Motorola i1 Becomes Official

On Monday, mobile phone maker Motorola and wireless carrier Sprint announced officially the launch of Motorola i1, the first ever handset to run under Google's Android operating system and to sport iDEN connectivity. This push-to-talk Android-powered smartphone comes to the market with a sleek design, while also including a wide range of high-end features, such as a 3.1-inch touchscreen display, the latest Opera Mini 5 browser, Wi-Fi connectivity, and access to all the applications available for download via the Android Market. According to the pair, the new Motorola i1 is set to become available for purchase in summer.

Sprint is well-known for its leadership in the push-to-talk area, and the launch of Motorola i1 is set to prove just that. The carrier already has millions of Nextel Direct Connect subscribers, and offers them connectivity on the fastest national push-to-talk network. “As the first Nextel Direct Connect Android smartphone, Motorola i1 with Wi-Fi offers a powerful tool for our customers with access to thousands of applications in the Android Market,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “With rugged durability, a full touchscreen and 5 megapixel camera, Motorola i1 gives push-to-talk customers a compelling smartphone that can withstand some of the harshest environments.”

Among the specifications list of the new Motorola i1, we can count a 5-megapixel photo snapper with flash, geo-tagging and panoramic capabilities, the 3.1-inch touchscreen display that boasts an HVGA resolution, Wi-Fi connectivity, the Opera Mini 5 browser with support for Flash, microSD memory card for additional storage space to be added to the device, the Android standard virtual keyboard and Swype virtual keyboards, Microsoft Document Viewer, corporate sync, multimedia features, and access to the Android Market for personalization of the device via applications.

At the same time, the new device comes with a solid construction, meeting military specifications for protection against dust, shock, vibration and blowing rain, and can prove a great option for those who work and play hard. “Motorola remains focused on delivering differentiated Android experiences within our product portfolio,” said Mark Shockley, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices. “With the Motorola i1, we’re excited to offer iDEN users the opportunity to enjoy a feature-rich smartphone with push-to-talk, whether it’s for work or play.” The handset will become available for purchase in summer, yet those interested in it can already register on the carrier's website here.