Mobile phones get down and dirty

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Motorola MC75

RRP: $3228

While the two other handsets in this review have been designed for withstanding everyday conditions, the MC75 is ready to tackle the extremes.

Built from the ground up with harsh environments in mind, this high-end handset is capable of copping a serious beating and still managing to perform as a phone should.

Touted as an "enterprise digital assistant", the MC75 is a fully fledged smartphone in a rock-solid body.

It's aimed squarely at workers who spend their time on construction sites or other locations where personal comfort can be minimal.

Essentially a mobile phone and handheld computer combined, the MC75 can run standard office programs as well as others customised for particular company functions.

For example, a user could access a company database over a mobile network or run applications unique to their company.

The unit's inbuilt GPS capabilities can be used to add location data to any application, which can be of benefit when being used by mobile workforces needing to keep track of activities.

A range of wireless connections are available, including 3G mobile and Wi-Fi (802.11a, b and g), giving added flexibility. There's also a 2-megapixel camera.

The unit feels very solid to hold and, while industrial in design and unlikely to appeal to office workers, should be a welcome choice for those who spend time working in harsh conditions.

Motorola maintains the handset can cope with being dropped on to concrete and continue to work in both extreme heat and cold.

If you need a handheld computer that is also a phone and will be using it in some unpleasant places, the MC75 is the handset for you.End.

This phone is appropriate for those engaged in construction.

P.S. This is a must for engineers, architects and anybody involved in construction.