Motorola Moto Stature i9 iDEN Phone Set for Sprint & Boost Mobile Networks

Sprint customers, and customers of Sprint’s subsidiary Boost Mobile, will soon be able to avail themselves of the new Motorola Moto Stature i9 cell phone, which utilises iDEN push-to-talk technology and which is set to hit the networks later this month.

The Motorola Moto Stature i9, which measures in at a mere 0.59″ in thickness, purportedly making it the thinnest (clamshell) phone to embrace iDEN push-to-talk networks (offering Group connect, Direct Talk, Direct Send and Stature), comes with integrated MP3 player, stereo Bluetooth connectivity and sports Motorola’s ModeShift touch sensitive, haptic feedback ‘contextual’ UI allowing for ease of access to the device’s functions such as video recording (courtesy of the 3.1 megapixel x4 digital zoom camera) as well as video playback, MP3 menu controls, etc. Additionally you can factor in GPS functionality and built-in microSDHC card slot allowing for additional storage capacity up to 8GB.

Motorola and Boost Mobile’s joint press release bills the Motorola Stature i9 as being ‘a multimedia powerhouse’ offering:

• a slim, refined design at only 15mm with a touch-sensitive exterior flip
• the first 3.1 megapixel camera with flash and auto-focus on the Nextel National Network for high-resolution images that can be printed or enjoyed on one of the two large, crisp screens
• easy-to-use external keys for quick access to can’t-live-without it content, including a music player and integrated GPS
• the ability to store up to 8GB of images, videos and music with optional removable memory (sold separately)
• Motorola’s innovative ModeShift technology that allows the exterior keys to change and illuminate based on the user’s current application, such as camera operation or the media player
• haptic feedback providing gentle vibration acknowledging the user’s touch
• hands-free reliability with stereo Bluetooth wireless technology.

‘(The) Motorola Stature i9 is the latest example of our continuing commitment to our Nextel Direct Connect customers giving them best-in-class push-to-talk services on an incredibly attractive device,’ said Danny Bowman, president of Sprint’s iDEN business unit. ‘Sprint has invested billions of dollars in the iDEN network, adding thousands of cell sites to bolster capacity and coverage. As a result, the network is performing at best-ever levels enabling customers using Stature or any of our iDEN devices to experience the speed of the fastest national push-to-talk network.’ Whilst, Matt Carter, president of Boost Mobile, added ‘A first of its kind for Boost, the addition of Motorola Stature i9 to our diverse handset line-up further exemplifies Boost’s commitment to meeting the needs of every consumer.’

According to the joint press release, the Motorola Moto Stature i9 will set you back just shy of $200 on Sprint with a 2 year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate whilst Boost Mobile will offer the Moto Stature i9 for just short of $300 contract-free.