Occasionally, a new wireless phone surprises me with its feature set, size and ease of use. The Motorola Debut i856 is one of those phones.
The folks at Motorola loaned me one to try out on some recent travels. And they’re also supplying a new Debut to give away to a lucky Practical Travel Gear reader.
First, a few impressions of the phone. The Debut is Motorola’s first slider phone with Nextel Direct Connect push-to-talk on Sprint’s iDEN network. With a slide-out keypad, it can be used like any other wireless phone. In push-to-talk mode, you can chat with up to 20 friends at once. It can also be used for short-range conversations outside of network areas—just like a walkie-talkie.
The Debut boasts a well-rounded set of features, including a camera for still pictures and video, music player, web browser, calendar, e-mail, text and multimedia messaging, voice dialing, Bluetooth and GPS.
This is the kind of phone I wrote about earlier that is blurring the line between barebones phones and smartphones. Business users might demand more, like a hardware keyboard and larger screen and support for Exchange e-mail, calendar and contact synchronization. But not everyone needs that.
Another nice feature on the Debut is a slot for an optional memory card. If you want to carry lots of tunes, an 8 gb card will hold around 10 hours of music. The phone has built-in dual speakers and a standard 3.5 millimeter audio jack.
The phone is lightweight and fit well in my hand. It’s intuitive, so you won’t spend much time thumbing through the instruction manual.
Even though the screen (it’s not a touchscreen) is small, the Myriad web browser performs well. It’s handy for getting the latest weather and news. And some mobile websites,such as USA Today and the New York Times,also include pictures with their stories.
Prolonged web and GPS use will cause substantial battery drain. But that’s a trade-off of having a smaller-sized phone. If I’m in the car, I’ll usually plug my phone into a charger for more than a few minutes of Internet or GPS use. And I carry a spare battery, too.
The 1.3 megapixel camera produced respectable still images and video. Also, profiles allow different call settings for different activities, such as when you’re at work, out jogging or in a meeting. For example, a profile can be set to receive all calls or only calls from those on your contact list.
The Motorola Debut i856 is currently sold by Sprint for $99.99, with contract, after instant savings and rebate. The phone offers a solid set of features for the price.
But one lucky Practical Travel Gear reader will get a new Debut phone free, courtesy of Motorola. Sprint service is not included.
To enter, post a comment about what you could do with the phone or what features you like the best. One entry per person and you must have a U.S. mailing address. We’ll pick a winner at random.
The deadline to enter is December 13, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Be sure to include your e-mail address in your post.
Good luck!
Update: Congratulations to Holly B (Comment #64), winner of the Motorola Debut phone! And thanks to all who checked out the phone and left comments.
#1 by Steve - December 7th, 2009 at 09:20
Wow, this is just what I need for my frequent travel trips. I like the side out keyboard.
#2 by casey lawrence - December 7th, 2009 at 10:24
I love that this is on the Sprint network. The feature that I am missing on my Instict that this has is push to talk. I want this phone!
#3 by Annette D - December 7th, 2009 at 10:30
Tne slide out keyboard would be just the thing for texting! I am a Sprint customer and could really use this phone.
#4 by A. Tsai - December 7th, 2009 at 10:35
usually not a fan of sliders, but the GPS could come in handy for a travel phone
#5 by Margaret Smith - December 7th, 2009 at 10:50
I really love the feature of this phone holding music. What a neat looking phone.
Thanks so much and Happy Holidays.
#6 by susan varney - December 7th, 2009 at 11:14
what great features mverno@roadrunner.com
#7 by Teresa - December 7th, 2009 at 11:31
GPS
great phone!
:) Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! :)
#8 by Vickie Riddle - December 7th, 2009 at 11:57
The GPS would be the greatest help to me while traveling, plus the camera feature would really be nice to take shots of places and people along the way. Sounds like a super phone. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Trails! :)
#9 by konny church - December 7th, 2009 at 12:01
What a great phone im lucky just to be able to make a call with mine.
#10 by Tyrone Towns - December 7th, 2009 at 12:04
I am a business owner and I love that I can talk to up to 20 people at a time…Great for conference calls.
#11 by Diane Baum - December 7th, 2009 at 13:20
Wow-the Gps and the fact that up to 20 people can talk at once-
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com
#12 by andrew b - December 7th, 2009 at 13:33
seems like a great phone, would love to take it for a test drive
#13 by randy - December 7th, 2009 at 14:07
Would love to try this, looks amazing
#14 by cranepuffin - December 7th, 2009 at 14:23
I like the slot for the optional memory card. Very neat!
#15 by Robert Lamb - December 7th, 2009 at 15:51
I could use this cool phone for work!! :-)
robswindowcleaning at yahoo.com
#16 by Jennifer C. - December 7th, 2009 at 16:29
I love that this phone has all of the great features! Especially the GPS and the super camera!
#17 by Jen - December 7th, 2009 at 16:53
My brother just washed his phone in the washing machine on accident, so it won’t even turn on. I would give this to him.
#18 by Susan C - December 7th, 2009 at 17:37
I would keep the phone for myself. I am the only person on the planet who still doesn’t have a cell phone.
#19 by joe hansen - December 7th, 2009 at 18:09
the slide out feature helps with texting. I could use the camera feature also since my phone just lost its picture taking capability.
#20 by Ann F - December 7th, 2009 at 18:48
I need a new phone…… My phone is ancient! I like the fact that it has GPS
#21 by Jacob LaFountaine - December 7th, 2009 at 18:52
I’d use the GPS feature because I don’t have that function on any of my devices
#22 by Adriel Bailey - December 7th, 2009 at 19:39
wow gosh guys looks like a cool phone yea dude yea!!!
#23 by Chelsey Burke - December 7th, 2009 at 20:11
I would give this phone to my boyfriend because his sprint phone recently broke.
#24 by allan lynn - December 7th, 2009 at 21:43
i could actually carry it in m pocket without pushing buttons accidentally
#25 by niu - December 7th, 2009 at 22:55
it seems to be enough for business users.
e-mail feature is found most useful by me so far.
#26 by Timothy Lu - December 7th, 2009 at 23:21
I will use this phone to call my girlfriend!! :)
#27 by JAMES P LYNAM - December 7th, 2009 at 23:32
The “GPS” feature is perfect for me.
#28 by NICHOLAS NIEVES - December 7th, 2009 at 23:48
WHAT I NEED FOR MY TRIP TO GERMANY NEXT YEAR
#29 by Tari Lawson - December 8th, 2009 at 06:07
I would give this phone to my son who recently lost his. That way, I would be able to get in touch with him when I need to.
#30 by Brandon Ralston - December 8th, 2009 at 09:19
The feature I like best is the web browsing. Enter me please. Thanks.
#31 by Nelson Barnes - December 8th, 2009 at 10:04
This looks like a good solution to teaching my online classes while on the go.
#32 by john urbigkeit - December 8th, 2009 at 11:45
GPS I could really use this.. cool site.
thank you
#33 by Marcia - December 8th, 2009 at 11:53
My present phone is dying….I use the Sprint network….this phone would be just what I need.
#34 by Denise B. - December 8th, 2009 at 13:17
I would give this to my oldest son who now uses a piece of junk and would benefit from the GPS now that he has started driving.
#35 by Monique Rizzo - December 8th, 2009 at 13:48
I LOVE the GPS feature. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
#36 by Linda Lansford - December 8th, 2009 at 14:55
I would use the gps. I get lost getting the mail
#37 by cathiem - December 8th, 2009 at 15:41
I like the Slide out keyboard.
#38 by Ellie W - December 8th, 2009 at 16:26
My phone is about 4 years old and way behind the times. This one is great. I especially love the GPS feature.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
#39 by Eric Rollins - December 8th, 2009 at 19:30
I would enjoy the web surfing. The keyboard feature is great.
#40 by Trisha - December 8th, 2009 at 21:26
i like the gps feature! what a great phone!
#41 by Timothy Pedersen - December 8th, 2009 at 23:44
I can’t live without the slide out keyboard any more. Texting is so much easier with it, not to mention emails.
#42 by adrienne Gordon - December 9th, 2009 at 11:55
I’d let me son have it for emergencies
#43 by Mary - December 9th, 2009 at 18:22
We’ve had Motorola phones for years, and switched to Nextel a few years back. I LOVE the PTT with Nextel! We use it all the time.
#44 by Djp - December 9th, 2009 at 19:10
sign me up, i could use some updating on my phone
#45 by Carol G - December 10th, 2009 at 08:31
I like that it has some of the expanded features, but is not a total ‘smartphone’, which is way more than I need in functions.
#46 by Jeff - December 10th, 2009 at 10:18
I would text and use it to talk to family.
#47 by camille - December 10th, 2009 at 12:58
I like the slide out keyboard and the GPS. Thanks for hosting this great giveaway.
#48 by Jason - December 10th, 2009 at 15:26
I think with this phone I could possibly hit the send button to make a call without erasing that contact. My phone doesn’t work so well!
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
#49 by Jennifer Lachman - December 10th, 2009 at 20:07
I love products that are multi functional so my feature would be the gps.
jennielee226(at)gmail(dot)com
#50 by Joseph - December 10th, 2009 at 21:21
I like the GPS navigation and voice activated dailing. I travel for work and in my car most of the time. Both features would definitely help while working in my car.
#51 by Daniel M - December 10th, 2009 at 22:46
voice activated dialing sounds like a great feature, i’d use it mostly when in the car for the next time i break down it’ll be easier to call aaa!
#52 by Jill Myrick - December 11th, 2009 at 01:00
My favorite features are the Web Browser,
Email and Memory Card Slot.
Thank you so much for the chance to win.
jweezie43[at]aol[dot]com
#53 by Bryanna P. - December 11th, 2009 at 02:10
Awesome giveaway…thank you mucho… =]
#54 by BW - December 11th, 2009 at 15:49
I like that it has a camera.
#55 by erin everitt - December 11th, 2009 at 18:05
this phone looks awesome. do need a new one!
#56 by John Rasmussen - December 11th, 2009 at 19:53
the push to talk would be great, especially when I just want to say good night to the kids, and I am in the middle of something else.
#57 by Dave - December 11th, 2009 at 19:54
I like the built-in GPS. I am forever getting lost and this phone would be a big help. Thank you for the chance to win. Happy holidays.
#58 by Rosie - December 11th, 2009 at 21:46
I would give this to my daughter who would use the camera and load music tracks to listen on the phone.
#59 by Karina - December 12th, 2009 at 02:34
GPS feaute is great
#60 by Christie - December 12th, 2009 at 02:41
With the Debut, I could listen to music at work without having an additional device to carry or have lying around.
#61 by Erica C. - December 12th, 2009 at 04:03
A slide out keyboard…nice! Thanks :)
#62 by Jay - December 12th, 2009 at 04:49
This phone does look really gr8 & lookwise is total wow. Excellent. Jay from http://www.holidayaroma.com/ski
#63 by JRG - December 12th, 2009 at 06:41
I’m a Sprint customer and I could use a new phone!
#64 by Holly B - December 12th, 2009 at 13:28
I love the design!
#65 by roseh2o19 - December 12th, 2009 at 13:56
great for conference calls – 20 people!?!
#66 by Walter Arnett - December 12th, 2009 at 15:22
One thing I would use with the phone is the calling feature where I can dial a number and then it will ring and someone else will pick up their phone and then we can have a two-way conversation about how I just won this phone.
#67 by Bart Henry - December 12th, 2009 at 18:32
I have a cracked Samsung that does nothing but make calls, I’m in the 90′s. I will leave T-mobile and sign up with Sprint. Thanks for the chance!
#68 by Gavin - December 12th, 2009 at 21:05
I would use this awesome looking phone for all its worth!
#69 by Angela G - December 12th, 2009 at 22:20
I need this SO badly. I am using a broken Motorola Razr. This would be awesome!
#70 by Allen - December 12th, 2009 at 22:34
Awesome prize. Thanks for the chance :)
#71 by Susan Ledet - December 12th, 2009 at 22:34
This looks like a nice phone. I like that it has built-in dual speakers and a standard 3.5 millimeter audio jack.
#72 by Char - December 13th, 2009 at 01:16
That is a beautiful phone, I like the that you can add an additonal card for more memory.
#73 by TIM SMITH - December 13th, 2009 at 01:56
NICE PHONE FOR MY TEXTING WITH BBIG BUTTONS
#74 by Amanda - December 13th, 2009 at 04:01
The battery door broke on my phone but I haven’t been able to replace it.
I really like how this is a slider phone, usually the two way capable phones are big and bulky.
The GPS and all are simply bonuses. Great looking phone.
Thank you for the chance! I’d be very happy to have it.
Great review!
saddleoneup at att dot net
#75 by dawn - December 13th, 2009 at 04:22
thank you for chance to win
#76 by Jennifer gersch - December 13th, 2009 at 04:55
I would use this phone every hour of the day
#77 by Mary Casper - December 13th, 2009 at 06:53
this would be great my old eyes have a hard time seeing the buttons on my current phione
#78 by Constance L. - December 13th, 2009 at 09:35
I like the fact that a profile can be set to receive all calls or only calls from those on your contact list that is a great feature.
I also like that it has a web browser.
#79 by Ben Arcure - December 13th, 2009 at 11:19
If i won I would text all my homeys and be like haha i jist won a contest
#80 by Jerold A. Sauer - December 13th, 2009 at 11:24
Sure could use a new cell phone mine is a relic
#81 by S Carter - December 13th, 2009 at 12:06
I would like to have the GPS feature.
#82 by Aimee W. - December 13th, 2009 at 12:49
I need a new cell phone SO badly…and I just love that the camera takes both still photos AND video.
Thank you so much for this generous giveaway – I would be SO thrilled to win!
#83 by Melanie - December 13th, 2009 at 13:11
My brother in law’s phone was recently stolen on the job, he could totally use this! Exspecially the walkie talkie feature since he is a truck driver.
#84 by Karen Gonyea - December 13th, 2009 at 13:11
I could really use an upgrade – my phone is almost 4 years old !!
#85 by vern burruss - December 13th, 2009 at 14:24
I could use this phone to stay in contact with my family. :)
#86 by Debra F - December 13th, 2009 at 14:35
Right now, I only have a trac phone, so I’d love to win this so I can finally have a phone that I can text from. I also love that it has a camera too. Thanks for the giveaway.
#87 by Kristin - December 13th, 2009 at 15:09
I really like the push-to-talk mode!
#88 by christopher h - December 13th, 2009 at 16:06
love the slide out keyboard – thats a must
#89 by Anne - December 13th, 2009 at 16:35
I like that this phone has a lot of features without having too many. I don’t use my phone for e-mails, but I like having music and taking pictures! The MP3 feature w/expandable memory card slot is my favorite feature!
#90 by kristy - December 13th, 2009 at 17:47
I love the slide out keypad the most.. My current phone doesnt have one so it makes texting difficult
#91 by carol ~ - December 13th, 2009 at 17:59
I wouldn’t need a camera with this. And since I don’t have one this would be so nice to have!
#92 by kelly wakefield - December 13th, 2009 at 18:05
the GPS feature is what I really like – we travel a lot & this would really come in handy!
#93 by Angela Winesburg - December 13th, 2009 at 18:55
I love the GPS feature, to not get lost again… ahh… Thanks for the chance!
#94 by Ben - December 13th, 2009 at 19:37
Awesome replacement to my $10 travel phone. I need a camera and GPS.
#95 by Liz G - December 13th, 2009 at 19:51
I am currently on a Go Phone because I broke my real phone and didn’t have a warranty. Boo! I would use my Go Phone to take with me while travelling, and use this for a real phone.
#96 by Tara W - December 13th, 2009 at 20:03
I love the push to talk and the camera features.
#97 by RUSSELL WARD - December 13th, 2009 at 20:41
GPS would/ could be a lifesaver
#98 by JOE CORNELL - December 13th, 2009 at 22:01
such a sleek looking phone
#99 by Jay F. - December 13th, 2009 at 22:32
I like that you can use this as a music player.
#100 by Kathy Swenson - December 13th, 2009 at 23:14
I love this! I could use it on my daily walks, and it would mean that I would not have to bring both my cell phone AND my iPod since it holds a lot of music! Also, love the fact that I can use the email feature “on the run!”