Jump to content

Motorola i920/i930

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mark Kim (talk | contribs) at 01:42, 10 October 2005 (→Pricing and Release Information: UFP was modified in Valentine's Month 2005 to be exact--Not modified, but enacted). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Motorola i930 is Motorola's very first iDEN Protocol-based smartphone.

Background

The i930 was released for use with Sprint's Nextel iDEN Network, marketed as a phone that Sprint Nextel iDEN customers can take without having to resort to an alternate phone number outside the Continental US. In the past, world travellers subscribing to Nextel iDEN Services generally have to carry an alternate phone (i.e. the V180) to roam around the world. With the i930, one phone, one phone number can be used at any part of the world [1]. At the time of the October 6, 2005 release, there has been no word whether or not Southern Linc would release this phone.

i930 Specifications

As of the October 6, 2005 release, the specifications are based from the Phonescoop and the Sprint Nextel intel unless otherwise footnoted:

  • 22MB Smartphone-Reserved Memory
  • 26MB In-Smartphone Memory for Storage [2]
  • 32MB SDRAM
  • 64MB EEPROM [3]
  • 310K Pixel VGA (640x480) Camera with LED Flash and 10-Second Video Recording
  • Multimedia and Text Messaging Service
  • WiDEN High-Speed Data Support
  • SD/MMC Card Support Slot
  • Speakerphone
  • Pocket Internet Explorer with Pocket Outlook
  • MSN Messenger
  • Windows Media Player 10 Support
  • Active Sync
  • T9 Text Entry System
  • J2ME
  • MMS Support
  • GPS and Airplane (Disable RF) Mode
  • Length of 3.5", Width of 1.9", Depth of 1.2"
  • Weight of 5.9 Ounces with included battery
  • 165 Minutes Talk Time (245 Minutes for 6:1 Networks), 65 hours Standby
  • 450 mAh Lithium Ion Battery included

Lack of Bluetooth Compliance, MotoTalk Off-Network Walkie Talkie, and Selective Dynamic Group Call are grounds for harsh criticism and outrage.

Regulatory Information

As of 5/19/2005, the Motorola i930 has been approved by the FCC with the FCC ID of AZ489FT5843. As of 7/14/2005, the OET Website now has the i930's external and internal schematics.

Appearance

The i930's appearance will be similar to the pics posted on the FCC Approval Documents and the intel Phonescoop obtained from CES 2005.

Pricing and Release Information

The phone was released for sale at the Sprint Nextel online store at 0:00 hours, EDT. Between the release date and the end of October, the i930 should be on sale at all Sprint Nextel-owned Nextel iDEN outlets. The i930 Demonstration won't be available until sometime in November. The i930 carries the following pricing map (in spite of the 10-month grievous delay):

  • $499.99 MSRP with no contract
  • $424.99 MSRP with a 1-Year Contract
  • $349.99 MSRP with a 2-Year Contract

The 2-year agreement price is available to new Nextel subscribers, as well as all current Nextel subscribers, which is specifically outlined in the Nextel Upgrade Frequency Policy Pages. Firm-related incentives, Equipment/Phone exemptions, and other perks may be given at the discretion of Sprint Nextel. The following firms currently have Equipment/Phones exempt from the NUFP plus Two-Year Incentives:

Nextel's Upgrade Frequency Policy (UFP) was enacted in February 2005 so that existing customers could not buy inexpensive phones for the low 2-year contract price (free in the case of the i205) and then resell them.

Known Criticisms

Lack of Bluetooth compliance ([4], [5]) has been criticised by the following groups:

  • Smartphone Aficionados
  • Windows Mobile Loyalists
  • Power Users
  • Bluetooth Aficionados
  • Wireless Aficionados

Given its grievously long delay of release [6], the i930's obsolescence in both appearance and features are criticised by the following:

  • Technology Aficionados
  • iDEN Aficionados
  • Power Users
  • High-end Consumers
  • Motorola Aficionados
  • Cell Phone Aficionados

The lack of Motorola's MotoTalk-branded Off-Network Walkie-Talkie bothers the following groups:

  • Public Safety Workers
  • Construction Workers
  • Walkie-Talkie Aficionados
  • Consumers who consider an "Off-Network Plan B" as an important Nextel Feature since the i315's debut

Microsoft Aficionados and Windows Mobile Aficionados, in addition to the above criticisms, are really concerned whether or not the i930 will come with either a Flash ROM or an Intel StrataFlash-brand Flash ROM for Windows Mobile 2005-upgrade ready purposes, though Motorola and Microsoft remain tight-lipped about the Flash ROM issue.

NOTE: The criticisms described herein are not yet final. More criticisms are possible both before and after the phone is released. All criticisms and rumors pertaining to the Motorola i930 can be found at either the iDEN Custom, Dave's PDA, The Howard Forums, or the iDEN Insider websites.

Likely Market

Being an "All-in-One" Nextel Phone with iDEN, WiDEN, and GSM in one, the i930 is likely to be targeted mainly to executives who require one single number to be used anywhere in the world regardless of the location he/she may be at in addition to the prerequsite of using Microsoft Outlook to synchornize schedules and meeting information.

Trivia

Many power users from the iDEN Niche expected this phone to be released on-time. With the grievous delay and with the i870 coming up (with Bluetooth, 1.3 MP Camera, MP3 Support, MotoTalk), it may appear that the i930 might be in for a very poor sell. Many lessons might have been learned during the development of the Motorola i930.

See Also

Works Cited

Enthusiast Point of Interests

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Motorola_i920/i930&oldid=25165368"