MOTOROLA i880 NEXTEL CAMERA CELL PHONE

by Motorola

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• ASIN: B000KI2UYG
• Item model number: i880
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Motorola i880 is an ideal choice for those looking for the Push-To-Talk experience, interested in portable music players, and seeking a phone with trademark Nextel durability. Other key features include a 2.0-megapixel camera, stereo speakers, Bluetooth technology, an advanced music player with external controls, a microSD memory card slot, WiDEN high-speed data capabilities, an auto-open hinge feature, and more.

Design
The i880 is no ordinary clamshell. Like other Nextel phones, it's built tough for construction and utilities industry users. The phone sports a very large 176 x 220 TFT color display with a stunning 262,000 colors. Meanwhile, the outside cover features a supplementary color screen that can display images, time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The built-in camera and LED flash are located above this display, while media control keys for the built-in MP3 player are arranged below the display.

A speakerphone unit is located on the rear of the phone, while the trademark Direct Connect and menu scrolling functions can be controlled from the side of the phone. The phone's control pad also features a five-way button that can control most of the phone's functions. A small button on the hinge of the phone's flip mechanism automatically opens the phone for quick access--a real plus if you have your hands full. A standard headset jack is also provided. As mentioned, the i880 also sports a slot for a microSD memory card.

Calling Features
The i880's built-in address book can store up to 600 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. The phone comes with built-in polyphonic ringtones plus a vibrating alert. More polyphonic ringtones can be added, as can MP3-based ringtones. Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family, and associates as easy as saying their names. You can also speak numbers and control other phone features with the sound of your voice. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear, and because the i880 is Bluetooth enabled, you can use it with a wide assortment of Bluetooth headsets for hands-free conversations. The i880's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

The i880's included GPS feature can come in handy in situations other than emergencies as well. Whether you need turn-by-turn driving directions or a smarter way to manage your mobile travel needs, Nextel's Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) solutions can help get it done. Enjoy audible and visual turn-by-turn driving directions to any address, anywhere on Nextel's Nationwide Network, or, use GPS location-based safety services like Mobile Locator, a feature that allows you to locate a friend or family member's phone location at anytime, right from your computer (both require a subscription). And of course, if you need to make a 911 emergency call, the GPS feature can also help emergency personnel locate you. (If your phone has adequate access to GPS satellite signals and the emergency response center is equipped to process such information.)

One of the key features of any Nextel phone is support for Nextel's Direct Connect walkie-talkie technology. The i880 fully supports the service, which allows for one-touch conversations with anyone else on a Nextel phone. It's like a having a CB radio with enough range to cover all of North America, and even across borders to Latin America and Canada.

With the i880's powerful Direct Talk function you can also communicate in walkie-talkie mode when you're not even connected to the network. The system works anywhere, anytime between compatible phones within a range of up to 6 miles (range will vary based on terrain and conditions). Direct Talk provides a reliable back-up communications tool in times of emergency, network outage, or when traveling to remote areas not under Nextel coverage such as hiking, cruise vacations, or inside buildings.

The i880 also features a walkie-talkie private speaker button. This switches from the external speaker to the earpiece for private conversations or to minimize disruptions in quiet environments.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools
The i880 features MMS-based support for mobile-to-mobile or mobile-to-email text and photo messaging. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet anywhere is easy with the i880, as well. Nextel's optional data packages allow you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages, and view your favorite web content on your phone. The service also features games, ringtones, real-time news and sports updates, virtual address books, and more--all delivered to your Nextel phone. With a Nextel Data Unlimited pack, you can get unlimited data transfers from the Nextel network--great for those times when you want to connect your laptop or PDA to your i880 via Bluetooth and surf the Web or check your email.

Another Nextel innovation supported by the i880 is Nextel Direct Send. Simply push a button and instantly send all your contact info to another Nextel phone. It's an easy way to get people into your contact list fast.

The i880 ships with a calendar, a clock, and a voice recorder.

Imaging and Entertainment
The i880's 2.0-megapixel camera features a 4x digital zoom and a built-in flash that makes it easier to get quality shots in low-light situations. The i880 can also capture video clips--capture length is only limited by the amount of available memory on the memory card. The phone's Media Center application and large internal memory (21.9 MB) allows you to store plenty of photos in a variety of file types.

Need some music on the go? The i880's got you covered. A built-in MP3 player lets you listen to tunes on your memory card wherever you please using the speakerphone, or via a pair of stereo headphones.

The i880 is compatible with a number of Java applications available from Nextel. Choose from the previously mentioned TeleNav for GPS-based audible driving directions or Mobile Locator for finding the location of a friend or loved-one's phone (both require a subscription). You can also take a break or organize your schedule with supported games or organizational applications. More game and application downloads are available from Nextel.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola i880 weighs 4.34 ounces and measures 3.55 x 1.97 x .97 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 2.8 hours of digital talk time, and up to 130 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the IDEN 800 frequency. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Product Description

The Motorola i880 is ideal for those looking for the Push-To-Talk experience, interested in playing music and looking for a productivity tool that allows you to stay connected.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice upgrade for existing Nextel users, November 21, 2006

By 

Wayne Schulz "mas90 accounting software guru" (Glastonbury, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MOTOROLA i880 NEXTEL CAMERA CELL PHONE

I bought this phone as part of the Sprint/Nextel SERO plan.

I used it for about 14 days before deciding that it didn't fit my needs for several reasons outlined below:

- Battery life was sporadic -- I got maybe a day worth of power from it. One time it completely discharged overnight. For the price of the phone (and the two year contract it carries) this is a dealbreaker.

- The Nextel network coverage has gone downhill in my area (I was a former Nextel subscriber for 3 years - so I have some experience with coverage around town). I was getting disconnects and sporadic no signals.

- The phone would sporadically mute the ringer. An incoming call would light up the display but there would be no ringing. This seems to happen after I had put the phone on vibrate and then turned it back to ring.

- For the same monthly service fee, I was getting less access to web services and no high speed Internet ability. Admittedly the high speed access is not as useful on a tiny screen -- but if I'm going to be locked into a 2 year contract I would like to have some fast internet access on the phone. The i880 still uses the slow Nextel data network.

I was not a Direct Connect/Walkie Talkie user. If I were, then my opinion of this phone might be a little higher (since Nextel presently has arguably the best fully functioning walkie talkie network). I could not justify being locked into a 2 year contract with equipment that seemed sub-par on a network that did not (and likely never will) support the latest high speed technologies.

Below were my initial impressions during the time I used the phone:

Thankfully Motorola designed the phone so the micro-SD card is accessible from the outside -- no need to pull the battery to update the card.

Here's the big things I don't like.

1. You CANNOT use any mp3 songs that you transfer to the micro-sd card as ringtones.
2. You also cannot readily load additional wallpapers unless it is a picture you took with the phone or a paid download. Any message (mms) that you send to yourself can only be set as a caller id image and not wallpaper.
3. Battery life on my phone is flaky - I'm getting maybe a day and one-half with usage that approximates 60 minutes talk time and perhaps 6 to 10 picture messages.

You must pay Nextel to download ringtones. There are some users who have modified the phone and reportedly are able to use ringtones off their micro-SD memory card - however the process is more technical than what your average user might want to tangle with.

Note: Sprint and Nextel are both owned by the same company. If you're making a decision on Sprint vs. Nextel, there are only a couple reasons that I can think of to recommend Nextel over Sprint. First, if the Nextel coverage is better. Second, if you have a need to use the Nextel Walkie Talkie feature.

The Sprint side of the company features phones with significantly enhanced web browsing and higher speed data communications. The Nextel side clings to the larger phones and aims their services at the industrial/construction market. For almost every consumer, the Sprint side is a better deal. Sprint in my experience has better customer service whereas Nextel tends to transfer you endlessly among a variety of customer service representatives.

Here's my summary of this phone after using it about two weeks:

The Good:

-beautiful speaker phone
-compact design / solid feel
-2 megapixel camera, ability to capture movies
-flip swings open when you push a button
-Nextel sms/mms messages can now be auto-downloaded - I believe this is the first Nextel phone to sport this feature
-nice loud audio
-both Nextel walkie talkie and DirecTalk support

The Bad:
-can't play ringtones off Micro SD or via any other non-Nextel transfer (Note: Technically some people have been using a Motorola product called webjal to make transfers with a cable - but this may be more technical than the average user would like to tackle)
-Nextel is in my opinion on their way out as a carrier, soon to be completely assimilated into the Sprint side of things. While not entirely unexpected, it means that Nextel plans and features are not as attractive to non-construction users (Nextel's core group). If you want Mobile to Mobile unlimited minutes you pay more versus most Sprint plans which include them. Nextel doesn't have the super fast data speeds or network web browsing of competing carriers. Most web browsing on Nextel is limited to character based wap sites that both crawl along speedwise and present unexciting character based screens.
-the phone is a little bigger that what some have grown accustomed to.
-while not phone related, some users in larger cities have reported the iDen system is nearing capactity with a lot of busy signals.
-I am only getting about a day of battery life - which is extremely low.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Item DONT BUY IT FROM AMAZON, May 26, 2007

By 

Miles E. Vause - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MOTOROLA i880 NEXTEL CAMERA CELL PHONE

Amazon offers rebates for new service activation, good luck receiving them! I bought my phone over 6 months ago and I haven't received any rebate whatsoever! Don't get trapped in the deceiving advertisement!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars phone crazy, February 26, 2007

By 

little bit "sweet pea" (gainesville, ga) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MOTOROLA i880 NEXTEL CAMERA CELL PHONE

I love this phone. I can do so much with it. It is light weight and fun to carry. I love the button flip feature. Great phone!!!