I’ve been spending the last 2 weeks with Sprint/Nextel and Boost Mobile’s Motorola Stature i9 and I have to say, I’m impressed. Motorola chose to fight two stereotypes with this phone. Whether these stereotypes are real or perceived, Motorola has to convince the world they can develop a phone as good as or better than the RAZR and at the same time, develop a phone for the Nextel market that looks great, sounds great, and can do more than just push-to-talk. I can honestly say that I think they’ve been able to do both in the Stature i9.
Look and Feel:
This is the slickest and most beautiful phone I have seen for the Nextel market. The exterior shines with its glossy finish while at the same time feeling very comfortable in the hand. It’s a little heavy weighing 4.7 ounces but in a good way. The weight and overall sturdiness of the phone makes it feel safe enough to take to a job site while the look and feel make it seem nice enough to show off to the execs.
The exterior display is nice. Measuring 2”, the QVGA screen can handle most of your immediate needs like playing music, using the still and video camera, and checking on your recent calls. All of these functions plus making calls and using push-to-talk can be accomplished by using one of the 13 exterior keys. Now, I know what you’re thinking, 13 exterior keys sounds a bit messy and hard to manage. Well thankfully, it’s not. Motorola has utilized Motorola’s innovative ModeShift technology to use those 13 keys. When you press the smart key, 4 keys become illuminated on the exterior screen that were not there before. These keys help you navigate the menu and choose your selection. Choose My Music, for example, and a different set of 7 keys are illuminated to help you navigate your media. The interface is smart and works well.
The interior is sleek. Maybe too sleek. The display measures 2.2” and is also QVGA. The keypad is a little too flat for my taste. While the keys do illuminate nicely, I expect a little more feel from my keypad. Menus are simple to navigate and familiar if you’ve ever owned a Motorola phone.
The back is made up of a soft material that feels comfortable in the hand and doesn’t feel like it will slip. Not much else to mention on the rear of the camera other than the 3.1 MP camera with a flash. But more on that later.
Form and Function:
Now on to the fun stuff. Let me first say that this is a great push-to-talk phone. It looks and feels great in the hand. It feels sold enough that it will take a drop and be fine. It also looks nice enough to take out on the town. However, if you’re buying this phone to be the best media phone you’ve ever owned, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’m not saying the media functions on this phone are bad, they are far from that, it’s just that it needs to be put into perspective. If you’re looking for a top notch push-to-talk phone that does media well, I’ve got a phone for you. If you’re looking for a top notch media phone period, end of story, perhaps you should move your search elsewhere. So with that in mind, let’s talk about the goodies.
Most importantly, let me assure you that the call quality is good. Even in my pocket of poor Sprint service at my home, I was able to make and receive quality calls. Voices came through clear with no static or interruption. Also, the push-to-talk interface worked well and clarity was perfect. Glad Motorola made sure the most important things this phone should do, namely make and receive calls and push-to-talk, work great. Plus, with the inclusion of Group Connect, the ability to push-to-talk to up to 20 participants nationwide, and Direct Talk, the ability to push-to-talk in short range scenarios where there is no network coverage, Sprint/Nextel have you covered for all your push-to-talk needs.
Like I said before, the exterior of the phone is great. Just about anything you want to do with it can be accomplished from the exterior menu. The key system is smart and navigation is simple. So let’s look at what you can do.
The 3.1 megapixel camera with auto-focus is nice. However, the pictures it takes are fine. Not good enough to write home about, but not bad enough that it’s an issue. If you need better pictures, bring along a real camera. Along those lines, the video capture is nice, though again, not the best I’ve seen.
The media player is clunky. It’s a bit slow, though it does its job. I feel like we have all become a bit spoiled by the iPod, iPhone, and Zune like interfaces. But I’m sorry; do any of these manufacturers build push-to-talk phones? No. So put into perspective, it’s nice to have a functioning media center on a very good push-to-talk device. It’s hard to complain too much. Plus, add in the stereo Bluetooth, the ability to upgrade to an 8GB SDHC card and you’re all set there.
Summary:
Motorola has really put out a nice phone here. If you are in need of a push-to-talk phone that looks good, feels good, and handles all of your multimedia needs, then look no further. Combining the sleekness and beauty of the exterior of the phone with the sturdiness and comfort that a push-to-talk device requires, the Stature i9 can be everything to everyone. It can be used on a job site or in the board room. It can be used to manage 20 workers while looking good enough to be seen out on the town with it. It can take good enough pictures and video to meet most people’s needs, while acting as a satisfactory media player. And at $199 with contract at Sprint, $299 at Boost, it’s priced right for its features.
If you’re in the market for a solid, comfortable, and very good looking push-to-talk phone that will meet all your work and play needs, take a look at the Motorola Stature i9.
On Monday, senators implored the chairman of the FCC, Michael Copps, to take a closer look at exclusivity contracts between wireless carriers and phone manufacturers. The senators are concerned about the effect those contracts have on competition and innovation in the market place.
