Motorola has begun to take the first steps in marrying the more sexy parts of a smartphone with a semi-ruggedized form factor, and I see these types of products in heavy demand in the enterprise if the price is right.

Motorola started in June with the ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant, which is designed to enable mobile workers to execute business functions and run applications that are specifically created for their working environments.

"In the past workers have tried to use consumer devices as work devices, but these are often not up to the job in terms of durability or battery life, and can make it difficult for IT managers to keep track of devices accessing data," Motorola UK product marketing manager Andy McBain, told V3.co.uk, at the time.

This week, Motorola introduced its second ruggedized smartphone based on the Android operating system called Defy. The device will run on T-Mobile USA's network and feature a 3.7-inch touchscreen that is water and scratch resistant. In August, the handset vendor introduced the Motorola i1 with Sprint.

The enterprise has had to weigh more expensive ruggedized handsets and netbooks against the popular consumer devices that have more functionality. It appears that distinction is beginning to blur. The Defy is by no means a heavy duty ruggedized device but could do well in areas where regular smartphones take some abuse--warehouses and retail environments, for instance.

Indeed, VDC Research expects the market for semi-rugged solutions for healthcare, transportation, retail, field sales and service, and professional services are emerging market segments that represent strong growth opportunities. It may be the iPad that drives increased exposure to the slate tablet that could translate into increased opportunities for rugged solutions, the firm said.

The key, however, is to price these semi-rugged devices right, which is a tricky sales proposition. IT managers must weigh the lifecycle of a particular ruggedized product against the acquisition cost to make a proper return on investment evaluation. Meanwhile, the falling prices of consumer-grade devices makes them tempting to IT managers. It should be an interesting market to watch. - Lynnette