Verizon to get its own MOTORAZR MAXX

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 16th 2006 at 12:23AM

We can almost hear the voices of skeptical readers whispering in unison, "fanboy Photoshop," and we'd normally have half a mind to agree. After all, the bizarre gray exterior (just a reflection, perhaps?) seems incongruent with the rest of the phone, the contents of the external display are obviously faked, and the coloration of the Verizon logo doesn't make a lot of sense -- not to mention that the concept of a CDMA-based MOTORAZR MAXX is a bit... shall we say, new to us. Alas, it turns out the picture's authenticity is rock solid (not to say it's not a Photoshop job, but if it is, it's an official one) seeing how we just downloaded it off Motorola's official site for press multimedia. We know nothing about it besides what we're seeing here, but truth be told, the picture alone is a lot to process: Verizon gets a strangely colored variant of a high-end RAZR we didn't even know existed. It looks like a 2-megapixel cam is in the cards, and if the specs mirror its GSM cousin, we can expect a QVGA display, microSD expansion, and 50 odd megabytes of internal storage -- not a bad piece to slot in right above the K1m, if we do say so ourselves. As soon as we catch wind of availability (or catch wind that Motorola is playing an extraordinarily unsportsmanlike practical joke on us), we'll pass on the good word.

[Thanks, Pioneer]

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Verizon Wireless, 1xRTT, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: maxx, moto, motorazr, motorazr maxx, MotorazrMaxx, motorola, razr, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Brian Sugarman @ Oct 16th 2006 1:34AM

That's BS. I've been waiting and waiting for the GSM version. An nameless importer site was selling these for $1500 for an engineering prototype. When is this thing going to drop for GSM?

Neutral

Radu Popescu @ Oct 16th 2006 2:18AM

A high-end RAZR you didn't even know existed? I did and it's pretty sad that a site like yours doesn't keep up with new phones. Just read GSM Arena: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola-phones-4.php . There's the phone, first on the list.

Neutral

Jarrett Pettigrew @ Oct 16th 2006 2:33AM

Radu, did you even read the post? This is for the CDMA version, not the GSM version.

Neutral

Charles Adams @ Oct 16th 2006 2:34AM

#2- RTA. They are talking about a CDMA variant of the RAZR MOTOMAXX, not the GSM model that everyone knows about already.

Neutral

mmahon @ Oct 16th 2006 2:53AM

I bet it' the Ve

Neutral

Finished Law School @ Oct 16th 2006 3:08AM

Any word on how many different ways Verizon has handicapped this phone into the stone age?

Neutral

aussie boi @ Oct 16th 2006 5:54AM

i work for a telco in australia (Telstra) and were expecting this one to drop on out 850 Mhz 3G network in november, its a solid release date as we have promo materials etc. its a hot as phone and the menu speed is FAST! best moto in ages.

Neutral

Brian Sugarman @ Oct 16th 2006 6:46AM

That's what I've been wanting to hear, thanks aussie boi:)

Neutral

John Pereira @ Oct 16th 2006 10:34AM

Thats is massup im dieing to get my hands on the GSM version. And its mass up how i had verizon and they had the corniest phone ever and now they are getting the coolest things that is massup.. but they still the worse service out there. I want the GSM version. 3G Cingular where is it??

Neutral

Zack Adams @ Oct 16th 2006 12:05PM

I like how they are using the Motorola pictures from the Motorola Collective and added a verizon logo.

Neutral

wilson @ Oct 16th 2006 12:26PM

I wrote a little poem to capture my deep feelings surrounding this issue:
Roses are red...
Violets are blue...
Sprint blows!
Whatsamatawithyou!!!

Neutral

Rich Brome @ Oct 16th 2006 3:16PM

Zack, actually the Verizon logo is on the original photo. It wasn't added by Pioneer, MotoX, or Engadget.

Neutral

Ry @ Oct 16th 2006 3:32PM

It is the Ve. :)

Neutral

Brian Berzin @ Oct 16th 2006 3:52PM

ugly cough cough.. and the crippling red-bar verizon UI

Neutral

not too shabby @ Oct 16th 2006 5:31PM

Looking at the signal and battery indicator in the picture it phone doesn't look like it has the weak verizon standard UI.

Neutral

Gag @ Oct 16th 2006 4:14PM

This is annoying as hell. Truly. Verizon doesnt have the RAZR for a full year, now this is the FOURTH DIFFERENT RAZR it is getting in LESS THAN A YEAR- V3c, V3m, KRZR K1m, and now MAXX. You guys need to quit the whining about the Verizon UI. It may not be flashy but it is very functional once you get used to it. And you can also change the damn color. It's not always red bar! I also think it's ironic how Alltel and Sprint rushed to confirm that they too were getting the KRZR K1m and now Verizon has got them beat again with this new RAZR. Way to pwn Verizon. I just wonder when the release date is, because.........

I was eligible this Sunday to upgrade my phone and I had my heart set on the KRZR K1m but now that I know the MAXX is coming, I really dont know what to do. How much longer should I wait for details about this thing? It seems to be legit......

Neutral

MBA @ Oct 16th 2006 4:57PM

@Gag

You can check out phone details on gsmarena.com.

Neutral

Cactus @ Oct 16th 2006 4:57PM

Gag - do you really think it's the color of Verizon's UI that bothers power users? They can make their UI bright purple, orange, or burnt sienna for all I care. Just stop blocking out many of the phone's features, e.g. forcing users into using "Pix & Flix" when the phone is perfectly capable of transferring by Bluetooth... if it weren't for Verizon's feature-crippling UI.

"Pix & Flix" is something I do with my nose when no one's looking. Not something I'll be giving Verizon money for.

Neutral

Chris Kominczak @ Oct 16th 2006 5:15PM

Cactus,
The VZW KRZR can transfer pictures through Bluetooth, and I can only imagine the RAZR MAXX will too.

Neutral

HNR @ Oct 16th 2006 5:42PM

Just to make things clear, Wilson, Sprint does not suck.
If anything Verizon is trying to catch up to Sprint.

Yeah, Verizon came out with the whole Moto Line first but Sprint has first declared they will be offering the Moto line before verizon did. Sprint still hasn't deployed their Moto line and will not until early November, as many of you know. The line-up will include Motorazr v3m; Grey and Red, MotoSlvr L7m and the MotoKrzr K1m in Black. And rumors here that they will rolling out the MotoQ pretty soon.

Sprint has more EV-DO coverage than Verizon does and Sprint is already in the process of deploying Wimax/4G services in 2008. Sprint also has various MVNO's and is going to have compatible handsets with Iden and Qchat technology, around the same time as 4G is deployed.

So yeah, Verizon might come out with many newer handsets then Sprint but Verizon is only doing that to compensate for all the other features they can't provide.

Verizon is a good voice data company but Sprint is better all around: Data, voice, and other newer technology.

So, yeah get yourself a Maxx. I just hope you can watch current full length movies at EV-DO speeds in many areas, connect via walkie talkie(iden & qchat) in a second and in the futrue be able to have download speeds faster than you DSL at home......
Oh but you won't because you are not with Sprint.

Neutral

mee @ Oct 16th 2006 6:54PM

HNR, is thhis slvr l7m cdma? if so whhens ir coming out and is it cominhg out unlocked or to verizon, i havheard of the l7c which was the cdma slvr, but now this....."?"

Neutral

tyler @ Oct 16th 2006 7:34PM

go HNR sprint rules...

Neutral

Rob @ Oct 16th 2006 8:43PM

So umm about the coloration... the exterior iece that is reflected that weird shade of grade is glass and since it is relatively easy to etch glass, the vzw logo is probably etched.

Neutral

Gag @ Oct 16th 2006 9:06PM

I thought you guys were arguing about the UI itself, not feature crippling. THe UI by itself is actually ok and functional but in terms of features, which is another topic, I totally agree with you. I have no idea how Im going to get my MGS codec mp3 as my ringtone into my new razr and I dont want to pay money to do it or have to buy a stupid kit. Second of all, the only thing I was emphasizing was that Sprint hadnt announced yet that they were getting this phone. No need to jump to carrier defense, I wasnt really trying to diss Sprint. Altel however, can die and go to hell. For the record, I love the Sprint Power Up commercial. It's the best mobile carrier commercial on television. And if Sprint wasnt just charging me an extra 9.99 for having 2 lines when Verizon doesnt, I'd probably be with Sprint instead. I said absolutely nothing about Sprint and network inferiority or anything like that. Third of all, going to GSMarena does me no good, especially if the phone is CDMA and coming out for a CDMA carrier. I dont need to know the specs, I need to know the definite release date. As of right now, Im 50/50 on waiting for the RAZR MAXX and getting the KRZR K1m.

Neutral

turtle @ Oct 17th 2006 5:43AM

blah.. blah.. wait til early next year when
japan's phones from kddi are anounced to come
to the states. kddi is a phone carrier.
just got back from japan and read that a phone
carrier called kddi is coming to america.
there rival is nttdocomo.

Neutral

kmj @ Oct 17th 2006 4:47PM

I love reading pathetic comment threads like these arguing over who is a better carrier when it has absolutely nothing to do with the basis of the story. Who cares about the Verizon UI. They could redesign their stupid UI so it was the most innovative and user friendly on the market, and guess what? You'd still be locked out of all of your techie features you want sooooo badly.

Everybody should know that if you're such a technology nerd that you feel the need to compalin about UI, Pix and Flix over bluetooth, and all of the other ridiculous crap Verizon makes you do to stay in their walled garden, shut the F up and go to a GSM carrier where you have more freedom. And for the record, you're NEVER going to have the freedom you absolutely want until the carrier is not involved, which is not something that is happening any time in the immediate future. But, it is definitely inevitable.

Neutral

Adam @ Oct 17th 2006 8:14PM

Woopity doo dah! Another RAZR phone, with software on it that it was supposed to have when it came out the first time. I watched my friend flash his Verizon RAZR and add crazy functionality to it! Its all the crap that was supposed to be there in the first place.

BTW: RAZR phones SUCK! Thats why they went from 200$(or more) -> giving away for FREE w/in what... a MONTH after they came out?!? Pfft, you can keep it!
Verizon techs even say they suck.

Neutral

Adam Smith @ Oct 17th 2006 4:42PM

I read these posts and can't believe it....
You are arguing over which one is better b/c they beat each other with a few days, weeks,
months?? Verizon and Sprint is pretty much the same.
I lived in a small country in the middle of Europe while I was at the USAF and over 6.5 years ago they had bigger selection in phones at each and every carrier (3 big ones) than in here now in 2006!
Lot's of features, and of course you pay/use minutes ONLY WHEN YOU make a CALL NOT when you receive a call!!!
Don't you understand? They rip you off, that call was paid already. they double bill us so they can spend more on stupid commercials.
When I came back I wanted a cell so I after I landed I went to the 1st Sprint store. They asked me about my old cell so I showed my phone - which had an InfraPort - to an agent and they carried it around in the store like if they found the H.Grail.
I'm telling you all these companies are trying to do is lock you in a small box where you'll get
what they decided to throw you at...
I had Sprint service for 3 years (most dropped calls in my life!), and Verizon for
2.5 ( good coverage most stupid, artificially retarded phones w/new menu “so the simple man can understand it too” as an agent explained it to me.) NOW finally a GSM provider got the coverage here so I can SWITH to where everyone should as soon as they can.
GSM was a perfectly working sys. when they decided to go w/ a diff. system so they can keep the sheep together and rip people off left and right better this way.
What Verizon is doing is disgusting. Most of you won't see this until you step out for
a sec. and look from outside. These companies are like dictators. They tell you what can you do or have and if a phone is too good than simply they don't sell it, if the phone knows too much they remove whatever they can so all you have is some artificial/made up crap like flix-pix and other great ideas from Verizon. MP3 player capabilities removed or blocked??
What is this Stone age with big hairy footed bullies?? BTW the RED logo cannot be changed on some Verizon phones and yes it bothers many of us. especially that in the same time - actually not the same time but years ago my friends in Europe could/were watching full movies
on their cells when here people were arguing which companies come out with the 2nd camera phones!? :)

GSM is way better and gives you much more FREEDOM. It takes a few seconds to change a phone and you can do it whenever you feel like just swap the sim card with all your contacts and the selection?! Are you kidding me!? Hundreds of phone instead of a few so-so models with red bars :)

Neutral

Adam Smith @ Oct 17th 2006 10:40PM

Hi KMJ,
How do you mean?
"until the carrier is not involved, which is not something that is happening any time in the immediate future. But, it is definitely inevitable"
Do you think Verizon ever going to be? and is it inevitable like the "ghost" in I-Robot? :) Well, then we have a few more years... :))

Neutral

PSOmasterX77 @ Oct 17th 2006 8:29PM

Hey people look up a few comments, Ry Ry said it's called the Motorola Ve, call it that. The Motorazr MAXX is a slightly different beast.

Neutral

Cactus @ Oct 18th 2006 7:55PM

Hello there KMJ,

Why yes, I did go to a GSM carrier. No intention to "shut the F up" about my "technology nerd" features, however. Seeing how you care not for any of these superfluous bells and whistles like Bluetooth, HSDPA and what not, I hope you're enjoying your Nokia 5910... but, what in blazes brings you to Engadget?

Neutral

Hollywood @ Oct 29th 2006 7:43PM

ok the only thing that should matter for this phone is this one simple thing: did verizon make this phone have a speakerphone now? bcs that is the only feature it would be missing.
important things for a phone are:
decent camera
light for the camera that can be turned on (like the v710)
speakerphone
good reception
record vids + sounds

for this phone i really just wanted a slim razr, with a 2 megapix camera, a speakerphone, and a flash. thats y i didnt buy any of the other razr's, bcs they didnt have flash or lights on them.

thats y i still have my v710

Neutral

downsouth821 @ Oct 19th 2006 8:19PM

You guy's are all up here talking about whose the best carrier. All carrier's have problems. But as far for sprint being better than verizon that is totally wrong. 1st quarter of 2006 Sprint dropped 36%. Sprint coverage maps are not helpful they do not cover half the places they say.Customer services is the lowest in the industry. Verizon has the lowest churn rates for the pass 7 quarters. If you do not know what churn is, you do not neeed to be on here. 2nd quarter of 2006 Verizon posted the lowest churn rate in cell phone history at 1%. That was 1% lower than the next carrier. Here's something to think about Sprint gives you minutes starting at 7. Cingular gives you roll over. T-Mobile gives you lots of minutes and my circle. Verizon gives you nothing, but they gain more customers per quarter than any other company.I am a wirless expert for Best Buy I sell Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, Mobile Espn and Ampd mobile. So I think I know a bit about this stuff. So If you cant pass Verizon Credit apps. Dont get mad at the company.

Neutral

TJB @ Oct 20th 2006 1:24PM

The Maxx is a hand-me-down from Australia. It is just a slight upgrade of the Razr V3x that has been around since January 2005 with it's 2 megapixel camera etc. The only real difference that I can spot is the outside has touch sensitive buttons for the Mp3 player and the alert lights are on the side instead of the bottom. I bought the V3x new on Ebay and love it. Too bad the feature-dependant carriers ,(cdma's)are just now getting it. Adam Smith is right on about what he wrote above. You really can't see the light until you step out of the proprietary prisons that Sprint and Verizon have locked you. The phones that they are releasing to unsuspecting Americans are dummed-down and are a couple of years behind the rest of the world. I hear that some carrier dependant features can be crippling like downloading pictures from Verizon on certain phone like Motorola V710(which Verizon has class action law suit pending against them.) I had no problem upgrading my phone's internet software at T-Mobile website even though my phone was marketed in Australia.

Neutral

TJB @ Oct 20th 2006 1:36PM

You can find more information on the Maxx at following website. http://www.cnet.com.au/mobilephones/phones/0,239025953,240091462,00.htm As to the question as to whether it has a flash, My v3x has a flash for the 2 Megapixel camera but it was totally useless unless you are about one foot away from subject. It takes absolutly stunning photos with just two flourescent table lamps in the room and not using the flash. When I used the flash it made the photos washed out and reddish. The camera on this phone outperfoms my Olympus camera which has the same megapixel capacity.

Neutral

Wenk @ Oct 20th 2006 6:48PM

I'm tired of flash without substance... WHEN is VZW going to release another Windows Mobile FLIP phone to replace my 3 Year Old Samsung I-600 ??!! Every other US carrier has one...

Neutral

TJB @ Oct 20th 2006 8:35PM

Your relying on the carrier to give you a decent phone. Switch carriers to something other than a proprietary carrier,(they should be outlawed) buy unlocked phone from Ebay or wherever you can find one, yes, you might not have V-cast but at least you won't be scraping and begging and hoping against hope that your carrier gives you something more than a bone. Nuff said.

Neutral

Kurt Dahm @ Oct 21st 2006 2:44AM

Hey downsouth or should I say mobile retard from Best Buy. You still sell ESPN Mobile when it doesn't even exist anymore? lol. So you know what churn is, that is remarkable. Do you know what ARPU is? How about EBITDA? I'm sure you can google it and before you post a reply. So, we'll never know the extent of your "expert" capabilities.

Neutral

TJB @ Oct 21st 2006 3:15PM

Just as an example of how American cell phone carriers are shortchanging their customers I submit the following. Verizon offers the Samsung 3.2 Megapixel SCH-A990. They offer the nearly identical phone in France but it's called the Samsung Z710 with added features like FM Radio, Stereo bluetooth,(a2dp) and 128 megs internal memory instead of the skimpy 70 megs that Verizon offers. I theorize that American companies want to keep us in an eternal loop of constantly upgrading so they intentionally request that the mamufacturer remove some features. GSMarena has one picture of it from the side that doesn't do it justice, To see the best picures of phone go to http://www.welectronics.com/gsm/Samsung/SAMSUNG_Z710.HTML

Neutral

tommy @ Oct 22nd 2006 1:52PM

Do any of the alltell phones work on verizons network -- can they be switched on to verizon or are they locked to alltell.... I, too, HATE the VZW UI -

I have the Nokia 6236i, last of the newer phones w/ out the UI.

However, it was VZW's first higher end Nokia in a while, so now that updated models (and the hot new Nokia flip for VZW) are out, they're using the crappy UI.

But my phone lacks bluetooth, the speakerphone is shitty, and the screen is on the small side. Otherwise for an all digital phone w/ an internal antenna its fantastic. Picks up signals my LG never could.

Anyways, back to the alltell question....

Thanks - please email me

Neutral

Brad S @ Oct 25th 2006 12:05PM

I need to know a better time on when this is comming out? I've purchased the RAZR v3c when it first came out and I'm getting kinda bored with it. I'm a motorola guy so any other brand I would not go for in the first place. So hurry up Verizon I was able to upgrade as of last month and I was not impressed with the KRZR i mean did they make that phone specifically for girls the width of that phone just does not cut it.

Neutral

Terence @ Oct 26th 2006 11:20PM

I think it goes without saying this: EVERY carrier has its trouble, and if you can do better? By all means...

But here's where I will say this: all of the cell phone industry is about marketing...change...calls! Buy the service and by word it better work. That's the whole list of the bang, minus any of the extra features that may or may not be included in a cell phone.

What gives you value? Data? Phone functionality? Call drop rate? Customer service? Every market will appeal to someone in the long run, and sadly enough, it won't be appreciated no matter what is done for the consumer. (Ah, the joys *cough* of working for the cell phone industry!)

NOW then, moving back to this cell phone; it rocks! VZW totally made a smart move teaming up with Motorola to offer the RAZR line exclusively w/ its network (of which, it invests $5 billion/year into). And honestly? This is just STYLISH! Great features, VCast, you name it. So kudos to that =)

Neutral

coolshock @ Oct 30th 2006 4:43PM

Saw the gsm version in person. It's going to Asia first and I was told that it will only be gsm/cdma wideband. Unfortunatly not coming to Verizon.

Neutral

Lisa @ Oct 30th 2006 8:08PM

Well can I just say you all trip me out.

First - We all know how far behind the US is from Europe and Asia when it comes to technology .. no need to rub it in. But lets get a few things clear .. there is this group called the FCC .. yeah they kinda like to tell people .. oh I'm sorry "Approve" what technology can and can't be used here and how to use it .. when to use it .. how often and how much. And once they get paid the rest of us can enjoy. Sounds like a plan hugh? Explain something if GSM gives you all this Freedom (like how some people throw that around) Why does Cingular offer the same stuff other companies do? Why aren't they ahead of the game .. right .. thats cause it's Cingular.

On another note - how many kinds of Cell service do they use in Europe and Asia? GSM and CDMA .. right .. for the most part GSM. SO .. if every company is on the same network one which they can all share and work on then it would make sense that you wouldn't get billed if someone called you. Lets just count here GSM, CDMA, TDMA, PCS, oh and that trusty Analog all offered in the USA. So .. how does this work .. hm .. lets say that you have Cingular (using Cingulars network to place and receive your calls) and your friend has Nextel (same thing using Nextel network for their calls) as a business person the person on Cingular using Cingular network would get billed air time and vice versa. Now if you both have lets say Verizon then when you talk to each other it's free .. for both .. Do we all get it now? I THINK I FEEL THE LIGHT GO ON. Companies aren't going to charge you to talk to people in the same network but they will bill you to use their network to place or receive calls from someone who is not on the network. That is how things get paid .. that is here in America. Now I'm not saying this is right but they have to make their money some how ..

As for this phone .. I'm not to much of a fan. I love my LG9800 and can't wait for the 9900 to come out. Oh .. the MP3 thing .. if you have a 9800 or a 8300 press menu and 000000 go to option 12 Music Settings select MP3 & MOD that way you can use your MP3 and the other version. Also I record my ring tones from whatever song I like then I send it to myself as a message and save the sound .. once I do that I can select it as my ringtone. Haven't had to pay for a ringtone since. Not a tech nerd .. figured that out on my own .. lol Oh for those who don't want to pay for sending pictures to there e-mail .. if you have a miniSD card and a card reader .. problem solved .. hope this cleared some heads out there.

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 2nd 2006 3:46PM

Wow. A lot of discussion about the MAXX... wait.. no... not so much.

so what does everyone think about the phone?

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:04PM

@Lisa

The 9900's scheduled to come out 11/20, so start counting days!

Neutral

flea @ Nov 6th 2006 9:11PM

does anyone know when this phone will be released?

Neutral

VZRep @ Jan 20th 2007 6:25PM

I have no hard date for a VZW release date.. I CAN tell you that we did get $50 Mail-in Rebate forms that now have the SLVR 7Lc and the RAZR Maxx Ve on them.

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