V557 offers an innovative approach to push information out similar to a "ticker tape" that runs along the bottom of the phone's idle screen. Taking advantage of Cingular's Media Net Live Ticker service, consumers can access news, sports, entertainment, and other premium content and services directly on the V557's home screen. Information is presented to users with no buttons to push, and no browsers to launch.
Additionally offering EDGE broadband data rates, Bluetooth wireless technology, a complete email client, and Cingular's consumer data services, the V557 provides an effective way to be productive and stay connected on the road.
Design
Offering a black design reminiscent of the V551's blue edging, the V557's chrome details and soft-touch finish exhibit a clean and refined feel often necessary for conservative environments. Measuring 89 x 49 x 25 mm and weighing 114 g, the V557 is a mid-sized phone, a bit smaller than the size of a deck of playing cards. Not overly bulky but thicker than average, the V557 diverges from the ultra-thin fads sweeping the industry.Displayed on the front, a monochrome external LCD offers convenient access to vital information at just a glance away. Positioned above the screen, a lens to the 0.3-megapixel camera and camcorder is activated with the press of the Camera Key. Nearby, a mirror allows shutterbugs to take self-portraits or get into group shots.
On the right side, a Voice Key activates voice dialing and voice memo recording. Volume Keys along the left turn off incoming call alerts, change earpiece volume during calls, and change ringer volume from the home screen. Anticipating subsequent actions to follow, a nearby Smart Key gives users an alternative method of performing many basic phone functions. For instance, by highlighting a menu item, pressing the Smart Key will select it. Outlets for the Headphone and Accessory Connectors are located on the top and bottom respectively. While the speaker grill is placed on the back for loud and clear handsfree access.
Opened, the V557's the main 65K-color LCD is exposed, doubling as the viewfinder in Camera Mode. Surrounded by Send, Power / End, Camera, Browser, Menu, and Left and Right Keys, the 5-way directional and numeric keypads provides menu navigation and text messaging using iTAP predictive text technology.
Out of the box, the Motorola V557 comes with a standard 820 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Home Charger, Data Cable, Quick Start Guide, and User Manual.
Progressing past polyphonic ringtones, the V557 alerts users of incoming calls with MP3 ringtones. Rather than recreating sounds through a local synthesizer, MP3s are actual recordings from an audio source. Thus an exact duplicate of the recorded source can be turned into a ringtone. From music with lyrics to recorded voice, anything a users can record can be turned into an MP3 ringtone.
By pressing the Speakerphone Key, users can carry on a handsfree conversation as well. Convenient and safe to use while driving, the V557's speakerphone function comes in handy when attending to another task.
Messaging
Flipping open the V557, consumers can use SMS (Short Messaging Service) and EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) standards to text messages friends. Adding multimedia to words, MMS (Multimedia Message Service) lets users attach photos taken with the V557's VGA camera. Able to capture that vacation sunset and or record that birthday bash, consumers can use MMS to send more than text by creating digital vacation greetings or birthday video postcards.
Staying in touch through Cingular's network, customers can also access the latest instant messaging platforms through preinstalled chat applications. Featuring AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, and Yahoo! Messenger, V557 users can chat in real-time, additionally tracking online status and buddy availability. Going beyond traditional SMS-based chat, users can receive notifications where there are status changes to have real-time access to friends and family on the go.
Internet
Running on Cingular's EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) data network, consumers can transfer files and browse the web at up to 70-135 kbps, two to three times faster than traditional GPRS networks. Currently in over 13,000 U.S. cities and towns and more than 39,000 miles of U.S. highways, EDGE reaches nearly 253 million people. Still growing, international EDGE and GPRS roaming is also available in more than 80 countries.
Recently Cingular significantly upgraded its MEdia Net service, dramatically simplifying the way its customers access the Internet on their mobile phones. Reducing the number of clicks it takes to access online information, customers can get to news and entertainment headlines, sports scores, financial quotes, local weather, and more with only two clicks.
The V557 features a personalized "phone page," letting users add and remove information from the leading content providers. Gaining access to CNN for news, ESPN for sports, E! Online for entertainment, The Weather Channel for daily updates, and Univision for Spanish-language content, Cingular customers can get all the news that matters in one central location.Built on Motorola's SCREEN3 technology, the V557 is also the first device to feature Cingular's MEdia Net Live Ticker service. Taking convenience and simplicity one step further, the V557 is updated automatically several times daily with small bits of headline-style information rolling across the "ticker" at the bottom screen. Any news that looks interesting can then be accessed by MEdia Net. Customers digging deeper can then retrieve and read the full story.
Charges are only incurred if the customer chooses to open the MEdia Net session to get the full story. MEdia Net services can be purchased on a pay-as-you-go basis ($0.01 per KB), or included in a MEdia Net or MEdia Bundle package ranging from $4.99 for 1 MB of data usage to $19.99 for unlimited data usage.
Connectivity
Through Bluetooth wireless technology, users can pair with other Bluetooth-capable devices within a range of 10 meters. Linking the V557 with headsets, car handsfree equipment, PCs, printers, PDAs, or digital cameras, consumers can conveniently link to a wide range of peripherals without a mess of wires.
The V557 also supports all the latest PAN (Personal Area Network) and OTA (Over-The-Air) technologies for synchronization. Offering SyncML, the V557 can synchronize with a PC. As the common language for synchronizing all devices and applications over any network, SyncML organizes any personal information such as email, calendars, to-do lists, contact lists. No matter where the information is stored, data is consistent, accessible, and up-to-date.
Motorola V557 Features
* GSM quad-band technology for communication around the globe
* Motorola's SCREEN3 technology solution featuring zero-click access to news, sports, entertainment, and other premium content
* Integrated VGA camera with 4x zoom and dedicated one touch video capture and playback
* Preloaded FotoFun Photo Editor for editing by adding clip art and backgrounds to existing images
* Conference calling and integrated hands-free speaker
* Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), POP3 and IMAP4 client for e-mail management, and instant messaging
* J2ME MIDP 2.0 support for application, ringer, wallpaper, graphic and game downloads
* Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free conversations
* EDGE technology for high-speed data transmission with WAP 2.0 compliant browser
* SyncML device management and Personal Information Management (PIM) synchronization
