Motorola Defy rugged smartphone with two-way satellite communication, military-grade build launched: price, specifications

Highlights
  • Motorola and Bullitt Group have launched two smartphones with two-way satellite messaging capabilities
  • The Motorola Defy 2 and CAT S75 can send and receive text messages via satellite communications
  • The robust devices get a 120Hz display, 5,000mAh battery and 50MP triple camera sensor

Motorola and Bullitt Group have launched the Motorola Defy 2 and CAT S75 smartphones with built-in two-way satellite messaging capabilities. Both devices can subscribe to a satellite communication plan that allows users to send and receive satellite messages that include text messages, location-sharing details, and check-ins. The devices are also made up of military-grade finish levels and are designed to take a beating. Both the devices get a 6.6-inch 120Hz display, MediaTek Dimensity 930 chipset, a 5,000 mAh battery and a 50MP triple camera setup. 

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Motorola Defy, CAT S75 price, availability 

The Motorola Defy 2 and CAT S75 smartphones have been launched at $599 (~ Rs 49,677) and £549 (~ Rs 54,386) respectively. The Motorola Defy will cater to North American, Latin American, and Canadian markets and includes a 12-month subscription to the Essential plan. The CAT S75 smartphone in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and includes a three-month free Bullitt’s Essentials service trial.

The Essential pack starts at $4.99 (~ Rs 414) and gets 30 two-way messages per month and SOS to assist for 12 months. There is also a $59.99 (~ Rs 4,975) plan that enables 250 satellite-based messages per year and the emergency response service. 

Motorola Defy, CAT S275 Satellite Services: how does it work?

The Motorola Defy and CAT S275 smartphones get a two-way satellite-based communication technology that allows users to establish contact with other users even when cellular services and Wi-Fi services are unavailable. It gets the first satellite-based direct-to-device messaging service for Android phones, called the Bullitt Satellite Messenger. This service is built using standards defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The 3GPP is a term used to refer to various standards that are used to develop mobile telecommunications protocols.

The communication is established using existing geostationary satellites. Users who do not have the Bullitt Satellite Messenger can respond to a text message by downloading an associated app service. The cost of the service is then billed to the sender using the satellite messaging system. A 24/7 SOS assistance via satellite communication is also in the works. The satellite communication system will be available in Europe and North America at launch, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Latin America. Other regions will be added in the future. 

Motorola Defy, CAT S275 specifications 

The Motorola Defy and CAT S275 smartphones are identical and hence run on the same hardware. This starts with a 6.6-inch 120Hz FHD+ display covered in Gorilla Glass Victus. Under the hood, there is an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 930 chipset and the device runs on Android 12. The companies have also promised software support for up to two years. The device drives juice from a 5,000mAh battery pack that charges at 15W. The devices get a 50MP main camera sensor, an 8MP wide-angle shooter, and 2MP macro shooter. The front camera duties are handled by an 8MP shooter. Both the Motorola Defy and CAT S275 smartphones IP68 and IP69K ingress protection.