Major features...
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Both dual-band GSM 900/1800MHz, GPRS and 800/1900MHz CDMA, CDMA 1X network support
The most significant feature of this phone is its ability to use both 800/1900 CDMA, CDMA 1X and 900/1800 GSM at the flick of a button. Change between GSM and CDMA network is done by a simple menu option thus giving the users the added flexibility of seeking alternative networks should coverage in a particular one not be available. This is great when travelling between country and city networks. Due to its retractable antenna, the Motorola A840 gives good signal reception all round.
The 2.2 inch, 176 x 220 pixel, 256k colour internal LCD display
When the clam shell is opened, the large 2.2 inch internal screen is the most prominent aspect of the phone. Wallpaper images look great and the onscreen fonts are nice and clear. The next model should have a resolution of 240x320 pixels however as pixels do start to get noticeable when a screen running at 176x220 gets blown up to 2.2 inch size.
Second external, 96 x 64 pixels, 4096 colour LCD display
Gracing the pleasant front panel of the clam shell, is a large 96 x 64 pixel display which shows all the necessary details such as time, date, coverage etc. The large display makes all the necessary information clearly visible. The information layout and display background can also be configured.
MP3/MPEG4 playback with dedicated media keys
The audio MP3 and video MPEG4 playback support requires a particular mention due to the exceptional sound quality from the handset’s internal speaker. As mentioned earlier the speaker will give the effect of playing the audio file on a laptop which is quite good from such a small device.
1.2mpx digital camera with flash LEDs (1280x960 pixels, flash)
Just above the external LCD is where the A840’s 1.2 mega pixel camera is located. There is also a while LED for night-time and low light image capture. The handset can capture images up to 1280 x 960 pixels although it does not have support for video capture.
10Mb internal memory (expandable with microSD/TransFlash card slot)
The Motorola A840 does have 10Mb of onboard memory to store media and contracts. This is expandable through the integrated microSD card slot which can then be used though an adapter, in a typical SD card slot, to transfer media to other devices.
SMS, EMS, MMS, instant messaging and e-mail messaging with T9 support
The A840 supports all the standard forms of messaging available in phones today. The T9 text support is also intuitive and brilliant keypad on the handset makes typing messages a breeze. The claim that e-mail is supported is a bit misleading as it is not natively included in the handset but rather bundled with the computer software package.
GPRS Class 10 with WAP 2.0 compliant browser
The WAP 2.0 browser is powered by either CDMA data (including Telstra’s 1x service) or GPRS data (when in 2/2.5G roaming zones), so high speed is always guaranteed. However, the browser was not tested on this phone due to inability to access these services.
J2ME Java application support
The A840 does have Java support for running applications. However, this feature was not tested due to not having access to Telstra’s Mobile Loop service to download applications. When buying this handset, you should check with the provider about how the application support works as our review handset seamed to be locked to Telstra’s Mobile Loop and we were not able to load applications for anywhere else.
MP3 and 64 channel polyphonic ring tones
There are a number of polyphonic ring tones already included with the handset and custom ones may be assigned from either MIDI or MP3 files. Due to the great speaker the sound quality of the ring tones is excellent and ring tones can also be assigned based on group type.
USB connectivity
A cable which connects the handset to any USB enabled device is included in the package and this makes a handy way of transferring music, photos and synchronising messages and contacts between the phone and your computer. It’s a welcome move for Motorola to include this option straight out of the box as opposed to some other phone companies which have been known to charge up to $60 for a USB cable.
Aesthetically Pleasing and has Good Build Quality
The A840’s combination of black and silver styling creates an aesthetically pleasing shape and look to the handset. The buttons and keypad feel good and make navigation and texting a pleasant experience. The plastic used and build finish also makes the phone look and feel solid to hold.
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