Rugged push-to-talk Samsung Convoy 2 rolls into Verizon

Verizon today pumps up its supply of durable phones with the addition of the Samsung Convoy 2, a rugged, push-to-talk handset that follows up on the original Convoy, released in November 2009.

Meeting military specifications for shock resistance, altitude, temperature, humidity, and sand and dust, among other elements, the Convoy also features Bluetooth, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot (32GB limit), and dual speakers to reduce noise. It comes with an e-mail app, social networking tools, a storefront, and a universal search function that matches keywords across your calendar, contacts, messages, and menu. It also has VZ Navigator and support for V Cast Video.

The Samsung Convoy costs $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a new two-year contract. It's available now on Verizon's Web site, and will move out to retail stores in the coming weeks.