Motorola Solutions’ new LTE handheld device certified by AT&T, is ‘FirstNet-ready’
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Motorola Solutions’ new LTE handheld device certified by AT&T, is ‘FirstNet-ready’
Motorola Solutions recently announced the availability of the LEX F10, a durable public-safety LTE handheld device that has been certified by AT&T and is “FirstNet-ready,” supporting operation on FirstNet’s 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum and AT&T’s commercial spectrum bands, according to a Motorola Solutions official.
Claudia Rodriguez, Motorola Solutions’ corporate vice president for devices, described the LEX F10 handheld as a key component of the company’s device portfolio, complementing the VML 750 LTE vehicle modem that previously was certified by AT&T and supports Band 14 communications on the FirstNet system.
“With the introduction of the F10, we now have a complete portfolio that operates on Band 14 that is AT&T-certified and that is FirstNet-ready,” Rodriguez said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications.
“With the F10, now we complement the vehicle modem offering that we have, and we have a complete [device portfolio]—not just a vehicle modem but a handheld offering that we can bring to our customers and provide a complete device offering that is FirstNet-ready.”
Motorola Solutions announced the LEX F10 device earlier this month in conjunction with an announcement that the public-safety-communications giant will provide mobile applications, software and services for the FirstNet nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) as part of its role on the AT&T team that won the nationwide contract.
“Public safety is looking for advanced, interoperable communications and collaboration capabilities,” Chris Sambar, senior vice president-FirstNet, AT&T Global Public Sector, said in a prepared statement. “Working with Motorola Solutions and other key team members, we will help deliver broadband-enabled devices and apps that will be certified for use by public safety seeking FirstNet services.”
Motorola Solutions’ other public-safety LTE handset is the LEX L10, but the company did not seek to get that device certified by AT&T, Rodriguez said. From a functionality and durability perspective, the LEX F10 and the LEX L10 are very similar, she said.
“Really, the primary differentiator is that it is certified by AT&T,” Rodriguez said. “That’s the most significant difference.”
One aspect of the LEX F10 is expected to be attractive to public-safety agencies that currently use Motorola Solutions APX series of LMR radios, Rodriguez said. Through a radio-collaboration feature on the LEX F10, a user who also is carrying an APX radio can communicate on the LMR network while only handling the LEX F10 LTE device, she said.
sounds like motorola is
sounds like motorola is playing catchup with other eu vendors who have had their kit out for some time with more fuctionality