Smartphones can be rugged, too.  So if an Android with outdoor-ready durability is what you're looking for, the Motorola Titanium might just end up as your next purchase.

Physically, it's uncharacteristically burly for a modern smartphone.  With rubberized padding on the sides and back, it sacrifices some appearance points in exchange for durability.  Built tough, it meets mil-specs 810G for dust, shock, vibration, low pressure and extreme temperatures, although it's not water-resistant.

The look is very masculine, which should suit most of the phone's intended audience just fine.  Screen is a 3.1-inch capacitive touch panel (320 x 480 resolution), managing colorful graphics, crisp lines and a bright overall display.  It does wash out when directly under sunlight, though, which defeats the outdoor usability just a little.  Below it sits a somewhat tightly-packed keyboard that's surprisingly easy to thumb-type on (keys are sloped towards the center).

As a phone, the Motorola Titanium makes for  clear calls with plenty of volume.  Everything sounded wonderful from both ends, even through the speakerphone.  Battery is rated at 6.8 hours of talk time.

It runs the older Android 2.1, which will probably disappoint a lot of users.  If you need an Android phone that works on iDEN, though, it's about as current as you can probably hope for.  Do note that having 2.1 means it has to do without Flash support, microSD card app storage, Facebook syncing and more.

All the usual smartphone features are onboard, including basic and advanced messaging, wireless connectivity (GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth -- no 3G, though), and a cavalcade of applications.   It has a number of push-to-talk services (Direct Talk, Group Connect, Direct Send and more) onboard, as well as separate walkie-talkie contacts list and call log.  The 500 MHz processor is good enough for regular app switching, but will likely give you headaches if you try power-hungry applications.

Multimedia experience is just average.  The screen is on the smaller side, though, so it's far from the best handset for playing videos (plus the processor is paltry).  The 5.0 megapixel camera takes average photos, although color seems consistently too soft.

Overall, the Motorola Titanium isn't your average everyday smartphone.  If you use it for that, in fact, you might end up frustrated because of the low-muscle processor and the older Android build.  If you need a capable smartphone that runs on Sprint Nextel, though, it's probably your best bet, with some capable durable qualities to boot.  It's available now, priced at $149.99.

Phones with names that give no indication about what they do are pretty commonplace.  Such is not the case, however, with the Motorola Brute i680, a clamshell handset that's every bit as rugged as its moniker implies.

Physically, it's impossible to mistake the Brute as anything but a durable device.  The bulky chassis, industrial looks and thick skin pretty much give it away.  As you may expect, it has a very solid feel in hand and survives drops with nary a scratch.

It sports two displays, a 1.3-inch external LCD (120 x 160 pixels of resolution) and a 2.2-inch internal screen (176 x 220 pixels).  Both come in color and are sufficiently bright.  Resolution is a bit lacking for both, but it will do for most common tasks.  Unlike many durable phones, both the navigation array and keypads are comfortably raised, making them easy to use.

As a phone, the Brute manages excellent calls, living up to the level of reliability we've come to expect from handsets on Nextel's network.  Quality is admirable, with clear audio, strong volume and natural-sounding voices.   Speakerphone performance is similarly topnotch.  Battery life is rated at 5.8 hours, which should make for two days or more of regular handling.

Being a Nextel device, it comes with the company's range of Direct Connect PTT services, such as Direct Talk, Group Connect and International Direct Connect.  Basic features include a 600-contact phone book, regular messaging capabilities (SMS and MMS), PIM tools, stereo Bluetooth and aGPS (using Sprint's Telenav).

The 2.0 megapixel camera is fitted with a good amount of editing options, producing average-quality shots.  It comes with flash, which also doubles as a rather good torch light.    The music player is rather basic, but quality is decent.  Other features include a WAP browser and microSD card expansion (up to 8GB).

Overall, the Motorola Brute i680 isn't a flashy phone, but it delivers where it matters most: topnotch call quality.  The array of extra features and durable properties make it a well-rounded handset too.   Priced at $119 (with Nextel's service), it's makes for an excellent value.

Sprint and Motorola just announced a new rugged PTT phone for Nextel's network.  Billed as the Motorola Brute i680 and clad in a buff frame, it's difficult to mistake it for anything else but an extra-tough handheld device.

Thick and bulky, the clamshell phone complies with Military Specification 810F, which provides for a whole host of durable characteristics.  Not only will it survive shocks, vibration, water and dust, it should prove just as capable handling unusual temperatures, solar radiation and fog.

The Motorola Brute i680 phone sports two colored LCDs, a 1.3-inch external display (120 x 160 pixels of resolution) and a 2.2-inch internal screen (176 x 220 pixels).  Details include a 2.0 megapixel camera (with flash), aGPS, stereo Bluetooth, microSD card support, 180MB of internal storage and a "large" battery module for extended talk time (Motorola didn't give exact specifications).  Features include a music player, email support, onboard web browser and threaded messaging.

Apart from the push-to-talk capabilities of Nextel Direct Connect, the device will come with Nextel's exclusive Public Safety application, which will allow users “to communicate, even when they are out of network range," a tool that can prove valuable to many field workers and outdoor enthusiasts.    A convenient ability to switch between PTT and regular voice calls in a push of a button is also provided.

Interested consumers can now get the Motorola Brute i680 (with Nextel Direct Connect calling plans) in all Sprint sales channels.  Price is $119.99.

[Press Release]

Motorola just released a new handset for Nextel's iDEN network that sports one of the most-cluttered phone faces I've seen for quite some time.  Dubbed the Motorola i465, it just cleared the FCC and should figure in the iDEN network within the very near future (June 15, if the rumors are correct).

Unlike most Push-To-Talk handsets, though, the i465 features a full-QWERTY keyboard, making text input way easier than other non-messaging-friendly PTT devices.  As with phones that run on Nextel's iDEN network, you get instant and simultaneous connection with nationwide coverage.

Contrary to what you may think from the front view of the phone, the keys are not nearly as pointed as they seem (we promise). Also, durability seems to have been given special attention while the grip on the handset looks really good - veritable requirements for any successful iDEN device.

There isn't much information in the way of specs for the Motorola i465, which actually manages to look a bit less appetizing the more I lay eyes on it.  Even the professional press shots from back in February didn't do it any favors.  Still, we might be able to expect iDEN fans to give close consideration to the handset, if only for the QWERTY feature it brings to the table.

Photo Credit: BGR