Motorola i920/i930
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The Motorola i920/i930 is Motorola's first wave of iDEN Protocol-based smartphones.
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[edit] Background
Both the i920 and the i930 were released for use with Sprint Nextel's 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 i920 or the i930, one phone, one phone number can be used at any part of the world [1] which has a GSM network. The phone won't be made available to either Boost Mobile or Southern Linc networks, given that Boost Mobile is a prepaid service and Southern Linc is a regional carrier serving mainly Alabama and Georgia.
[edit] i920/i930 Specifications
As of the February 16, 2006 update, the specifications are based from the Phonescoop and the Sprint Nextel intel unless otherwise footnoted:
- Three-Mode GSM with iDEN 800 and Nextel Worldwide Service Support
- Clamshell Form-Factor with extendable antenna and Easy-Flip Button
- 176x220 16-Bit Internal TFT Color Screen (65536 Colors) with 96x65 STN LCD 4096 External Color Screen
- Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Build 4.21.1088 with the following:
- 310K Pixel VGA (640x480) Camera with LED Flash and 10-Second Video Recording—only available with the i930
- Multimedia and Text Messaging Service
- WiDEN High-Speed Data Support
- SD/MMC Card Compatibility (Does not support SDIO) [4]
- 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
- 880 mAh Lithium Ion Battery included
The i930 not supporting SDIO and/or having built-in Bluetooth compliance are grounds for harsh criticism and outrage.
[edit] Pricing and Release Information
At the initial release of the Motorola i930, the phone was released for sale on October 6, 2005, but the demand and anticipation has been extremely high when the phone first came out that it was backordered due to limited stock. Popularity and demand of the i930 eclipsed when potential buyers found out that stock was grievously scarse, followed by a steep and gradual decline in demand at the release of the i870.
In order to adhere to corporation-wide policies of camera absence in electronic devices, Motorola released a non-camera version of the i930 called the i920 sometime in February. While the technology on both the i920 and the i930 are considered to be obsolete by some technology aficionados, the pricing map is as follows:
| Phone Make and Model | 2-Year Pricing | 1-Year Pricing | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola i930 | $349.99 | $429.99 | $499.99 |
| Motorola i920 | $324.99 | $399.99 | $474.99 |
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.
[edit] Known Criticisms
Lack of Built-In Bluetooth compliance ([5], [6]) 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 [7], 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
The use of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition instead of Windows Mobile 5.0 (in addition to it not being upgradeable) has been given not-so-fond criticism [8] from the following groups [9]:
- Smartphone Aficionados
- Microsoft Windows Mobile Loyalists
- Those who might want to upgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 on the i930
Motorola has stated in their FAQ page that the i930 cannot use SDIO Cards nor can it be upgraded to Windows Mobile 2005 no matter the cause. [10]
[edit] Application Lockup Controversy
Application-minded experts/aficionados heavily criticised the Motorola i930 for the following reasons:
- Application-Locking—The Motorola i930 could only install smartphone applications digitally signed and/or authorized by Sprint Nextel. Other Applications which are "Windows Mobile-Neutral" are likely to fail.
- Installation Issues—An application that is digitally approved by Sprint Nextel can also fail to install.
An online petition was started and some owners checked into the possibility of a class action lawsuit because the application locked phone would not perform as advertised. This controversy became less important when some creative forum members came up with a method to decertify the i930 and then freely distributed the information.
NOTE: 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, though criticisms are not yet final as of right now.
[edit] Likely Market
Being an "All-in-One" Nextel Phone with iDEN, WiDEN, and GSM in one, both the i920 and the i930 are targeted mainly to executives who require one single number to be used anywhere in the world where there is a GSM network, it also has the benefit of using Microsoft Outlook to synchronize schedules and meeting information.
Furthermore, the i920 is targeted towards segments in which its upper management wants its subordinates to have a smartphone, but without a camera, since a camera is likely to pose security risks.
[edit] See also
- Sprint Nextel
- Microsoft Windows Mobile
- iDEN Technology
- WiDEN Technology
- GSM Technology
- Motorola iDEN phone models
[edit] Works Cited
- FCC OET Approval Documents
- FCC OET Approval Grant
- Phonescoop CES 2005 intel of the i930
[edit] External links
- Motorola iDEN Page
- Sprint Nextel's Home Page
- Motorola i930 official page
- Motorola i920 official page
- Southern Linc's Home Page
- Motorola i930's Vital Statistics from Microsoft
[edit] Enthusiast Point of Interests
| Motorola phones | |
|---|---|
| A series | A760 • A780 • A830 • A845 • A925 • A1000 • A1200 |
| C series | C139 • C975 |
| E series | E365 • E398 • E680 • E770 • E815 • E1000 |
| i series | i710 • i860 • i870 • i920/i930 |
| MPx series | MPx200 • MPx220 • MpX |
| T series | T720 |
| V series | V60i • V120c • V180 • V220 • V325 • V325i • V360 • V400 • V551 • V557 • V600 • V620 • V635 • V710 • V980 |
| Four-letter series | FONE F3 • KRZR K1 • KRZR K1m • KRZR K3 • RAZR maxx • MING • PEBL • RAZR • RIZR Z3 • RIZR Z6 • RIZR Z8 • ROKR E1 • ROKR E2 • ROKR E6 • SLVR L2 • SLVR L6 • SLVR L7 • SLVR L9 • SCPL |
| Other | DynaTAC • International 3200 • StarTac • Q • Q q9 |
