Motorola Motorokr T505 Speakerphone
Manufacturer: Motorola Part number: T505
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Motorola Motorokr T505 sports a superb set of features beyond that of a simple speakerphone, also integrating Bluetooth music devices with car stereos.
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CNET editors' review
Motorola Motorokr T505 Speakerphone price range: $68.99 - $106.92
- Reviewed by: Antuan Goodwin
- Edited by: Wayne Cunningham
- Reviewed on: 08/13/2008
The good: The Motorokr T505 looks and sounds great. Features, such as a rechargeable battery, built-in FM transmitter, and A2DP music streaming, make the T505 an excellent option for hands-free calling and more.
The bad: The T505 is not a full duplex speakerphone, which can lead to awkward pauses in conversation.
The bottom line: The Motorola Motorokr T505 sports a superb set of features beyond that of a simple speakerphone, also integrating Bluetooth music devices with car stereos.
At first glance, the Motorokr T505 seems like an average visor-mounted speakerphone. Its calls are clear, its design is unobtrusive. However, when we looked a little deeper and really explored its features, we found that there is a much more complex and flexible device hiding under the T505's simple exterior. A2DP music streaming, a built-in battery, and a built-in FM transmitter make this device much more than just a speakerphone.
Design
Clipped to our test vehicle's sunvisor, the T505 is a handsome looking device. Smooth and devoid of any sharp angles, the T505 is made of matte-finished metallic plastic. In a world of high-gloss fingerprint magnets, the T505 looks high quality and subdued.
The bottom surface of the device is dominated by an omnidirectional speaker with a bright chrome Motorola logo set into the center. The front of the device is home to a call answer/end button, a play/pause button, and a multicolor LED that communicates the device's status. On either side of the T505 are volume up and down buttons, while the back is where you'll find the power and FM buttons as well as the USB charging port.
Features
The T505 features a built-in rechargeable battery with up to 18 hours of talk time. We like this feature because it lets you ditch the power cord while driving, which means there's no cable dangling in your field of view. There is also an autopower feature that puts the device to sleep when unused and wakes it for a call. The long battery life coupled with the device's autopower meant that during a week of testing, we only had to charge the battery once. When the time to charge does come, the T505 gets its power over USB and comes with a micro USB car charger. So, if you want to charge the T505 outside of your car, you'll have to supply your own USB cable.
We'd like to see a caller ID display on the face of the T505. The device does speak aloud the number of the incoming call, so the lack of a display isn't too bad. However, if your phone offers a text-to-speech caller ID, you should probably use it instead, as recognizing a caller based on phone number alone can be a bit unwieldy. Calls are answered and ended with the call button, and the last number called can be redialed by holding the call button for 2 seconds.
Motorola didn't just stop at the basics for the T505. If, for example, the built-in speaker still isn't loud enough for you, you can use the FM transmitter function to route calls through your car stereo's speakers.
Another great feature the T505 offers is A2DP audio streaming, which lets you use the device as a monaural speaker or, in conjunction with the FM transmitter feature, stream music to your car stereo. This is a great feature for people who own a Bluetooth-enabled MP3 player or a phone with A2DP streaming. When in A2DP mode, the side buttons allow the user to skip back and forward between songs and a play/pause button starts and stops the music. This allows you to leave the phone or MP3 player out of view and helps keep your eyes on the road.
Performance
Pairing the T505 with our test phone was painless. When powered on, the device goes into discovery mode, re-pairing with the last connected device when it comes in range.
The Motorokr T505 handles all of the basic speakerphone functions with ease. The built in omnidirectional speaker is loud and clear, and very easy to hear over road noise. The pinhole microphone did a good job of eliminating road noise, but not completely. Voices sounded a bit hollow during our test call, but we could still hear clearly. The metal visor clip has a rubber coating on the interior that holds the device firmly in place during spirited driving.
Like most speakerphones where the microphone is close to the speaker, the Motorokr T505 is not full duplex. This means that there are no noisy audio feedback loops caused by putting the speaker too close to the microphone, but it also means that the microphone doesn't pick up while the speaker is operating and vice versa. At best, this slows down the flow of conversation. At worst it results in awkward pauses in natural conversation while waiting for your turn to talk. Unfortunately, this is par for the course with speakerphones in this price range, though, to the T505's credit, the annoyance is minimal.
Setting up the FM transmitter function is even easier. Simply hold the FM button on the back of the device and the T505 searches for the clearest channel in the area. Once it finds a channel, the device speaks the radio frequency aloud so you can tune your radio to its frequency. All calls or A2DP music streams will now be routed through the car's speakers via the FM radio. Sound quality is reduced because of FM compression and interference, but volume is only limited by your car's capabilities. The device continues to use the internal microphone for calls, so sound quality remains the same in that respect. If a call comes in while you're rocking out, the T505 will pause the music for the duration of the call. Users highly concerned about privacy should know that when in FM mode, their conversations can be picked up by any FM radio in the area, but the transmitter is relatively low power and has a short range.
In sum
By stepping outside of the speakerphone box and adding functions that are both cool and functional, the T505 gets high marks for features. We like how the T505 integrates its features, such as how A2DP Bluetooth works with the FM transmitter, making the device into a liaison between your digital music player and stock car radio. Regardless of how you use the device, it is easy to operate and sounds good, earning the T505 high performance points. We think the design looks great and creates a user experience that's both pleasant and easy to use.
The Motorola Motorokr T505 is more than just a really good speakerphone--it's more than the sum of its parts. The features chosen work so well together that they create a device that can be used in many different configurations.
User reviews
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Not for 3G iPhone
by kaz67 on October 6, 2008
Pros: Cordless and rechargeable features are good. Also does occasionally transmit to FM
Cons: Must turn 3G iPhone Bluetooth on and off each time you enter the vehicle to get it to pair.
Summary: This prouct sounds like it works well with other MP3/Bluetooth phones but not the 3g iPhone. It has to be "repaired" EVERY time you start the unit and DOES ...
Summary: This prouct sounds like it works well with other MP3/Bluetooth phones but not the 3g iPhone. It has to be "repaired" EVERY time you start the unit and DOES NOT transmit iPhone songs (none of these Bluetooth devices do, by Apple's choice.) This unit may work well with other phones but I would not recommend use with the iPhone 3G.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Polycom of Bluetooth Speakerphones
by tharrington on September 20, 2008
Pros: Great sound quality both directions.
Compact size.Cons: Weak FM signal.
Summary: While this speakerphone won't be found in any boardrooms like the Polycom speakerphones, it's sound quality is almost on par. The unit is about the same width and ...
Summary: While this speakerphone won't be found in any boardrooms like the Polycom speakerphones, it's sound quality is almost on par. The unit is about the same width and 1/2 the length of a pack of cigarettes. It has the classic, removable, elongated "C" shape visor clip to mount it to your car visor, which it grips like an alligator.
It has a built-in 2.5w speaker, which sounds just fine, or you can use the FM transmitter to listen to your callers or music playing on your smartphone. I found I have to increase the volume of my car audio system about 25% to get the same volume level as an FM radio station.
The power button is on the left rear of the unit and the call button is on the left front, meaning you have to be carefull to not press both functions when you are trying to turn the unit on. The unit will automatically power down when it no longer detects the Bluetooth device it is paired to, greatly increasing battery life.
The unit does a good job of finding an empty space in the FM spectrum to transmit on and announces the frequency when you turn the unit on. You have to turn on the FM transmiiter manually with a button on the right rear, with a white LED indicator that shows you it is working. The FM transmitter turns off within a few seconds after completing a call, unless you are streaming music to it.
Overall, I'd say CNet's review is pretty accurate and I can highly recommend this product.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great product and well design with easy connectivity.
by magic67 on September 4, 2009
Pros: Fantastic, user friendly. Easy connectivity and great sound.Otherwise one of the best handsfree device with easy connectivity and great sound via bluetooth - FM to car.
Cons: No multiple connectivity, LCD display.Just wished, multiple bluetooth connection is available . Also wishes it had a LCD display.
Summary: Small, elegant, able to charge at home and in Car. Great sound, well priced, and easy connectivity to bluetooth devices.
Love it every time I used it.Summary: Small, elegant, able to charge at home and in Car. Great sound, well priced, and easy connectivity to bluetooth devices.
Love it every time I used it.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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SOLID BLUE TOOTH DEVICE. CAN CHARGE AT HOME. VERY NICE.
by MIKEDJR1018 on August 28, 2009
Pros: CAN CHARGE WITH AC CORD(NOT INCLUDED). YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE CAR CHARGER TO OPERATE SO THERE ARE NO CORDS IN THE WAY. BATTERY LIFE SEEMS GOOD. SMALL IN SIZE. GOOD NAME BRAND. SOLID PRODUCT.
Cons: SLIGHT BREAK UP IN RECEPTION VERY NOW AND AGAIN BUT NOTHING BAD AT ALL. NO BIG DEAL FOR ME.
Summary: VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PRODUCT SO FAR. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO CHARGE THE UNIT WITH AC CORD (YOU CAN PICK ONE UP CHEAP) AND THERE ARE NO CORDS IN ...
Summary: VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PRODUCT SO FAR. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO CHARGE THE UNIT WITH AC CORD (YOU CAN PICK ONE UP CHEAP) AND THERE ARE NO CORDS IN THE WAY. WHEN IT RINGS IT SOUNDS LOUD ENOUGH FOR YOU TO HEAR EVEN WITH RADIO ON AT DECENT LEVEL. IF YOU WISH YOU CAN PLAY CALLS THROUGH YOUR CAR SPEAKERS BUT IT WORKS FINE FOR ME JUST WITH THE SPEAKER ITSELF. VERY SATISFIED.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great, Great and GREAT!
by ccornmesser on August 21, 2009
Pros: Paired with my Storm very easily, internal speaker is very good, and the FM transmitter works great!
Cons: Only thing I can think of is it would be better if you could manually select the station to transmit to.
Summary: I was looking for a good FM transmitter to stream music from my BB Storm to the car. What I found was a great product that does that and more, ...
Summary: I was looking for a good FM transmitter to stream music from my BB Storm to the car. What I found was a great product that does that and more, all for a great price! I bought mine at Staples for $100 but it can be found online for cheaper. Also, with all the different states looking into different laws on cell phones while driving it is only a matter of time before you have to be hands free. If you are on the road as much as I am this is a great addition! Being able to stream my calls through my car stereo is awesome!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sound and clarity excellent
by brikada on December 12, 2008
Pros: The speaker is very clear, no echo. Call receiver couldn't tell if I was on a speaker phone. Voice activated dialing through speaker performed beautifully. Spoken incoming # id is very fast no waiting. Battery life is excellent. Haven't used FM yet.
Cons: The power on/off switch is a bit of a pain, having to hold it sucks, and because the button is in the back and the unit slides forward off the visor clip, you have to be careful not to dislodge it when powering on/off.
Summary: I use a Motorola phone (Razor) and this unit is awesome so far. Not sure how good it is with other phones but if you're looking for a good ...
Summary: I use a Motorola phone (Razor) and this unit is awesome so far. Not sure how good it is with other phones but if you're looking for a good looking, sleek, quailty speaker phone this unit won't disappoint.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I love it. It's a keeper!
by ashworth102680 on December 4, 2008
Pros: Excellent battery time. Bluetooth sync with 3G iPhone is a snap and doesn't lose pair as @kaz67 had mentioned.
Cons: FM station tuning could be more intuitive while driving.
Summary: The switching between FM frequencies sorta sucks. I wish this could be easier. A way to better manage which stations are the best in my area would be good and ...
Summary: The switching between FM frequencies sorta sucks. I wish this could be easier. A way to better manage which stations are the best in my area would be good and the option to have a couple of hard buttons on the back which act as "presets" to the best stations would be great.
I live in Vancouver, WA and commute to Portland, OR across the river. Station strength changes as I commute, so the ability to swap stations synced to this device or toggle between a couple presets is essential for me.
For that reason, I've opted not to use the FM wireless transmitter, because of the safety issues with doing that process enroute, but also because the speakerphone on the device itself is rock solid. I can hear people loud and clear.
The device does an excellent job of cancelling out most road noise, and people on the other end can hear me perfectly. I actually had a friend get in my car and I stood outside on his handset and could hear him from within my car perfectly.
If it had better FM syncing, I would upgrade to 5 stars in a second. My God, the battery lasts forever!!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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FREEDOM TO GAB!
by seaglass105 on August 29, 2008
Pros: NO EAR PIECE! SMALL AND DISCREET BUT LOADED WITH VOLUME! DID NOT TRY IT THRU CAR SPEAKERS, THIS UNIT GIVES MORE THAN ENOUGH VOLUME ON ITS OWN.
Cons: DIDN'T COME WITH WALL CHARGER, CALLED MOTOROLA AND THEY KINDLY SENT ONE AT NO CHARGE!
Summary: NOW I CAN GAB WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING A TICKET.
Summary: NOW I CAN GAB WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING A TICKET.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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T505 Flawed Design
Pros: Good sound quality, when it works
Cons: System powers off after 30 minutes on no activity. FM feature powers off after 10 minutes.
Summary: The FM speakers feature powers off after 10 minutes of inactivity therefore one has to use the device through the T505 speaker, not the FM speakers. If one re-connects, then ...
Summary: The FM speakers feature powers off after 10 minutes of inactivity therefore one has to use the device through the T505 speaker, not the FM speakers. If one re-connects, then you have to seek new FM station.
After 30 minutes of no use, the T505 powers off. If a call comes into one's cell phone after that 30 minutes, then one would have to power on the T505 by pressing and holding the Power button on the rear of the unit, then press the Call button on the front of the T505.
I believe that these double steps, especially having to press and hold the Power button on the rear of the unit, is NOT safe handsfree use and therefore a hazard.
Why does Motorola not allow one to leave it on while you are in the vehicle. Also one can not use the vehicle charger while driving due to having the cord strectch from the lighter outlet up to the visor. No plugin charger provided with the unit.
No wonder Motorola has lost the cell phone and cell phone accessory business to the competition.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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does what it says, few minor glitches.
by jaymoreau on September 29, 2009
Pros: visor placement makes call experience/quality great
decent FM transmitter sound quality (was same quality as my DLO Transpod)
worked well with iPhone 3GS.
reasonable battery lifeCons: how do you keep something in a visor charged? (cord in way when driving)
jack for power adapter flimsy (broke on me)
auto-station select only, which works ok, hard to understand robotic-voice interface.
not very intuitive controls.Summary: While conceptually this phone has some great ideas and decent sound quality without wires, the power cable becomes an issue. If you have a the ability to charge devices while ...
Summary: While conceptually this phone has some great ideas and decent sound quality without wires, the power cable becomes an issue. If you have a the ability to charge devices while the car is off and park in a garage where the thing wont get stolen, then this is not an issue at all for you.
City dwellers who cant leave electronic devices charging in plain view will have problems with keeping this in the visor, since the cord would be dangling in front of you while charging.
As someone who has tried many FM transmitters due to there being no possible wired option for my model vehicle, I was satisfied with the audio quality provided that the device was in the visor. When the device was in my cup holder the quality of the transmission was greatly reduced. This was likely due to antenna proximity in my car.
Auto-station select does not always pick the best channel. In fact, it seems to go to the last picked channel first, and then you need to click twice to force it to choose again. The T505 definitely prefers lower numbered stations.
I believe that my power jack broke in my T505 due to the tension in the cord in stretching from my visor to the cigarette lighter, so be careful if you wish to use it this way.
No company seems to have produced the ideal Bluetooth Receiver -> FM Transmitter yet, but this one is the best model that i have tried to date. Feature improvements I would like to see would be: RDS support, manual tuning option, not having to charge the device in the visor to use it, and more intuitive controls.
My goal in buying this device was to have a device that would integrate my iPhone 3GS wirelessly to my car, and this definitely accomplishes this task.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Motorola
- Part number: T505
- Description: The MOTOROKR T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone and Digital FM Transmitter, enables you to connect a Bluetooth enabled phone to your car stereo without wires or installation. This portable solution clips to the visor, so that it can be taken from car to car. You can make or take calls hands-free and enjoy your own music via the T505's internal 2-watt speaker or through your car speakers - with the clarity and volume of a car stereo system. Music streams from a compatible Bluetooth Stereo phone or MP3 player to the MOTOROKR T505, via Bluetooth. The T505 then wirelessly connects to the FM radio. With the touch of a button, the breakthrough technology of StationFinder announces where to tune the FM radio for a clear FM connection. Drivers can also simply use the T505's internal speaker to play their music and calls if they?re in an area where FM transmission is difficult.
General
- Product Type Speaker phone - Bluetooth 2.0
- Additional Features EasyPair technology
Headphones
- Headphones Type Speaker
- Connectivity Technology Wireless - Bluetooth 2.0
- Bluetooth Profiles Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
- Sound Output Mode Mono
Microphone
- Type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Remote Control
- Type None
Wireless Link
- Transmission Range 33 ft
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Visor clip
Power
- Battery - Rechargeable
- Capacity 1150 mAh
- Run Time (Up To) 18 hour(s)
- Standby Time 336 hour(s)
Manufacturer info
- Motorola
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Motorola products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.motorola.com/
- Address:
600 N. Highway 45, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847/576-5000
