AT&T gets first rugged clamshell with Samsung Rugby
updated 10:00 am EDT, Mon September 15, 2008
AT&T intros rugged phone
The appearance of the Samsung Rugby flip-phone on AT&T’s website is significant as the handset represents the first Mil-Spec certified device offered by the wireless network provider. The Military Standard MI-SID-810F approval translates to the aptly-named Rugby’s heightened ability to withstand dust, shock vibrations, rain, humidity, solar radiation and altitude and temperature extremes. AT&T further claims the Rugby is the first rugged cellphone available with both a push-to-talk function and one-way Video Share calling.
The quad-band handset supports UMTS and HSDPA 3G networks in addition to slower EDGE service, with Bluetooth 2.0 taking care of wireless short-range data transfer. Integrated aGPS allows users to find their way to destinations via the preloaded AT&T Navigator software.
Users get a 2-inch display with 128x160 resolution, while a 1.3-megapixel camera captures stills and videos and saves them on the integrated 128MB of memory. MP3 music tracks can be downloaded from AT&T’s Mobile Music service, and the phone also offers mobile Internet access, email and chat program support, as well as Mobile TV.
AT&T is now offering the Samsung Rugby for $280 all by itself, or $180 when buyers commit to a two-year AT&T plan, although a mail-in rebate drops that price to $130.
