mrjoshyman
10-23-2004, 02:22 AM
For the full article click here (http://reviews.cnet.com/Nextel_i860/4505-6454_7-31138501-2.html)
CNET editor's take
Reviewed by Wil O'Neal
Edited by Kent German
Reviewed October 15, 2004
Cell phone carriers sometimes boast of a cultish loyalty that is often seen in the decades-old Mac vs. Windows debate. But one problem with this kind of steadfast commitment is that you're often technologically limited to the features that your carrier is willing to--or capable of--supporting. For Nextel users who have grown attached to the company's business-friendly handsets and Push To Talk walkie-talkie-like functionality, this has meant sitting out the camera phone revolution. Well, not anymore--the company recently announced the Nextel i860 flip phone, its first foray into the world of multimedia mobiles. Available now, the i860 sells for a pricey $349, but a service contract will get you a discount.
Upside: With the integrated VGA camera, Nextel users will welcome the ability to take and send photos to other i860 owners. The camera also promises a video recorder, a 4X zoom, and a flash. In addition, Nextel has expanded its Push To Talk service beyond the continental Unites States to include Canada and Latin America. Design-wise, the i860 boasts a large (262,000-color, 2.2-inch-diagonal) internal display as well as a decent-size (4,096-color, 1.4-inch-diagonal) external screen.
Downside: As with all other carriers that offer camera phones, you can't send images to everyone you know. In the case of Nextel, that means you can send images to other i860 users only; since this is Nextel's first camera phone, the number of people capable of receiving your picture messages is limited. Alternatively, you can send images to e-mail addresses with the i860. Furthermore, while the Nextel i860 is capable of recording 10-second videos, you can't send video messages to other users.
Outlook: The Nextel faithful will be pleased with the ability to send and receive images with their likewise i860-equipped friends. Nevertheless, until more Nextel customers get camera phones, the experience will, no doubt, be limited. That said, as a standard Nextel handset, the i860 shows some promise. You can store up to seven numbers for each contact (up to 600 entries in all), and with Push To Talk, you can seamlessly send contact data to other Nextel users with the push of one button. Of course, we'll have a more comprehensive review as soon as we get our hands on a shipping unit. Stay tuned.
CNET editor's take
Reviewed by Wil O'Neal
Edited by Kent German
Reviewed October 15, 2004
Cell phone carriers sometimes boast of a cultish loyalty that is often seen in the decades-old Mac vs. Windows debate. But one problem with this kind of steadfast commitment is that you're often technologically limited to the features that your carrier is willing to--or capable of--supporting. For Nextel users who have grown attached to the company's business-friendly handsets and Push To Talk walkie-talkie-like functionality, this has meant sitting out the camera phone revolution. Well, not anymore--the company recently announced the Nextel i860 flip phone, its first foray into the world of multimedia mobiles. Available now, the i860 sells for a pricey $349, but a service contract will get you a discount.
Upside: With the integrated VGA camera, Nextel users will welcome the ability to take and send photos to other i860 owners. The camera also promises a video recorder, a 4X zoom, and a flash. In addition, Nextel has expanded its Push To Talk service beyond the continental Unites States to include Canada and Latin America. Design-wise, the i860 boasts a large (262,000-color, 2.2-inch-diagonal) internal display as well as a decent-size (4,096-color, 1.4-inch-diagonal) external screen.
Downside: As with all other carriers that offer camera phones, you can't send images to everyone you know. In the case of Nextel, that means you can send images to other i860 users only; since this is Nextel's first camera phone, the number of people capable of receiving your picture messages is limited. Alternatively, you can send images to e-mail addresses with the i860. Furthermore, while the Nextel i860 is capable of recording 10-second videos, you can't send video messages to other users.
Outlook: The Nextel faithful will be pleased with the ability to send and receive images with their likewise i860-equipped friends. Nevertheless, until more Nextel customers get camera phones, the experience will, no doubt, be limited. That said, as a standard Nextel handset, the i860 shows some promise. You can store up to seven numbers for each contact (up to 600 entries in all), and with Push To Talk, you can seamlessly send contact data to other Nextel users with the push of one button. Of course, we'll have a more comprehensive review as soon as we get our hands on a shipping unit. Stay tuned.