Nextel History

Get the latest on our wireless innovation or take a look at past events.

See what we've done from 2004 to the present:

June 2005

Nextel introduces Nextel Wireless GPS Platform, an application development environment that extends location-based services to a broader base of users. The Platform provides large corporate and government customers, and solutions providers with a means to create customized, server-based solutions to location-enable their existing internal applications.

In another industry first, Nextel, in partnership with eSpeed®, announces the launch of the first wireless market data and trading solution for institutional trading of benchmark U.S. Treasury bond issues. This application runs exclusively on the BlackBerry 7520™ over Nextel's Nationwide Network.

Nextel introduces the stylish Motorola i836; the Italian-designed handset combines advanced technology with sleek design and delivers advanced features, including Nextel's new Group Connect^SM service. With a metallic graphite-colored finish and lines inspired by an Italian sports car, the Motorola i836 looks as good as it performs.

May 2005

Nextel and Visto Corporation announce the launch of Mobile Email Enhanced, the first email service for Java-enabled mobile phones with full synchronization and a PDA-like feel. Mobile Email Enhanced pairs Visto's wireless synchronization technology with an on-the-phone application to provide real-time access to email, contact lists, and calendars.

As part of its continued expansion of product offerings, Nextel announces the i275, a camera phone that offers many ways for customers to communicate and express themselves – all in an easy-to-use and compact design.

Nextel and Motorola introduce the i355, an affordable rugged phone that delivers five distinct ways to stay connected. The i355 handset meets U.S. military specifications for resistance to dust, blowing rain and vibration, and has a durable rubber overmold for protection against extreme conditions.

Nextel announces the redesigned Nextel.com, which features unique customer pages, customized promotions and streamlined shopping to deliver a quick and easy one-stop shop for Nextel's customers' needs.

Nextel announces the launch of its new Group Connect^SM service, which enables instant group Direct Connect conversations nationwide.

Nextel, TeleNav™ and Research In Motion are now offering TeleNav for the BlackBerry 7520™, a Java-based GPS navigation application that offers visual and audible, turn-by-turn driving directions and mapping. It is the first GPS application available on the BlackBerry® platform with real time turn-by-turn GPS navigation.

Nextel and Motorola introduce the i605, the first rugged Bluetooth®-enabled phone specifically designed for industries such as field services. Features include maximized battery life, large memory and a large screen that is visible in sunlight.

April 2005

As part of its continued effort to provide superior customer service, Nextel announces newly formatted customers invoices that are based on customer feedback.

Nextel introduces the Motorola i265, a compact phone designed for simplicity and style that delivers cutting-edge features wireless customers demand, including GPS location technology, a vibrant 65K color display and Java™ technology.

March 2005

In an industry first, Nextel and Alliance Partner Sponsors - EDS, IBM and Raytheon JPS - team up to offer customers, visitors and business professionals an opportunity to experience wireless data solutions at the Las Vegas Monorail Station, Nextel Central.

Nextel announces its sponsorship of Project Safe Place, a community collaboration model that provides help and safety to children and teens. As part of its continued relationship with public safety officials across the country, Nextel will designate many of its Nextel Retail Stores as Safe Place locations.

Nextel and Mapquest introduce the first of its kind location-based service on Nextel GPS-enabled phones. The application provides digital maps and directions to Nextel customers.

February 2005

Nextel and Motorola introduce the i325 IS handset, the first intrinsically-safe and ruggedized phone that provides off-network Direct Connect capabilities with Nextel's Direct Talk^SM.

Nextel's lifestyle-based brand, Boost Mobile™, expands into ten additional markets nationwide. The prepaid service offering that targets the youth market is now available where approximately 205 million people live, work and play.

Nextel formally accepts the Federal Communications Commission's Report & Order to eliminate CMRS-public safety radio interference at 800 MHz. In the order, the FCC has made clear and reliable communications possible for first responders and, with Nextel's acceptance, the implementation phase of reconfiguration begins.

January 2005

Nextel ends 2004 with more than 16.2 million subscribers, including 15 million Nextel subscribers and 1.2 million Boost Mobile™ branded service customers.

Nextel announces the expansion of its Hispanic advertising campaign, "Nextel. Ya." The expansion includes new television advertisements in more than ten markets nationwide.

In 2004, Nextel collected nearly 80,000 wireless phones and raised approximately $900,000 to benefit the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services program through the DONATE A PHONE® campaign.

December 2004

Sprint and Nextel announce that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive agreement for a merger of equals.

Nextel's youth lifestyle brand, Boost Mobile, signs up its one-millionth customer.

Nextel offers Direct Talk^SM, a unique service that provides a back-up off-network Direct Connect service for use when customers are outside Nextel network coverage areas. Nextel is the first national carrier to offer this type of off-network service integrated directly into a cellular handset.

November 2004

Nextel achieves a perfect score on the Washington Post's annual cellular phone service test for the second year in a row, surpassing all other wireless carriers.

In its first year as the title sponsor of racing's premier series, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™, Nextel is honored with the 2004 Horizon Award for Best Sports Business Integrated Marketing Plan.

October 2004

Nextel and Trimble join forces to offer the only outdoor recreation product that uses mobile phones for navigation and trip planning.

Nextel announces the availability of the Motorola i860, the first phone with a built-in camera to offer Nextel's premier Direct Connect services.

September 2004

Nextel, in partnership with NASCAR, unveils the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Trophy, which will be awarded to the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ champion.

Nextel announces that it has joined the America Prepared Campaign to help educate Americans on the value of communication for emergency planning as part of National Preparedness Month.

August 2004

Nextel announces that it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ merchandise and phone accessories to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a state-of-the art medical camping facility for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

July 2004

Nextel is selected as the Official Wireless Service Provider for both the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, providing various communications products including wireless phones equipped with Nexetel Direct Connect and RIM Blackberry® devices.

Nextel announces the availability of the Motorola i710, a compact clamshell-style phone that delivers powerful performance at a moderate cost.

Nextel, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Communications Laboratories, Inc., announces the creation and pilot of a wireless AMBER Alert solution that extends the reach of AMBER Alerts to mobile phone users through the Emergency Alert System.

June 2004

Nextel announces the availability of the Motorola i830, the smallest and most advanced Direct Connect phone available in North America.

Nextel, in partnership with NII Holdings, Inc., announces the extension of InterDirect Connect® service to Mexico, one of the most populous countries in Latin America and the United States’ second largest trading partner.

Nextel introduces NextMail^SM, a unique application that allows users to send a streaming MP3 voice message from their phone to any e-mail recipient quickly and easily by simply pressing the Direct Connect button on the side of every Nextel phone.

May 2004

Nextel, in partnership with NII Holdings and TELUS Mobility, launches InterDirect Connect®, which enables customers to use Direct Connect and data services between the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, and Peru, as well as between the U.S. and Canada.

April 2004

Nextel announces that the coverage area of its wireless broadband trial, now branded as Nextel Wireless Broadband^SM service, has more than doubled since first launching in February 2004.

February 2004

Nextel announces that it will trial a wireless broadband service in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. market using Flarion Technologies' FLASH-OFDM® technology, which will offer participants highly secure, high-speed, IP-based broadband access with the full mobility of wireless service.

Nextel announces the availability of a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Phone and ten NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Driver Phones, which are modeled after ten specific drivers.

Nextel's Chief Information Officer Dick LeFave honored by IDG's Computerworld as one of the 2004 Premier 100 IT Leaders.

January 2004

Nextel and Research In Motion (RIM) announce the availability of the BlackBerry 7510 Wireless Handheld™, the first BlackBerry® equipped with a speakerphone.

Nextel announces plans for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ inaugural season and the beginning of its 10-year partnership with America's number one spectator sport.