Nextel users usually have terrible phones. We don’t get the cool phones like the G1 or the iPhone. Instead, we get mostly Motorola stuff, and even those are typically the ‘industrial design’ versions. Even the smartphones usually stay away. Until recently, the only Blackberry you could get as a Nextel user was the ugly and awkward 7100i, which didn’t even have a QWERTY keyboard. Well, if you’re like me and you were waiting for a newer style Blackberry to be released be happy, the time has finally come.
Design wise, the 8350i is exactly what you’d expect from an 8300 series phone from RIM. It’s roughly the same as a Curve, with some differences. The handset is a little larger, most likely due to the electronics for the push-to-talk features that Nextel users are so familiar with. It’s also got a bit more bulk to it, but it doesn’t feel that much different unless you’re holding an actual Curve in the other hand. Nextel needed a couple of changes to make it fit with their product line, there’s the push to talk button located on the left side, and outlined in yellow just to make sure you don’t miss it. The edges are covered in rubber, I assume intended to add that ‘ruggedizing’ that we all want on our Nextel phone.
The good news is, the screen in the same as the Curve, namely easy to read and very bright. Sound quality is excellent, regardless of if you are making a standard voice call or using push to talk. The speakerphone works well, the keyboard is ‘clicky’ and has good tactile feedback. There are a couple of things that are a quirky however, the Curve’s standard 3.5mm headphone jack has been replaced by a 2.5mm port. Since the earbuds that come with the phone are frankly not the best, that makes upgrading a bit of a pain. Also, since the Nextel network is not necessarily the fastest when it comes to data transfers, you’ll want to use the built in wifi radio whenever possible. This will also save you on the data plan charges.
The best news is, the 8350i runs the latest version of the Blackberry OS, which uses the same menu system as the Bold. Now I’ve been using Blackberry devices for years, and I have to say that the latest version of the OS is the most intuitive I’ve ever experienced. It also means that the 8350i is preloaded with AIM, GoogleTalk, Yahoo messenger, and Handmark’s Pocket Express aggregator.
If you are a Nextel user, and you’re looking for a smartphone, you can do much worse then the 8350i. Personally, I really like the phone and I’m glad to see that Sprint is trying to get some better equipment available to the Nextel masses. All we can do is hope they stop trying to sell that awful 7100i.
Photo Gallery by Picturesurf
That looks a little bulky to me. But when there aren’t much options left, this one comes as a saviour :)
Very nice (I’ve considered adding another line on my Sprint account)…but why no hybrid?!? It’d be nice to have EVDO for data.
I absolutely love this phone! I am going to buy it tommorow, and I am jumpy with glee since I before had the i570 and I absolutely hated it! I am very glad that this review was written, and I thank you very much.
Loved how it looked. A little wider than I liked. Now for the bad…. Everybody talking to me could here themselves echo, and very loud to, no matter what network they were calling from. Sounded really hollow also, poor voice quality. text messages could take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple days to go through. For the 3 weeks I had it, it must have froze up on me at least 15 times. Garbled calls. all in all to me it was a poor purchase. If you have to deal with customers don’t talk to them on this, its embarrassing!
This is a smart LOOKING phone. Actually using it is an entirely different story. Froze up on me 10 times a day. Even removing the battery doesn’t unfreeze it. Static galore. Cannot even decipher conversations. If you only want this phone to look at…buy it. If you want a phone to talk on…stay away from this model, or make sure you buy the insurance plan, and plan on taking it in and leaving it for service repairs every other week.
Like Sal above …foget text messaging. It took days to send and receive one. I finally gave up and told people to call me at home.
I have had nothing but problems with this phone it is a big headache!!!
I love BlackBerrys but I hate this phone!!!!