Mobile News

Motorola unveils world’s first ‘walkie-talkie’ Android smartphone

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

James Sherwood james@consumerchoices.co.uk

Instantly call your friends without waiting for a dial tone, with the Motorola i1.

Motorola has unveiled a Google Android smartphone that can be used like a walkie-talkie, in a world's first.

The i1 offers Push-to-Talk (PtT) functionality which lets you connect to another caller almost instantly and without hearing a dial tone.

PtT can also – depending on your network operator’s capabilities – let you connect almost instantly into conference calls, usually with just one button press from the phone’s main screen.

If Push-to-Talk doesn’t grab you, then Motorola’s i1 is also a technically advanced smartphone. For example, the phone features a well-proportioned 3.2in touchscreen and support for both 3G and Wi-Fi networks.

Motorola also said that i1’s “solid body construction” meets military specifications against dust, shock, vibration and blowing rain.

The Motorola i1 will be available this summer. Network operator partnerships or prices plans haven’t been disclosed.