Libertyville, IL & Burlington, VT, January 25, 2006: Motorola Inc. and Burton Snowboards have announced the availability of the Bluetooth-enabled Audex Jacket Series that allows sports enthusiasts to connect a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone wirelessly to a control panel located on the left-hand sleeve; and/or hook up an iPod player via wires hidden within the jacket. The control panel can then be used for easy access to incoming and outgoing calls and music selections. Speakers and a microphone are located in the hood for taking and making calls as well as listening to music. “It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the commercial availability of the Audex Jacket Series and the furthering of our relationship with Burton via the emergence of TEAMMOTO,” commented Bruce Hawver, Vice President and Director, Companion Products Group, Motorola, Inc. “The team will push our products to the limit every time they’re out on the slopes. It’s a great opportunity to get even more insight to the sport we are manufacturing products for, and work with athletes who live and breathe something they are so passionate about.” The Audex jacket is the first in a line of products co-developed by Motorola and Burton. A line of Audex Protective Gear, scheduled for availability later this month, will include a helmet and padded hat, both equipped with Bluetooth stereo headphones, and control buttons for wireless talking or music-listening. The Bluetooth-enabled Audex Jacket Series is available in Canada for costs ranging from US$599.95. In related news, Motorola and Burton announced the expansion of their global relationship with the newly formed TEAMMOTO, a Motorola-sponsored snowboarding team comprised of Burton riders from across the globe. TEAMMOTO members include Hannah Teter (USA), Luke Mitrani (USA), Marko Grilc (Slovenia), Jussi Oksanen (Finland), Tadashi Fuse (Japan), and Kazuhiro Kokubo (Japan). For more information, visit www.hellomoto.com/burton.
Connection in the jacket shouldn't be a problem. Right now I've got a pair of Motorola RAZRWires that work great and they're farther away from my phone than a jacket would be. Bluetooth works upto 30m so shouldn't be a problem, I'd be more worried about a protective pouch for the phone that will keep it from getting liquid damage and from being beat around if a person is skiing or snowboarding.
