Rugged, Push-to-Talk Samsung Rugby III Hits AT&T Dec. 14

Clumsy smartphone users are in luck this month. AT&T announced today that the Samsung Rugby III — the military-grade waterproof, dust-proof, and shock resistant smartphone — will be available beginning Dec. 14.

AT&T will begin pre-orders tomorrow for the fifth-generation rugged flip phone, priced at $99.99 with a two-year agreement.

Featuring a 2.4-inch QVGA display, plus a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera, the Rugby III is compatible with AT&T's Enhanced Push to Talk (PTT) service, turning the handset into a faster, more versatile communication device. The phone includes a dedicated PTT button for easy access.

Built to military specifications, the phone meets standards for dust, humidity, rain, and shock, but is not designed or intended for water use.

"For workers in industries like construction, manufacturing and public safety, mobile devices that can withstand harsh conditions are essential," AT&T Business Solutions senior vice president Chris Hill said in an earlier statement. The company boasted that it is offering customers "the performance and durability they need to get in touch quickly on the job — no matter what conditions they face."

The Rugby III also comes with subscription-based AT&T Navigator for access to GPS, and supports a number of AT&T's resource management applications, aimed at organizations looking to fulfill instant employee communication needs.

"Since it launches with Enhanced PTT, the Rugby III helps make communicating even easier than before so businesses can operate more efficiently and effectively," Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of AT&T's devices and developer services, said in a statement.

Two unlimited PTT plans are available — existing AT&T voice and data plan customers can add the service for $5 a month beginning Dec. 6; the PTT-only rate plan costs $30 per month. With a two-year Enhanced PTT contract, organizations can pick up the device for free.

The Rugby III will run on AT&T's 4G LTE network alongside the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro and the Sonim XP5560 Bolt, .