BenQ-Siemens has announced its first ruggedized handset since the merger of the two manufacturers, pushing out the new M81. The BenQ-Siemens M81 is clad in synthetics and rubber to provide shock, dust, and water resistance, and to give users a solid grip on the device.

The tri-band (GSM 900/1800/1900MHz) BenQ-Siemens M81 comes loaded with a 262k color TFT LCD at the odd resolution of 132x176 pixels. A 1.3 megapixel camera is protected from the elements by a revolving cover, and an LED light that also doubles as a flashlight allows for better night shots. Bluetooth connectivity is supported, and stereo Bluetooth headphones can be used with the integrated music player, with tunes stored on microSD memory cards. For the outdoorsy type, a weather forecast application is included on the BenQ-Siemens M81, with data downloaded over an EDGE wireless connection.

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