Airo Wireless A25is Windows Mobile 6.1 Rugged Smartphone Made Official by AT&T [AT&T Launches Rugged Windows Mobile 6.1 Handset a Couple of Years Too Late]

Did you ever want a rugged Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone? Airo Wireless has one and they call it the A25is. The handset has been quietly made public by AT&T and interested consumers will be able to get it in the near future.

From the start I’ll ask this question: why not make it a Windows Mobile 6.5 handset instead of WinMo 6.1? Would you actually want to invest in such a phone when Windows Phone 7 is just around the corner?

The A25is is the “first intrinsically safe, ruggedized Windows Phone 6.1 handset suited for industrial users” the press release says. It will be interesting to see just how popular the device will actually be amongst them!

The A25is just under an inch thick and it will offer you a 2.8-inch touchscreen display GPS connectivity, QWERTY touchscreen, Bluetooth support, push-to-talk capabilities and a light weight battery.

Windows Mobile will keep running the show as the A25is will be able to withstand 50 feet drops at least 26 times (very weird number) . Other rugged features make the handset shockproof across “1,000 miles of transport in a vehicle on shaky terrain”, able to deal with up to 95% humidity for 48 hours and be immersion in up to five feet of water for 30 minutes. The phone has also undergone intrinsic safety certification testing and approval for UL 913 (North America) and has received the military rugged certification (MIL-SPEC 810-F/G).

These are some weird stats here which won’t necessarily convince me to get such a device. Maybe not even if it was running Windows Phone 7!

But then again I am not working in an environment in which a somewhat smart handset with plenty of rugged specs is required. Steve Sharabura, Vice President of Corporate Development, Airo Wireless, had this to say about the A25is:

AT&T’s broad wireless capability and breadth of mobility applications used on this ruggedized, intrinsically safe device can help to improve communications and make industrial operations more efficient. The A25is device was designed based on extensive customer input to ensure it has the right mix of form factor, features and durability to maximize worker productivity and also withstand potential exposure to water, dirt and harsh chemicals, heat and cold and general tough use from bumps, drops and vibration.

The phone is available in AT&T stores, and if your job doesn’t prevent you from sharing it with us, do tell us how the A25is acts out there!