The Defense Ministry has signed a deal with Motorola Solutions by which the company will provide the defense establishment with smartphones.

In a deal that was closed in New York City, the ministry has agreed to move ahead with Motorola to design the next generation of encrypted cellular phones for Israel’s defense establishment. Motorola was selected after the IDF and Defense Ministry Telecommunications Unit examined the Motorola Solutions platform and found it to meet the stringent security standard required.

As is the standard with smartphones sold to the civilian market, the new encrypted phone will offer military and defense personnel a touch screen, GPS, a 9 megapixel camera, and an unspecified array of apps.

While no device is indestructible, Motorola promises hardware that can endure the ruggedness and abuse of the field, as well as standing tough against water and dust, in addition to being armed with a large powerful battery that will give users up to 400 hours of talk time and 500 hours of standby time. The phone will permit sending SMS text messages, digital photos and encrypted emails from the field.

Officials signed the $100 million 15-year deal and it includes Motorola support to the users of the system.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)