The price must be mixed up, as the V3i is the newer model that's just coming out, the V3 the older one.

$650 for the V3i is ridiculous, and $250 still too much for a V3. The V3i is a minor update of the V3, with a higher resolution camera and a memory card slot (in case you want to use it as an MP3 player or store many pics from the still-crappy cam). According to my information, it won't have edge capability (high speed data transmission) at its introduction, although the GPRS implementation is indeed upgraded to class 10 (slightly faster data transmission).

I expect the V3i will come down to current V3 price levels within months.

Both have the mediocre Motorola user interface, poor battery life, and IMHO a flimsy-feeling hinge.

The larger V3x, in case you run into it, is an entirely different phone with 3G, and not really available yet.