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"Cool rugged phone" on by EricStratten
Pros: more ways to contact
Cons: battery flap at bottom
Summary: I work as a Firefighter/Paramedic and I need a simple rugged phone. I just upgraded from the i530 (simple and rugged) to the i560 (more complex). I've only had it for 2 days and have not used all the features but I really like it a lot.
Key Features:
Phone, Direct Connect, Direct Talk, MyInfo Send(send other users your name and phone #s), MMS (replacement for SMS)
The Box:
1 Phone, 1 Battery, 1 Belt Clip, 1 Travel Charger, 1 Manual, 1 Quick Start Guide
The Phone:
Good build quality, I like the screen on the front, the color screen I could care less about, but its OK. The speakers are great. The menu system is good and easy to reconfigure, but get ready to read the manual.
Features:
There are more ways to contact people than on any other phone. I can call you, D/C you, send you a SMS (now called MMS b/c you can attach multi media objects), or use the Direct Talk feature (off network walkie-talkie similar to the FRS radios). How cool is all that. Oh it runs Java stuff too (I could care less), can download ring tones (not for me), download pictures (not so important) and do GPS locations (might use this). The MMS (replacement for SMS) is REALLY easy to access, compared to the i530, and can send messages to other phones, or email (I opted out of the Instant Message package) a very handy feature. Also the Datebook is handy as a back up reminder. Unfortunately I can't easily download it to my PC, that would make it too cool.
The important features for me that set this apart from the i530 are: 1) Direct Talk (off network), 2) MyInfo send.
Dislikes:
Only minor ones, 1) charger flap - gets in the way of the charger (I like the i530s better), 2) volume buttons on side - not tall enough feels like 1 button, 3) Speaker/Hang up button on top - kinda small.
BUT these are minor issues, I really am very happy w/ my new phone, it was all the options that I wanted, and not too many more ie photo ability. -
"Good phone." on by ryobi
Pros: Rugged. Functions perfectly. Good battery life.
Cons: Speaker quality not as good as 730, about the same as 530.
Summary: Always liked the durability of my i530, but I liked the calendar feature, external display, and better battery life of my i730. This phone is the best of both. I bought one for my wife, and soon after I was scheming to get one of my own. Luckily, my employer issued me one. Both phones function flawlessly so far.
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"This phone sucks!" on by hotsmc
Pros: Light weight, large buttons, tough built quality
Cons: Poor sound quality, screen washed out, no blue tooth
Summary: This phone has very bad sound quality as some have mentioned. You and the party you are speaking to sound like you both just woke up! And not just with weak signal, sometimes at random. THE most important feature for any phone would have to be sound quality. IF it can't do that, it shouldn't even be a phone - forget about the other crap it can do. Someone at moto or nextel was going cheap there.
i went back to my i90c. Still the best phone for nextel as far as sound qaulity both for speaker phone and handset. you know the saying..."They don't make things like they use to." -
"Good features, poor sound quality" on by DGinCO
Pros: Rugged, good display
Cons: Slurred sound, small buttons
Summary: I'm now on my 2nd i560. I returned the first after 4 days of heavy use. Everyone commented that my voice sounded slurred on this phone. Their voices also sounded slurred - like they had just woken up! The replacement phone sounds the same, and other i560 users that I talk to complain about the same issue. It seems to only happen when the signal is marginal. For me, this is in many places, including my office. I use about 1100 minutes per month, and I'm terribly annoyed by this phone. I now have to pursue a replacement via Motorola since I'm way over the exchange period with Nextel.
Otherwise, the phone is fine. Nothing to get excited about. The buttons are small and not raised very much, so it is difficult to "feel" your way around the keypad and enter a number while driving (oh yea - we're not supposed to do that). -
"Spend more money, get real phone" on by milansabata1958
Pros: Makes phone calls
Cons: Everything else
Summary: I made the mistake of switching to Nextel service provider. They pushed this phone. I bought it. Then another one, and another one, and last week my 4th one. Every phone just stops working. Batteries are weak and phone has to be on charger at least once a day. Now, I have total of 5 phones, only one working.
I use Nexel i560 and i 530 phones. Every time my phone broke down, I went through hell to get somebody to help me. You have to understand: Motorola is one company, Nextel is another one, and Nextel stores are 3rd party. Store where I purchased the phones refused to do anything for free and wanted to charge me for even looking at it. Nextel 611 operators are trained to deny you service of any kind. Motorola itself has warranty plan, but be prepared to be w/o a phone or loaner for at least 8 days.
Even w/o a full service for couple of weeks, Nextel refused to temporarily terminate my contract and I was forced to pay the plan.
Phone appears to be agronomically incorrect. Buttons are hard to push. Batteries are weak and I have to keep it on car charger continuously while in car. Display is too dark. Menu is a bit strange too. Not once in 21 months I owned these phones was I able to utilize my GPS feature.
Motorola i560 and i530 are the worse two phones I ever owned. Even my 6 years old Nokia I use on my trips overseas ( bcs. I cannot use my Nextel phones ) is far more superior phone.
Moreover, Nextel /Sprint has propriatory system that is not compatible with rest of the world. It is same as owning Beta VCR player today. So forget top of the line phones like Sony Ericsson, LG Prada, Nokias etc. Today, the walkie-talkie option doesn't mean anything anymore.
You will be stuck with inferior equipment that work on inferior technology for the term of your contract.
I will be caught dead with nextel/sprint phone or service contract !
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