Boost-branded Motorola i1 goes live on Best Buy's site

You won't find any mention of the Android-powered Motorola i1 on Boost Mobile's site just yet, but the phone -- the very first to run Android for iDEN networks -- looks destined for Sprint's prepaid brand now that Best Buy has fessed up to it. It really doesn't come as any surprise since we already knew the i1 would be launching on Sprint's Direct Connect service, and it seems rather silly for those guys not to get as much use out of the phone as they can, particularly considering that it's arguably the most exciting iDEN handset ever made. That's not saying much, we know... but you know what we mean. Now, the question is: who's going to pay $349.99 for it with no commitment?

[orches Posted May 25th 2010 4:18PM]

1.5? 1.6? 2.01? 2.1?

[Ruck Fules Posted May 25th 2010 4:28PM]

Android 1.5

[emaildejan Posted May 25th 2010 5:30PM]

What?!? Post-paid once again gets screwed while pre-paid gets the i1? WTF is going on?!? That's it....Sprint has proven it has NO CLUE what to do with Nextel. Figures since they continue to lose their post-paid subscribers left and right. MORONS!

[wooahahaha Posted May 25th 2010 5:40PM]

^ this is right....that have abandoned nextel post paid and as much as people say the technology is outdated...a ton of people use it still....they are screwing themselves

[darthgault Posted May 25th 2010 5:52PM]

I payed $339 for my Moto Cliq and use it contractless on t-mobile ... i get 450min, unlimited web, and unlimited text for about $67 with tax.

so there are people out there that will do this boost plan. its an option for creditly challenged people too.

[ObsceneJesster Posted May 25th 2010 6:24PM]

Damn...$350 for a Burner? Are you trying to put the drug dealers out of business?

[dragonfli Posted May 25th 2010 6:43PM]

I will. I most definitely will.

When the only reliable networks here are a Verizon CDMA network and a Nextel iDEN network [whilst AT&T falls behind], and with Boost being as affordable as it is...

... yeah, I'd spend the $350 and get a great phone.

[emaildejan Posted May 25th 2010 7:06PM]

@dragonfli
But why not offer such a phone to post-paid Nextel users first? Or even exclusively? Why initially offer it to Boost Mobile pre-paid? Seems insulting to those of us with stellar credit since pre-paid users typically have lousy credit, little money, or (most often) both while post-paid users get to enjoy allegedly better rate plans (though on iDEN, post-paid rate plans suck since pre-paid unlimited is cheaper than anything post-paid can get) and phone discounts.

So where is the post-paid love from Sprint to us Nextel post-paid users? Makes me want to be even less of a Sprint customer now, and maybe I'll instead go to T-Mobile. At least I can get the HTC HD2 and still pay only $89.99/month, and get better data speeds than the HTC Evo 4G...let alone this iDEN relic (sorry, with Android 1.5, it's a relic in my book).

[roryk Posted May 26th 2010 1:47PM]

@emaildejan
so you are mad that it's not being offered to you. Then you say you don't want it.. Which is it?

[b3nj4m1n Posted May 26th 2010 7:03PM]

@emaildejan why are you even complaining about having the same service for cheaper without being locked into a contract??

[emaildejan Posted May 25th 2010 7:54PM]

BTW, just called into Motorola, and the rep there assured me that you can purchase an i1 from SouthernLINC (which goes for $279.99 on their website), and have that i1 unlocked and then subsequently use it as a Boost pre-paid or Nextel post-paid phone. Go figure. Save your money, folks, and get the phone from SouthernLINC. Simple.

[quade Posted May 28th 2010 10:07PM]

Interesting, but I haven't heard good things about iDEN and would much rather have CDMA. Also, 1.5? hmmm..I would have at least put 1.6 on it.