Smartphone Thoughts: The Rugged Smartphone: Nextel i930 by Motorola

Product Category: iDEN/GSM based Mobile Phone.
Manufacturer: Motorola
Where to Buy: Sprint Nextel
Price: $499.99 USD ($349.99 with 2 year contract)
Specifications: Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, 200Mhz TI ARM OMAP 730 Processor, 64MB, 800/900Mhz iDEN and 900/1800/1900Mhz GSM, GPS, Walkie-Talkie, VGA (640x480) Camera

Pros:
� Rugged design;
� GPS;
� Walkie-Talkie;
� Voice quality and speakerphone;
� Practical external display;

Cons:
� Poor battery life;
� Older Windows Mobile operating system;
� Application locked;
� Lacks Bluetooth;
� Heavy;
� Does not support Direct-Talk.

Summary:
We first heard about the Nextel i930 by Motorola in the December of 2003. Between the initial news in 2003 and the official launch in late 2005; Nextel merged with Sprint PCS and Motorola halted the development of a couple of Windows Mobile based Smartphones, raising doubts in the minds of the loyal Nextel and Smartphone fans on whether or not this Smartphone would get released. And finally when the product launched, it did not include Bluetooth and the latest Windows Mobile operating system. So how does the Nextel i930 by Motorola, which is the first ruggedized Smartphone with built-in GPS and Walkie-Talkie functionality, rank as a Smartphone?

Read on for the full review!