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Motorola Pebl

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Motorola PEBL U6
MOTOPEBL
Availability by regionQ4 2005
Compatible networksGSM 850/900/1800/1900 (quad band)
Dimensions49 mm×87 mm×20 mm
Weight110 g / 3.8 ounces
Memory5 MB internal
Rear cameraVGA, 640x480 pixels, video
Display1.8inch, 176×220 pixels
262,000 color TFT LCD
Connectivitymini-USB, Bluetooth (Class 1.2), GPRS class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots) 32 - 48 kbit/s, WAP 2.0/xHTML.

The Motorola Pebl U6 (styled PEBL, pronounced pebble) is a clamshell/flip mobile phone designed and developed by Motorola. The Pebl U6 was first shown in February 2005 originally as the V6[1] before being unveiled as the U6 in July 2005.[2] It was named for its small and sleek appearance, as well as to evoke comparisons to a "pebble". The U6 is a GSM model: a CDMA variant, U6c, was announced in December 2006 for some markets.[3]

Unlike the company's then other fashionable handsets, Motorola Razr (V3) and Motorola Slvr (L7), the Motorola Pebl (U6) foregoes a slim profile for rounder shapes and a thicker base. The clamshell mechanism has a hatch that releases a spring to unfold the phone.[4] Other than being thicker, the Pebl is smaller than the Razr which also means a smaller (1.8 inch) display while the second external display is downgraded to be monochrome.[5] Like the Razr, the Pebl has modest internal specifications very similar to the V600 and V500 series.[6]

In the US, the Motorola Pebl was released on December 14, 2005, exclusively carried by T-Mobile,[7] and the company ran a Pebl ad at the 2006 Super Bowl,[8] although it did not match the grand popularity of the Razr.[9][10]

Design and appearance

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Motorola U6 (folded)

The body of the Pebl U6 is primarily made out of metal, although everything other than the hinge has a colour coating which makes it matte rather than shiny. The external texture is polished but not quite smooth, resisting finger prints and smudges. Buttons and connectors are kept flush in order to maintain the phone's smooth appearance. In contrast to many other products with a one line external display, the external screen is mounted vertically, rather than horizontally.[4]

The unit is held closed by magnets, and can be opened with a single hand by pushing the lid of the phone away from the hinge mechanism. The hinge itself is spring-loaded, so that when cracked it actively swings fully open. This dual hinge design was unique.[11]

Release and colors

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Initially, the product was available only in black, but in the second quarter of 2006, Motorola launched four additional colours, likely due to the popularity of the pink color of the Razr V3.[12] The Pebl was produced in black, blue, green, red, orange and pink, although the exact colour selection varied per country. Shortly before the new colors became available, Motorola commissioned photographer David LaChapelle to capture the new Pebl phones in a colourful photo shoot.[13][14]

Features

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The Motorola Pebl is used by George Clooney's character in the film Michael Clayton.[15]

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The rounded profile of the Motorola Pebl was also later used on the Motorola W315, an entry-level CDMA handset released in 2006.[16][17][18]

In September 2007, Motorola introduced the Motorola Pebl U3, using the PEBL moniker. It is very similar to the Pebl U6 but has changes in the design, interface, as well as the removal of Bluetooth and a lower screen resolution.[19][20]

In October 2007,[21] Motorola announced a new phone called Motorola U9, seen as an upgraded of the Pebl U6.[11] It features Motorola's MotoMagx OS, a better display, an improved 2.0-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot and touch-sensitive music keys. The phone was made available in the first half of 2008. This phone does not have the PEBL moniker. It originally used the ROKR moniker when it was announced.[22] A version marketed as MOTOJEWEL was also produced.[23][24]

Motorola Korea locally released a new 3G-capable Pebl in South Korea in 2008.[25][26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Motorola PEBL V6 - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  2. ^ "Motorola PEBL U6 Unveiled - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  3. ^ Team, PhoneArena (2006-12-01). "Motorola prepares second CDMA PEBL phone". PhoneArena. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  4. ^ a b published, Total Mobile (2015-07-23). "Retro Phone Review: Motorola PEBL". TechRadar. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  5. ^ "Motorola PEBL U6 & RAZR V3i review: Fashionable duo". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  6. ^ "Motorola PEBL V6 - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  7. ^ "Motorola PEBL launched by T-Mobile USA - MobileTracker". www.mobiletracker.net. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  8. ^ Tribune, Chicago (2006-02-04). "Superday casting for Pebl from Motorola". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  9. ^ "Motorola readying another PEBL-like phone for CDMA". Yahoo News. 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  10. ^ "Another phone with a vowel-conserving name". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  11. ^ a b "Motorola U9 announced". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  12. ^ "Motorola PEBL now comes in color - MobileTracker". www.mobiletracker.net. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  13. ^ "King of Color Shoots New Motorola Color Pebl Handsets" (Press release). Motorola. 2006-04-27.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Motorola Pebl Colors - David LaChapelle". Motorola. Retrieved 2006-09-17. [dead link]
  15. ^ Feldman, Brian (2017-10-05). "It's Been 10 Years Since Michael Clayton Held Up His Tiny Phone". Intelligencer. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  16. ^ "W315 PEBL look alike headed to Verizon". Engadget. 2006-09-18. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  17. ^ Team, PhoneArena (2006-04-04). "Motorola adds RAZR V3m and W315 to its CDMA portfolio". PhoneArena. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  18. ^ "Motorola Adds To Both Ends of CDMA Lineup". Phone Scoop. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  19. ^ Balan, Elena (2007-09-13). "Motorola U3 PEBL Turns Stylish Pink". softpedia. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  20. ^ "Motorola PEBL U3 and ROKR W5 Preview - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  21. ^ "Motorola U9 - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  22. ^ Mark (2007-08-16). "Motorola ROKR U9 exclusive music phone: PEBL gets an upgrade". PhonesReviews UK- Mobiles, Apps, Networks, Software, Tablet etc. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  23. ^ "Motorola Announces Hideous "Jewel" Phone".
  24. ^ "Motorola's MOTOJEWEL has a surprising number of vowels". Engadget. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  25. ^ "Motorola's 3G Pebl skips on over to Korea". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  26. ^ Troaca, Florin (2008-07-24). "New Motorola PEBL, a Flower-Phone for Girls". softpedia. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
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