Overview Compatible with Nextel cell phone service, the ultra-durable Motorola i530 packs all the really necessary features of a modern cell phone into the world's first weatherproof clamshell frame. This phone is so hardy, it actually meets military standard durability specs. If that's not enough, there's also Internet access, speakerphone functionality, a 600-entry phone book, voice recording, voice activation, and more.
Durability
The i530's Military Standard 810 F certification means that the phone can function normally in environments with high degrees of dust, shock, and vibration. Its hard rubber encasing and interior linings and seals all work to protect the phone’s antenna, speaker, keys, battery door, and accessory connections. The i530 also sports tough, rubberized keys designed to be both easy to use and durable in their size and resistance to accidental depression.
Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the i530 sports a handy 4-way scroll key and two command keys for relatively easy navigation. It also includes a speakerphone function, important for the outdoor/industrial user, which has its own dedicated key. In its closed position, the i530's external screen lets you preview calls before you answer. The phone can also be set to connect to the last Direct Connect call or to a previously assigned Direct Connect contact, by pressing the PTT button. Other calling features include vibrating alert, downloadable voice activation (allowing users to speak a command or number and the phone will respond without a key being touched), recent calls list, call hold, call waiting, a 600-entry phone book, and keypad lock.
Messaging and Internet
The i530 includes basic text messaging, and its Net services include access to news, weather, entertainment, and other Mobile Net-enabled sites, as well as downloadable ring tones, and the always-handy GPS support (for non-Java services such as Mobile Locator).
Other features
The i530 also provides time/date notification, an accessory connector cover that enhances the phone's durability by protecting the bottom accessory connector from dust and debris, a headset jack for direct plug-in without an adaptor, and English, French, and Spanish language settings.
Vital Statistics
The Motorola i530 weighs 6.63 oz. including the battery, and measures 3.6 x 2.0 x 1.1 inches. The phone comes with an OEM standard Lithium Ion battery (750 mAh) rated at about 165 minutes talk time and 75 hours standby time. A travel charger is also included.
1 A pre-paid for $40 was better than this!
I still have yet to dicover how to send a text message - but have gotten them. I am starting to believe there is no way to write a text message on it, unless I pay extra and sign up for the web on the phone too. There is no alarm feature or games. I did the tracfone pre-paid before this and that was much cheaper with a nokia that had much better features. I wish I had played with this at the store before getting stuck with it for two years.
2 Great , tough phone!
This is a great phone...
1. Nextel is awesome in customer service. THis is my second phone, both were shipped within one day. I had them in 48 hours.
2. The PTT is great, you don't rack up minutes. My wife and I use this all the time, nice feature. In fact, don't get this phone unless you plan to use this a lot, otherwise this is just another phone.
3. Volume on this phone is great, speakerphone loud, but adjustable.
4. Tough little phone..good for cops, construction, firecrews, military, anyone in a dusty, hot, or extreme environment. I am none of the above, but drop my phone a lot and work it hard, and like something a little more durable.
5. DO NOT buy this phone if you are looking for great color in the screen, the latest in graphics and software, etc. It is a good, solid phone, period.It is not real fashionable, I have the yellow and black bumblebee model, but a nice solid feel.
6. You can have internet access, more bells and whistles if you want, but if want that stuff, get something like the i830, Treo 650, etc.
GOOD, RUGGED, DEPENDABLE PHONE!
3 Don't Buy It
I got this free from a family member who knows nothing about cell phones. It drops calls everyday. It loses the signal all the time; even when it is just sitting idle. I don't know who is worse, Nextel or Motorola. I have Verizon, but the bill is always high. I recently got T-Mobile and they are the only ones who charge long distance. I've had cell phones since 1999 (now 2005) and I NEVER paid long distance before. All of the above mentioned companies have absolutely HORRIBLE customer service. They lack severely in that area. They don't answer emails--that is, if you can find an email address on their website; they keep you on hold, and when they answer they have no idea what they are talking about or what their company sells. They don't care about you, the only care about your money. Be careful with cell phones and usage. Buyer beware.
4 Good Phone
I liked this phone it seems to be tough and sturdy. Just do not get the ugly yellow cover for it. But had ordered it off of Nextels site. They even gave me a code that saved me $50.00. Here it is for you all to share (CL897L) case sensitive. On the shopping cart page in the promo box. It is like an invoice thing. But I think it is a very good phone. You will enjoy the phone. Happy shopping.
5 Ugly
I hate this phone. I ordered it over the phone sight unseen because it was the cheapest flip phone Nextel had at the time. My friends dubbed it "The Batphone" and they tease me lots every time it gets broken out. It is huge and clunky and has absolutely no extra features. It's good qualities are decent reception and durability.
6 Unreliable
My wife and I both have these phones. I am on my fourth phone in ten days, my wife had hers replaced within 2 months. I had plenty of reception but a glitch in phone prevented my from making calls. This happened with two of the phones. The third had a small glitch. Nextel has been unhelpful in all of this.
7 No alarm!
I like the durability and no-frills phone, but it does not have an alarm clock (which I assumed all phones do). It also doesn't have an external LCD screen as described on this site.
8 Just Ugly
My best friend and I purchased two of these phone. She bought the "Bumble Bee" model (yellow & black), and I purchased the plain black one. In all honestly, this phone is just ugly. Motorola could have done better when they manufactured this phone. To add insult to injury, it has a little, ugly yellow screen. I have to admit, it is better than the i730 used to have when it comes to reception and battery life. If you purchase any of Nextel newer model phones, you may just want to keep your eyes on this one. It is ugly, but it would not bring you a world of trouble like the i730 or i830.
9 DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE
I've read other reviews that it can stand a shock. It can't. I dropped it out of my pocket and it died. Motorola wouldn't fix it under warranty. I paid $140 to have it fixed, and the screen immediately died. Motorola wouldn't fix it under warranty again. Another $140. The sound quality is horrible and the shape of the phone is very difficult to work with. The worst phone I've ever owned.
10 great phone
This phone may not have color or a camera but it's the best cell i've owned. It's resistant i know because i accidently dropped it from a 3 story building...and nothing happaned to it. I guess some people here are saying that the battery doesn't last long...well have u checked if the GPS system is on because that's what really drains the battery...ive gone about 2 1/2 days without charging my phone and the battery is still alive.
11 Horrible standby time.
This battery has the worst standby time of any cell phone I have ever owned. Motorola rates the battery at 75 hours. I have yet to receive over 48 hours without total discharge.
Nextel service leaves a lot to be desired, as well. They are very hard to communicate with and have very little concept of customer service. Just obtaining my account number was a chore in itself. The phone does not come pre programed and therefore expect to spend some amount of time on hold and navigating the voice mail programs while completing this process. All in all, the quality of calls is pretty much the same as I have experienced with other carriers.
Bottom line: Don't leave home without your charger, if even just an overnight trip.
12 HORRIBLE DO NOT GO WITH NEXTEL
The menus are incredibly hard to read
It comes with the most ear screetching sounds one can ever hear
You can't down load anything on to it
The thing is so huge that when you put it in to your pocket there is a humongous bulge
When you put it on you belt you pants start to fall down
13 HORRIBLE
I got this phone new for work. Not only does it rarely pick up a good signal, I can often hear my own voive echoing in my ear which makes it impossible to carry on a conversation. THe menu is poorly laid out, the ring tones are AWFUL, and it is way too big to fit in a pocket, takes up way too much space in a purse, and looks stupid clipped to your waist. Furthermore, after two months, today it simply stopped taking or sending calls. All I get is dead air and a "redial" message. If you must go with Nextel--and you might want to avoid that, because their service is terrible--pick a different phone!
On another note, I do have another Motorola (V60i) that I am very happy with.
14 Great phone
This is a great phone i've had my phone for about a week and i've drop this phone so many times for the little bit of time i had it I would say i have dropped this phone atleast 5 times and once i dropped it on the side walk a hour later somebody called me and i didn't think it would work but it worked it's a great phone and it doesn't have extra things on it that you will not find yourself using
15 OUTSTANDING PHONE
Outstanding phone. Finally a phone without all the frilly features such as a camera or games. This phone is tough as it has been dropped many times, braved the tropic monsoon's and it refuses to quit. Wish it had an external display but then again that would probably hurt the phones tough integrity. Have tried just about every cell provider and Nextel is ahead of them all.
16 Don't trust what Amazon says!
In Amazon's review, they say it has an external LCD screen to see who's calling before you answer it. It DOESN'T! Be warned! Amazon refuses to fix the error as well!
17 Impervious workhorse
I bought the i530 for work in order to have cell and radio in one unit. The "Military" shock rating is absolutely no joke! Before I bought my belt clip, it fell out of my pocket on a job site and bounced down a flight of stairs. The little thing never even flinched and before I got down to the bottom of the stairs, I had a contractor trying to get me on Direct Connect!
I'm telling everyone about this one - thanks for a great discount on a great phone !
18 Great Phone
I have had this phone for a week and it's great, very durable and no fancy features I dont need. It is very easy to use, and gets great recption everywhere. Nextel is much better than any service I've ever had. I'm very pleased with everything.... battery life is slightly weak, but plug it in and your fine.. only problem I noticed was it doesnt have an alarm clock.
19 Like a good sturdy woman!
She may not win a beauty contest, but this phone seems indestructible. I actually had the i730 first, and got the i530 for my wife. However, the i730 ear speaker did not seem right, and after playing around with the i530 for the evening, I took the defective i730 back and exchange it for the i530. The Nextel people thought I was crazy, but I am happier with this one: no worries about scratching up this one. Just switched from Verizon, and we both notice the better clarity of calls...and my voice mail actually shows up seconds, not hours later.
20 Very pleased with this little rubberized phone
v. rugged, replaced a V.66 (Tmobile) for Nextel with an i530 to beat the Tmobile dead zones in S. FL, the i530 works beautifully and is indeed pretty rugged. Also slightly larger size than the V.66 means I can actually use and dial with one hand - The rubberized patch you flip up to recharge is a bit awkward until you get the hang of it.
21 The i530 is a feature packed powerhouse of a phone
I recently upgraded from the 1000Plus to the new! 530 and I have to say it is one of the more well designed cell phones that I have owned to date. The menus are clear and surprisingly intuitive. If you do not want Ashcroft types tracking you GPS can be disabled for privacy. If you purchase one for your child or an elderly parent, you may want to leave the GPS feature enabled in the event of an emergency. It's light weight rugged yet stylish in a post-cyberpunk kind of way. Yeah I know it doesn't have a camera and no it doesn't have a color screen but you know what I can actually use my phone in places that others around me cannot. If you do buy it keep in mind that Nextel will stick you with another two-year contract commitment in order to get the reduced price. Bottom line the i530 is a feature packed powerhouse of a phone for the price.
22 Great phone so far!
So far this is a great phone. Feels very sturdy, and good thing too, I've already dropped it twice with no defects noted. A no frills phone, gets as good as or better reception than my AT+T GSM phone. Feels good in the hand and on the belt, and is not as thick as many other Nextel phones. Speakerphone works great, and the headset volume is plenty loud enough.
On to the bad. The battery life is dismal. My battery is almost dead after 2 days use, with only 30 minutes of talk time. Why can't you make folders under your personal contacts. So you can keep personal and work related contacts seperate, and not have to scroll through a whole list to find one name?
On a side note, if you order from Nextel, give them a call. I got my phone down to $75, free activation, a free car charger and a $75 rebate!
