Alltel Wireless to Offer 'Classic' Motorola W315

[Ironwalt]

Alltel Corp. has added a news release to its Investor Relations website.

Title: Alltel Wireless to Offer 'Classic' Motorola W315 Phone
Date: 9/6/2006 10:38:00 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 2006--Alltel
Wireless, America's largest network, announced today that it will
offer the Motorola W315 phone to customers who want an easy-to-use but
stylish handset.

"The W315 from Motorola is a classic clamshell phone that delivers
reliable, hassle-free service," said Wade McGill, senior vice
president of product management for Alltel. "It's perfect for
customers who want the basics with style."

The Motorola W315 features a bright, wide color screen, a unique
soft-touch finish and powerful speakerphone. It comes equipped with
Axcess Web, which allows users to surf the Internet, and Axcess Text
Messaging(1). The W315 is also capable of downloading ringtones, games
and more(1), and comes with Ringster+ and Frogger(R) preloaded as
demos.

Beginning tomorrow, the W315 will be available at Alltel Wireless
retail stores for $29.99 after a $20 mail-in rebate. This discounted
price is available to new customers on two-year service agreements as
well as to existing eligible customers on qualifying rate plans.

About Motorola

Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership
in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of
Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you
get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people,
information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by
designing and delivering "must have" products," "must do" experiences
and powerful networks - along with a full complement of support
services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact,
Motorola had sales of US $36.8 billion in 2005. For more information
about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit
www.motorola.com.

About Alltel

Alltel is owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless
network and has more than 11 million wireless customers.

Alltel, NYSE: AT

www.alltel.com

Certain mobile phone features may not be available throughout the
entire network or their functionality may be limited. All features,
functionality and other product specifications are subject to change
without notice or obligation.

(1) Network dependent feature, not available in all areas.
Airtime, data charges, and/or additional charges may apply.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent &
Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property
of their respective owners. (C) Motorola, Inc. 2006. All rights
reserved.

Frogger (C)1981 2006 Konami Digital Entertainment Co, Ltd. All
rights reserved. Published by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.



CONTACT: Alltel

[MOTOhooligan]

And it comes in a fetching maroon. It's a very nice looking phone, except for the external antenna. The design appears to be PEBL-based, so the external antenna just ruins it, for me, anyway.

[Another Bob]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

And it comes in a fetching maroon. It's a very nice looking phone, except for the external antenna. The design appears to be PEBL-based, so the external antenna just ruins it, for me, anyway.

Its nice to be able to raise the antenna when the signal is marginal, but I would like to see Motorola make it almost flush instead or poking out an inch when it is down.

[strunke]

I am looking at this online and it says it is Tri-mode and EVDO capable. Is this correct or a typo? Phonescoop says just 1x.

[GravityFails]

It's 1x, not EVDO, according to the manual and the phone's icon glossary.

I can't really say that I've got any complaints about it thus far, other than the fact that there's some play in the front cover with the hinge closed (pencil whipped, within limits), and you can't get it to show the in-call timer on the external display. It will only display the word "connected," which, if you're on a call already, and you presumably KNOW that you're on a call, is useless and redundant and unnecessary information.

But. But! Those are minor gripes, and the calls are crystal-freakin'-clear. I don't know if it's due to the external antenna or what, but the 315 dusts my 6235 in terms of call clarity and recpetion. It holds a solid digital signal out here in the sticks, where the Nokia would frequently alternate between digital and analog, sometimes with no signal at all.

All in all, the 315 has been impressive. Most impressive.

[music4praise]

Originally Posted by GravityFails

It's 1x, not EVDO, according to the manual and the phone's icon glossary.

I can't really say that I've got any complaints about it thus far, other than the fact that there's some play in the front cover with the hinge closed (pencil whipped, within limits), and you can't get it to show the in-call timer on the external display. It will only display the word "connected," which, if you're on a call already, and you presumably KNOW that you're on a call, is useless and redundant and unnecessary information.

But. But! Those are minor gripes, and the calls are crystal-freakin'-clear. I don't know if it's due to the external antenna or what, but the 315 dusts my 6235 in terms of call clarity and recpetion. It holds a solid digital signal out here in the sticks, where the Nokia would frequently alternate between digital and analog, sometimes with no signal at all.

All in all, the 315 has been impressive. Most impressive.

Thanks for the real life report. I was thinking of getting one of these for my wife. The E815 would be overkill for her. By the way, interesting point about the Nokia; a lot of people seem to like Nokia but I have always found the sound clarity to be lacking on most of their models.

[GravityFails]

Originally Posted by music4praise

Thanks for the real life report. I was thinking of getting one of these for my wife. The E815 would be overkill for her. By the way, interesting point about the Nokia; a lot of people seem to like Nokia but I have always found the sound clarity to be lacking on most of their models.

While I do like the 6235 overall, its earpiece volume is kind of low. Either that, or I'm going deaf in my right ear.

It wouldn't surprise me if the 315 turned out to be the best basic model in Alltel's lineup. I haven't really used any of the others, so I can't judge with any real credibility, but the Motorola impressed me very much.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

And it comes in a fetching maroon. It's a very nice looking phone, except for the external antenna. The design appears to be PEBL-based, so the external antenna just ruins it, for me, anyway.

IMHO nothing says "classic" quite like the shiny new Motorola V60 my Mom just bought from TracFone about 6 months ago...

-Jay

[djjim]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

IMHO nothing says "classic" quite like the shiny new Motorola V60 my Mom just bought from TracFone about 6 months ago...

-Jay

New? Wow, I didn't think they made them anymore. I loved the V60, I am looking for one now on Ebay to keep as a backup.

[royc]

Originally Posted by djjim

New? Wow, I didn't think they made them anymore. I loved the V60, I am looking for one now on Ebay to keep as a backup.

Caution...Only the V60X is E911 compliant. Alltel will not activate the V60c or V60i models.

royc

[djjim]

Originally Posted by royc

Caution...Only the V60X is E911 compliant. Alltel will not activate the V60c or V60i models.

royc

My wife dropped her phone in the toilet a few days ago(Monday). I called Alltel and they switched her number to my old, very beat up V60i with no problem?!?! It was my first Alltel phone that I picked up in 2002. Thanks for the warning though. The one I just bid on is a V60x so I guess I am safe!

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by royc

Caution...Only the V60X is E911 compliant. Alltel will not activate the V60c or V60i models.

royc

The Motorola V60s is also an E911 compliant CDMA phone.

-Jay

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by royc

Caution...Only the V60X is E911 compliant. Alltel will not activate the V60c or V60i models.

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

The Motorola V60s is also an E911 compliant CDMA phone.

The v60v was also E911 complaint as was the v60p, which was similar to the v60s.

The v60v was a Sprint-only handset, however.

[royc]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

The v60v was also E911 complaint as was the v60p, which was similar to the v60s.

The v60v was a Sprint-only handset, however.

I was referring only to the V60 series models sold by Alltel.

royc

[TaeKwonDoughboy]

My new V262 got the battery real hot. Thought it might explode. After cooling down it will only run around 12 hours with digital signal.

Alltel replaced it with a W315 because the don't sell the V262. I had to go back and get another one because the microphone didn't work. The replacement W315 gets half the signal of the V262 when held side by side.

I'm not impressed. I want a V262 or 710.

[djjim]

Originally Posted by TaeKwonDoughboy

My new V262 got the battery real hot. Thought it might explode. After cooling down it will only run around 12 hours with digital signal.

Alltel replaced it with a W315 because the don't sell the V262. I had to go back and get another one because the microphone didn't work. The replacement W315 gets half the signal of the V262 when held side by side.

I'm not impressed. I want a V262 or 710.

I exchanged my E815 for a W315 the other day and I have to disagree with you. The W315 has performed well. My wife has my old V262 and side by side the V262 does appear to do better, but when I put both phones in field test mode, the rf is almost identical. Keep in mind that the W315 has only 4 bars while the V262 has 5 bars. So if you have 2 bars on the V262 you may show no or 1 bar on the W315..I have yet to drop a call on the W315 even in the worst part of my house which LG's and others will drop.

[strunke]

Yeah, the new Samsung has 6 bars

[TaeKwonDoughboy]

Originally Posted by djjim

I exchanged my E815 for a W315 the other day and I have to disagree with you. The W315 has performed well. My wife has my old V262 and side by side the V262 does appear to do better, but when I put both phones in field test mode, the rf is almost identical. Keep in mind that the W315 has only 4 bars while the V262 has 5 bars. So if you have 2 bars on the V262 you may show no or 1 bar on the W315..I have yet to drop a call on the W315 even in the worst part of my house which LG's and others will drop.

Don't tell me I got three bad phones in a row!

I agree not all displays are going to be the same. When it comes to signal and no signal it makes a big difference. The V262 had one to two bars usable signal when the W315 had no service.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by strunke

Yeah, the new Samsung has 6 bars

How many bars a phone displays means nothing. Its like an amp that the volume goes to 11. The ONLY way to accurately measure signal is in decibels, not bars.

-Jay

[strunke]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

How many bars a phone displays means nothing. Its like an amp that the volume goes to 11. The ONLY way to accurately measure signal is in decibels, not bars.

-Jay

That is what I was saying/demonstrating. Even if the W315 says it has less bars it likely is getting the same signal as the V262. The Samsung has 6 bars, but it doesn't mean that it is better then 5 or even 4 bars on a Motorola.

[MOTOhooligan]

I must say, the W315 is really growing on me... I don't really mind the external antenna anymore. It's a good, solid phone that does the things a phone should do well, like make calls and get good reception.

[Pirate]

The only thing I don't like about this phone w/Alltel is the address book. Alltel put in about 4 or 5 entires that I am unable to delete. They are stuck in there. More like forced advertising for crap I don't need and can't get rid of. Anyone know how to remove the Alltel entires?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Pirate

The only thing I don't like about this phone w/Alltel is the address book. Alltel put in about 4 or 5 entires that I am unable to delete. They are stuck in there. More like forced advertising for crap I don't need and can't get rid of. Anyone know how to remove the Alltel entires?

Maybe MOTOhooligan can chime in on this one, but I think you can remove them with Motorola's MPT software.

-Jay

[budone]

Originally Posted by Pirate

The only thing I don't like about this phone w/Alltel is the address book. Alltel put in about 4 or 5 entires that I am unable to delete. They are stuck in there. More like forced advertising for crap I don't need and can't get rid of. Anyone know how to remove the Alltel entires?

Aren't you able to overwrite the entries, with your most popular numbers?

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Maybe MOTOhooligan can chime in on this one, but I think you can remove them with Motorola's MPT software.

-Jay

Originally Posted by Pirate

The only thing I don't like about this phone w/Alltel is the address book. Alltel put in about 4 or 5 entires that I am unable to delete. They are stuck in there. More like forced advertising for crap I don't need and can't get rid of. Anyone know how to remove the Alltel entires?

You don't need MPT, you should just be able to delete them manually. I did.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

You don't need MPT, you should just be able to delete them manually. I did.

How did you do that? My entires (Alltel) have no delete option. Other entries you can delete. When I overwrote one, I didn't reshuffle into alfa order, it stayed right where alltel put it with a new name.

[MOTOhooligan]

That's odd... you're talking about "Customer Service," "Roadside Assistance," "Minutes of Use," and all that stuff? I was just able to highlight the entry and delete it. What software version do you have?

[Pirate]

R31-1_01.00.20r

[halltel]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

That's odd... you're talking about "Customer Service," "Roadside Assistance," "Minutes of Use," and all that stuff? I was just able to highlight the entry and delete it. What software version do you have?

Our phones can't delete this info either, but it CAN be overwritten with whatever contact info you want. However even the newly entered contact info cannot be deleted. New contacts added on your own can be deleted like normal (Highlight Entry > Options > Delete Contact ... as MOTOhooligan stated.)

Not even a master clear deletes this info. A software update may correct this, I do not know, I don't have access to that equipment at this location. The phones being shipped like this might not be able to do this intentionally or it could be an oversight.

The phones in the store I work for are running software version R31-1_01.00.20R.

BTW, I'm new here, I work for an Alltel agent.

[djjim]

I can't get them off my phone eother, it's a pain in the ___! Also, after having this phone a while, I do have to say that the V262 does have better reception. BUT, just very slightly better reception. I have dropped 2 or 3 calls in my kitchen where my V262 Never dropped a call. All and all I am happy with the phone though.