Known for making rugged phones, the Brit Group is on a mission to create devices that will allow users to send and receive messages anywhere with the advent of direct communication with satellites. This can be done with the new Motorola Defy 2 and the Cat S75 covered in another post. Additionally, users can also get a Motorola Defy Satellite Link device. This will allow any of his Android and iOS devices to communicate in the wilderness.
Motorola Defy 2
Start with Defy 2, a rugged 5G smartphone. Tested to withstand drops from up to 1.8 m/6 ft onto steel sheet and can withstand extreme temperatures (-30°C/-22°F to 75°C/167°F) for up to 24 hours , durable. Humid environments, including salt fog. A special antimicrobial coating containing silver ions protects your phone while you’re on the go. When you get home, you can wash your phone with soap and sanitizer.
Moto phones are powered by the Dimensity 930 chipset with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, with a microSD slot to add more. It runs Android 12 out of the box and updates to v14 after version 13. For the first three years he receives quarterly security updates, then for two years he receives emergency SMR updates.
The 6.6-inch display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. It is a FHD+ 20:9 panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The touchscreen can be used with gloves and wet fingers. There’s an 8-megapixel selfie camera on top, and a fingerprint reader on the back.
On the back, we also have a 50MP main camera (f/1.8), an 8MP ultra-wide angle module and a 2MP macro camera. The phone has a non-removable 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 15W over the wire and also supports Qi charging.
In no time, you’ll be able to send messages (received as SMS) to anyone from anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Each message can be up to 140 bytes and supports Unicode. This means that all writing systems are covered. You can also attach location information to your messages. You don’t need any special equipment or software to receive messages, but to respond, you’ll need to download the free Android/iOS app.
Satellite messaging systems powered by Bullitt can send and receive messages from almost anywhere.
Services start at $5/€5 per month. This basic plan allows you to send up to 30 messages. There is also a $30/€30 premium plan that allows you to send up to 400 messages per month. You also get 12 months of free SOS assistance. The service will cover Europe and North America in the first quarter. It will then expand to the ANZ region, Africa and Latin America by mid-year. Other regions will be included by the end of the year.
What if you want to stick with your current phone and only use satellite messages occasionally? Motorola Defy Satellite Link is for that. It’s a small, portable device that can be clipped to your backpack and controlled via Bluetooth using your mobile phone. It is IP68 dust and water resistant and has passed MIL-STD-810H testing.
The link is fairly small, 70 x 50 x 11 mm and weighs 70 g. It has a 600mAh battery that lasts for days. If you lose your phone, you can still use the SOS button. Automatic location check-in is indicated by one of the LEDs.
Motorola Defy 2 will be available in Q2 from select carriers in North and South America. Starts at $12 including 12 months of SOS Assist.
Motorola Defy Satellite Link will be available globally from April 2023. The device-only price is $100, but you can get it for $150 with a 12-month subscription to the Essentials Messaging Plan (up to 30 two-way messages per month). Check MotorolaRugged.com for more information.
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