Nextel i275

There’s a good reason why Sprint is keeping Nextel’s iDen network around: the lightning-quick connections you’ll enjoy when making Walkie-Talkie calls to other Nextel subscribers. Got a lot of people who need to chime in on that conference call? Use the i275 to access the Group Walkie-Talkie service, which enables conversations with up to 21 people nationwide. This 4.6-ounce handset rewards the impatient in others ways, including a Direct Send feature that sends a picture using the phone’s VGA camera to another Nextel user during a Walkie-Talkie call. Too bad the pictures themselves look so grainy. We’re not big fans of the cramped dialpad or low-resolution 128 x 138-pixel display, either. On the plus side, the i275 works with the Telenav GPS navigation service ($10 per month), offering turn-by-turn directions. Regular phone calls came through loud and clear when we checked our test voicemail message. If you can live with a bulkier design and need to stay in constant communication, this phone will get the job done.

www.sprint.com