Moto Razr² debuts in US... almost

US mobile phone networks have taken delivery of Motorola's latest Razr handset - the slightly-skinnier-than-the-original Razr² - the phone maker claimed late last week. Putting it on sale to punters may take a little longer.

  
Motorola's Razr² V8: in the round

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Consumers should get the phone in their hands within the next two weeks, Motorola added before listing AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular and Alltel as the carriers who've agreed to offer the new slimline clamshell.

The Razr² was launched in May this year. The line-up comprises three models: the 2.5G V8, the 3G HSDPA V9 and the EvDO V9m.

All three phones sport a 2in, 320 x 240, 262,144-colour external display and a 2.2in, 320 x 240, 262,144-colour internal main screen. Each has a two-megapixel, 8x digital zoom camera, and has Bluetooth 2 with wireless stereo on board.

  
Motorola's Razr² V9: in the round

Pitching the handsets at music lovers, Motorola pointed to the dedicated music keys on the back of each device. It said the V8 will offer 420MB of user-accessible memory. The V9 gets 45MB, but both handsets can be expanded with 2GB MicroSD cards.

Verizon said it will offer the V9m for $350 - buyers can mail in a coupon to get $50 back - if you sign up for two years. AT&T will, in early September, offer the V9 for $300, again with a two-year contract.