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Texting goes to hell in a handbasket on Boost; Seidenberg vindicated?
The knee-jerk reaction to Verizon chief Ivan Seidenberg's recent inflammatory interview -- saying he doesn't know "what Sprint thinks it is" in response to Boost's blowout $50 all-you-can-eat calling and texting plan -- was to call him out for slamming competition (because, let's be real, no one likes executives hating on affordable stuff). His belief was that Sprint simply didn't have the network capacity to support a plan priced that aggressively because it'd bring too many new subscribers on board, and drama over on the iDEN airwaves suggests he may not have been too far off the mark. Boost resellers and customers alike are apparently experiencing insane text messaging delays -- sometimes several hours' worth between sending and receiving -- that are rendering the service useless, and while voice and push-to-talk are still said to be performing flawlessly, a strong swing toward messaging in the past 18 months across all US carriers (along with the upcoming launch of the Clutch) puts the spotlight squarely on the problem. Texting has never been iDEN's strong suit; it's simply not what the network was originally built to do, and when we approached Boost about this at CTIA earlier this year, we were told that the situation was under control. A company spokesperson says that they're working around the clock to get the delays resolved and expect to have it smoothed out by next week -- but with the $50 plan continuing to win conquest subscribers hand over fist and a network that's being stressed in ways it's never been stressed before, we have to wonder: is this every going to be fully resolved? Even more importantly, though, with Boost's pricing undercutting its national-level competition by a country mile, do they even have to fully resolve it to keep customers on board? [Via mocoNews]
Motorola intros i465 Clutch, company's first QWERTY iDEN device
Following the seemingly unstoppable trend toward QWERTY and heavy texting in the low end of the market, Motorola has announced its very first iDEN device to ever feature a full keyboard. The rumored i465 looks just a little better in glamorous press shots than it did before, and it's picked up a name along the way -- Clutch. Naturally, Boost Mobile is a perfect fit for the thing, and the Sprint division looks to be launching this quarter. Specs include Bluetooth 1.2, a 160 x 128 display, video capture via a VGA cam (hey, it's low-end, what did you expect?), and mil-spec compliance for shock, vibration, and all that good stuff that you might need when your phone hits the pavement. Pricing will be announced closer to launch, but we don't expect it to break the bank.
Motorola's r765 and r765IS could crush your phone with their bare fists
You may have been under some horribly misguided impression that your silly little i580 was "rugged." Well, we've got news for you, pretty boy -- Motorola has handsets that eat i580s for breakfast, and they're coming out this year. The r765 and r765IS are designed for use in some of the harshest working environments in the world, and odds are you'll never see one, much less own one -- in fact, they're targeted for private iDEN networks, not anything like Nextel -- but those who need it will probably appreciate the mil-spec compliance, the full watt of radio power (0.6 watts on the r765IS), and the latter model's intrinsic safety rating for use in explosive environments. Look for the r765 to launch this quarter, with the IS model following on a quarter later. [Via MobileBurn]
Sprint's BlackBerry 8350i, now with less camera
We knew it was coming, but the last time we checked, we had a big fat "TBD" in the launch date column -- now, the wait has finally ended and throngs of camera-free phone fanboys and girls can get their BlackBerry on (come on, you know who you are). The iDEN-only 8350i has been stripped of its cam, but not its dignity -- a good match for businessfolk working in higher-security facilities where covert imagery is still a concern. Unfortunately, the removed technology won't save you any dough; you'll pay the same $149.99 on contract after rebate as the "normal" 8350i buyers, but at least you won't get thrown out of a secret laboratory by ripped guards wielding AR-15s for bending the rules. [Via Boy Genius Report]
Motorola i856 iDEN slider in the wild
Okay, now that Motorola has a genuinely decent-looking iDEN flip in the wild -- the i9 -- what's the next step? A decent-looking slider, naturally! This here is the i856 from Moto, featuring a 2.2-inch display, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD expansion, and... well, of course, push-to-talk. By GSM or CDMA standards, it's not much of a phone, but you're going to be hard-pressed to find another slider (particularly one that puts half an effort into looking good) on iDEN airwaves -- and on a carrier like Boost, we can see this playing pretty well (whether this is the rumored "Banfi" for Boost, we're not sure, but it looks like it could be). Look for it to hit sundry carriers around the world toward the end of the third quarter for a bit less dough than the i9.
Motorola's rugged i580 gets fittingly doused in yellow for Sprint
It's not that we didn't appreciate Motorola's rugged i580, but even for a beater phone, it just struck us as atypically drab. At long last, Sprint is looking to remedy that very complaint by pushing the all-weather clamshell out with a shockingly yellow accent. The "highly visible" new hue can handle even the nastiest of environments without cracking, and the Direct Connect support means that you and your pals can chirp away as much as you like. Other features include GPS (TeleNav), Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera and up to 1GB of optional removable memory. Folks sick and tired of breaking their handset (or huge, huge fans of yellow) can snap one up now for $119.99 on a two-year contract.[Via MobileBurn]
iWOW's i976 to make a non-Motorola splash with iDEN and GSM
Quick: how many non-Motorola iDEN devices can you name? Besides the odd BlackBerry here and there, the list is indeed very short -- and that's where iWOW comes into play. It seems the Singaporean firm is responding to the IiOF's request (that's the International iDEN Operator's Forum, by the bye) for a dual-mode iDEN / GSM handset, and early versions of the fruit of their labor -- the i976 candybar -- are starting to circulate. The device will feature a 2 megapixel cam, Bluetooth, and a hard switch for manually cycling between GSM and iDEN networks. If you were somehow thinking you might nab this on Sprint Nextel in the US on account of that logo up top, though, think again -- as of now, only Nextel's international operations have an eye on it. Just a little better looking than that dual-mode i930 Moto was selling a while back, eh?
Sprint puts the Motorola Stature i9 on sale, too
Following its earlier launch on subsidiary Boost, Sprint Nextel proper has now seen fit -- as expected -- to launch the hottest iDEN phone ever created, Motorola's Stature i9. $199.99 on contract after rebate will buy you a 3.1 megapixel cam, GPS, Bluetooth, microSD expansion, and all the iDEN-powered Direct Connect action you can handle; why these guys opted to push this thing down to Boost first is totally unclear to us, but hey, it's available to the traditional Nextel cats now too, so no hard feelings. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola i9, others coming to Sprint this week?
We've seen a number of launch date leaks for Sprint courtesy of partner Brightpoint in the past; generally, they tend to be pretty accurate, so we're going to go ahead and put some weight to this latest one. Looks like we can expect Nextel to pick up the Motorola i9 on Wednesday -- Boost got it a little over a month ago, you might recall -- along with the ancient i580 in yellow. Brightpoint also reels in the Palm Treo Pro a few days earlier than Sprint's official date, while the LG Rumor 2 launches a few days later on the 15th or the 29th; Brightpoint's wording is a little odd here, so it's hard to tell exactly how it'll shake out. Finally, we have a camera-free version of the BlackBerry 8350i in the works, a logical product for RIM to be taking on considering the phone's all-business roots.[Via phoneArena]
Motorola's iDEN i465 passes muster with the FCC
Well Motorola's first iDEN QWERTY effort has sailed through the FCC's proving grounds and will apparently, or at least potentially, grace our push-to-talk pockets one day. We chattered about this wee red phone a bit on a recent podcast because from the looks of the pics we've seen, that keyboard will saw through fingers, and for a messaging handset, that's just not good planning. If Boost Mobile literature is to be believed, then we can potentially expect this around June 15th this year, though, don't hold us to that. Thanks FCC for testing and ensuring that this handset met 47 CFR 2.1093 (c) for RF exposure and found to be compliant with the limits specified in 47 CFR 2.1093(d)(2). Top job, love your graphs.
QWERTY iDEN Motorola i465 official press shot leaked
Well, what do we have here? Yep, that's the Motorola i465, the first iDEN phone with a full QWERTY keyboard in the entire universe in a seemingly official press shot. Mobile Review's somehow gotten ahold of this slick piece of photography, which shows the dumbphone off in a much better light than we've previously seen. We still don't know much else about the specs, or when this Sprint-Nextel bound puppy will show up. [Via Unwired View]
Telus BlackBerry Curve 8350i review
The Telus Mike-branded BlackBerry 8350i Curve is a monstrous step in device technology for the Canadian giant as the only other BlackBerry in the lineup is the BlackBerry 7100i *cough*. So we'll start this off by saying goodbye to the year 2006, welcome Mike to the year 2009, and share a few thoughts -- and an enormous gallery -- about this new Direct Connect set.%Gallery-45863%
Sprint's BlackBerry 8350i firmware update fixes boatload of issues
Sprint has released a shiny new build of BlackBerry OS 4.6 for its 8350i on Nextel -- 4.6.1.128, to be exact -- and let's just put it this way: if you have this phone, you want this update. By all accounts, it appears to directly address a bunch of major issues that have been affecting early adopters, including blank screens, missing songs, and MMSes that end up getting delayed into oblivion. Good things to get fixed, yeah? Follow the break for the full changelog straight from Sprint.
Motorola's i9 gets shown off on video
So, you already know all there is to know about Motorola's i9 (on paper, at least), but wouldn't you like to see it toyed with on video? If you've found yourself shaking that noggin' to and fro, we'd recommend that you have a look past the break. There, you'll find a three minute walkthrough of the flip phone on Boost Mobile, and while no surprises await you (no shower scenes or anything of that nature), it's still a worthwhile use of your time if this one's on your "maybe" list.
Motorola's i365IS is intrinsically safe, intrinsically ugly
Oh, brother. If you're worried that Motorola's already brawny i365 just isn't robust enough to withstand the pressures of your daily life, there's the newfangled i365IS. If you're curious as to what the "IS" means, here goes: "intrinsically safe." Seriously. The handset, which would obviously play well in a recreated episode of Saved By The Bell, is a GPS-enabled push-to-talk device that is "safe to use in hazardous areas that may contain flammable gasses, vapors or dust." Obviously, the mobile will tap into the Nextel Direct Connect network in order to keep up with comrades, and its rugged chassis is certified for "military specification requirements including humidity, blowing rain, dust, shock and vibration." Further specs include a paltry 130 x 130 resolution display, Bluetooth and a talk time of around 300 minutes. There's no mention of a price or release date, but real men can wait, anyway.[Via Mobiledia]
Sprint has a year to sell Nextel spectrum in iPCS regions
Okay, so it's not just that Sprint can't offer service on iPCS' turf -- it's that they have to offload all that airspace, too. Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois has decided that Sprint needs to sell off its Nextel service areas that overlap with iPCS within 360 days, which marks another big win for the affiliate that's been all up in Sprint's business ever since the Sprint-Nextel merger several years ago. What's more, iPCS has more pending litigation claiming Sprint is withholding "advanced technologies" in favor of iPCS' competitors, so there's still all sorts of bad blood between these two. As for potential suitors for Nextel's obligatory spinoffs, Sprint's not talking -- yet -- but with iDEN's seeming second wind, snatching up that network might not be the worst decision a company could make.
Motorola i9 "Stature" gets real on Boost Mobile
We caught sight of the iDEN Motorola i9 Stature a week or so ago, but it was sitting comfortably in limbo until today. The Motorola i9 Stature will be arriving for your walking / talking pleasure at Boost Mobile by the end of February and sliding into Sprint shops shortly after that. Touted as the thinnest phone in the Direct Connect line (a tiny 15mm) it comes equipped with a 3.1 megapixel camera with flash and auto-focus, GPS, up to 8GB of memory, haptics, and Bluetooth. Pricing on Boost will be $299 and $199 on Sprint if a two-year carrier commitment is more your thing.[Via phonescoop]
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]
Boost Mobile pulling the plug on CDMA promotion
The writing was probably on the wall, but no one's paying close enough attention to what Boost Mobile's doing to even notice. phonescoop has it that the company famous for pushing its services with giant sized humans uttering one liners such as "yo" and "where u at?" is getting set to slowly (but surely) phase CDMA out of its life. According to company spokesperson Tatum Hawkins: "Boost Mobile will still operate, support and service its CDMA-related products, but it will no longer promote them. If customers wish to sign up for CDMA-based services, they may still do so. However, Boost will no longer create new CDMA products and/or services, nor will it add new CDMA phones to its roster of devices." From here, the firm hopes to focus on "building up the strength of its iDEN-based services and devices," so from us to you -- good luck with that Boost Mobile.
i465 to be first Motorola iDEN phone with QWERTY
A year ago, "innovation" and "iDEN" were two words we wouldn't dare use in the same sentence -- but in the age of i9s and 8350is, the landscape has changed just a bit. That's not to say we'd dare consider switching from CDMA or GSM to the old-school PTT airwaves, but hey, it's good to know the Nextels and Mikes of the world are still getting theirs in 2009. This year should see the release of the Motorola i465, the very first iDEN Moto to score a QWERTY keyboard -- and no, it's not Windows Mobile or anything fancy like that. Instead, it seems they'll be taking the low-tech route by grafting a full keyboard onto a dumbphone, a strategy that's really caught on with many of the world's carriers in the past year as they've looked to boost messaging revenue with cool, affordable phones geared toward a younger segment. It's got Bluetooth 2.0 and a lowly VGA cam, but other than that, specs, release dates, and target carriers are all a mystery to us -- so if you're in that curious group of folks who text and push-to-talk like monsters and can't tolerate anything out of Waterloo, keep your eyes peeled.%Gallery-43294%
