A New Tool for the Tool Box- The Sonim XP3

Construction workers, deep sea fisherman and more, all professions that rely on their cell phones to work under extreme conditions and to continue to work if dropped or covered in dust. Up until now it was at best a wish. No more. Introducing the Sonim XP3, a rugged cell phone for people who use their phone for their livelihood and not their entertainment.

Every aspect of this cell phone was designed for rugged use. From the rubber molding cast to the scratch resistant screen, it appears no aspect was left to chance.

Water resistant, resistant to dirt and dust due to its non-porous casings, protected from shock and vibration up to a 1.65 m drop onto concrete and able to withstand temperatures from -20 to 60 degrees Celsius, this phone is ideal for extreme sports enthusiasts or outdoor jobs.

From the moment you pick up the Sonim XP3 you know it’s a rugged phone meant to be used. The rubberized exterior is resistant to scratches and also creates a very sturdy feeling phone. Unlike the brushed steel phones that slip and slide, this phone stays put in your hand.

Function meets Form

The keypad and D-pad have been tested to 500,000 presses and the PTT buttons have been tested to 200,000 pushes. The keys on the keypad have a well-constructed feel to them and while the PTT buttons are a little harder to push they aren’t so hard as to take away from the phone's function.

The screen is protected by a scratch resistant coating and although it is a color display it has a low resolution (128x160). The home screen changes depending on the theme selected by the user.

The main screen has icons easily accessible for the main functions of the phone.
This phone was not designed to be an entertainment device so the features you find are more related to its being used as a work device. It comes with all the standard features on cell phones with a few extras that make it more work friendly.

One such work friendly feature is the built in voice recorder for both messages to yourself and for recording phone calls. You can choose to record one or both sides of a phone call.

The other handy feature is the built-in LED flashlight with a dedicated on/off switch, your cell phone has now become the flashlight you’re always looking for in the car.

The US model, due out in March of 2009 will feature a 3 megapixel camera and a GPS system. Perfect for taking jobsite pictures and not getting lost returning to the office with them.

The Sonim XP3 will make replacing cell phones every time their dropped on a concrete slab a thing of the past and having a cell phone in your tool box the newest trend of the year.