Gizmodo: military spec

Motorola Barrage Takes a Military Grade Beating

Danny Allen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:55:16 EDT

Certified to military specs, Verizon's latest Push to Talk flip-phone is ruggedized against shock/vibration, dust, high or low temperatures, and altitude. It's also waterproof in up to one meter of water for about 30 minutes.

The Barrage has a large 1170maH battery, but otherwise seems like a tough-as-nuts version of Verizon's Motorola Entice. That means you get archaic clamshell specs like a 2-megapixel camera (with video recording), dual speakers, dedicated music controls, blah, blah. It'll also handle Verizon Wireless Services like V CAST video, Rhapsody and VZ Navigator.

If you work on an oil-rig, the Barrage is now available at Verizon for $130 (after $50 rebate; with 2 year contract). You can also make Push to Talk unlimited for an extra $5 bucks a month. [Verizon]

Samsung A837 Mil-Spec Cellphone Has a Tough Box Too

Kit Eaton — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:31:00 EDT

We brought you leaked photos and some basic specs on Samsung's upcoming toughened A837 cellphone last week, but the enterprising chaps over at Por Homme have somehow got hold of one and unboxed it. They also revealed more detail on the toughness of the device: it's hardened to meet MIL-STD-810F standards for dust, shock, vibration, rain, altitude, solar radiation and temperature. Sounds like it'll be good for most work environments then, especially since the case is hardened to resist physical damage too. Check out the gallery and see the "cute" tough toolbox the phone came in.

Note that the Por Homme guys stress it's unlikely the phone'll come in a similar case when it hits the stores soon, though, since this was a special for AT&T B2B employees. Maybe they'll run with its Star Trek-alike looks instead, and match the packaging to that? No... I don't think so either. [Por Homme]

Samsung A837 Details Hit: Tough to Military Specs, Star Trek-Alike Grill

Kit Eaton — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:20:00 EDT

Over at BoyGeniusReports they've got hold of images and specs of Samsung's upcoming A837 cellphone, due on AT&T, and it's a gruff one indeed. It's a quad-band, HSDPA-enabled phone, with push-to-talk, aGPS, MP3 player, Bluetooth and a 1.3-megapixel cam. Its military-spec design and toughness make it stand out from similar phones, but not as much as that pierced gold-color grill on the face. Does it seem a little original Star Trek communicator to you? Due around September 15 for between $99 and $150. [BGR]