Windows Mobile 6 gives Moto more under the hood, such as Microsoft Direct Push e-mail, while the VCast Music-centric default homepage makes it seem intended solely as a gateway for Verizon's music service. If you can ignore the come-ons, you'll find a satisfying, slim smartphone.

At 4.6 x 2.6 x 0.5 inches and 4.8 ounces., the Moto Q 9m is just a hair larger than the original.

The phone's front has been slightly redesigned, with more space given to the call start and stop buttons, and the size of the keys on the QWERTY keyboard increased slightly.

There's now no space between the keys, which makes them easier and more comfortable to use. The only fault with the keyboard now is that the number keyare difficult to read. In Verizon Wireless's ads, the red on the number keys shows brightly, but in real life the red is dull and hard to see.

The Moto Q 9m offers a 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 pixel, 65,536 color display and the standard directional pad controls. A Blackberry-like thumb wheel on the right side lets you scroll and click through menus, while a button below it lets you return up one level.

A small ledge extends over the thumb wheel, apparently to protect it from unwanted jostling. It worked too well; we found it difficult to scroll with the wheel and rarely used it in testing.

On the rear you'll find the lens for the 1.3 megapixel camera, as well as the flash. There's no self-portrait mirror. You need to turn the flash on manually every time you want to use it (there's no automatic mode), which is tedious, but on the plus side it makes a good flashlight for emergency situations.

There's no dedicated button for accessing the camera. The left side holds a microSD card slot (card not included).

The default screen shows a circular multimedia interface, meant to bring users into the VCast Music service. Controls are arranged in a circle, with a black square in the center.

That square shows album covers when you're using the VCast service, or menu controls or photos. The phone doesn't support VCast Video. We immediately held down the toggle key (on the lower right of the keyboard) to switch to a standard Windows Mobile screen.

The phone comes with a sleeve, but not a case, and doesn't come with a headset. All the better to sell you accessories, perhaps.

The Moto Q 9m is outfitted for 3G EV-DO data service, which delivered songs and Web pages quickly in our testing. And its Bluetooth profiles include A2DP support for wireless stereo headsets.

Our only hassle in using it is that it lacks a standby mode. You can hold down a key to lock the keypad, but there's no way to put the phone in standby to save battery life.

Call quality was excellent in the New York City area throughout our testing, and Internet and e-mail service was always quick. The phone is rated for 4.5 hours of talk time and 8.8 days of battery life.

Priced at $199 (including online discount and $50 mail-in rebate), the Q9m is nicely affordable. While the constant emphasis on VCast Music is distracting, at its heart is a stylish, slim phone good for work and play. As a smartphone, the Moto Q 9m is a strong entry-level model