Nextel i930 To Launch In Summer 2005?

[Kris Kumar]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1748981,00.asp

"A slew of rumored phones, or phones announced earlier but still nowhere near the light of day, also showed up in Motorola's booth. ... And the i930 will be Nextel's first smartphone, a neat-looking flip Windows Mobile Smartphone that bridges iDEN and GSM networks for worldwide roaming and has both a camera and a Secure Digital memory expansion slot. Expect that one to appear late summer at the soonest."



Our reader Skiwhack has posted an interesting news story originating from the CES. According to the folks at PC Magazine, Motorola is showing off its iDEN/GSM combo Smartphone, the i930 which is slated for the Nextel networks. I know a lot of Nextel users are eagerly waiting for this Smartphone and ever since the Sprint-Nextel merger was announced, the possibility of the launch of this Smartphone had grown slim. If this news story is to be believed, Nextel users will be playing with the i930 Smartphone in the summer of 2005. I still can't understand, why is this phone being delayed. :? Do you think this Smartphone will get released or will it end up like the MPx100?

[Kris Kumar]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1748981,00.asp

"A slew of rumored phones, or phones announced earlier but still nowhere near the light of day, also showed up in Motorola's booth. ... And the i930 will be Nextel's first smartphone, a neat-looking flip Windows Mobile Smartphone that bridges iDEN and GSM networks for worldwide roaming and has both a camera and a Secure Digital memory expansion slot. Expect that one to appear late summer at the soonest."



Our reader Skiwhack has posted an interesting news story originating from the CES. According to the folks at PC Magazine, Motorola is showing off its iDEN/GSM combo Smartphone, the i930 which is slated for the Nextel networks. I know a lot of Nextel users are eagerly waiting for this Smartphone and ever since the Sprint-Nextel merger was announced, the possibility of the launch of this Smartphone had grown slim. If this news story is to be believed, Nextel users will be playing with the i930 Smartphone in the summer of 2005. I still can't understand, why is this phone being delayed. :? Do you think this Smartphone will get released or will it end up like the MPx100?

[apeguero]

That phone looks pretty thick man. I hope they'll thin it out a bit

This may be enough reason for me to renew my other cell account which I have with Nextel and is currently being used by a family member. I may add another phone to that (my own) and kick Cingular to the curb 8)

[rbrome]

Here's more info and pics in my CES report:

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/c...index.php?p=m3

I can confirm that it won't be out until August at the earliest.

Also, the Moto people I talked to said they're worried that only a VGA camera and no Bluetooth will make it too outdated by then, so they're seriously considering just scrapping it and moving on to an upgraded model that adds megapixel and Bluetooth (but which won't be out until even later, of course.)

[Mike Temporale]

Kris has told me that Nextel is planning on keeping their network up and running until 2007, but I still can't see buying or releasing something that you know won't last for very long.

:?

[drober30]

I pray they don't scrap this phone! They should scrap the camera altogether if they are worried that it wont be good enough but still release the phone to have a smartphone in their line up.

I had Nextel service and left for AT&T when the MPX200 was released. The smartphone platform was exactly what I had been hoping for but the MPX200 had one very major issue here in Michigan. It did not have the 800 band that is widely used here so it did not function as a phone!

I really missed the Direct Connect (DC) feature of Nextel. It allows my wife and I to have an ongoing conversation in parts. There can be an extended period of silence before one of us decides to start talking about something again or you can say.. hey.. hang on a minute instead of I'll call you back and having to dial a number, let it ring, and start incurring minutes from the time you connect to the time you hang-up.

Anyways... my point is I have been waiting everyday for news to break on this phone. I have everything in outlook and with apps like eWallet and such the phone was a tool I counted on.

I wish I was not bound by contracts or I would pick up the Audiovox with its glowing reviews!

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by apeguero

That phone looks pretty thick man. I hope they'll thin it out a bit

All Nextel phones seem to have a stocky build. :-)

The thing I like is the big external screen. But I am guessing that it will be a big battery drain. :-(

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by rbrome

Also, the Moto people I talked to said they're worried that only a VGA camera and no Bluetooth will make it too outdated by then, so they're seriously considering just scrapping it and moving on to an upgraded model that adds megapixel and Bluetooth (but which won't be out until even later, of course.)

Ouch..August! What is holding up this phone? I thought MPx220 took the longest time. Looks like Moto is trying to break its own record.

And no Bluetooth...that would concern me.

Okay so we have size, no Bluetooth and VGA camera as the concern. Add to that the fact that Nextel is going CDMA in 2007. Which means the iDen/GSM combo does not make sense for them in the long run.

Mike, now I agree with you, this phone may never see the day of light. :-(

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by rbrome

Here's more info and pics in my CES report:

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/c...index.php?p=m3

Thanks for the photos.

The phone seems to have the traditional Nextel style industrial design. Looks like that is a Nextel mandate(?). :?

[Skiwhack]

8O
I keep waiting and waiting and better phones keep coming out.

I agree about the Nextel DC service, my wife and I really like it too. As a nextel subscriber for the last 6 years and AT&T (sub-standard service) prior to that they probably love me. But I am seriously considering a carrier switch. Nextel subscribers, call them and say that you are considering the switch to a new carrier. I did and my fees were reduced 40% for "Being such a loyal customer".

Either Verizon or T-Mobile seem sufficient http://www.jdpower.com/cc/telecom/index.jsp and they both will or already will support the 7100 Blackberry or Audiovox 6600 which are like Eve's tempting apple, I just worry about being bitten by the bad service snake.

As a product development person I'd have to agree and say they either need to launch it or scrap it. They've probably invested some serious time & money and are about to make a decision. Either way we the consumer win in the end. 5 megapixel cell phones? Live video? GPS?
What's next...Teleportation?

Ski

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by Skiwhack

What's next...Teleportation?

Teleportation: that's one feature I wouldn't dare try on a Moto branded phone. :rotfl: