Motorola i9 for Sprint-Nextel gets FCC approval
The FCC strikes again. Sprint customers who still get their iDEN on should be happy to learn the upcoming Motorola i9, first seen back in May with the name Motorola i890 “CABO”, has just made its way through the FCC approval process and it’s ready to go. Actually, the i9 is something a little new from Moto – no, Motorola isn’t dropping the RAZR form factor anytime soon but this time they’ve thrown some ModeShift into the mix. Yep, the cool backlit buttons found on the ROKR E8 and other models can also be seen on the i9. If you’ve yet to play with a ModeShift-enabled Moto, it’s actually pretty cool. Button labels are displayed via the keypad backlight and the labels and function of certain buttons changes according to the area of the UI you’re in. Toss some haptic feedback into the mix and you’ve got ModeShift. Other i9 spec highlights include a 3.1 megapixel camera, integrated GPS and stereo Bluetooth. No word yet on when the i9 might drop or where pricing will be but smart money is on a pre-holiday release.
Now that is one ugly phone…
form factor looks like a skinny kickstart (pearl flip)
Looks like they’ve figured out how to make iDEN phones without the antenna stub- I thought that was a requirement to get any halfway decent reception.
the kickstart is an ugly phone also…
This phone is not ugly what so ever. For an IDEN phone, this is really, really nice.
somebody please tell me this thing has wimax, as rumored previously. that would kick ass since iden data blows.
Thanks for posting this article. There has been a lot of inquiry about the i9 so we appreciate you beating many news groups to the punch. The i9 will be great addition to our current line of phones. Also, those buying the phone will now be able to utilize our Ready Now program in any of our Sprint stores, where our staff members will show users how to fully understand all the features that their phone can do. We’ll keep you posted on the release date!
does it work like a nextel phone or a sprint phone?
Nextel
Motorola, Sprint and Boost Mobile have officially announced the long awaited Motorola i9 as the Stature, which is being touted as the thinnest Nextel DirectConnect and Boost phone ever released. Along with the announcement, Sprint has launched a pre-order page for the phone which allows email registration for further information.
The Stature features a touch sensitive outer display at QVGA resolution with ModeShift support, haptic feedback, microSDHC expansion slot, speakerphone, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, and a 3.1 megapixel camera with autofocus, 4x digital zoom, and flash. As is the norm on Nextel and Boost handsets, the Stature will also feature GPS support
The Stature also fully supports all major Nextel services including International Direct Connect , Group Connect, Direct Talk, and Direct Send while Boost only supports International Direct Connect.
The phone will be available on Boost at the end of the month for $299.99 while Sprint will be launching it the beginning of next month for $199.99 after $50 mail-in rebate and new 2 year agreement.
Here is a link http://www.sprintenterprise.com/stature/ to the new IDEN phone on sprints website.. The phone may suck compared to 90% of phones on the market today but for iden users it is going to be like an iphone…well I should not go that far but the best phone ever available on the iden network..
Also this phone is just the start of slim full featured iden phones.
Does this phone have the lock application feature like most motorola phones? That enables you to lock certain parts of your phone such as your text or pictures, those sorts of things. Considering switching to Boost Mobile am wanting to know what all this phone offers. thx
KOOL…PHONE I WANT IT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE ITS CHIRP….WHERE YOU AT./..
REALLY KOOL./…STOP HATING////JUST CAUSE YOU AINT GOT ONE,….
THIS IS A WELL MADE PHONE!! NOT UGLY, PROBABLY THE BEST NEXTEL/BOOST PHONE MADE YET. ITS BETTER THAN WHAT U HAVE!!!
I bought this phone online from boost. Three weeks later, Im sending it in for repairs to motorola. I wish I would have never bought this phone. The battery died and will no longer charge. Tried new battery, nothing. This phone also has other issues. When it was working, all the lights would flash on then off while charging. Come to find out, it does this on all of its phones. Boost has a great calling plan, but the phone service goes out allot in the Detroit area. Anyone want to buy a boost phone?
how much do you want for your phone ?