I'm getting the sense that the urgency for innovation from cell phone manufacturers has resulted in some cut corners on quality control.

To take advantage of AT&T's GSM network (and a more favorable calling plan only available with it), I bought a Motorola T720 phone. It's much flashier than the v60 I previously used; it has a color display, is capable of all kinds of Internet applications, and improves even more upon the streamlined and compact design of Motorola flip-open phones.

But this morning I experienced the most recent example of a problem stemming from basic operation. My cell phone had been plugged in overnight, charging. When I went to unplug the phone, however, the phone was off. I pushed the "on" button and nothing happened. Finally, after unplugging the actual cord from the outlet and re-inserting it, the phone came on.

In fact, the 720 has these kinds of problems all the time. It will turn off when I end a call. It will say it's charging when afterwards, the battery level is somehow lower. Occasionally with the v60 I experienced similar irritations that were easily solved by power cycling, but on the 720 they seem much more frequent.

The v60 was like Mac OS 8.6--graciously antiquated but relentlessly reliable. I'm saving my old phone in case I ever want to go back.