The good got even better!
Written: Mar 24 '01
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Pros: Small and surprisingly durable
Cons: better for business
The Bottom Line: 2 words. Get it!
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| ONLYTRUTH's Full Review: i1000plus Cell Phone |
Cool! One of the most feature-rich phone just got richer. Motorola has souped up the already-popular i1000, its highest-quality iDEN phone, and given us the i1000plus. The i1000plus is my favorite phone on the market. Its styling is a bit dated, but it will be one of the best in terms of functionality when the sole US service provider, Nextel Communications, can support the new data feature (called "Net Mode"). Nextel plans to provide data service nationwide to match its competitors that are already providing similar services. So no matter where you are, before you rush out and buy one, I suggest you check with Nextel about the availability of the data service in your area.
Look and Feel
The i1000plus looks basically the same as the i1000. It only comes in one style: black plastic. The i1000plus is small enough - about the size of a deck of cards. It fits in a shirt pocket and only makes you look slightly ridiculous. The antenna is telescoping, and the flip has a window so you can see the display while it is closed (cool for checking your Caller ID before answering the phone in hands-free mode). The holster is made of black plastic, has a clip for belt attachment, and is well designed for quick draw and no-look reholstering. The display screen is too small (1x1.25 inches) for a data phone. The chassis of the phone is based on cell phone design, not PDA design (like other cutting-edge data models). Data was an afterthought for this model, something the folks in the lab slapped on in a last-minute attempt to catch up with the competition.
Features
Let me start with the data features, which I could only read about. These include a microbrowser, e-mail, personal organizer, and personal web page.
The lamest thing about the iDEN data features is the microbrowser. It doesn't actually let you browse the Internet. The surfable content is limited to a carrier-provided Intranet consisting of sports, financial and stock reports, phone company directories, travel and entertainment news, and weather reports. Motorola's iDEN is one of the few cell phone protocols that does not use the Phone.com browser for complete web access.
The e-mail feature looks standard and uses the T9 Text Input protocol for easing the pain of crafting e-mail without a full keyboard. The personal organizer stores addresses, your schedule, and a to-do list. The personal web page is provided by the carrier and lets you share data between your i1000plus and your PC without any wired syncing.
The other nondata features of this phone are what make it stand out (in spite of its weak data features). While other cell phones are just that - phones - the i1000plus is a phone and walkie-talkie on steroids. It has four modes: phone, net (data features), group, and private.
The phone mode has everything other cell phones do: good sound quality, a vibration option like a pager (or several ring noises), lithium ion battery, emergency dial, automatic redial (keeps calling a busy number and then calls you back when it gets a ring), last-number redial, speed dial, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, three-way calling, second phone line, voice mail, caller ID, text messages, auto call back (when someone pages your phone with a text message that contains a number, you can call back with the push of one button), and speakerphone mode. (You can leave the phone on the passenger seat or dash and have a normal, intelligible conversation, as long as the windows are rolled up, and you're not driving a muscle car.)
The group mode lets you use the large button on the side of the phone to broadcast your words to everyone else in your group. Groups can consist of your coworkers, your friends, your family, or anyone you want. The catch is they also have to be Nextel customers and be in the same market as you.
The private mode works just like the group mode, but you only speak to one person. "Why not just call them?" you're wondering. Well, because there is no call setup time or protocol. Just scroll to the name of the person you want to talk to, press the button, and start speaking. There is no need to introduce yourself, as your name appears on their screen, making communication much faster and follow-up easier. The private mode is addicting. Trust me, after you get used to the private function with your friends and coworkers, making phone calls feels arduous and archaic. And better yet, the private mode is cheaper.
Summary
The features of the i1000plus make it one of the best all-around cell phones available, despite its faults. The data features are a welcome addition but lack the flexibility of competing products. The group and private modes will change the way you communicate. If you are deciding what kind of cell phones to buy your company, department, family, or crew, I strongly recommend the i1000plus and other iDEN phones. However, if you are looking for something for yourself only, then there are better options out there for you, like the PDA-enabled cell phones such as Qualcomm's pdQ or the Neopoint or less expensive data-enabled phones such as Samsung's SCH-3500. The i1000plus will run you about $199 and requires Nextel service
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 199.00
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Epinions.com ID:
ONLYTRUTH
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Member: Mom
Location: Michigan
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 36 members
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