Motorola i365

"Big, burly, bulky." That's how CNET reviewer Kent German brands the "rock-solid design" of the Motorola i365, successor to the Motorola i355 (*est. $60). The i365 candy-bar push-to-talk phone is also the fraternal twin to the clamshell Motorola i576 (free): They may look different on the outside, but their cellular functionality remains identical. A behemoth of a device -- 5.3 inches by 2.1 inches by 1.2 inches and a noticeable 6.7 ounces -- the i365 might be confused with a cordless phone, says German. In fact, the rubber-encased device is so chunky that it stands upright when placed on a flat surface. Form follows function with the i365, which meets military standard 810F to endure dust, shock, vibration, extreme temperatures and solar radiation. It also withstands blowing rain and humidity, although it's no match for the waterproof Casio GzOne Boulder. Like the i576, the i365 has an extendable antenna, generously spaced keypad buttons with predictive text entry and well-placed tactile navigation controls. The display screen measures a small 1.62 inches with a 130-by-130-pixel resolution, but it receives much better reviews than that of the i576 for brightness and clarity.

Like its twin, the i365 excels as a communication device. One PhoneScoop.com user says it's a "fantastic talker," while another describes voice quality as "smooth and artifact free." Sprint Nextel's support doesn't disappoint, either. Push-to-talk features abound and are far more extensive than on the i335, including the ability to chat with up to 20 people at once, even though the i365 taps into the same slow iDEN network. Second-line services provide users with two phone numbers for the one device, which is handy for managing a personal and a business line. While the i365 is strictly business and lacks a camera or music player, it still offers a full palate of basic features: Bluetooth, GPS, web access, email, text and multimedia messaging, a 600-entry phone book, voice recorder, speakerphone, voice dialing, call forwarding, a 2.5 mm headset jack, and downloadable wallpaper, ringtones and Java applications such as games. And with a powerful battery in tow, the i365 is ready, willing and able to do the job. It might not have the hybrid sleek design and multimedia functionality of the Motorola Stature i9 (*est. $190), but as German says, if you're looking for a phone that's built like a tank, "the i365 fits the bill."

A detailed standalone review from CNET looks at the design, features and performance of the Motorola i365, while user reviews from CNET and PhoneScoop.com establish common denominators and potential problems with long-term use.