When I reviewed the original Motorola Q in mid-2006, I wasn’t a fan.  The Q’s design, a thin slab with a QWERTY thumb keyboard, was a step in the right direction, but when it came time to actually use the thing, it left much to be desired.   In the review, I expressed my hope that Motorola would address the significant weaknesses of the unit with its next release. Rather than a single Q successor, however, Motorola released two: A CDMA version, represented by the Q 9m (Verizon Wireless) and the Q 9c (Sprint), and a GSM/GPRS version.  This second and more feature-packed Q successor is sold by AT&T Mobility as the Motorola Q 9h Global.  While the new CDMA versions of the Q are little more than an exterior makeover of the original, the Q 9h Global is a true upgrade with definite feature improvements, but at the cost of size and weight.  And while I can’t report that the new Q is everything I hoped it would be, it is unquestionably a fantastic device, with only a few minor aesthetic and functional flaws [CHECK PRICES].

Design

The Motorola Q 9h is similar in design to the original Q, but with several noteworthy changes. The same QWERTY slab design is present, but Motorola has updated the shape of the handset with a more modern look and feel.  The Q 9h is slightly thicker, wider and taller than the 2006 Moto Q, but the change actually makes for a more attractive and comfortable handset.  This increase in size made the handset almost a full ounce heavier than the first Q, however, which is unfortunate.  When the Q 9h is in your pocket, you’ll know it’s there.

 
The screen size remains unchanged, but the keyboard has been improved with more real estate and a far more comfortable key layout.  The navigation area below the screen has also been altered in order to make getting around the OS easier, but the navigation interface on the right-hand side has been downgraded from a scroll-wheel to a toggle.  I preferred the wheel, but the new hardware still allows you to easily move up and down in menus, make selections and go back to the previous screen, all with one hand.

Motorola has replaced the painfully-stubborn flash memory slot door found on the previous Q with a cover that’s much easier to open and close.  Also, while the original Q employed a miniSD card slot, the new Q accepts microSD cards.  The Q 9h lacks its predecessor’s Infrared port.

All in all, the design of the Q 9h is an improvement aesthetically, and in terms of general usability.  Its improved keyboard and main navigation interface have made the device easier to use, but at the cost of some bulk.   Although the Q 9h isn’t much larger than its processor, it is heavier, and those for whom smaller and lighter are always better may be disappointed by the direction of this new Q; a BlackBerry Curve, it ain’t.

 

Features

The Motorola Q 9h has a slightly faster processor than did its predecessor, but while the new Texas Instruments CPU may be faster on paper, it seems to make very little difference in terms of actual use – that said, the processor is zippy enough for common tasks.  The Q 9h has a generous amount of memory for a non-touchscreen smartphone, 256MB of flash storage and 92MB of RAM - a welcome change from the first-gen Q.  If storage is your thing, the microSD slot is SDHC compatible, which means you can add gigabytes of storage with microSDHC memory cards.  The onboard Bluetooth is still v1.2, unfortunately, but the handset does support A2DP stereo audio, so you can use the handset with stereo Bluetooth headphones. Other Bluetooth services include Dial-Up Networking (DUN), File Transfer, Object Push, SBC Audio and Device Synchronization.  There’s also a small app on the Q which allows it to remotely control a Bluetooth-enabled PC in a very limited fashion.

Another new feature of the Motorola Q 9h Global is a built-in GPS receiver.  This allows you to use GPS navigation software with the device without having to lug around an external receiver.  The handset comes TeleNav navigation software ready, but this service requires a monthly fee.  You should be able to use the onboard GPS receiver with buy-it-and-forget-it GPS software if fees aren’t your thing.

The Global’s 2.4” non-touchscreen display remains unchanged from the previous Q, though the backlight does seem to be slightly brighter when maxed out.  There’s a built-in ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the screen’s backlight so you can conserve power. 

I wish the feature set of the Q 9h were slightly higher than it is; a faster processor and built-in Wi-Fi would have been great, but all-in-all, the handset offers an impressive list of features for its price and size, and I assume that most users’ needs will be met by the included tech.

 

Software

As Windows Mobile Standard Smartphones go, the Motorola Q 9h includes a generous amount of software features above and beyond the standard offerings of the operating system.

There are several substitutions for standard Windows Mobile applications. Though Word, PowerPoint and Excel Mobile remain as part of the standard OS suite, Documents to Go has been added for the ability not only to view and edit MS Office documents, but to create them as well.  In addition to Word To Go, Slideshow To Go, and Sheet To Go, there’s also a PDF reader, PDF To Go, and Zip To Go, a ZIP archive utility.  This software has a retail price of $29, but is included in the price of the unit. 

Internet Explorer Mobile also remains, but Opera Mobile has been pre-installed and set as the default web browser for the system.  This is a nice addition as Opera Mobile renders pages a bit better than IE Mobile and offers tabbed browsing.  This would cost the end user $24.

In addition to software substitutions, there are also some handy software add-ons. Thumbspeed Instant Messaging offers IM connectivity to AIM, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo!, all from one convenient application.  Good Mobile Messaging  wirelessly syncs calendar and contacts with your office PC, and also offers push e-mail for real-time incoming e-mail messages.  Xpress Mail is an all-in-one e-mail access utility which is compatible with MS Outlook, Lotus Notes, Yahoo! Mail, Windows Live Mail, Hotmail, AOL, etc.  

AT&T has installed a suite of applications and shortcuts designed to interface with its wireless media services.  In addition to Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, you can purchase music through Napster for $0.99 per track, watch music videos, listen to XM Satellite radio stations over the wireless connection (fee applies), and even identify songs playing on the radio with Music ID.

 

The Phone

Usually, smartphone users are forced to make a sacrifice in the phone department because the unit has so many other “smart” features; this is certainly not the case with the Motorola Q 9h, however.  I have never used a PDA Phone or Smartphone with better call quality, and almost everyone I spoke with using the device commented on how clear and crisp my voice sounded (including my 83-year-old grandfather). 

On my end, I also noted particularly high audio quality from the Q’s earpiece.  The call quality of the Q 9h Global is, simply put, the best on the market.

It should also be noted that the “Global” in the Q 9h Global’s title refers to its ability to make calls outside the United States.  According to AT&T Mobility, the Q 9h is capable of voice calling in over 190 countries worldwide, and its data connectivity is also cleared to operate in 135 countries for Web browsing and e-mail.

The handset is compatible with AT&T’s 3G UMTS/HSDPA BroadbandConnect service with download speeds up to 3.6Mbps.  If you don’t live in an area with UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, the phone is also EDGE-ready.  As with all smartphones, extra data plans are required to use this connectivity.

 

Battery Life

My review unit shipped with both the standard BT60 Li-Ion battery and the BT90 extended battery.  The standard battery provided about four hours of talk time with moderate PIM usage, whereas the BT90 extended battery (which adds a bump to the rear of the unit) provided nearly nine hours of talk time.  This is approaching the 10 hour battery life of the BlackBerry Curve, but only with the larger battery.  I found the battery life to be acceptable, and it is about average for a device of its type.

 

Conclusion

The Motorola Q 9h Global surpasses its predecessor in almost every respect.  While it is a bit thicker and heavier than the original Q, it more than makes up for this with solid performance, good battery life, a wide range of features and truly excellent call quality. 

If you’re looking for a slim Windows Mobile QWERTY device that makes clear calls almost anywhere in the world, the Q 9h - at least for the moment - is your only choice.

[CHECK PRICES: Motorola Q 9h Global]

Grade: B+

Improved, Attractive Design	No Onboard Wi-Fi
Fast 3G UMTS/HSDPA Connectivity	Sub-standard Bluetooth v1.2
Integrated GPS Receiver	Heavier than Original Motorola Q
Outstanding Call Quality
Excellent Software Package
microSDHC Compatible

Check Prices: Motorola Q 9h Global Smartphone -------------------------- Amazon.com AT&T Mobility LetsTalk.com eBay.com (Auctions)