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Boost launching at least four iDEN phones this year -- i465 included
We've managed to get a look at launch documents for Boost Mobile's new $50 PayGo Unlimited plan, which just so happens to detail a few upcoming handsets for the scrappy little Sprint division. Look, we're not going to sugar-coat it -- it's not the most exciting lineup we've ever seen -- but then again, this is an iDEN carrier, and a low-cost one at that, so we've got to go into this with an open mind. First up, the venerable i290 candybar will see a $10 price drop to $39.99 on April 15, and if that's not a really awesome way to celebrate Tax Day, we don't know what is. Next, the text-focused i465 with QWERTY will swing by on June 15 for $109.99. A so-called "Banfi" will come on August 2 for $139.99, and while we can't really make out much about it, it appears to be a slider that might take some visual cues from the Z9 (in the same way the i9 takes cues from the V9, we suppose). Speaking of the i9, there's no sign of it here -- but we will get a "Mako" candybar on October 1 for $89.99. Anyone feeling a sudden, irresistible desire to do some push-to-talking?[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
iDEN to finally lose some pudge with i290 candybar
i880 series aside (maybe), Motorola's iDEN lineup really doesn't have a track record of wowing the fashion conscious among us. Granted, the network has always been targeted at heavy-duty industries where impressing those around you with your face candy isn't necessarily a priority, but it'd still be nice to have the option of getting in on the most ubiquitous PTT service without carrying a phone that looks like a brightly-colored rock (and no, we're not talking about a PEBL, either). Enter the i290, a phone outed by Motorola that displays Telus branding -- Canada, here we come -- and will almost certainly find its way to Sprint, too. Little is known about the slim candybar, but the lack of a "c" in the model number likely means that it's straight iDEN, not an iDEN / CDMA hybrid. High end? No, but unlike most of its stablemates, you might get away without anyone knowing you're using iDEN here. We'll throw out more details as we get 'em.
