Overall, a very good phone!

It's a big improvement since the i1000plus, with features, such as java apps, selected styles for rings and volumes, lighter weight, different size fonts and a wider variety of ringtones make it a much better phone then the i1000.

Java apps are available on the phone. It comes with a calculator, and a tip converter for when you're dining out. With a special internet plan, it is possible to download more java apps, as well as MIDI format ringtones.

The phone is very lightweight. A considerable difference in size and weight is noticeable when using the phone.

The phone does have some noticeable issues, in comparison to the i1000. I have noticed are that if the phone is in its normal state and you receive a phone call, flipping the front of the phone up will result in a end call.
Another is that the front of the phone holds a single line LCD, which shows the battery signal, time and date, and signal strength. When snapped into the phones belt case, the front faces your body, rather then facing outwards. This makes it very difficult to see who is calling, if your phone is in its belt case..
My final issue is that the i1000 allows one to select the address book on the top, and scroll through it using the up and down volume buttons.. the i90c will not do this.

All in all, its a very nice phone. Very lightweight, a brighter backlight and performs as it should! I miss some of the key features of the i1000, but that is something one needs to leave behind when upgrading to this new phone.

A definite purchase, in my opinion! Well worth its money!

Back about a year and a half ago, my wife and I went searching for good cell phones and service. After months of testing, Nextel was the answer and the i90c was the best at the time. After a year and a half, this phone is still awesome!

Design:
Having been stuck with a big bulky candy bar style phone since we had a cell phone, this was a welcome improvement. It is small and light, with a LCD on the outside of the phone so you can easily see the time, date, signal strength, and caller ID. The LCD when you open the flip is clear and bright. With the backlight on in the dark, you can easily see everything.

Features:
The instruction manual for this phone is quite thick and for good reason. It is loaded with features. Speakerphone, address book, headphone jack, java application, and so on are just the tip of the iceberg. There are things in this phone I haven't even touched such as voice activated dialing.

Performance:
This phone has about a 3 day standby time and a 200 minute talk time. You can extend this by purchasing an extended battery that will make it last 50% longer if you need it. In fact, with the extended battery, I can go 3-4 days without a charge and nominal usage. As for signal strength and quality of calls, this phone is really nice. I understand that good cell phone service varies depending on your area. Here in my area, Nextel wins hands down over many other carriers. Everywhere I go in the city, I get good service. I have also traveled to other places like TX, OH, IN, IL, and so on and good service goes with me. Same with great call quality. :)

Recommendation:
Since its release, the i95cl has caused quite a stir. As well it should, it is a color phone, but the price is quite high. I have a i95cl that I got for my birthday that I will be reviewing very shortly.

If you are getting new Nextel service, check out Amazon.com for good deals with new activation. The i95cl is $100 with new activation so that might make it a better alternative. The i90c is a great quality phone though and I have to give it a high recommendation. For being over a year and a half old, this phone can still kick butt. :)

After using the i90c for the longest time, I decided to upgrade my phone to the i95cl. This phone has been out for a while, but comes with some pretty cool features over the i90c.

Design:
It is a little bit thicker than the i90c that I reviewed, but not much more. It is small and light, with a LCD on the outside of the phone so you can easily see the time, date, signal strength, and caller ID. The big difference is the large color screen that displays 10 lines of text and 256 colors.

Features:
The instruction manual for this phone is quite thick and for good reason. It is loaded with features. Speakerphone, address book, headphone jack, java application, and so on are just the tip of the iceberg. There are things in this phone I haven't even touched such as voice activated dialing. The big difference between this phone and the i90c is the memory. This phone has 1.3 megs of space which is enough to hold up to 10 games. The Tiger Woods Golf and Moto GP Demo are included on the phone, but full versions of the games are available for download for a small fee. Some games are free. Either way, the extra memory is a plus.

Performance:
This phone has about a 2 day standby time and a 205 minute talk time. You can extend this by purchasing an extended battery that will make it last 50% longer if you need it. In fact, with the extended battery, I can go 3-4 days without a charge and nominal usage. As for signal strength and quality of calls, this phone is really nice. I understand that good cell phone service varies depending on your area. Here in my area, Nextel wins hands down over many other carriers. Everywhere I go in the city, I get good service. I have also traveled to other places like TX, OH, IN, IL, and so on and good service goes with me. Same with great call quality. :)

Recommendation:
The i95cl is the phone to have if you are going to get Nextel. If you are a new subscriber, then spend the extra money and get it. You can get the i95cl for less than $100 if you buy it with new activation through Amazon and even that price will go down as time goes on. More Nextel color phones are on the horizon, but for the time being, this is the phone to get.

Nextel Motorola I530:

I am very happy with my new I530. I have had no problems at all with the service, coverage, or durability of this phone. The durability was the main selling point for me, and most of my co-workers have been using Nextel for a few years now. One day I was working on the roadway and my I530 slammed onto the concrete with such force, that I surely thought it was totaled. It did not even have a scratch on it, and still works perfect.

Here are some of the features of the I530:

Adheres to Military Standard 810 F for dust, shock, and vibration.
Hands free speakerphone for cellular communications w/ built in speakerphone.
600 contact entries. 7 entries for each contact like cell, home, work 1 & 2, pager #, and direct connect if another Nextel user.
GPS enabled. Pulls up your GPS position at no extra cost, and on 911 calls it automatically enables GPS for enhanced 911 centers, or for your help. Great feature!
Vibracall alert for discreet times.
Downoad ring tones or voice record capability on calls, or download the voice activation features. Note: To do this you will need either the USB or serial cable to do, and many have small fees that apply for some of the services/ringtones. Cable costs around $24 USB and about $29 serial as of 4/25/04.
Call preview, Smart call and also recent (20) calls list.
Walkie-talkie speaker has available function to have speaker on or off, also on the cell calls too.
One touch Direct connect. You can program a DC (Direct Connect) number to be set for at any time you just want to use the direct connect walkie talkie...like to my wife, for example.
Headset jack.
Multiple languages.

OEM battery is lithium ion 750 mAh
165 minutes talk time.
75 Hrs standby

I paid $50 for my I530, and I get a 10% discount on my bill, as do most Governmental employees.