| Nextel Communications Inc., which currently has a call center under construction in East Bremerton, recently introduced the first wireless phone in North America to include Java technology. The i85s, manufactured by Motorola, is Internet-ready and comes pre-loaded with several Java applications, including specialized business calculators and an expense pad. As more Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) enabled applications are developed, Nextel customers will be able to download these applications onto their phones from Nextel’s web site the same way Palm users download clippings.
“This is just the beginning” said Doug Byrkit, director of sales for Nextel’s Pacific Northwest Area. “The incredible thing about Java is that software applications that many find critical to running their businesses can run on a Nextel phone. And with hundreds of Java programmers developing new programs, our customers will always have easy access to the latest software developments.”
In addition to its Java capabilities, other new features of the i85s include:
• Voice Activated Dialing: Record 20 most-frequently-called numbers to be “dialed” via voice prompt.
• Datebook: Input appointments into the phone, and it will alert you when meetings are about to begin. The phone “remembers” when you are in a meeting, automatically silences the ringer and sends all calls to voice mail until you are out of your meeting, then it turns the ringer back on.
• Enhanced Phonebook: Store 250 entries, with up to seven different numbers for a single name. Access the phonebook by pressing one key, select a name and make the call with a push of a button.
• Voice Recorder: Record and play back up to 20 personal memos.
• Menu Customization: Customize the main menu screen so your most-used features appear first.
• Larger Screen: Adjust font size and number of text lines to suit your preference.
• Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card: Contains service and billing info, enhances security.
The 4.7 ounce i85s offers Nextel’s current features, including: Nextel Direct Connect®, digital two-way radio feature; built-in speaker phone for hands-free calling; Text and Numeric Messaging; Caller ID; voice mail; Turbo Dial one-touch dialing for eight preprogrammed numbers; Quickstore, which instantly adds phone numbers and private IDs to a personal directory; last 20 numbers received/sent list; missed call indicator; 3-Way Calling; and VibraCall® silent notification.
The i85s is offered at a promotional price of $199.99, which is $100 off the suggested retail price. The company will introduce its second Java phone, the i50sx, later this month.
The i85s comes with a high performance battery which provides 165 minutes of talk time and 75 hours of standby time, a rapid travel charger enables the battery to go from no charge to fully-charged in two hours, a clip-on carrier, a printed User’s Guide, and for the first time, an Interactive CD ROM Users Guide.
Additional accessories, including headset, a battery with 270 minutes of talk time and 125 hours of standby time, and cables that can turn a Palm III or IV into a wireless PDA.
For more information, visit www.nextel.com. | 
