The Samsung Convoy 2 is Verizon Wireless’s latest military-grade cell phone. The phone is resistant not only to shock but also dust, sand, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, and extreme temperatures. The new rugged handset features a 2.2-inch QVGA resolution display, a secondary external display that shows notifications, a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity, GPS navigation, and push-to-talk functionality. The Verizon Samsung Convoy 2 retails for just $80 with a 2-year contract. [Softpedia]
The Sonim XP1300 Core rugged handset is now available in Canada via Rogers. FYI, the phone is built to withstand drops, shocks, vibrations, and rain, and it operates in temperatures ranging from -20 C to 55 C. The Sonim XP1300 Core has a Gorilla Glass scratch resistant screen, a noise cancelling technology, an extra loud speaker and Bluetooth connectivity. The no-contract price is $299.99 and ranges down to a 3-year contract price of $149.99. [MobileSyrup]
You are lucky if you are living in Canada, because Telus has officially launched the Motorola Defy rugged Android-powered smartphone in that country. This water-, dust-, and scratch-resistant handset comes equipped with a 3.7-inch Gorilla Glass capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 854×480, an 800MHz processor, a 2GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a microSD card slot, a 512MB of RAM, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera with AutoFocus, a LED flash, VGA (640×480) video recording, and a 1540mAh battery. Telus sells the Defy for $79.99 with a new three-year contract, $279.99 with two-year agreement, and $329.99 with a one-year commitment. You can also purchase the Defy for $379.99 with no contract. [UnwiredView]
The new Sonim XP3300 rugged cell phone is designed to be able to withstand 2 meters drops onto concrete and is fitted with a 1.5mm thick Gorilla Glass lens for the highest scratch and shock resistance you can get. The handset is also encased in a fiberglass case to make it more durable. The Sonim XP3300 is able to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -20˚C to +55˚C. What makes the Sonim XP3300 more interesting is that it also offers up to 24-hour of talk time or up to 800-hour of standby time. No word on pricing at this moment. [Geeky Gadgets]
Motorola plans to release a couple of new DEFY-like rugged handsets in the summer of 2011. These upcoming rugged handsets will still carry the IP54 International Protection code for rugged handsets, which grants them “a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust. As a comparison, the Motorola DEFY supports the IP67 code for a waterproof rugged device. What’s more, the upcoming Motorola rugged phones should use a candybar form factor similar to the DEFY. Stay tuned for more updates. [PhoneArena]
The Verykool R80 is perfect for those who are always on-the-go. This rugged cell phone provides maps, altimeter, barometer, and compass, so you will never get lost. With the UV protection and thermometer, you will never get stuck in unwanted conditions. What makes the R80 more special is that it is also waterproof. The Verykool R80 is a perfect phone for adventurers. [Verykool]
