Motorola IMFree Handheld Instant Messenger Kit

by Motorola

Product Details

Product Manual [1.64mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009LI6N
• Item model number: MX240a
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Manufacturer's Part # MX240A
This product is Brand New.Great Motorola Buy! IMfree Wireless Instant Messenger IMfree lets instant messengers roam almost anywhere around the house up to 150 feet from an Internet-connected PC and base station so your teens can chat with up to six buddies at a time from the comfort of... wherever.

Best of all, with the home computer in less demand, other family members can get their work done at the same time.

Parental controls enable you to determine when the IMfree device can be used and which chat invitations can be accepted. Big families can support up to seven handsets with one base station. There are no wires to string, and no additional monthly fees because it works with a free AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account you don't even have to be an AOL subscriber. Getting started is easy, too, because it uses current AIM Buddy Lists.

With IMfree, the family computer is available for the family once again. And the kids don't have to miss a single LOL or OMG moment.

Specifications

• 9 oz - weight of handheld with battery
• 4.5"(w) x 4.8"(h) x 1.3"(w) - size of handheld with battery

Features

• The home PC can be used for other software applications while the IMfree handheld is in use
• This product is Brand New and comes with a 1 year warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Overstated range - lousy support, December 30, 2003

By 

G. Tyler Allman (Northville, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motorola IMFree Handheld Instant Messenger Kit (Electronics)

I purchased a couple of these for my kids for Christmas, 2003. According to the tech specs, the transmission range for these things is 120 to 150 feet.

The units we received indicate 'out of range' when taken upstairs in our house, which is about 50 feet from the base unit.

I used Motorola's web support site and asked if it was possible that my units were defective. They sent me the URL to an FAQ, which told me that the working range for these things is 150 feet. Very frustrating. It seems they did not even read my question. To add insult to injury, their automated customer satisfaction followup email was emblazoned with the motto 'intelligence everywhere'. I beg to differ.

In summary, I do not recommend the IMfree.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great idea, great price, poor design, June 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Motorola IMFree Handheld Instant Messenger Kit (Electronics)

This product hits at a much used function on today's computers: IM. And, at [this] price this is just right for a lot of Holiday gift lists.

However, by requiring the base to be attached to a PC (which has to be on, running a special program, and connected to the Net) rather than directly to a wireless broadband router, Motorola has limited the appeal of their product to a much smaller market than need be.

Motorola should have spent the extra effort to allow this unit to connect to home 802.11x networks in addition to a USB connection for those who don't have a wireless LAN.

A great idea that could be much better in its next version.

38 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible product, June 1, 2004

By 

Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Motorola IMFree Handheld Instant Messenger Kit (Electronics)

Other than its somewhat-cute looks, the IMFree handheld is a terrible product, because it doesn't work. This is a big disappointment to me as I'm usually a big fan of Motorola's products.

First of all, the charging takes forever, and the units seem to have trouble holding the charge. BTW, you get one base and one handheld unit in each package. Kinda weird since I haven't found a way to buy the handheld unit separately. So you over-pay each time and get this large package with things you don't need.

Second, wireless range is truly terrible. If you live in a loft you'll probably be ok, but for those of us who live in walled houses, the reception completely drops after just a few feet when you move to the otherside of a wall.

Third, the keyboard sucks, and the screen sucks even more. Keys are very hard to hit, and the screen is not viewable in most lighting conditions.

Fourth, the IM program sucks. There's a slight but noticeable delay in IM, and it doesn't always tell you when your buddies log off.

In short, this is an alpha product, and you shouldn't have to pay for your frustrations.