To further improve on their rugged phone lineup, Rogers has announced two new phones that will join their Motorola Extreme Va76r: the Samsung Rugby A836 and the ZTE Rock F165. Both phones are exclusive to Rogers and are definitely built to meet the demands of the great outdoors.

The Samsung Rugby A836 comes with a 1.3-megapixel camera, 3G connectivity, e-mail and IM access, HTML browser, music download and playback, and a 130MB internal memory expandable via microSD card of up to 8GB in capacity. Furthermore, it’s also US certified Military Standard MIL-STD-810F compliant for dust, shock, vibration, rain, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and extreme temperatures of -21C degrees to +63C degrees. This basically means that the Rugby is one tough mobile phone you can rely on even in extreme conditions. It's retailing for $149.99 on a 3-yr contract.

The ZTE Rock, on the other hands, comes with a 2-megapixel camera, 3.5G HSPA connectivity that maxes out at 7.2Mbps, e-mail and internet access, video calling capabilities, 128MB internal memory and support of up to 2GB of additional memory via mircoSD card. It’s not as indestructible as the Samsung Rugby, but its durable design will nonetheless make it withstand harsh environments. The ZTE rock is available for $79.99 on a 3-yr plan.

While both phones might lack the aesthetic appeal of their touchscreen counterparts, they are the toughest phones you'll find in the market. Safe to say, if you love living it up outdoors or your work demands you to be in a high risk environment, Rogers' rugged phones are the best way to go.

Rogers Wireless adds to portfolio of rugged handsets with launch of Samsung Rugby A836 and ZTE Rock F165, on Canada's most reliable network

TORONTO, Jan. 21 /CNW/ - Rogers Wireless today announced the addition of two new rugged handsets to its lineup of innovative devices. Exclusive to Rogers, the Samsung Rugby A836 and ZTE Rock F165 join the Motorola Extreme(TM) VA76r handset in offering customers the durability and versatility they require in a rugged wireless product. These productivity-enhancing devices will keep Canadians connected wherever their jobs take them.

"As the country's largest wireless provider, Rogers is committed to bringing Canadians the best in mobile technology with the fewest dropped calls and best call clarity," said Irv Witte, Vice President, Business Marketing, Rogers Wireless. "Rogers' extensive network coverage, reaching 94% of the Canadian population, combined with the rugged durability of the Samsung Rugby and ZTE Rock, is an ideal solution for our business customers who need reliable tools to stay connected while on the job."

The new Samsung Rugby is a heavy-duty work phone that makes it easy to get the job done right, with a large external speaker, 3G high-speed data access where available, access to e-mail, instant messaging, HTML browser and more. Its rugged design is highly durable and damage resistant. The Samsung Rugby is certified to U.S Military Standard MIL-STD-810F compliance for dust, shock, vibration, rain, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and temperature extremes (from - 21C degrees to +63C degrees).

Other features of the Samsung Rugby include:

- 1.3 megapixel camera
- 130MB internal memory storage; up to 8GB expandable memory with
micro SD
- music download and playback

The ZTE Rock enables access to e-mail and mobile Internet and is also capable of wireless video calling. The device can also run on Rogers 3.5G HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network, with peak download speeds of 7.2 Mbps.

The ZTE Rock boasts a durable design ideal for harsh environments and features an extended antenna, which provides stronger signal performance in remote areas.

Other features of the ZTE Rock include:

- 176 x220 pixel display resolution
- 128MB internal memory storage; up to 2GB expandable memory with
micro SD
- 2 megapixel camera

Pricing and Availability:

The Samsung Rugby is available for $149.99 on a three-year plan, while the ZTE Rock is available for $79.99 on a three-year plan; both devices are exclusive to Rogers Wireless. For more information, please visit www.rogersrugged.com.