Sprint Nextel i930 Smartphone Photo Shoot

[Kris Kumar]

The folks over at Sprint-Nextel were kind enough to send us the Motorola i930 for a review. Before I plunge in to the review process, I decided to do a quick photo shoot. The i930 is the first Smartphone to sport the Walkie-Talkie feature and a ruggedized body, both of which are Nextel trademarks. :-) This Smartphone runs on Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition and lacks Bluetooth connectivity. I have had this Smartphone in my hands for only a couple of hours now, yet on the positive side I noticed that this Smartphone has a couple of user interface improvements that everyone will appreciate and it also includes a built-in GPS sensor.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930Front.JPG"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930FrontSmall.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><br /><i> Figure 1: Click on the image for the full size image. (791 KB)</i><br /><br />Enjoy the photo shoot and stay tuned for a detailed review. :-) <!> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930AngleSmall.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i> Figure 2: Presenting the first rugged Smartphone.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930BackSmall.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i> Figure 3: Check out the glossy finish. I wonder if it is scratch resistant? :? </i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930CompareSmall.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i> Figure 4: The i930's cousin, the Motorola MPx220 (left).</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930Full2Small.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i> Figure 5: The cab-yellow home screen catches your eye the moment you flip open this Smartphone.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930FrontHSSmall.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i> Figure 6: I haven't installed the screen capture utility and this photograph doesn't do justice to the home screen. Notice how for the highlighted icon, it shows the text label underneath the icon. In this case it reads "Contacts." This simple feature improves usability. 8) </i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-i930Keypad.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i> Figure 7: The buttons are small compared to the overall size of the Smartphone. :( </i><br /><br />Feel free to ask any questions related to this Smartphone. I will try my best to answer them here or in my review. ;-)

[Sven Johannsen]

And you guys thought the 2125 was...well...unattractive.

[jump23]

The i930 can be decertified and GSM unlocked aswell now. I'm using mine with my Cingular sim.

[Mike Temporale]

And you guys thought the 2125 was...well...unattractive.

You know, I don't really mind the look of this device. It could just be me. After all, I didn't really mind the look of the Voq. I did mind the size, but the look was fine with me. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

it also includes a built-in GPS sensor.

What software do they bundle with that?

Oh, and is it a heavy phone?

[Jerry Raia]

I still don't get the whole push to talk thing. Speed dial anyone?

[Kris Kumar]

I still don't get the whole push to talk thing. Speed dial anyone?

Love the customizations they have done to enable, quick-quick-super quick dialing (for PTT and recently called numbers). 8)

Also, you know the Star Trek flip phone - it opens on its own. This one does that too. Nextel phones are designed for single handed operation. So this one has a button near the hinge, one press and the flip opens. Pretty cool! Beam me up.. :mrgreen:

[Kris Kumar]

it also includes a built-in GPS sensor.

What software do they bundle with that?

Oh, and is it a heavy phone?

I haven't played with all the software. There is a Java based app called "Find Me", which works with the GPS sensor. However it needs registration or service activation. :-( Need to find out more.

Heavy? It is. MPx220 is 4.02 oz. This one is 5.9 oz. SMT5600 is 3.67 oz.
But it has a good feel. The size and the weight somehow balance each other out.

[Jerry Raia]

So this one has a button near the hinge, one press and the flip opens. Pretty cool! Beam me up.. :mrgreen:


That is pretty cool. I do miss having a flip phone.

[Moleman]

Bought one this weekend and love it. Dumoed my i739 phone and will hold on to my Axim X5 for a few weeks more... but they are diffinitly on the way out. Did drop the cash for the keyboard to make messaging easier

[Kris Kumar]

Did drop the cash for the keyboard to make messaging easier

The thumb board - keyboard is an example of bad marketing on the part of Nextel. Here is a Smartphone. Come on, show the possibilities to the customers. Keyboard accesory is an option that saves you because this phone does not have Bluetooth to support the Bluetooth keyboards.

Glad that it is mentioned in the booklet that comes with the phone. But otherwise a customer will have no clue.

I am trying to get hold of it for the review. ;-)

[Moleman]

Keyboard was offered to me when I purchased my i930 by the salesman. Bu I did already know about it as it is the sames one offered back when I purchased my first nextel 2 years ago. It was to make entering contacts faster. The same keyboard works on most of the motorola line. At first I couldn't get the keyboard to work until I went to the motorola site and found out that I needed to adjust teh baud rate to auto instead of the default 19200.

[Kris Kumar]

Oh..that's good that the salesman offer the keyboard. So Nextel has smart sales people. 8)

[ChupaKabra]

I just bought one of these today, and I'll be damned if i cant get a single windows mobile app to work. They all appear to install fine on my PC, then the phone begins to install, and just stops saying it is not digitally signed with a trusted certificate. I've tried even installing apps downloaded from Microsoft Windows Mobile's site and get the same msg. If anyone knows what I'm doing wrong or has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

[Mike Temporale]

The phone is application locked by Nextel, so you'll need to get applications that have been signed and are approved by Nextel. :?

[trog]

Great review, Thanks!! Were you able to get the keyboard to work? I purchased both and can not get the keyboard to work with the i930. It works with other Nextel phones. Help!!