Some of us still have family members that are less technologically adept and prefer simpler phones. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t get an easy to operate phone that also boasts new features. The Motorola i412 is a basic flip phone but with some usability enhancements. The Motorola i412 allows for instant communication via text messages as well as walkie-talkie functionality. It has a simple wide rectangular design, with a measurement of 3.8 inches long by 1.9 inches wide by 0.8 inch deep. The front plate is slightly raised, with the external display panel in the middle. The overall feel of the i412 is predictably cheap, but that’s not a surprise considering its price. In the center panel is a skinny 1-inch monochrome display that shows remaining battery life, signal strength, and the date and time. It also shows incoming caller ID and message notifications. You’ll find a rather lackluster 1.79-inch display while open the flip. The display supports 64,000 colors with a resolution of 128×160 pixels. As a result, graphics and text have a rather blocky and grainy look to them. This is typical of entry-level phones, but we can’t help but wish for a sharper screen anyway. Boost Mobile often takes pride in offering a wide variety of phones for every budget, including the cheap basic flip phone. The Motorola i412 is one such handset.
The Motorola i412 is typical of most basic flip phones. It has a simple wide rectangular design, with a measurement of 3.8 inches long by 1.9 inches wide by 0.8 inch deep. The front plate is slightly raised, with the external display panel in the middle. The overall feel of the i412 is predictably cheap, but that’s not a surprise considering its price. As far as aesthetic goes, we think the design is a bit on the boring side. Thankfully, the electric blue plating gives it a bit of pizzazz.
In the center panel is a skinny 1-inch monochrome display that shows remaining battery life, signal strength, and the date and time. It also shows incoming caller ID and message notifications. Sitting above the display is the VGA camera. Beneath the display are the speakerphone button plus a smart key, which enables you to access the Recent Calls list when the cover is closed. You can scroll through the list with the volume rocker. To select a number, simply press the aforementioned speakerphone key, and a call be placed without you having to open the phone. The volume rocker and push-to-talk key are on the left spine, while a micro USB port sits on the right.
Underneath the display is a simple navigation array that consists of two soft keys, a round toggle, a menu key, and a camera button. The toggle can be assigned to four user-defined shortcuts. We found the array to be usable, but wished it wasn’t so flat. Below the array are the Send and End/Power keys. The number keypad is roomy, and we like that each key is separated and raised above the surface in a square-like shape. As a result, it’s easy to text and dial just by feeling around.
Some of the core features include text and multimedia messaging, Java apps that pull down web email from sources like Yahoo, AOL, and Gmail, instant messaging, Bluetooth, and a simple WAP browser. You also get essentials like a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, a datebook, call alerts, a voice recorder, a memo pad, call timers, and even GPS.
There aren’t that many media options with i412. You can load on your own MP3s on here, but the player is extremely limited; they’re mostly for use as ringtones. You do get a camera, but as we mentioned, it is only VGA quality. You can adjust the picture quality (Normal and Fine), picture size (large, medium, small, and profile), the self timer, zoom, and it also has a low light setting, though it doesn’t help that much.
The Motorola i412 has a rated battery life of 3.4 hours talk time and 4 days standby time. According to the FCC, it has a digital SAR of 0.94 watts per kilogram. The i412 will be available on June 13, It will be available through Boost Mobile’s retail stores as well as through select independent wireless dealers. By late June, it will be available in major retail stores across the country.
The Motorola i412 is absolutely on the low end when it comes to prepaid flip phones. The menu interface is lacking, the photo quality is terrible, and there aren’t that many good features. But if all you need is a Push-to-Talk iDEN phone that makes great phone calls, the i412 does fit the bill at only $69.99 without a contract.
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