Based on design concept of RAZR, Motorola’s most successful mobile phone world-wide, the entry level W220 is not a cheap clone. Functions may be on the underside when compared to the all-metal RAZR, but the build quality and material used in the all-plastic W220 is really top-notch. There is just nothing "plasticky or tacky" about it. Garnish it with some snazzy looks, and you have something on your hands that will make most entry level candy bars feel under-dressed. In my opinion this is a ’classic’ and it’s never going to go out of fasion. Kudos to Ignacio Germade, Motorola’s chief designer, for a wonderful job with the W220!
Having run out of phone-book space in my ’old faithful’ Nokia 1100, I was looking for a another entry-level thing with more space but not at the cost of ease-of-use. All it took for me to investigate was a blown ad poster of the W220 that said "500 phone entries plus 150 on SIM card". The first time I had ever seen or held a W220 in my hand, was at the showroom where I bought mine. It took me less than five minutes to buy it and walk out of the shop! And, I am not a compulsive buyer! I did make an effort to find out more, but with a release date around the third quarter of 2006 (except G3 areas), there were hardly any reviews posted on the web at the time of my purchase.
So, how did a ’nokia-guy’ switch party with the kind of finesse that could put some politicians to shame? To answer that, I’ll say, quality and form-function has no real brand-names. There is no doubt in my mind that the Nokia 1100 is still one my most admired basic no-nonsense handset. Why the clamshell W220? The candybar 1100 gets switched and re-dials sometimes accidentally when in the trouser pocket.
I also like the three flashing LED lights that indicate incomming calls (green), SMS (blue) and battery low (orange). Three years on, the W220 has given me zero trouble. Only the battery life seems to be getting shorter, thus more frequent charges (once in two days as opposed to once in three or four days). Perhaps it’s time to get a new battery.
This is one phone I will recommend to anyone who wants a no-nonsense-gizzmo-free-talk-as-much-as-you-want-to phone. You don’t have run out of the buildings to receive or make a call with this one. I think that only an all black version (smarter looking too) with a somewhat stickier silicon exterior is being marketed now. The W220 has been dropped a few times on hard floors due to the mirror and satin finish (thus a bit slippery). No problem, it continues to work just fine. If you want to communicate using you voice or send short messages, this is it. Get it before they stop production. Anything good, has to be discontinued - a definitive Murphy’s Law of profitablity.