Motorola Clutch™ i465 Cell Phone

Boost Mobile’s Motorola Clutch i465 push-to-talk, GPS, QWERTY keypad, a 2.0 megapixel camera Bluetooth capable phone retails anywhere from $79.00 to $99.00 dollars depending on where you shop and the deal you get.  If you are looking to save a few bucks and avoid those costly contracts then Boost Mobile’s No-Contract Clutch is worth checking out with unlimited service for only $50.00 dollars a month.    

Design: 
Initially thinking the Clutch i465’s QWERTY keypad was too small for my fingers, its sleek 4.4 inches by 2.1 inch build was easy to hold and operating the keys to call and text was simple.  No need to worry about this slipping out of your fingers since the back of the phone has a rugged hard rubber textured finish.  The Clutch has a fairly modish look, weighing in at a mere 3.4 ounces making it light to carry around in your phone case or holster.  On the whole, its deep red, black and gray color is eye-catching complementing it slender square sleek tapered design. The phone is durable and meets the advertised military specs for dust, shock, vibration and solar radiation. 

Functions:
The Clutch delivers when it comes to clear phone calls and shines when it texting with a small learning curve on its QWERTY keypad.  Boost Mobile operates on the Sprint network and for the most part coverage is good in the metro Atlanta area.  To turn the phone on and off you press the circular designed red button above the keypad.  The Motorola emblem will display followed by Boost Mobile and then a “Please Wait” request as the phone loads.  Within moments you can make calls, text or surf the web which takes a bit more load time in comparison to making calls.  The sound quality when making and receiving calls is good. 

One of the best functions I like is the hands-free speakerphone button and clear speakerphone sound. The pyramid shaped keys on the pad are slightly raised above the surface of the phone making for decent tactile feedback on the small keypad.  In general, controlling the phone is simple with clearly marked control buttons.  The spacious design of the circular OK button, soft keys, user-defined functions and circular toggle makes for easy use and navigation of the phone. 

On the left side of the phone you will find the volume rocker, direct connect button a standard Mini-USB charger port concealed by a plastic slit that remains attached, in addition to a 2.5 millimeter headset jack that I’ve never used since I prefer my standard Motorola Bluetooth ear piece purchased separately.  On the right you find two thin slots (lanyard hole) used for a chain or strap and finally the camera lens is on the rear of the phone at the very top. 

Features:
When it comes to features and performance the wireless Clutch is not a Smartphone and presents with its fair share of nuances.  You can forget about a flashlight to accompany the VGA megapixel camera.  When you do take pictures the resolution is a bit grainy and lighting for pictures is dismal hampered by the phones 1.79 inch display.  The display screen is readable when dialing phone numbers, texting and using the multipage feature as you can change the text size, and backlighting; however when it comes to surfing the web or gaming resolution is poor and the 1.79 inch screen size is inadequate.  The phone’s lithium-ion battery (1130 mAh) gives approximately two to three hours of talk time and about 24 hours of stand-by time.  Charging the battery is done by connecting the phone to its Mini-USB port to its charger plugged into a standard electrical outlet.  Charge time runs approximately one to two hours and the battery drains quickly if you use the phone daily. 

The phone offers downloadable content which includes games and wallpapers however these features cost.   With some maneuvering you can take advantage of its POP3 email support and utilize applications like Facebook however the web browser is not the greatest and installing java applications is taxing.  I currently have no applications on my phone.  Additionally, when it comes to customer service my only contact with Boost Mobile has been through their website when paying online for the past 6 months.  My online experience has been excellent.    

Final thoughts: 
The Clutch does the job when it comes to calls and texting, but there is nothing innovative in regards to its user interface.  I use the phone primarily in the metro Atlanta area, and call quality and volume is good despite its signal fluctuations when driving on the road.  Battery life is okay and should take you through the day as overall quality of the phone is good. 

Boost Mobile, runs on the Sprint and Nextel network throughout the U.S.  The no-contract payment option varies from pay by the minute, day or month for an unlimited flat-rate that allows nationwide service.  In my opinion the $50 bucks a month is the best pre-pay no-contract deal on the market especially if you pay online.  There are several major retailers including Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and independent dealers and of course http://www.boostmobile.com/ where you can purchase this phone.      

Bottom line, it’s not a Blackberry or Iphone by far, however the Clutch is durable and offers solid clear calls and easy texting.  It’s a cost effective no-credit option for those looking for a no-contract phone.  I’ve had this phone for six months without any problems and  


Included: 
* Motorola Clutch i465
* Owner’s manual
* Lithium-ion battery 
* Charger 
* SIM card 
* Activation kit
* $5 in call credits