Rating: We think its NFC capabilities will work at MWC 2013
Just days before the industry’s most crucial trade show – MWC Barcelona, Motorola Mobility decided to announce the availability of its latest RAZR handset – the HD, into the UK. There’s no actual mention of this handset being ‘ranged’ by any of the UK’s networks – only a list of mainly online suppliers. What is even more curious is that – despite hyping its 4G capability as one of the RAZR HD’s main features, there’s no mention of it being compatible with the UK’s only working 4G network – EE. Well, we reckon it is anyway. Plus we think if you got yourself one right now it would work with the MWC NFC app despite not being on the official list.
When GoMobile News visited the Motorola UK web site, the specs given here didn’t look right.
For starters there’s plenty of mentions of CDMA One support – which means they must be the North American specs.
Luckily one of the RAZR HD’s online resellers, Unlocked-Mobiles.com had a much more convincing set of specs (published below) and found here. It also gave an indication of price – £395 (inc VAT).
So the RAZR HD will run on all the flavours of 4G/LTE the UK is eventually going to offer including the 1800 MHz version for EE/3UK.
As GoMobile News has publicised before, at MWC Barcelona this year [2013], the organiser (the GSMA) has gone very heavy on promoting NFC technology.
It’s current list of handset on which its NFC app will run on is once again visible and can be found here.
The list mentions the Droid RAZR HD and the Motorola Maxx but not specifically the RAZR HD. However, we’ve got it running on the RAZR i so we reckon it is definitely compatible.
It look us ages to find the page where the GSMA actually says how to get hold of its NFC app. It’s here and what you should be searching for is either NFC Badge or GSMA.
It’s actually compatible with Android handsets running v 4.0 (ICS) and above (so the RAZR HD is fine because it is running Android 4.1, Jelly Bean).
Here’s where to find the NFC badge app for Click here to download the Android 4.0+ version on Google Play; Click here to download the Windows Phone 8 version in Windows Phone; and Click here to download the BlackBerry 7.1 version in BlackBerry App World.
Incidentally, thanks to Jelly Bean the RAZR HD also boasts Voice Actions for Android which lets you, make calls, search Google and text by voice – hence it is Google’s answer to Siri.
Finally here’s the list of UK resellers for the RAZR HD … Amazon.co.uk, Expansys.com, Clove.co.uk, Unlocked-Mobiles.com, Very.co.uk, handtec.co.uk and Fonehouse.co.uk. And it is available immediately.
Specifications (courtesy of Unlocked-mobiles.com)
System: GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G/HSPA: 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
4G/LTE: 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600
Battery: 2500 mAh – non-removable
Dimensions: 131.9 x 67.9 x 8.4 mm
Display: 4.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen – 16 Million colours – Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution: 720 x 1280 pixels
Memory: 16 GB with 1GB RAM –MicroSD allows up to 32 GB
Camera: 8 Megapixel, LED Flash, autofocus, image stabilisation, video – 1080p – 30fps, HDR, 1.3 MP secondary camera
Connectivity: Hotspots, Wi-Fi, Hotspots, Micro USB 2.0, DNLA, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE,
Platform: Android Ice Cream Sandwich v4.0.4 with update to v4.1 Jelly Bean available
