Nicole Lee,
Associate Editor
March 26, 2009
Nextel phones have always garnered a loyal following, and the company's Direct Connect push-to-talk service has been a primary attraction. Functioning much like walkie-talkies, PTT services let callers with compatible cell phones talk with each other over a secure digital voice network. PTT calls are not the same as voice calls, and they typically are unlimited in use, which means they aren't deducted from your monthly bucket of minutes.
Every Nextel phone offers the feature, including the Motorola i776. If you prefer a smart phone with PTT, Sprint also offers the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8350i, which uses the Nextel DirectConnect network for PTT calls. But the sexiest Nextel phone by far is the Motorola Stature i9, which has that familiar Razr design. You can also get the Motorola i9 with Boost Mobile.
Beyond Nextel, Sprint offers PTT services on its QChat phones. These handsets use CDMA for voice calls but connect to Nextel's IDEN network for PTT calls. The newest QChat model is the Motorola Renegade V950.
However, don't think that AT&T and Verizon Wireless customers are left out of the fun. AT&T offers the PTT-capable Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 and Verizon has the Verizon Wireless CDM8975.
| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $149.99 to $599.99 | $199.99 | $119.99 | Check Prices | $69.99 |
| CNET editors' rating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | December 03, 2008 | January 15, 2009 | March 23, 2009 | September 22, 2008 | September 30, 2008 | March 24, 2009 |
| The Bottom Line | Though its volume could be just a bit louder, the Motorola i776 is a decent Nextel phone. Just don't buy it for its camera. | Nextel customers looking for a full-featured smartphone with the carrier's famed Direct Connect push-to-talk capabilities will be well-served by the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8350i. | The Motorola i9 Stature is the sexiest Nextel phone we've seen. Apart from the disappointing camera, it offers decent features and admirable call quality. | It's not a video handset, but the Motorola V950 is a great rugged cell phone for making calls. | The Samsung Rugby SGH-A837's could use a few improvements, but it remains a solid choice for a rugged, straight-forward phone with a loaded feature set. | The Verizon Wireless CDM8975 is a decent push-to-talk phone with good midtier features. |
| Similar Products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products |
| Features | ||||||
| Cellular technology | iDEN | Info unavailable | iDEN | CDMA2000 1X | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | CDMA2000 1X |
| Weight | 3.5 oz | 0.3 lbs | 4.7 oz | 4.2 oz | 4.7 oz | 3.2 oz |
| Talk time | Up to 205 min | Up to 240 min | Up to 180 min | Up to 245 min | Up to 300 min | Up to 285 min |
| Wireless Interface | Bluetooth | Info unavailable | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.0 | Bluetooth |
| Service Provider | Sprint Nextel | Info unavailable | Sprint Nextel | Sprint Nextel | AT&T | Verizon Wireless |
| Band / mode | iDEN 800/900 (Dual Band) | CDMA 850/1900 (Dual Band) | iDEN 800/900 (Dual Band) | CDMA2000 1X 1900/800 | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Info unavailable |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices |
|
|
|
|
||
