Push-to-talk phones generally run the gamut from basic to full-featured. I don't even think I've ever seen one with a complete smartphone OS, though. That ends now, with the announcement of the Motorola i1, the world's first iDEN device to run Google's Android OS.
Like many other handsets on Nextel's PTT network, the device features a sturdy and durable design, which it pairs up with feature-rich smartphone capabilities and sleek lines. It meets Military Specifications 810, which means it can resist a whole host of environmental hazards, including dust, shock, rain, extreme temperatures and more. Pretty nifty for a smartphone, ain't it?
Aside from PTT, details of the Motorola i1 include a 3.1-inch HVGA touchscreen, a 5.0 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus, WiFi, Bluetooth and microSD card expansion. The handset comes with an Android 1.5 build, along with the usual Google suite of apps, including access to thousands of apps via the Android Market. Pre-installed software additions include Opera Mini 5, Microsoft Document Viewer and the increasingly-popular Swype virtual keyboard.
In a marketing move, the phone was presented by Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" program. All in all, this is a big play here from Motorola and Sprint. A rugged iDen phone running a full smartphone OS is rarely (probably never) heard of, so we're not sure how traditional Nextel customers are going to take this. No pricing was given, but this sounds like an awesome alternative to both your run-of-the-mill Android handsets and boring PTT devices, especially if it clocks in at under $200 on contract.
[Motorola via Unwired View]
