Motorola is officially unwrapping the i1, a push-to-talk Android powered smart phone that is both smart and rugged. The phone actually meets the Mil-810F spec for ruggedness, it just needs a burly beard to go with the rating to make it officially grizzled. However, inside that rugged exterior is the sweet and social MOTOBLUR interface running on top of Android 1.5 shown in a 3.1″ HVGA screen, which is fairly typical for Android smart phones these days.
Other features are fairly standard from Wifi, to a 5MP camera and microSD card slot. The biggest change seems to be in the browser department with Opera Mini 5 with Flash 8 support built in. This newest Android will work with Sprint’s iDEN network to provide a quick walkie-talkie style interface. They are really pushing the rugged part of the i1, trying to show how well this phone will work with dirty jobs:
In addition to introducing Android into push-to-talk devices, Motorola is also bringing a new face to its iDEN portfolio: Mike Rowe. Mike has worked as an apprentice at more than 250 of the toughest jobs in America, and his experience and reputation as a hard worker are a perfect fit for Motorola’s iDEN portfolio. The new relationship announced today will feature Mike as a spokesperson for Motorola’s rugged push-to-talk devices.
“Typically, the work I’ve done tends to take its toll on my phones and I end up breaking ‘em on the job,” said Mike. “It’ll be fun to use one that’s not afraid of a little dirt.”
Motorola is also supporting mikeroweWORKS, a public relations campaign for skilled labor that Mike launched on Labor Day of 2008.
“It’s really gratifying to see some big companies getting behind the notion that working hard is just as important as working smart,” said Mike. “I’m happy to talk about a phone that can do both.”
Let’s hope it doesn’t get swallowed up by a ‘gator.
