Motorola Defy 2 rugged phone, Defy Satellite Link device unveiled with two-way satellite messaging,

The Bullitt Group, known for building rugged phones, is on a mission to create devices that allow their users to send and receive messages anywhere thanks to the advent of direct satellite communication. This can be done with the new Motorola Defy 2 and Cat S75 which we covered in the other article. Additionally, users can also get the Motorola Defy Satellite Link device which gives any Android and iOS device the ability to communicate in the wild.

Motorola Defy 2

We’ll start with Defy 2, a rugged 5G smartphone. It has been tested to withstand drops onto sheet steel up to 1.8m/6ft, can survive up to 24 hours in extreme temperatures (-30°C/-22°F to 75°C /167°F) and it can withstand humid environments, including salt spray. When you’re on the go, the phone is protected by its special silver ion antimicrobial coating. When you get home, you can wash the phone with soap and disinfectant.

The Moto phone is powered by a Dimensity 930 chipset with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, you can add more using the microSD slot. It is running Android 12 out of the box and will be updated to v13 and later v14. It will receive quarterly security updates for the first 3 years, then it will receive emergency SMR updates for another 2 years.

The 6.6-inch screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. It is a 20:9 FHD+ panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The touchscreen can be operated with gloves and wet fingers. At the top is an 8MP selfie camera, the fingerprint reader is on the back.

Also on the back are a 50MP main camera (f/1.8), an 8MP ultrawide module and a 2MP macro camera. The phone is powered by a 5000mAh non-removable battery, which can be recharged at 15W over a wire, Qi charging is also supported.

Soon you’ll be able to message anyone (they’ll receive it as an SMS) from anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Each message contains up to 140 bytes and supports Unicode, which means that all writing systems are covered. You can also attach your location to the message. People can receive your messages without special equipment or software, but if they want to reply, they’ll need to download a free Android/iOS app.

Bullitt-powered satellite messaging system can send and receive messages from just about anywhere

Services start at $5/€5 per month, this basic plan lets you send up to 30 messages. There’s also a premium plan for $30/€30 that lets you send up to 400 messages per month. Plus, you get free SOS support for 12 months. The service will cover Europe and North America in the first quarter. Then it will expand to the ANZ region, Africa and Latin America by the middle of the year. Other regions will be included by the end of the year.

What if you want to continue using your current phone and only use satellite messaging occasionally? That’s what the Motorola Defy Satellite Link is for. It’s a small, portable device that can be strapped to your backpack and controlled via Bluetooth using your phone. It is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance and has also passed MIL-STD-810H testing.

The Link is quite small, measuring 70 x 50 x 11mm and weighing 70g. It is powered by a 600mAh battery, which should last for several days. Even if you lose your phone, you can still use the SOS button. Automatic location saving is indicated by one of the LEDs.

The Motorola Defy 2 will be available starting in the second quarter from select carriers in North and South America. It will start at $12, which includes 12 months of SOS support.

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link will be available internationally from April 2023. The device alone costs $100 or you can get it for $150 with a 12 month subscription to the Essentials messaging plan (up to to 30 two-way messages per month). see MotorolaRugged.com for details.

Source 1 | Source 2