» Subscribe to Newsletter
» Switch to BizTech2.com
Home » Reviews » Mobile Phones » Motorola MOTOFONE F3
Motorola MOTOFONE F3
By: Aalaap Ghag   |   Dec 08, 2006
  • 3.5
Good price
Slim, sleek look
ClearVision electronic paper display
Voice prompts
Display not utilised efficiently
Battery performance not up to the mark
Price is not unmatched
View Specifications

Motorola has been making phones in a reverse order of sorts lately: they had their uber-expensive, fashion-conscious RAZR V3 (Rs. 30,000 at one point in time), followed by the mid-level SLVR series, and most recently, the cheap, budget-conscious FLIP W220. But their latest phone—the MOTOFONE F3–takes 'cheap' to a new low: Rs. 1,649.

The MOTOFONE F3 is based on the SCPL platform. SCPL is a new platform by Motorola that will pave the way for devices a lot thinner and sleeker providing better quality audio and network reception, and also extremely low power consumption. The devices will also offer options for a special user interface for different regions and a low price. The SCPL devices will also run a (heavily) trimmed version of Linux, instead of the proprietory P2K OS found in all Motorola phones (except the ones that already run Linux). If you want to make an association, an SCPL ('scalpel') is a more refined version of a RAZR ('razor'), and that’s exactly what this line of phones is trying to convey.


India is the first target region for the ultra-low cost MOTOFONE F3. The phone is being launched by BSNL and Airtel at the moment. The F3 isn’t meant for the metros where all of us take features like MP3 playback, cameras and internet access for granted. It is meant for rural areas where the main requirements are a prolonged battery life, high durability, better network performance, and of course, accessibility. The F3 addresses all these issues very well.

This is a really slim phone—its just 9mm thin, which is the thinnest from Motorola, though not as thin as the Samsung Ultra Edition 6.9 (which has a 2-megapixel camera and MP3 playback support). But for its price, the F3 is the slimmest yet. It has a flat keypad with raised lines demarcating the rows. I felt that those lines came in the way when using smaller keys like the OK/Menu key and the dedicated phone book key, but not for the rest of the keys. The fact that the keys are flat and not cut outs should prevent the dust from entering the phone. This is a pleasantly attractive phone to look at, and equally pleasant to hold.

The Build quality of the phone is nothing outstanding, though it doesn't feel cheap from any angle. The battery cover did creak a little on firm gripping, but we think it'll do just fine. We didn't have the heart to drive a bullock-cart over the phone and see if it still worked fine.


Ads by Google 
Post a Comment on “Motorola MOTOFONE F3”
Comment : 
Name : 
City : 
Email : 
hi,i have motorola moto fone f3 :DDDDd become this mobil is werrrryyyyy goood,an werryyy slim and..........this is a most faboloust telephone on a world
Tom @ Jul 04, 2008
This is great phone just a litle bit was anoying because it not write in manual how to change network in roaming
But google do the thing ;)
SINISA @ May 09, 2008
tHIS IS A FANTASTIC PHONE, I LIKE IT.
DIMIBRAVO @ Apr 25, 2008
HOW CAN I GET OPERATING MANUAL FOR MOTOROLA F3
GERVAS CHIKANDO @ Apr 21, 2008
This phone is a bunch of shit. I live in The Bahamas and everywhere you go someone has one but cannot operate because there is no English and no manual.
Stephanie @ Apr 02, 2008
Dear Sir,I have been given a Motarola F3 Unfortunately there arent any operating instructions with it. Could you please e mail me on how to use it.
Yours Sincerly,
Ron Williams.
Ron Williams @ Mar 15, 2008
please email me the instruction and features for this phone so that i can operate it properly thank y for ya speedy response
stephen rolle @ Mar 10, 2008
please email me the instructions for this phone, i cannot use it without
louise gonshaw @ Mar 04, 2008
all i ccould say the phone is shit did u ever hear of a phone that dsnt hv a english setting and u can only use it in spanish
yanky @ Mar 04, 2008
i need the english manual for this phone if u could maby email it to me if not than u could tell me where to get one
dustin stickler @ Feb 25, 2008
Hi,i have a motorola F3 but messages received are converted into a complex language yet i only understand english.how can i go about changing the message settings to the english language.
Raymond @ Feb 02, 2008
Desperatly need English operating instructions
Rick LeRoux @ Jan 27, 2008
how comes this phone does not have a proper displayed menu with message settings?
zakia jahan @ Dec 08, 2007
I agree with you regarding this review. A phone is for calling and receiving calls. Most MP3 capable phones have rubbish sound quality and unwieldy to use. I use a phone for calling my wife, and if it does this, then the phone is ok.

Plus...it is undeniably beautiful, to my eyes at least. And at just 9mm thick, fits into my jeans easily..and if I lost it? No worries, it costs as much as a pizza for two these days!

People should criticise accorind to the item. This is a basic phone for talking..its good to talk!
Chris Grillo @ Dec 02, 2007
can u please tell me hw tro find the english manual for this hand set. please send a english hand book for this set to my mail id
Alphons Anandaraj @ Nov 21, 2007
I have 3 of these and work great, very clear and very strong signal, I have also an Nokia 5300 and I can't compare since I didn't buy the F3 for MP3 or kiddiest things like that, In fact my 5300's battery drains very quick and the F3 stays longer. If you ask for techies like BT, IrDA, Camera look to any other place hehehe you can't find those in a $20 dlls phone GET REAL! You get what you pay. My 5300 costs $150 dlls and I know can be the same as the F3. JUST FOR THE PRICE.
Joe @ Nov 15, 2007
Only just bought it. The interface is just awful, absolutely horrifiyng reading text messages. Im trading it in the second i get money to buy a new one. Motorola. Shame on you.
Padraig @ Oct 28, 2007
can anyone tell me how to delete the text on the f3 as have tried everything without success
vi @ Oct 15, 2007
the phone is good but i would give it no ratings at all
so its very very shit
this is the shitest phone i ever had
tony @ Oct 05, 2007
hi the motoroala motofone f3 is a good looking stylish phone
it would be better if it had bluetooth and infared also it would be better if it had java and a camera phone
there would good qualities pictures if there was a camera
tony @ Oct 05, 2007
I bought this phone for an elderly relative as it's supposed to be simple to use.After eventually working out how to enter numbers { instructions not that clear) I find it annoying that you have to scrolldown about eight preset numbers that my relative will never use before you get to personal numbers. I tried deleting them but couldn't.
pauline @ Sep 29, 2007
It's the worst mobile phone that I had
Radoslav Dodig @ Sep 23, 2007
where can I download english instructions for the Motorola F3 cell Phone
Robert Urbahns @ Jul 28, 2007
I saw this with my neighbor. Initially I did not even consider a look at it but when his 4 yr old daughter was bashing the phone for months but that still works without a hitch and has no damage I have picked it up from her once and checked it out.

It is very good for someone who uses a phone for a phone. For example, my parents, among so many people I know, do not use the phone for anything other than receiving a call and dialing a number. Not even the address book.

With the Idea Ra 1111 package I get the phone, Idea Sim, 1111 minutes idea talk time and one year validity in AP. That is fabulous offer and couldn't look at anything else though my budget was more than double that amount.
Kris @ Jul 27, 2007
I've just purchased one of these from ASDA (walmart) in England UK for £9.00 GBP (about $18 USD).

I find the phone extremely durable and easy to use - it even has a voice to tell you how to use the functions if you wish.

It looks and feels like a much more expensive phone.

Im very impressed.
Dave Raeburn @ Jul 26, 2007
this phone is gr8 please everyone else buy one so im not the only fool to of wasted my money on it
Mahumman @ Jul 22, 2007
too good and slim
sam @ Jun 29, 2007
How much will the Motorola MOTOFONE F3?
hal @ Jun 12, 2007
The phone is awesome. Totally retro: I love it. I don't ever use all the crap that comes with my phone. A phone is supposed to make calls - that's what this does.
Dirk Diggler @ May 08, 2007
-- Characters are chaotic, a mixture of deformed small letters and distorted capitals. the 'K' has it's vertical line missing.
-- the maximum sound is stronger than what the phone can produce, the loudspeaker strongly distorts it
++ the headset is included in the package (in Europe)
-- the languages of the written materials don't match the languages of the phone (Manuals: English/French/Swahili; Phone: Hungarian/something that sounds slavic/English)
-- display looks big, but it has only three lines: top for symbols, middle for displaying easy to see numbers and messages, bottom for menu symbols
++ the display has very good contrast (B&W)
-+ you need to remember three digit codes for certain settings (probably to make the menu system simpler)
Tibor @ May 04, 2007
voulant acheter le motophone f 3 au mois de juillet ou le f3tack avec un forfait orange remerciement
rojel jean pierre @ May 01, 2007
no mention is made regarding visibility in a dark room.is display readable in poor light?
brig.dhamija @ Mar 26, 2007
yes it luks gud but not worth to buy for metro people...
negative points are..
-no msg forwarding capability
-no special symbols,not even full stop..
-error comes mostly on screen
-luks like calculator sumtimes.
-dont hav its own memory,uses simcards for tht..
so if ur buying make sure u dont need above particulars..
varun meena @ Mar 12, 2007
Man it has got no vibrator!!!
It sucks...
Rocky @ Mar 09, 2007
Hey i work at phones 4 u, we got some of these things in today, there really quite funky actually, but when it comes to being a phone there really not that good. the screen is strange, really wierd to get used to, and it talks to u tellin u how to do everything in a voice that sounds like steven hawkins.
Motoman @ Mar 04, 2007
hi there i am looking at buying this brand of phone because it seems to good i am version inpaird. it has the large font and that is what i am looking for. from sarah.
sarah @ Feb 13, 2007
i use nokia 9300 communicator.i brought f3 as my second phone.while the design is sleek i think the phone is targetted at the wrong audience. the keys are very confusing and it is very difficult to get details about missed calls. to get a number from phone book to make a call is very difficult.the choice of phonts for the display is not ergonomical. the phone is years ahead
manoj @ Feb 09, 2007
The problem of being able to display only one line of SMS text is really serious. Its almost unbelievable that in this day and age, such a phone can even be released. Especially here in India where we use SMS so much.......
phoneJunkie @ Feb 07, 2007
Can anybody get me a user manual for this phone....?
Tejal @ Jan 29, 2007
hi guys the new motorola f3 mobile phone is too good to use for the persons who is looking out for a simple mobile phone with good looks and at cheap price .this phone is very sleek and it also looks very sexy .and 1 more thing what i noticed is if this phone even falls frm ur hand it dosent give u any problem it wrks normally ,i suppose its a non breakable phone. too good to use .if ur looking out a mobile with cheap price or planning to keep a additional phone than f3 is the right choice.and all of this its weightless,it dosent give u a feeling that u have something in ur pocket.worth to buy
mihir @ Jan 20, 2007
I'm a brazilian user of Rockr E1, but, as I work with engineering services for automotive companies, camera phone has been banished from his engineering and many times I expend whole afternoons in meetings without my Fone, so, I bought the MotoFone F3 to use inside this companies and, at the road, when I needed a long life battery to help me keep in touch with my customers. What I observed is: the battery is not that longer, it is quite like all motorola battery, the Nokia 6108 of my boss is longer than my F3. The dual antenas is also worst, many places my rockr has signal and F3 doesn't, so, visual and easy it take 10, but signal and battery, a sad 5 is the better I can bring to it.

Very, very good your review, congratulations.
Emanuel Campos @ Jan 11, 2007
looks gud....bt still in de age of mobile phs with cutting edge technology i think nobody in city will prefer this cell phone....but i would like to see this phone
lucky @ Dec 26, 2006
Hi! The review seems to be nice one and will surely help one in choosing a low cost mobile phone. However the author should be more bold enough to accept/reject the phone on the basis of his analysis and comparison to other low cost phone. However as per my view the MOTOFONE does'nt suits me in the low cost category since better options are available in the market.
Sunil Kumar Agarwal @ Dec 22, 2006
The battery backup for this phone is superb...i talked continuously for the 12hrs but the battery meter still remains full....its really good...
Sreekanth Varma.B @ Dec 21, 2006
Hey, Its available in Hyderabad for Rs.1,600/- The look and fell is good.
But the battery is as usual motorola :( not so exciting. The BAD part its not SMS friendly. Network / signal strength looks to be better, but even though it has full strenght, the caller is getting a message, the mobile is witched off - may be a service provider issue. Over its Kool ;-)
-Swami
Swami @ Dec 18, 2006
The last line of the review just sums it up. I am thinking of getting one of these too. Battery life is not much big an issue for me, but the display just sucks. I use a reliance handset with their cdma service, from which i have been at a recieving end of pathetic network and service. So, might just try this and pass it on to some employee in our office. Evil me :)
Sourabh @ Dec 10, 2006
Ads by Google 
RELATED
Ads by Google
Products
Camcorders  |   Controllers  |   CPUs  |   Desktop PCs  |   Digital Cameras  |   Digital Video Recorders  |   DVD Players  |   Games  |   Gaming Consoles  |   General  |   GPS Systems  |   Handhelds / PDAs  |   Hard Drives  |   Headphones & Headsets  |   HiFi Audio Systems  |   Home Theater Systems  |   Input Devices  |   Internet  |   Laptops  |   lenovo  |   Low Level Components  |   Mac Systems  |   Mobile Phone Accessories  |   Mobile Phones  |   Monitors  |   Motherboards  |   MP3 / Audio Players  |   Multi-Function Devices  |   Networking  |   Optical Drives  |   PC Accessories  |   PC Add-on Cards  |   PC Cabinets  |   PC Games  |   Printers  |   Projectors  |   RAM Modules  |   Scanners  |   Software  |   Speakers  |   Telecom  |   TVs  |   Video Players  |  
Careers | About Us | Ad Inventory | Site Profile | Feedback | Copyright © 2007, Tech2.com India - A Network 18 India Venture