Java-enabled phones have been a reality in Japan for a while, and now they've arrived to the United States. Motorola's i85s and i50sx Java-enabled handsets feature many of the capabilities of a handheld computer, two-way radio, interactive text pager, and Internet-ready mobile phone in a single device. The phones offer increased functionality by letting you download and run applications to meet your individual needs.

The Motorola i85s and i50sx handsets are among the first mobile phones in North America to use Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) technology, which aims to make wireless devices more "intelligent." Users can update their devices constantly with applications to meet their changing needs, just as you might upgrade your PC. You can also retrieve information via "always on" Internet access, without the need to establish a dial-up connection. The offline capabilities of the Motorola i85s and i50sx handsets allow users to access applications residing in the phone even when they're not connected to the network.

Designed for professional use, the Motorola i85s handset lets you stay connected with people and information to increase productivity and save time. It gives you two-way radio and text and numeric messaging. Other features include voice-activated dialing and a datebook. The datebook feature lets you enter appointments (start and stop times) into the phone and then alerts you when meetings are about to begin; the phone "remembers" when you are in a meeting, automatically silences the ringer, and sends all calls to voice mail until you are out of your meeting. After the meeting, it turns the ringer back on (you entered both a start and stop time). The phonebook feature stores 250 entries, with up to seven different numbers for a single name.

Both handsets come with several applications already installed, including productivity tools, including specialized business calculators and an expense pad. You can download additional applications after purchase. These include business applications such as expense reporting, e-mail, and corporate directory access; entertainment applications such as games; and productivity tools such as notepad and calculator.

Both the i85s and the i50sx will support numerous optional accessories, including a foldable keyboard for messaging and easy data entry, a hands-free car kit, several headsets, chargers, and holders. The phones also offer features such as voice dialing and recording incoming phone calls or verbal memos.

The phones provide 640KB of program storage space; 120KB of that is taken up by the pre-loaded applications. The target size for most programs will be 10KB to 50KB.
 
The i85s is available in the United States from Nextel at a promotional price of US$199.99, which is US$100 off the retail price of US$299.99. The i50sx will be available later in April 2001. You can download additional applications from http://www.nextel.com.