Motorola i95cl Phone (Nextel)

by Motorola

Product Details

Product Manual [6.32mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 2 x 1.1 inches ; 4.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006J9HH
• Item model number: i95cl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,718 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Product Description

Based on Motorola’s i90c phone, the i95cl offers some valuable upgrades that increase the functionality of the phone significantly. The new highlights include a full-color display with an eight-line screen, plus more memory to handle Java programs.

The phone is quite sturdy, but it sacrifices compactness for rugged design. Since it’s too big to fit in most pockets, the i95cl has a belt clip, but at almost 5 ounces it can weigh your belt down a bit. The retractable antenna has a durable feel, and the rubberized volume control and push-to-talk buttons on the side and speaker buttons on top are unlikely to break if the phone is dropped. Buttons on the i95cl’s interior are fairly flat but are spread apart so misdialing is not an issue. An LCD screen on the outside of the flip top is helpful for quickly checking time and date or for screening callers.

The phone was slow to power up (about 40 seconds), but considering the rich graphics, that’s to be expected. Upon start-up, the i95cl put us immediately into the message center. We had no text messages, but a voice mail from a colleague sounded crisp and clear. From the main menu, we easily accessed all of our settings without referring to the manual. The long eight-line, high-contrast screen with a large text and mellow, white backlighting made it easy to read our options from several feet away.

We set our background display to the American flag, (which looked impressive on the color screen), personalized our keys, and adjusted the ring. The i95cl has nine selectable ring styles—the usual tinny electronic-sounding rings--and 10 polyphonic musical files to choose from that sound almost orchestral compared to ring choices on most cell phones. After enjoying Pachebel’s Canon in D Major and Tchaikovsky’s "Waltz of the Flowers," we eventually settled on the "Star-Spangled Banner" for our ring.

The phone book holds multiple numbers for each person, and we had no problem entering a few friends. We set up voice-activated dialing for a few numbers as well, but found that giving a command with even a slight change in tone from the original voice recording caused the i95cl to reject our dialing request.

The i95cl’s Internet connection is one of the faster ones we’ve experienced, and Motorola has bumped up the memory and improved the processor and connectivity speed in this model. In addition to preset weather, financial, and shopping links, the phone lets users do Internet searches and send and receive two-way messages and e-mail (including instant messages with AIM).

The Java apps feature combined with the rich color screen was amazing to behold. Preinstalled apps include a calculator and two fairly sophisticated games. We found that Tiger Woods PGA Tour Wireless Golf has great graphics but is fairly slow and easy to win. The action-packed MotoGP motocross racing game played so well it felt almost like we were on a GameBoy. Subscribers to Nextel Wireless Web service can download additional Java applications from Nextel’s Web site or install custom apps from the Internet.

Motorola has increased the memory in the i95cl (since the release of its predecessor, the i90c) to handle robust Java applications—and it is a significant improvement. However, users still won’t be able to pack a whole lot of apps in there if they want to download a bunch of animated 3-D games. Each of the preexisting games takes up about 700-800 KB of data space and our phone comes with 1,479 KB of free space for new applications. That leaves room for only two additional games or several other business applications. In addition, Java apps share memory space with ring styles, wallpaper images, and voice records, so once users run out of space, they’ll have to start deleting some of these files. Still, this is a fairly recent breakthrough in cellular technology and the fact that Java apps can be stored at all is remarkable.

The i95cl also has the ability to function as a walkie-talkie, through a technology that Motorola and Nextel have been offering for years. Using Nextel Direct Connect, users can communicate with one person or a group via two-way radio. A PTT (push-to-talk) button on the left side of the phone, below the volume buttons, lets users talk without opening the phone or even removing the phone from their belt loop. The best part is that users don’t pay for minutes using the radio.

Overall, the slick features and conveniences on this phone far outweigh the issues with the bulky design. The multitude of communication options make the i95cl an ideal phone for business users who are communicating with employees both on site and long distance. --Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Supports Java applications, including 3-D games
• Large full-color display with high-contrast screen
• More memory and faster processor than its predecessor (Motorola i90c)
• Fast Internet connectivity
• Doubles as two-way radio without using minutes

Cons:

• Bulky design
• Voice-activated dialing doesn’t always recognize commands
• Java apps share memory space with ring styles, wallpaper images, and voice records

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expensive, but full featured and high quality, October 18, 2003

By 

Tobin Coziahr "Intergalactic bounty hunter" (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Motorola i95cl Phone (Nextel) (Wireless Phone)

What do you want from your phone?

I'm a bit of a gadget geek, so I wanted it all. I wanted text messaging, a large color screen, web access, AOL AIM access, Java-based games, you name it. So, I was willing to shell out the big bucks when it came to getting a phone.

I got the i95cl about a year ago, and I've been very satisfied with the phone's performance. I'm not as satisfied with Nextel, though, who you have to get service from to get this phone. All the features you could ever want are there, but you're going to pay for them. Web access costs money, text messaging costs money, caller ID costs money... they nickle and dime you for all the features on their network. They have package deals, which is what I use, where it's $15 a month for all their internet access features, which makes it reasonably affordable, but if you're looking for a cheap phone and a cheap monthly bill, you won't get it with this phone, and with Nextel.

Now, back to the phone. Here are the pros:
- Pretty good battery life (I charge every 2 to 3 days).
- Very sturdy design, unlike several phones I've owned before. The antenna is tough, and so is the case. Dropping it won't break it.
- Loud and clear sound, and a built in speakerphone.
- Color screen, which is nice for looking at web sites, or playing the Java games... which leads us to...
- Built in Java engine which allows you to download applications from Nextel right onto the phone. Games, business applications, notepads, there are lots of fun java tools to play with. Some are free, and some you have to pay for.
- Nextel Direct Connect, which you can only use to talk to other Nextel customers, but the phone functions as a walkie-talkie, and it's very convenient.
- Internet access, allowing you to text message, instant message, receive emails, and browse the web (text only).
- Voice activated dialing, which is convenient.
- Amazing coverage. I have service inside buildings when no one else does. The antenna picks up signals well, and Nextel has great coverage.

This is all well and good, you say, but what are the drawbacks? There are a few cons to this phone:

- Size. Man, is this a big phone. I have a holster on my belt, it really isn't "pocket sized". To get a nice big screen, and durability, you have to sacrifice size.
- Cost. As I said before, the phone is expensive, and so are all the cool little extras. You probably will be paying $50/mo for this phone.
- Web access is text only, which is unfortunate, as some new phones are entering the market with real graphical web browsing.

So, like I said at the beginning of this review, what do you want from your phone? If you're willing to pay for it, this phone has it all. It's a little big, and a little costy, but I've been in love with it for a year now, and I don't think I'll be trading phones any time soon.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Amazon and Nextel do not partner well together, December 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Motorola i95cl Phone (Nextel) (Wireless Phone)

I do not like the phone because it only holds a charge for about 12 hours...If you use it it holds it for less time. I ordered two of these and it happens with both. I also tried replacing the phone and it happened with the new one as well. The second problem occured when I signed up with Amazon for Nextel service. I was told by Nextel that I would not have a specific length of time I would have to keep my service. They said this was special for Amazon customers...However when I tried to cancel the service I was told I had to stay in a contract for one year. I NEVER signed or agreed to a contract however I am told I am being held to one. I have been going around in circles with these two companies and nobody can get their act together...Love Nextel service but not when you use Amazon to get it...Try another plan or go directly through Nextel.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nextel is definitely the Best of the Best, December 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Motorola i95cl Phone (Nextel) (Wireless Phone)

Wow! What a spectacular phone! From clarity of the screen to clarity of the calls, this service beats all other cell phone providers by a mile. I have never had a cell phone that I can use in elevators before, or in basements, or in the middle of the woods- but this one works in all those places (and for all those who complain about it not working in your house sometimes, move out of the boondocks- all cell services have a few black holes)! Not only is the cell phone service great, but the walkie talkie feature is creative, convenient and useful. Some complain about the larger phone styles- but the ruggedness of the phones are so worth it (I have dropped mine a million times and it has never even flinched at working). I will never have another cell phone service! Now you can even keep your cell phone number when you switch to Nextel!