The rumor mill
promised us that the Motorola W388 would be nothing worth writing home about, and we've got to hand it to the mill -- it was spot-on this time around. Mobil.cz appears to have scored the first shot we've seen of the new low-end candybar, and while the design's positively retro, the microSD slot is still a notable inclusion for such a cheap (or cheap-looking, anyway) device. Music gets some special attention, thanks to a shiny d-pad with embossed music controls, a dedicated player button, and the inclusion (seemingly) of in-ear buds. A VGA camera rounds out the hearty feast of mediocrity. No date or price are given, but you know what they say -- if you have to ask, well, odds are you can probably still afford it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Derek @ Jul 15th 2008 9:27PM
Has anyone else wondered what Motorola employees DO all day? Their job must be as boring as their devices, because they don't seem to do much.
derX @ Jul 15th 2008 9:58PM
I'd assume it would consist of a lot of Craigslist because it's a matter of time before there are more lay offs.
That and Solitaire.
derX @ Jul 15th 2008 9:57PM
"hearty feast of mediocrity" = win
Ziegler, even about a write up on crappy little phone, you never dissappoint LOL
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Personally, I don't think the device is particularly cheap looking--definitely not high end win. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this were for the MVNO or for a provider in some developing country. As someone's mentioned before, Nokia does sell high end phones, but it is such a sucessful company because of it's lower-end offerings.
Chris Ziegler @ Jul 15th 2008 10:40PM
I aim to please!
derX @ Jul 15th 2008 11:03PM
Is your avatar from an episode of South Park? If so, you gain more win.
Chris Ziegler @ Jul 15th 2008 11:29PM
Nope, it's a silhouette of Dramatic Chipmunk with a translucent question mark placed on top for no particular reason.
Which, now that I think about it, could've very well appeared on South Park at some point.
Paul @ Jul 15th 2008 10:56PM
I don't get the hate, here. I look at this and see, well, yes boring. But it is no more or less boring than Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, and the others who are competing in this particular space--namely entry level. High-end Motorola's are nearly as exciting as high end Nokias, Samsungs, LGs, etc. I know that Moto is still using some of the old RAZR styling cues, but most manufacturers maintain a look 'n feel for quite some time. Especially the Europeans (SE & Nokia). I just don't get it. Why the constant hate? Are you all so eager to say bye-bye Moto?
derX @ Jul 15th 2008 11:09PM
What hate are you talking about? This phone is pretty damned boring. The most noteworthy thing about the device is its VGA camera.
When the Moto ZN5 was announced, it was covered and was accepted well. When it was found out that the phone topped out at EDGE, it was rightfully downcast. Things like this is why there is a generally pessimistic view at the future of Motorola. In 2008, why the hell would a (struggling) company have its flagship phone have EDGE data? It makes no sense.
While the outlook on Moto's future is bleak, no one really wants to see it fail. In fact, a while back, Ryan Block offered to help 'em out. If that's hate, what's love?
shutupandletmego @ Jul 15th 2008 11:22PM
I know what you mean. But I don't think this is hate towards Moto. It seems more like a pathological denial to see anything beyond the high-end as being useful. Moto just seems to get more of it since they haven't done a very good job with servicing that segment (high-end) of the market.
It's funny how they think they know what the people want. If Ryan had actually been made the CEO of Moto, I guess all you would see are 8MP phones with tons of features that most people don't really use and Moto would lose even the 8-9% market share it has now owing to no sales in cheap markets.
Of all the talk about 3G and WiFi and what not, ultimately only 15% of the people in the US actually use internet on their phones. I read some time back on another tech blog on how they were pissed on not being considered mainstream media at trade shows. I think you guys have a long way to go. You can start with not considering the needs of 85% of the people "mediocre".
retro77 @ Jul 15th 2008 11:36PM
I am glad that the people that don't want a touch screen and all can still get a candy bar phone. Someone's gotta make them.
LEANDRO @ Jul 16th 2008 10:56AM
Well, I am a lover of Motorola´s phone mobile. I do not think this phone is as boring as its said. Sure, Motorola has got better mobiles. I own Motorola Z8 and V8, and they are awesome. By the way, Nokia and Sony Ericcssom sucks. I can´t wai to get the new Motorola ZN5, it is just PERFECT....
MadMike @ Jul 16th 2008 2:54PM
Motorola is still in business? Wow. Just, Wow.
Anand D @ Jul 17th 2008 12:24AM
Ugly!
Trevor @ Jul 17th 2008 1:03AM
This device isn't actually a Motorola device at all, it was designed and built by ODM Compal.
It will replace the C261 in the product line, and unless Tracfone or AT&T bring it on as a prepaid device chances are it will never see these shores.
The display is a 128x160 CSTN.
surfgeko @ Jul 17th 2008 6:35PM
am i the only one that instantly thought "new se phone" when reading the name.
i was sadly disappointed, moto, stay away from sony ericsson's naming scheme!!
Isabel @ Jul 19th 2008 3:44AM
I was just in the market recently to buy a new phone, and frankly, this type of phone is one that I wouldnt' even have paused over. It is clunkly looking, something like I carried ten years or so ago. Now, mind you, I am NOT very tech smart, but I do know what I like... and That phone is just boring. I don't want all the bells and whistles, I just don't use them all, but I also don't want to have a clunkly phone to slip into my jeans pocket. I'd have thought that technology was going forward, not backward. Now retro IS nice, but not in electronic equipment.
Nope, it looks like Motorola employees think that the company name will make up for lack of inginuity, freshness. Sorry, there are PLENTY of cool phones out there without having to settle for this.