Sprint announced new Motorola Renegade v950 and i365 handsets Tuesday for its push-to-talk Nextel service network. The v950 meets military specifications for resistance to shock, dust and moisture, which should cover most industrial and agricultural work.
The Renegade is compatible with other Sprint push-to-talk handsets in one-to-one or one-to-many broadcast mode.
The Renegade v950 also sports stereo Bluetooth, GPS for Sprint’s navigation service, and a two-megapixel camera capable of video. Weighing in at 4.1 ounces, the clamshell phone has a main display of 2.2 inches with 240×320 pixels. It sports a MicroSD slot for storage as well as a mini-stereo jack and external music controls for those who don’t own Bluetooth headsets. The color choice is limited to a sleek black finish.
On the software end, the v950 supports Sprint’s online music store and Sprint TV, which includes live news and selected shorts from ABC, CBS and CNN. NFL Mobile Live keeps football in reach, while Sprint Email and IM provide multiple e-mail accounts and online chat.
The Sprint Mobile Sync utility included with the phone syncs phone numbers, e-mail and contact information to a PC. Sprint has pegged the v950 price at $129 if you sign up for a two-year contract, $199 with a one-year plan, and $329 off the shelf. Sprint’s Everything Plan is $99 per month, with base plans starting at $49.95.
The Renegade gives Sprint an all-in-one handset for its push-to-talk crowd that comes close to Apple’s iPhone. The Samsung Instinct just covered the company in its PCS network with an iPhone wannabe, while the Renegade covers most of the Nextel bases with the rugged features needed at work sites.
Amy Schiska-Lombard, a Sprint spokesperson, said the Renegade is exclusive to Sprint but would not comment on whether other carriers might wind up with the handset. Asked why…