Motorola today launched its first handset aimed at global mobile phone networks keen to offer US-style 'push-to-talk' instant communications services.

The V400p is quad-band GSM camera phone with an integrated 640 x 480 digicam complete with 4x zoom. It contains 5MB of user-accessible memory to store messages, pictures, contact details and emails.

Alongside the V400p's walkie-talkie push-to-talk facility, the handset can operate as a speakerphone. It also supports MP3, MIDI and WAV ringtones.

The handset is expected to ship during Q2, Motorola said, noting that the handset is already being trialled by "numerous operators around the world". Orange has already announced it will offer a push-to-talk service, Talk Now, in the UK and France next quarter, initially using PalmOne's Treo 600 smartphone. It will roll out the service in eight more countries by the end of the year, adding other push-to-talk handsets as it goes.

Motorola also introduced two CDMA push-to-talk handsets, today: the V65p and the rugged T300p. ®

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