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Republic Wireless, the $19 per month cellular/VoIP company has a new phone to offer. And, they're the first in the United States to have it.

Republic is now offering the Motorola Defy XT Android as the second device that works on their beta hybrid system.

The idea behind Republic is that in many if not most situations you can use a nearby Wi-fi hook-up to make and receive voice calls. The technology is called Voice-over-Internet-Protocol. Republic named their system “Hybrid Calling”.

When you're not near a friendly Wi-fi network (home, office, etc.) their phones automatically default to Sprint's nationwide 3G cellular network.

Republic has determined that Wi-calls account for 60% of all voice calls made by their users.

Here is the best part. The charge for all this is $19 (plus local taxes/fees) each month. Unlimited talk and data. No contract.

The first phone was a somewhat dated LG Optimus S. It is no longer being offered.

The new device is another Android Gingerbread (2.3) phone. Moto's ruggedized Defy XT (released in the Far East only a few weeks ago) has a 1 GHz (probably single core) processor, 3.7-inch screen (protected by Gorilla Glass), cameras front (VGA) and back (5MP) and a very big rechargeable battery.

Republic's Defy XT will sell for $249. Plus, a one-time, $29 start-up fee. $278 total – but that includes shipping and your first monthly service charge.

We hope to have one for testing very soon. We'll let you know what we think. We liked the first handset and the service very much.