iPhone Too Dainty? Rugged Competitors Can Take Beating

New offerings can be used as hammers, soaked, dropped
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 14, 2009 11:46 AM CDT
iPhone Too Dainty? Rugged Competitors Can Take Beating
Sonim's XP1.   (Sonim Technologies, Inc.)

The iPhone might be pretty, but it’s probably best not to use it as a hammer. If you’re looking for a phone that can handle such treatment—and can be thrown, showered with, or plunged into beer—your best bet may be one of the rugged models from firms such as Nokia and Sonim. “Some people just want a device that is built to last,” Sonim’s CEO tells Wired.

Such phones are aimed at blue-collar workers and “weekend warriors” who may need sturdier equipment, says an analyst. The drawbacks: They’re more costly than your average phone, and most major US carriers don’t yet offer contracts for them. Best Buy will sell Sonim’s XP3 Quest for a steep $500; Nokia’s 3720 Classic sells for about $175. (More cell phones stories.)

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