The Bullitt Group, known for building rugged phones, is on a mission to build devices that enable their users to send and receive messages everywhere thanks to the advent of direct-to-satellite communication. This can be done with the new Motorola Defy 2 and the Cat S75 that we covered in the other post. In addition, users can also pick up the Motorola Defy Satellite Link device that gives any Android and iOS device the ability to communicate in the wilderness.
We’ll start with Defy 2, a rugged 5G
smartphone. It has been tested to survive drops on steel sheets from up to
1.8m/6ft, can spend up to 24 hours in extreme temperatures (-30°C/-22°F to
75°C/167°F) and it can withstand humid environments, including salt mist. While
on the go, the phone is protected by its special antimicrobial coating with
silver ions. Once 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 storage, you can add more using the
microSD slot. It runs Android 12 out of the box and will be updated to version
13 and later v14. It will receive quarterly security updates for the first 3
years, then it will get emergency SMR updates for another 2 years. The 6.6”
display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. It is an FHD+ 20:9 panel with
120Hz refresh rate. The touchscreen can be used with gloves and wet fingers. Up
top is an 8MP selfie camera, the fingerprint reader is on the back.
Also on the back is a 50MP main camera
(f/1.8), an 8MP ultra wide module and a 2MP macro camera. The phone is powered
by a non-removable 5,000mAh battery, which can be recharged at 15W over a wire,
Qi charging is also supported. Soon you will be able to send messages to anyone
(they will receive it as SMS) from anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Each
message is up to 140 bytes and supports Unicode, meaning that all writing
systems are covered. You can attach your location to the message as well.
People can receive your messages without special equipment or software, though
if they want to respond, they will have to download a free Android/iOS app.
The Bullitt-powered satellite messaging
system can send and receive messages from just about anywhere The
Bullitt-powered satellite messaging system can send and receive messages from
just about anywhere The Bullitt-powered satellite messaging system can send and
receive messages from just about anywhere The Bullitt-powered satellite
messaging system can send and receive messages from just about anywhere
Services start at US$ 5/€ 5 a month, this
basic plan lets you send up to 30 messages. There is also a premium plan for US$ 30/€ 30 that lets you send up to 400 messages a month. Also, you get free SOS
assistance for 12 months. The service will cover Europe and North America in
Q1. 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 keep using your
current phone and use the satellite messaging only occasionally? That’s what
the Motorola Defy Satellite Link is for. It’s a small, portable device that can
be clipped onto your backpack and controlled over Bluetooth using your phone.
It is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance and has also undergone
MIL-STD-810H testing The Link is pretty tiny, measuring 70 x 50 x 11mm and
weighing 70g. It is powered by a 600mAh battery, which should last several
days. Even if you lose your phone, you can still use the SOS button. Automatic
location check-in is indicated by one of the LEDs.
The Motorola Defy 2 will be available from
Q2 from select carriers in North and South America. It will start at US$ 12, which
includes 12 months of SOS Assist. The Motorola Defy Satellite Link will be
available internationally from April 2023. The device alone costs US$ 100 or you
can get it for US$ 150 with a 12 month subscription to the Essentials Messaging
Plan (up to 30 two-way messages a month). check MotorolaRugged.com for details.
