Motorola reveals two new Nextel phones - i335 and ic602

Following on the heels of news that Sprint has made a major breakthrough in integrating the Nextel “chirp” feature into it’s CDMA network, Motorola has released a couple new iDEN phones - the ic603 being a hybrid iDEN/CDMA handset.

The i335 is marketed as an entry-level candy-bar with a rubbery finish. Not much else to mention on that front, other than the i335 bears a striking resemblance to the i290 that we showed you a little while ago. The rubbery finish and sleek styling are a welcome departure from the normally staid designs we’ve seen in the past - even if it is on a low-end handset that lacks a camera.

The ic602 is a mid-range hybrid Nextel/Sprint combo-phone. The clamshell is bulky and even has an ugly antenna, as we have come to expect from iDEN phones - but it will work on CDMA and iDEN networks, dramatically increasing the coverage range of the phones. The ic602 is reported to be packing EVDO, and a 2 megapixel camera, but no memory card slot or music-player.

Both handsets are expected to launch later this year. Pricing is not yet known.

We’re a bit surprised to see Motorola still pumping out iDEN phones, considering the iDEN network is rumored to be slated for commercial shutdown in the near future. And, speaking of which, why would Sprint want to merge the “chirp” feature from a network that is rumored to be doomed for re-purposing?

[Via: Gearlog]

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