 @ 2.08 pm · Quote #2337 ·
Just press the little metal latch in with your finger nail and lift up. The back door will pop right out. To put it back, align the tabs and just push until it snaps in.
355. Comment by R. Sneed
on 2008-07-06 @ 4.59 am · Quote #2358 ·
Great info! Does anyone know how I can get the date displayed along with time?
356. Comment by neenee
on 2008-07-07 @ 8.37 pm · Quote #2362 ·
There is no way to show both at the same time.
357. Comment by R. Sneed
on 2008-07-08 @ 10.18 pm · Quote #2366 ·
Thanks! Is there a headset available for the F3? Or can a 2.5mm male – 3.5 female adaptor be utilized instead?
358. Comment by PB
on 2008-07-11 @ 5.21 pm · Quote #2376 ·
Oh well! I gave up on this phone. Too many dropped calls, missed calls, service temporarily unavailable messages, and calls going directly to voice mail without the phone ever ringing. Too bad! I got a Nokia 1600 to replace it. Not as cool but it gets the job done.
359. Comment by neenee
on 2008-07-12 @ 12.52 pm · Quote #2381 ·
I doubt the dropped calls, being temporarily unavailable and calls going to voice-mail are related to the phone though.. sounds like a service provider issue.
360. Comment by PB
on 2008-07-13 @ 2.01 am · Quote #2383 ·
@ neenee: I’ve had an old Nokia 6061 for several years and in the same environment, never dropped a call or had any other issues. My Nokia 1600 is also performing very well. If it’s not the phone, I wonder why the Nokias are playing so nicely with my provider and the Motofone is not?
361. Comment by neenee
on 2008-07-14 @ 7.01 am · Quote #2386 ·
Hm. Well, you got me there. It’s just that my experience is the opposite of yours – no dropped calls and good reception where I had problems with other brands before.
362. Comment by R. Sneed
on 2008-07-19 @ 3.48 am · Quote #2403 ·
A great phone. It’s simplicity and durability are what sets it apart. One only hopes that Motorola continues building on the success.
363. Comment by j.bloe
on 2008-07-25 @ 1.13 am · Quote #2419 ·
Just bought an F3(unlocked) and my alarm won’t work! All I get is an”error failed” message every time. I’ve tried resetting time, date, restarts…… any help would be appreciated. Other than this it is a great little phone. Alas I do need the alarm, one of the few functions of this thing!
364. Comment by neenee
on 2008-07-28 @ 3.58 pm · Quote #2434 ·
Please tell us how you are setting your alarm, during which step is it failing? Or can you set the alarm but won’t it actually go off?
365. Comment by Brian
on 2008-07-29 @ 6.31 am · Quote #2436 ·
Hey guys, firstly excellent review. Okay just a few things:
Has anyone figured out how to disable the backlight?
How do I get the date in the standby screen like all the promo pictures?
I use Fido which is basically a rebranded version of Rogers, which is the only GSM provider in Canada so how do I get rid of the house with the X on it?
366. Comment by neenee
on 2008-07-30 @ 10.55 pm · Quote #2441 ·
You can not disable the backlight, but it will switch off by itself
when you are not using your phone.
You can’t. The promotion pictures are not based on the retail Motofone F3. I myself think they’re just for show.
You can’t remove the ‘house with the X’. Because your provider makes use of others’ networks, it will show the icon. I myself use Lebara, so I am faced with the same ‘problem’. However, as I do not spend a lot of time looking at my phone, I do not mind.
367. Comment by annabel
on 2008-08-13 @ 10.09 pm · Quote #2497 ·
hi. i bought the f3 in frankfurt, planning to use it while traveling in france. paid 35 euro, plus more for a “100 minute” sim card. as a us citizen, i have no experience with sim cards.
unfortunately, we were able to make only a couple of calls before we started receiving messages, in german, saying either the number we called was in error, or we had no more time on our sim card. we tried every possible variation on dialing numbers, with no luck, only a repetition of the same message. and we had made only 29 minutes of calls, nowhere near the 100 we should have had. (biggest problem was the fact that i speak no german, and all messages and instructions were in german, through BLAU telefon.)
questions: some of those 29 minutes were a call from france to the us – do international calls cost more minutes?
and most importantly, can i get a sim card that will allow me to use the card here in the us? when i enter the code to show me which service providers are available to me, i get a “FAILED” message.
help! i want to use this lovely little phone but i am constantly stymied!
368. Comment by potrzebie
on 2008-08-14 @ 4.55 am · Quote #2500 ·
On the advice of a few people online, and after googling the phone (this page being one of the prime results) I decided to pick one up. $30, better sound quality than newer phones (the 3 3g phones I’ve tried upgrading to on at&t have been too quiet for me), better batter life than…well, any phone I’ve ever had. And it’s small. I never text, so that’s no prob. Pulled the sim card out of my current at&t phone and slid it in, with the battery, turned it on. Bought it from TigerDirect and it came right on, speaking english and found the network immediately.
Also…it does seem that at&t have worked out the voice mail icon issue. I get voice mail and the icon pops up, and check it and it goes away. That was one thing I was worried about and turns out it isn’t a problem.
369. Comment by Neal
on 2008-08-19 @ 3.42 am · Quote #2518 ·
Ok…so I’m having the same problem with five digit numbers flashing across my screen. I have read the entire thread, and tried the 131 code to ‘disable’ searching, as well as the code to select my service provider – both to no avail.
I too am experiencing less than fantastic battery life, and I am betting that these two problems are linked. My display is constantly turning on and off, and it is hurting my standby time.
Anyone found a solution to this yet?
370. Comment by neenee
on 2008-08-19 @ 9.43 am · Quote #2519 ·
annabel – International calls do cost more than local and European calls. The Motofone F3 is a dual-band phone, and you’d need 850/1900 for the US, whereas the one you bought in Germany is a 900/1800 phone, which does not work in the US. Try getting a 850/1900 version online or a store in the US and you should be fine.
371. Comment by Richard Lloyd
on 2008-08-25 @ 7.04 pm · Quote #2526 ·
Just ordered an F3 from the UK Ebuyer Mobile site – is this the cheapest price for it ever: 2.99 pounds! You have to buy it with 10 pounds Orange airtime (but you’d be buying some airtime anyway surely?), but still at this price, *everyone* should get this as an emergency or second mobile phone…
I’ve ordered the phone for my mother because all she wants is to make phone calls (nope, she doesn’t even want to SMS, which seems to be a weak point of this phone), mainly in “emergencies” (e.g. car breakdown and the like). What surprises me is that only Motorola seems to be catering for this “does one thing and does it well” approach that the F3 takes – why aren’t there equivalent models to the F3 from Nokia et al?
372. Comment by neenee
on 2008-09-03 @ 10.17 am · Quote #2530 ·
I suspect there are no alternatives from other companies, because the majority of consumers wants more from their phone than just a phone. To you and me, that may sound a bit odd, but ah well – it seems that texting, e-mailing, listening to music, playing games, has taken the spotlight over what the device was initially created for. I love my Motofone F3 though and I hope they’re working on new versions, with a longer battery life for instance.
373. Comment by flucky
on 2008-10-04 @ 2.28 pm · Quote #2610 ·
bought the F3 in leipzig/germany at conrad electronic store for euro 8.95 with euro 10 call credit (e-plus)
good thing over there is that you do NOT pay for incoming calls or SMS – that made the credit last for the whole vacation (haha onyl 5 days because i am from the us)
liked the phone a lot.
when people tlak about battery life they really would need to run it down to 0. most people don’t do that
erhard
374. Comment by Neil
on 2008-10-06 @ 10.38 pm · Quote #2619 ·
Hi
I just received mt F3 today Oct 6. I worried I had made a mistake because I was not aware of the voicemail issue until after I had bought it on ebay, and started poking around the web reading different reviews….but guess what…it works. Lucky me. As you all know my old carrier “cingular” was gobbled up by AT&T. The included holster has the cingular logo on it and the manual is in English. I can only guess that this phone was preprogramed for the cingular network? The ebay seller is monstercellular. I really like the phone so far…but to be honest 3 hours is a little soon to call it. Everything I read before I bought it was positive. I just didn’t catch the voicemail issue. I guess for once in my life I lucked out:-) and for 30 bucks plus shipping it does just what I want…It Phones
375. Comment by Ricardo
on 2008-11-14 @ 5.08 pm · Quote #2740 ·
Hi, my display froze. It displays the same hour even when taking away the battery. Is there any way to reset it or fix it?
376. Comment by Whitney
on 2008-11-18 @ 5.44 pm · Quote #2757 ·
My F3 displays 5 numbers on my screen after ending and activity or ending a call, 78410 31041. what does this mean? and can i make it go away?
377. Comment by neenee
on 2008-11-21 @ 2.36 pm · Quote #2767 ·
Ricardo – if it’s truly frozen, it might be broken and can not be fixed without replacing parts.
Whitney – if you had searched this thread, you would have seen the suggestion that they are networks corresponding to the provider you are using – instead of a name, it shows numbers. They can not be changed unless you change networks, nor can they be removed.
378. Comment by Unlocked GSM
on 2008-12-19 @ 1.03 am · Quote #2821 ·
This is a really cheap basic cell phone. It’s really good if you are in construction OR you have kids. It doesn’t have all the features like other cell phones, but it does have text messaging capabilities. It’s awesome especially if you need to get through your contract.
379. Comment by AT&T F3 User
on 2009-01-04 @ 2.19 am · Quote #2875 ·
I bought a AT&T GoPhone with its prepaid SIM, and I moved that SIM into the F3 (which appears to be unlocked from some 850/1900MHz Latin American carrier). It works fine, no adjustments or setting changes needed. To confirm what others have been asking, the “31041″ display is the GSM ID for AT&T…on a fancier phone, it would say “AT&T”. As for the voicemail indicator, this is not an F3 issue. My F3 voicemail indicator turns on when I have an unheard (new) voicemail. To get the indicator to turn OFF, you need to listen to your voicemail message(s), then, do NOT hang up until you press the * key to disconnect from the VM system. This same bug occurs with other brands of phones used on AT&T.
380. Comment by Jazmin
on 2009-01-11 @ 7.59 pm · Quote #2888 ·
Hi, I’ve just bought one of these… and when i receive text messages it barely rings… i was wondering if you know how can i adjust that in order to make the cellphone ring louder (when i receive text messages)
Thanks
(i’m sorry for my english. It’s really poor.)
381. Comment by Joe
on 2009-01-16 @ 10.54 pm · Quote #2898 ·
I just received my f3 today in the mail. I ordered from Newegg for $30 – I was a little worried because of lots of comments I read, but I figured at that price it was worth a shot. It seemed exactly like the phone I wanted (good battery, rugged as shit, good reception, phone and text only).
I have AT&T and I’m already very happy with the phone. I slipped the SIM card in and everything worked out of the box. The first time I turned it on it asked (through speech) if I wanted English(1), Spanish(2), or French(3). After that it asked if I wanted to use Voicemail Yes(1) or No(2). I selected English and Yes for Voicemail. That’s the *only* configuration I did.
After that, I had a message I hadn’t checked yet and the indicator showed up. I held down 1, it called my voicemail. I listened to the message, deleted it, and hung up. The indicator went away.
The display shows “AT-T” for the carrier (instead of a bunch of numbers) and the time was set automatically off the cell signal.
I’ve only spent about 10 minutes with the phone, but so far everything I was concerned about is a non-issue. Now just have to see how well the battery does…
382. Comment by Steve
on 2009-01-17 @ 9.40 pm · Quote #2901 ·
Love this little phone. Tough, simple, long battery life. My only issue is with the ringer. It vibrates before it rings, then only rings one cycle. Any way to ditch the vibration?
383. Comment by Joe
on 2009-01-28 @ 2.24 am · Quote #2910 ·
So my phone continues to work fine. The battery is just alright, it lasts probably 4 days with light usage. The battery goes down several bars after having a long (around an hour) conversation though.
The ONLY problem I AM having is my number does not show up when I call someone else. My friends say their phones display “Restricted” or “Unknown” when I call them. I’ve tried the ***161* option to turn off restricted calling, but that seems to make no difference.
When I use the GSM Code *31#[number I want to dial] it properly displays my number. However, I don’t want to have to add this to every time I dial a number. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this? I have AT&T…
384. Comment by Geanie
on 2009-02-07 @ 7.21 pm · Quote #2926 ·
I bought this for my husband over a year ago and he has been very pleased with it as he only wanted a phone, no camera, etc. and one where he could actually SEE the display. But now he wants to try text messaging. Sending is no problem. But, when I send him a text, even tho we scroll thru to READ Messages, he never has any. Are we doing something wrong ? Thanks as any help is appreciated.
385. Comment by John
on 2009-03-04 @ 10.00 pm · Quote #2964 ·
I’ve had the (unlocked) f3 for over a year on T-Mobile with no problems up to now. I’m experiencing the same issue as Joe (post #383).
Here’s what I did: I dialed #31# + the number to block my ID. Success! My ID showed up as anonymous. I dialed the same number without the code and my ID is still blocked. I must dial *31# + the number (or *82 + the number) so the recipient can see my ID. This is the same for any number I dial now.
My outbound caller ID is permanently blocked and I must unblock on a per call basis. I spent hours with T-Mobile level 3 engineering and Motorola level 1 support with no resolution. Each state that it’s the other’s issue and I’m stuck in the middle.
The T-Mobile engineer has been very helpful trying to resolve this but it’s got us both scratching our heads. He manually configured the switch so my caller ID will show however, attempting to call a number then fails by the f3 displaying an “X”.
I put my SIM card in another unlocked phone and all works normally so deductive reasoning leads me to believe it’s the f3 that’s the culprit.
Checking the caller ID block status by dialing *#31#, the f3 responds with “ON”. I cannot find any GSM codes or advanced Moto codes to toggle the default outbound caller ID block to “OFF”.
Any gurus have an answer to this?
TIA,
John
386. Comment by Matt
on 2009-04-22 @ 9.26 pm · Quote #3034 ·
I’ve had mine for 16 months and I’m having trouble with the battery and signal bars across the top. They turn mixed up shades of gray while the phone is sitting on. At start up and shut down they still turn black correctly, but once the screen finishes it’s start up routine they go gray. But the main screen is still functioning perfectly. Anyone else have this? It’s really annoying as I have to just guess what my battery level is.
387. Comment by neenee
on 2009-06-03 @ 3.30 pm · Quote #3084 ·
I have no problems with my bars.
388. Comment by Annette
on 2009-06-28 @ 2.22 am · Quote #3108 ·
I’ve had this phone for 2 years..bought it in Costa Rica and so far it’s been ok. I had a problem with it not going to voice mail and got that fixed but now it’s doing it again. when I receive a call it rings 2 times and stops. On testing it I found that it wasn’t even going to voice mail, just dropping the call. Any ideas on how to fix this?
389. Comment by DIW
on 2009-09-02 @ 1.04 am · Quote #4882 ·
can someone tell me how to delete the phone log? and later how to de-activate this function? thanks
390. Comment by celia
on 2009-09-16 @ 5.24 pm · Quote #5251 ·
Hi, I need to unlock my motofone f3. I am in Brazil.can anyone help?
thanks
moc.liamtohnull@1ocelia
391. Comment by SzEvy
on 2009-11-28 @ 4.57 pm · Quote #7667 ·
Hi.
I have a problem. Can someone tell me how to make the number displaying? When I call someone, she can looks my number.
I dont speak english well, so I hope to understand me.
Thanks your help.
SzEvy
392. Comment by Kevin
on 2009-12-31 @ 3.35 am · Quote #9229 ·
I got the F3 and put in a SIM card for Ireland and when I got their I get circle with a blinking x. How do I fix that. I got the sim card from Rebelphone? Any ideas how to fix?
393. Comment by terry
on 2010-01-29 @ 12.57 pm · Quote #10241 ·
I bought the f3 about 2 years ago but only started using it when i moved to spain from the uk
I put a spanish movistar prepay sim card in it and it seemed to work ok
After a few days i noticed i wasnt receiving any calls
When i checked the phone i had an X (error) on the phone and when i tried ringing my own number with another mobile it wouldnt connectThe voice on the phone also only speaks for a split second then goes off,but this worked fine before
I do not jnow how to resolve this
394. Comment by neil
on 2010-02-19 @ 9.41 am · Quote #10999 ·
When I charge my w230 it defualts to a loud ring, any way to silence it?