Want a rugged smartphone to satisfy all your adventurous outdoor Android cravings?  Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Xcover, a sleek-looking rugged handset ready to take on your Motorola Defy in a head-to-head battle.

Designed for outdoor use (as the mud-covered product shots make obvious), the phone is fully IP67-certified.  That means, it can survive through dust, dirt and water submersion up to 1 meter.  Plus, it still looks good when covered in dirt, so that can only be a good thing.

Details of the Samsung Galaxy Xcover include a 3.6 inch capacitive touchscreen display (800 x 480 resolution), a 3.2 megapixel camera module with LED flash, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).   It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a host of what looks like bundled apps centered around sports and other outdoor activities.

No word on processor or RAM, but we imagine this isn't falling on the high-end in terms of hardware specs.  For now, the Samsung Galaxy Xcover has only been announced for Germany with an October release date.  No pricing was given, but it sounds like a strictly mid-range device.  The rugged shell could raise prices just a little, though.

[via Press release]

Verizon announced the latest rugged feature phone to join their ranks.  Called the Samsung Convoy 2, the handset packs everything you need for staying connected in the rugged outdoors.

Clad in a clamshell form factor, it measures 3.89 x 2.01 x 0.85 inches and weighs 3.9 oz.  Designed to survive the field, it meets military specs for shock resistance, sand, dust, extreme temperatures and all the usual hassles of the outdoors.

Details of the Samsung Convoy 2 include two displays (1.3 inches outside and 2.2 inches inside), a 3.2 megapixel camera module (with flash), aGPS, Bluetooth, push to talk, dual mics with noise cancellation, microSD card expansion (up to 32GB) and a 1,300 mAh battery  (rated at 6.5 hours of talk time).   There's no WiFi or 3G, so it’s strictly the utilitarian communicator.

The graphical UI looks decidedly old-school, but does offer quick access to the phone's various functions.  Software features include Verizon's numerous media applications, Verizon Navigator, Opera Mini, Mobile IM and Mobile Email.

The Samsung Convoy 2 is far from the prettiest or the most feature-rich phone available.  If you're shopping for a rugged handset with PTT, though, this could very well fit the bill.  It’s available now from Verizon, priced at $79.99 on a two-year agreement.

[Verizon]

Casio has carved quite a comfy niche with their G'zone line of rugged phones.  Here's the latest one trickling out of Verizon: the Android-runnin' Casio G'zone Commando.

Bearing a name that inspires images of John Rambo, the handset is a full-on ruggedized device.  That means, it's equipped to stand most extreme conditions, passing military standards 810G for immersion, rain, dust, shock, vibration, salt, fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and excessive temperatures.

Details of the Casio G'zone Commando include a capacitive touchscreen display (unspecified size), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with LED flash), aGPS, 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 3G mobile hotspot capability, stereo Bluetooth and microSD card expansion.   It runs Android 2.2 Froyo.

According to Verizon's press release, the phone is ideal for business environments, especially for occupations requiring exposure to field work and outdoor elements (e.g. construction, healthcare, transport).  As such, they've fitted it with high-security encryption for corporate email, aside from the survivalist construction.  We can't imagine it being any less attractive for rugged nature types either, especially with Casio's G'zGEAR software preinstalled, which offers various tools for outdoor enthusiasts and their ilk.

Expect the Casio G'zone Commando to hit Verizon stores this Thursday, April 28.  Price is $199.99 with a new two-year agreement.

[via Press release ]

Some sleuths digging through FCC filings turned up a new durable-bodied phone today.  Called the Motorola WX450, it's a ruggedized QWERTY candybar for messaging-heavy users who ply their trade outdoors.

From the looks of it, the handset is very similar to Sprint's Clutch i465, except its radios support quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band 850/1900MHz WCDMA.  According to the Phone Scoop article, it's likely headed for AT&T, basing from the draft user manual that makes note of AT&T-branded services.

Known details of the Motorola WX450 include a four-row QWERTY keyboard, an LCD screen (looks about 2 inches diagonally  in size), a camera (no word on megapixels), 3G, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio and microSD card support.  Like the Clutch, it supports push-to-talk conversations.

As with many rugged handsets, this isn't likely to be a smartphone.  It looks beefy enough to do the rugged part, though, so expect dutiful protection from bumps, drops and water.

No word on release plans yet for the Motorola WX450.  Given that it's been a while since AT&T has had a durability-focused Motorola on the roster, we're guessing it will be sooner than later.

[via Phonescoop]

We're not sure how rugged a slim and sleek smartphone can be, but Motorola claims their latest device "has been designed to handle everything that life throws your way."  Called the Motorola Defy, it's a semi-rugged Android phone with a specs list you typically don't see in handsets marketed for their durability.

While the pleasant 59 x 107 x 13.4 mm frame isn't  rugged enough to survive hard drops onto concrete, it claims dust-proof and water-resistant qualities.  The screen is scratch-proof, as well, so typical clumsy handling (read: your regular use) should leave it unscathed.

Details of the Defy include a 3.7-inch touchscreen (480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module with LED flash, aGPS, 3G (7.2Mbps HSDPA), WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack, DLNA support, microSD card expansion (up to 32GB) and a 1540 mAh battery (rated at over 6.5 hours of talk time).  It comes with Motorola's CrystalTalk Plus, which uses dual microphones to better drown out background noise.  There's no word on the CPU, but it gets 512MB of RAM and a hefty 2GB of ROM.

It's running Android 2.1 (so, no full Flash for you),  but it will feature Motoblur 1.5 on top.  You'll get all the usual Android fare, including robust messaging, Google's suite of services and support for third-party apps.  Honestly, this sounds pretty good, especially when you factor in the water resistance.

The Motorola Defy will debut in Europe sometime in the fourth quarter.  No word on carrier, specific markets or pricing has been given.

[Motorola via Gizmodo]

Unlike other smartphones, the Motorola i1 doesn't set itself apart by being better or faster than any of its counterparts.  Instead, it differentiates itself by bringing push-to-talk capabilities and a rugged design, as well as being available as a prepaid phone.

Physically, it looks like a regular touchscreen device.  A closer inspection, however, will reveal notable touches, such as a hard plastic casing and rubber edges, that makes it more suitable for rugged use.  Despite the sturdier build, it isn't all that much heavier, retaining the sleek styling common in today's smartphone options.  It sports a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (320x240 resolution), providing good image display and excellent touch responsiveness.

As a phone, the Motorola i1 made for great call quality over Boost Mobile, with natural-sounding voices and very clear conversations.  Those on the other end reported the same, although they did notice a slight background noise.  Speakerphone worked similarly, having loud volume and generally decent sound.  Battery is rated at only 3.5 hours of talk time, so expect to charge this nightly if you use your phone at a moderately heavy pace.

It runs on Nextel's iDEN network for data, which isn't the fastest.  Surprisingly, the experience was serviceable, with full HTML pages loading fast on the default Opera Mini 5 (which processes pages on the server-side).   Speed does suffer, however, with Android's Webkit browser and the  YouTube app (plenty of buffering).  The handset only runs Android 1.5 (read: ala-G1), so that could be a deal-killer for a lot of people (it's not like there's a deluge of Android phones with PTT, though).

All the typical phone features are here, including PIM tools, aGPS and Bluetooth.  You get older versions of Google's suite of apps, plus solid messaging, which has been Android's strength from the start.   Other notables include WiFi and a separate contacts list for the PTT service.  It comes with a 5.0 megapixel camera that, unfortunately, takes mediocre photos for its level of resolution.

Overall, the rugged frame and unique functionalities of the Motorola i1 makes it a good choice for those whose needs it looks to serve.  It's pretty affordable too:  $349.99 with no contract from Boost Mobile.

AT&T announced a new rugged phone in its roster. The successor to the original Rugby from two years ago, the Samsung Rugby II is billed as a "next-generation push-to-talk device."

Certified to military standard MIL-STD-810G, the durable phone can withstand dust, shock, vibration, humidity, rain and solar radiation. It comes in a clamshell form factor, with a design that looks like it's been armored for a truly rough day of use.

The Samsung Rugby II packs more than durable talents. Details include two screens (1.3-inch external and 2.2-inch internal), a 2.0 megapixel camera module (with video recording), aGPS (with AT&T Navigator), stereo Bluetooth, 3G with HSPA (7.2Mbps downloads), large external speakers, a full HTML browser and microSD card support. Business users and field workers should find features like PTT, TeleNav Tracker, Xora GPS Timetrack, extensive email support and YP Mobile immensely useful.

It comes with a slew of preloaded apps, mostly for entertainment (e.g. AT&T Radio, MobiTV, etc), business and outdoor use (e.g. Trimble Outdoors, WHERE, etc). Phone dimensions are 4.01 x 2.05 x 0.86 inches, with a weight of 3.52 ounces.

Slated for availability starting June 6, the Samsung Rugby II will retail for $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year agreement with AT&T.

[AT&T]

Big and burly, the Casio G'zOne Brigade is easily one of the most unique handsets in the market today. While being fully ruggedized to military standards like the G'zOne Rock, it's also a full-featured messaging and multimedia phone, a far cry from the barebone basic functionalities from similar outdoor-friendly devices.

Physically, it brings a chunky and industrial design, marked by sharp angled corners, a hard plastic shell and a hefty 6oz weight. The crocodile-style texture around the back makes for a solid grip, while the rest of the phone reinforces the rugged capabilities, from the locking mechanism on the battery panel to the rubber stopper on various ports.

A horizontal clamshell, the front panel has a 1.2-inch round monochrome screen, paired with a full T9-style keypad. You can access a good amount of features right from there, including the camera, media and messaging. Inside, you get a full QWERTY keyboard with a 2.9-inch 400x240-pixel TFT display. The former is very spacious and comfortable, while the latter delivers on some really nice-looking images.

As a phone, the Brigade makes for very good call quality. Voices sounded natural, with barely any interference. Speakerphone mirrors the same positive qualities, although sound is a little harsher. Callers on the other end reported clear, although rather unnatural-sounding voices. Battery life is rated at 6 hours of talk time. In practice, this should last you a good two or three days easily.

Unlike many rugged phones, Casio gives us plenty of features here. It deftly covers all the basics, with a 500-entry phonebook, a full messaging suite (SMS, MMS, email and IM) and a set of PIM tools. Extra capabilities include corporate mail via Outlook Web Access, aGPS (with VZ Navigator), PTT support and Verizon's Field Force Manager (an in-field resource management tool).

More than a business phone for rugged field workers, there's plenty of entertainment here too. It supports EV-DO Rev. A, which translates to good browsing speeds and support for Verizon's suite of streaming multimedia services. Built-in media player is decent, but nothing out of the ordinary. The 3.2 megapixel camera module offers plenty of editing options and takes shots with above average quality.

Overall, the Casio G'zOne Brigade makes for an excellent phone - one whose mix of features and capabilities you rarely see bundled together.  You'll be hard-pressed to find something quite like it, which, I guess, justifies the $249.99 price on contract with Verizon.

For those of us out there who look primarily for ruggedness in a phone, Sonim's new XP2 Spirit model aims to please. For those who are not familiar with Sonim's previous phones, these cell phones are well known in the mobile device market as being tough to kill, perfect for those who like the outdoors or are simply less-than-kind to their devices throughout the day. Previous examples of "tests" users have done to see how tough the phones really are include dropping them from great heights, throwing them into walls, submerging them in water (repeatedly), hitting them with hammers, and even shooting them point blank with a pistol. While unfortunately the pistol shot DID actually cause the phone to cease functioning all other impacts didn't - which is something not many companies can claim.

To top off the extreme ruggedness of the XP2 is the fact that it's not simple a communicator in a block but a fully functioning social networking device as well, complete with an Opera internet browser, 3-megapixel camera, 3G connectivity and your other standard wireless connections you'd expect to see on modern phones these days. GPS enablement further means that the phone can keep you up to speed on your exact location at all times and help you share that with your friends and family when you're out and about in the wilderness - either rural or suburban.

However, one of the primary drawbacks of the phone is its relatively poor appearance compared to other devices hitting the market as of late. In fact, many people have even described the XP2 as outright "ugly" in many ways due to its octagonal form and blockish structure. While it's true that the phone may somewhat resemble the concept cell phones of the early 1980 this is for good reason, as the less-than-trendy design actually allows for the phone to disperse impact energy throughout its shell, thus protecting the important electronics within and only adding to the overall durability of the phone.

Another concern voiced by some people who are keen on big screen and high resolutions these days is the lack of such on the XP2. With a screen coming in at only 2 inches large, that isn't much to wow a strict audience; however, the fact that it is protected behind 1.5 millimeters of what is known as "Gorilla Glass" - a shatter resistant, scratch resistant, and virtually-everything-else resistant protective shield - does somewhat make up for the fact that the phone is lacking that "wow" factor in looks as it more than makes up for it in durability.

For those looking for good internal storage as well, the XP2 is a keeper, coming in with roughly 4 gigs of internal storage space while most other machines out there can only boast a few hundred megs. If you're worried about your information's safety in hot or cold temperatures, quite simply don't, as the XP2 is tested to safely store and retrieve information anywhere from -20 up to 55 degrees Celsius (or -4 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit). In short, once this phone hits European stores in March with its unconditional three-year warranty, make this the first on your list if you're looking for something that is sure to keep up with you no matter where you may find yourself.

Despite their recent successful forays into smartphones, Motorola remains a regular source of rugged handsets.  The latest to come out of the company is the Motorola Quantico, a clamshell boasting compliance with full military specifications.

Physically, it shares the same form factor as the recently-released Motorola Brute.  The resemblance ends there, though, as much of the design is evidently different.  Being a rugged phone, looks take a backseat to durability - hard plastic housing, textured rubber sides and back, securely-plugged jacks and a very bulky frame.

It sports two screens, a 1.6-inch external panel and 2.2-inch display (176x220 resolution) inside.  Both are colored.  While they obviously won't dole out the sharpest graphics, both have sufficient brightness and good usability.  Both the keypad and navigation array are easy to use, unlike other rugged phones we've seen.

As a phone, it makes for impressive calls - conversations were clear with no discernible distortion.  Voices came through sounding natural with plenty of volume.  On the other end, users reported the same positive experience.  Speakerphone feature worked well, although those we were talking to reported some notable harshness in the sound.  Battery life is rated at 5.8 hours, which should be good for up to 2 or 3 days of normal use.

The Motorola Quantico comes with largely basic features.  There's the standard phone stuff, such as a 1,000-entry phone book, PIM tools, messaging (SMS, MMS, web email), stereo Bluetooth and microSD card expansion (up to 8GB).  More advanced capabilities include a wireless web browser, aGPS and push-to-talk (depending on carriers).

Music player is decent, with support for a wide variety of file formats and playlists.  They also threw in a 1.3 megapixel camera with a good amount of options and surprisingly usable photo quality.  Of course, we also tried dropping and dunking it in shallow water a few times - it's good enough to withstand basic durability tests.

Overall, the Motorola Quantico doesn't bring much in terms of looks, but does make up for it with solid rugged capabilities and strong execution of its core features.  US Cellular currently has it for $99.95 ( no PTT, though) on a two-year service agreement.

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