Motorola i1 To Cost $350

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The Motorola i1, as we reported yesterday, is looking to be the first prepaid Android phone in the US. The rugged iDEN handset is coming to Sprint’s Boost Mobile early next month, and while we learned a lot about the phone, it’s price would be a mystery. MobileCrunch, who broke the story, is now reporting that it’ll cost $350.

Boost Mobile’s current most expensive phone is the BlackBerry Curve 8330, which costs $250. As I’m sure you know, these prepaid carriers offer no contracts, ergo, no phone subsidy. Customers have to pay full price for the phones. By most accounts, the Motorola i1 will be an “entry-level” Android phone (when compared to beasts like the Droid Incredible and HTC EVO 4G), but without the subsidy, the initial cost of entry is higher than those phones (Both Verizon and Sprint are selling the Droid Incredible and HTC EVO 4G for $200).

Of course, the advantage here is that without a subsidy to pay off, you’ll get a lower monthly fee. As we reported, Boost Mobile won’t be charging a “smartphone tax” for the Motorola i1 like they do with the BlackBerry. Their $50 monthly unlimited everything fee will still apply to the Android phone. Not a bad deal for an Android phone. The Motorola i1 will have full access to the Android Market, so it’s starting to look like a cheap way to get into the Android eco-system.