It took four whole months after this thing was shown at CTIA, but Motorola’s i1 is finally coming to stores. Sprint today shared pricing and timing for the Android-powered smartphone with Nextel Direct Connect. The Motorola i1 will be available first on Sunday, July 25 for $149.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate (taxes & surcharges excluded). It will then be available in all remaining Sprint sales channels beginning on Sunday, Aug. 8.
With solid body construction that meets military specifications for protection against dust, shock, vibration and blowing rain, the Motorola i1 is designed for those who work and play hard. It offers the Android 1.5 operating system, and automatically syncs and integrates office and personal information such as emails, calendar appointments and contacts.
Motorola i1 also offers built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, both an Android standard virtual keyboard and Swype virtual keyboards, and a vibrant 3.1-inch HVGA screen. It also includes a 5 megapixel camera with flash, geo-tagging and panoramic modes which can record video and store it on a provided microSD.
“Motorola i1 is the only Android device to offer Nextel Direct Connect as well as the latest smartphone features and the ability to withstand some of the harshest environments,” said Fared Adib, vice president -“ Product Development, Sprint. “This phone brings a new level of smartphone to our Nextel customers making it one of the most efficient devices to get work done, and our customers who rely on Direct Connect will appreciate this feature-packed phone that doesn’t miss on must-have features like Wi-Fi and a 5 megapixel camera.”
