AT&T adds ruggedized cell phone

[haven]

Starting in March, AT&T will offer the Samsung Rugby Smart, a phone that meets mil spec for resistance to dust, humidity, vibration, drops, and water immersion. Sounds like a good companion for a day of bouncing around in your Jeep.

Looking past the rugged features, the specifications of the Rugby Smart lag behind the current crop of smart phones: Android 2.3, 3.7 inch Super Amoled LCD screen, 4GB storage, and HSPA+ data service. More information here
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sams...AT-T-soon-ruggedized-tough-waterproof_id27187

The Rugby Smart will cost $100, plus a two year commitment to AT&T's mobile phone service.

 

[Saratoga]

It would be interesting to see how that fares in a cross use test against the Motorola Defy. I've had a Defy for about 10 months now (2yr contract I think) and have found it pretty good for being used in rain (heavy rain) and also it survived being dunked a few times. Scratch resistant glass and copes well enough out in the field, literally. I have had it in my trouser pockets when I had to wade into a river to help someone in trouble. It was only knee deep but I missed spotting a slippy bit and oh my the water was cold! But the phone still worked even though I was up to my gut in water.

The only drawback is that it is getting slow and laggy and on more than one occasion I have had to pull the battery to reset it

 

[Martinjmpr]

Not a smart phone but I'm on my 2nd Casio G'Zone, which was one of the original "tough" phones from 4 or 5 years ago. My current phone is a G'Zone Brigade, which is a clamshell-style phone for texting with a full keyboard (I guess it is also internet capable but we don't use that feature.)

Other than a few design quirks, I like it. Very tough, it's just nice to have a phone where I don't have to worry that if I drop it onto a concrete floor or into a mud puddle that it will stop working. As for service, I'm with Verizon which seems to have the best service in the Western US. I even had service at Prudhoe Bay, AK!

EDITED TO ADD: Casio also has a G'Zone smart phone but I can't remember what it's called. It runs the Droid system. It would be nice if Apple came out with a ruggedized iPhone but I don't know if the demand is out there.

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

I'd pay for a ruggedized iPhone in a heartbeat. But so far the otter-box defender and a zip lock has kept mine safe.

I personally wouldn't buy an AT&T phone if it was for exploring anywhere. I spent the last 10yrs not having service in the places I like to go, and so far my experience with Verizon hasn't been half as bad. Both can and will lose service in remote places but I've found that Verizon holds onto to it longer and regains it quicker than AT&T in the same spots. That matters to me but YMMV

 

[dwh]

Still using my Motorola i560 milspec. Had to put a new battery in it the other day though.

Definitely not a smart phone, but you can beat a nazi to death with it and still order a pizza afterward.

 

[Mrknowitall]

I've also had my Defy since last summer- it was free with contract. It has been a decent unit, but some things just don't work well- Google Maps crashes regularly. I'm told that "rooting" will improve performance significantly, but I have stayed away from such drastic measures. I started using an app killer and restricted some updated to when I'm actually using the function- both help. I wash mine regularly, and it has taken every lic.

I'd pay for a ruggedized iPhone in a heartbeat. But so far the otter-box defender and a zip lock has kept mine safe.

I personally wouldn't buy an AT&T phone if it was for exploring anywhere. I spent the last 10yrs not having service in the places I like to go, and so far my experience with Verizon hasn't been half as bad. Both can and will lose service in remote places but I've found that Verizon holds onto to it longer and regains it quicker than AT&T in the same spots. That matters to me but YMMV

Not too long ago there was a feature on here about life-proof cases, which go one step further and are said to be properly waterproof.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

I may need to consider this...although I love my Iphone, I'm on my third 3GS (yes I said third) because I'm very hard on electronics and broke the first two. I actually did crack the glass on this third one, but fortunately nothing else broke and I was able to get that replaced. It cracked while in the Otter Box case mind you.

 

[Saratoga]

I'm using a Motorola Defy, would like it faster but I've survived it for over a year and its waterproof to a degree... UK 3G