Verizon has launched the second EVDO Rev. A capable PTT handset in their planned arsenal to compete with Sprint in the imminent battle between both providers for the highly lucrative Push to Talk market.
Like the Motorola Adventure, the Boulder features a MilSpec bodyshell that is shock, dust, and water resistant and features EVDO Rev. A access, QVGA internal display, GPS access with workforce management application support, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, digital compass, microSDHC slot with 256MB of internal memory, V CAST Music and Video support, speakerphone and a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and video recorder.
In keeping with the devices being marketed to businesses and individuals that work in sensitive enviroments, there is also a version available with no camera built-in. Both versions are now available online from Verizon for $179.99 after new 2 year agreement before an additional $50 online discount bringing the total to $129.99 with the retail launch set for August 4th.
Another shot at Sprint’s dome
Heard the first radio ad today… the copy was along the lines of, “Need better call quality on your push to talk phone? Come to Verizon.”
Network coverage war aside for the moment it is nice to see a Rev A PTT phone with Military grade resistance to water. The only other water resistant PTT phone available on the market are on the Nextel IDEN Network. Hopefully Sprint soon add a phone like this to its lineup.
Just got this phone a day ago and I am already bringing it back. Everything is great on it and I’m sad at the fact that I have to bring it back but I can’t hear the caller clearly, sounds very muffled for some reason. Have had a number of other people listen to it and they agree. Looked for some ajustments and there is nothing but volume control. I think it may be due to the water resistant protection. The bottom line is that it’s needed for communicating and if you can’t do that then the other features are pointless. Is the perfect phone if the audio was better.
I have to agree with Rob. The ear piece speaker sucks!!! Sounds like the person is talking through a tin can. Also the external speaker is very easy to distort. Oh yeah one other thing, the vibrator for the phone is very weak. My Type-S speakers were awesome and vibrate alert would rattle the change in your pocket. If they could fix the speakers and the vibrator the this phone would be 100%.
Would like to give the phone a good report but within a week of having it the inside screen cracked (before I even had a chance to drop it). and the ear piece is really difficult to hear. other than those two issues it seems to be a great phone.
Have to agree with the above reviews went to a verizion store tried the boulder was very disapointed, my brothe-in-law type s was great compared to this new boulder sounded terrible and when I called the wife she had to turn her volume up on her phone she said it sounded decent on her end but on my end well you try it and be the judge really wanted this phone loved the orange color but ended up getting an older style lg which sounded much better.
Have to agree with the above reviews went to a verizion store tried the boulder was very disapointed, my brother-in-law type s was great compared to this new boulder sounded terrible and when I called the wife she had to turn her volume up on her phone she said it sounded decent on her end but on my end well you try it and be the judge really wanted this phone loved the orange color but ended up getting an older style lg which sounded much better.
Have had mine for right at a week. I did have to return the first one for speaker trouble. The earpiece speaker was like listening through a tin can. and the external speaker was just all distorted. A trip to the store and an exchange and I guess I got one of the few that were put together right. The 2nd phone works great and no issues as of yet. And yes I did like the sound quality of the type-S better. Also they should have left the external speaker on the front like the type-S.
Just bought the boulder today, and I was reading through some of these reviews and was nervous about the sound quality. I had a friend called me and was bummed to find the quality wasn’t too good as many of you said. However if you go into the phone menu, and go to call settings you’ll find the voice privacy option is turned on as default. I turned it off and found the sound quality was indeed better, I could more clearly hear the person on the other end. It worked for me, maybe it’ll help you guys out as well. 🙂
Company issued this phone a week ago and it has been a huge disappointment. The voices are terribly distorted and garbled. They said to turn the volume down, so I did, and all that did was make me unable to hear the garbled voices. The vibrator is weak. Had it in my front pocket and didn’t even notice it. The quality of calls is about like turning the clock back 5-7 years. Also, it is appropriately named the Boulder. The thing is bulky and way thicker than the average flip phone. Gimme back my old phone…who cares about the PTT.
Rafa, “bulky and way thicker then the average flip phone..? This is not your average flip phone. H2O resistant, shock proof, dust proof. Show me a “tough phone” that is smaller then this. I agree about the vibrator, and the speaker on my first phone was bad but my second phone is great. People buy this phone becasue they don’t have to baby it like a PDA. This is a phone for people who work outdoors not some little corner office pushing a pencil. And the size is not an issue, this is a very small and compact “tough phone”.
I got the boulder phone because I own a landscape company. I set the phone ring and vibrate together. So far I have missed more calls then my business can handle due to lousy speakers and next to no vibration. I don’t even want to try the push to talk { can you here “understand” me now}. This phone is great idea and long over due .I have to go now to return my ROCK.
Terrible audio quality. I can’t even hear the person on the other end. Forget this phone, going back to my 3 yr old Motorola that sounds fantastic!
My company changed to Verizon from ATT – bad idea. Boulder has the worst sound quality I’ve ever heard – you cannot understand what people are saying, you cannot recognize voices.
About half my calls are dropped- – is it the phone or the service? Does it really matter?
The quality of sound has been an issue. I took this back to store and they did a software down load on it It did improve sound and battery life. Battery was two days. Now up to 5 days.
I just did the change listed above about the privacy option. Have not talked on phone yet to test.
I have sound turned up all the way, so that does help me hear calls. I have until the 19 to make up my mind on this phone.
Where I have buy at indonesia ?
thanks