Features:

Motorola E550 is a quad band cameraphone, which makes it an ideal choice for worldwide roaming. This attractive clamshell styled model is a T-Mobile exclusive, and it is based on the popular V300. From the outside the design of the E550 looks almost identical to that of the V300, although it comes in a different colour - black. The new model now includes the additional features of video capture and playback, Bluetooth™ wireless technology, new games, and a redesigned keypad. The E550 is designed to fit neatly into the pocket, and it feels different when compared to other phones, due to its unique soft touch black finish.

Among the other features included in the E550 are GPRS and WAP data handling technology, MMS multimedia messaging, an MP3 player, speakerphone for hands-free conversations, voice control, Java™ enabled, an infrared port, and a selection of polyphonic and MP3 ringtones.

In common with many other clamshell designs, the E550 has two separate displays. The internal screen is a large TFT active matrix LCD, which offers a good resolution of 176 x 220 pixels, and it can also reproduce up to 65,536 different colours. Such a high definition screen makes the menu easy to use, and it also enables you to appreciate the viewing of still pictures or video. With its MMS messaging capability the E550 enables the user to send and receive multimedia messages containing a combination of pictures, video, sounds, animations and text. The external display is a smaller 96 x 32 pixels screen, and this provides the user with useful information about calls and various phone status details.

An integrated VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels) camera is fitted to the E550, and to adjust the view there is a 4x digital zoom provided. For poor light conditions there is a low light capability, and also a photo editor is provided to get the results you want from your photographs. These photos can be saved to the photo album, and they can then be turned into colour wallpapers and screensavers, or they may be added to the picture phonebook to help identify your callers by photo ID. Photos can also be sent to your friends in MMS messages, or simply be downloaded to a PC. The video recording ability of this model means that you are able to capture special moments and to replay them on the display, or you might prefer to transfer these video clips to other phones or PCs.

The E550 offers the chance to add your own character to this phone by personalising its sound and appearance with new themes of wallpapers, screensavers and ringtones. More content is readily available via the T-Mobile t-zones, if you need to find something unusual. You can download new ringtones to make the phone sound more to your liking, but it is also possible to use the included MotoMixer™ remixable ringer software to create your own unique ringtones. New ringtones can be easily produced by preparing new combinations from preset sound file tracks made up of 4 instruments such as piano, bass, drums, and guitar.

As the E550 is Java™ enabled, this means it provides the user with the opportunity to run a good choice of applications and games that are available for use on the Java platform. Two games are preloaded in the phone - Wakeborder and The Gimps - and more games and applications can be downloaded via the T-Mobile t-zones, when you want to try something new.

With its GPRS data handling technology, this phone can offer you faster data transfer to and from the network, and it also provides an “always on” connection. The WAP 2.0 browser gives access to the mobile Internet, allowing you to search for information and services that you need, and all the news, sports, entertainment and other useful sites are easily accessible from the E550.

For connectivity there is the option to link up wirelessly with other compatible devices, such as other phone, PDAs and PCs, by using either Bluetooth™ or infrared technologies. A USB data cable connection is also possible. After establishing a connection, it is then simple to synchronise your personal information, such as in the calendar or phonebook, with the other device (e.g. your home PC). Pictures and sounds may also be transferred this way.

The E550 has organiser features available to help the user, including a calendar, clock, calculator, and currency converter. Other useful features are a vibrating alert and the iTap™ predictive text input.

Motorola E550 phone specification
Quad band
Dimensions 89 x 49 x 25 mm
Weight 110 g
Talk time up to 255 mins
Standby time up to 196 hours
Best price at welectronics.com
Dual displays: internal - TFT LCD, 176 x 220 pixels, 65,536 colours; external - OLED, 2 Line 96 x 32 pixels with blue backlight
Integrated camera: VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels), 4x digital zoom, photo editor, low light capability
Speakerphone for hands-free use
MP3 player
Phonebook memory: 1,000 entries
Video capture and playback
MMS
EMS
Instant messaging for real time chat
Voice activated dialling
Java™ applications and games, 2 games preloaded, more downloadable
Polyphonic ringtones, MP3 ringtones, MotoMixer™ remixable ringtone software, more ringtones downloadable
GPRS: 2U/4D
WAP 2.0
Bluetooth™
Infrared connection
USB data cable connection
Synchronisation with PC
Built-in modem