AT&T Mobility and Motorola have announced today the launch of Motorola Tundra VA76r, a rugged 3G clamshell device that features a tough exterior, meant to withstand harsh environmental conditions. Tundra is a phone designed to fulfill the needs of teenagers, outdoor enthusiasts and contractors, who require a durable handset that can offer great call quality, optional workforce management tools, navigation capabilities as well as access to the Web.

This next-generation Motorola ruggedized Push to Talk phone has been designed to meet Military Standard MIL-STD 810F specifications and is able to work in the toughest conditions. The device includes aGPS navigation and Mobile Workforce Management tools such as Xora and TeleNav Track. Moreover, it can provide superior call quality even when used in the noisiest environments due to its CrystalTalk 2 noise cancellation technology.

“On the surface, Tundra looks like a nearly indestructible phone for contractors, landscapers and other tough work environments,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of Devices for AT&T Mobility. “But it’s also an attractive phone for a wide variety of consumers who are rough on their phones. Tundra answers that call.”

“Motorola has a long heritage in developing rugged devices that stand up to the wear and tear of work and recreation while providing one-touch connectivity to the people and information that matter most,” said Jeff Miller, vice president of sales, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Today, we’re pleased to offer AT&T customers the Motorola Tundra VA76r, with the functionality they need, such as navigation services and great sound quality, on the network they want.”

The Motorola Tundra VA76r offers connectivity through the quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and HSDPA (UMTS) dual-band 850/1900 MHz standards. It includes Stereo Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera and supports MicroSD memory cards of up to 8GB. In addition, it also sports a standard USB connector placed at the bottom of the device, ensuring connectivity with car mounts and other universal accessories.

The phone comes with a 2.2-inch internal display, featuring a 240 x 320 pixel resolution and 262k colors, offers data transmission through GPRS/EDGE Class 10, is TTY compatible, as well as FOTA and HAC capable. The battery has a capacity of 1130mAH and can offer up to 5.9 hours of talk time and lasts 14 days in standby. The phone weighs only 4.94 ounces and measures 2.1 x 3.85 x .94 inches.

AT&T and Motorola have announced that the phone will be available starting January 13 with a price tag of $199.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate, yet with a two-year contract. The companies have also stated that the phone will be dispalyed at CES 2009. Those interested in purchasing it will be able to do so at AT&T stores and online on the company's official website.