Motorola, Nextel launch rugged flip-style i560 in U.S.

Motorola Inc. and Nextel Communications Inc. have introduced the Motorola i560 for the U.S. market, a rugged flip-style mobile phone that delivers multiple ways to communicate and increase productivity.

The i560 is designed for anyone who exposes a handset to extreme conditions, from construction and public safety workers to rock climbers and cyclists. It is certified to meet military standards for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, low pressure and solar radiation. Its external display allows information such as incoming calls, time and date to be quickly viewed without the need to open the phone.

The i560 provides Nextel’s walkie-talkie capabilities, including the coast-to-coast and country-to-country reach of all-digital wireless network’s Nationwide Direct Connect and International Direct Connect services. It also offers the Group Connect service, enabling group walkie-talkie conversations with up to 20 participants nationwide, and the Direct Talk service, allowing short-range walkie-talkie communications in areas without network coverage (depending on specific conditions such as terrain).

The Motorola i560 fully supports Java, allowing users to run many applications that range from business tools to games. It is also equipped with multimedia messaging service (MMS), enabling messages to include text, images and audio altogether.

Some of the other features of the i560 include an internal color display, speakerphone, voice recorder, voice-activated dialing, GPS capabilities and an Internet microbrowser. The airplane mode allows the network signal to be turned off during flight while certain applications such as the date book can be accessed.

The Motorola i560 is available through all Nextel distribution channels and retail stores from USD 149.99.