[tripps]

I love my BB, but my job is not condusive to cell phone longevity. Although i have never had one brick out or fail on me i know the day is coming where i will totally wreck it. I've had siemens, motorola, nokia and now a blabkberry. I was just wondering what the word is around the campfire is about a handset that is more durable like Toshiba has a toughbook. I realize that it was meant for an office environment, but us guys who build, install and implement the network infrastructurs need something a little more robust and i would hate to go to another manufacturer.

[Sydman]

Casio Mobile G'zOne Type-V: Water and Shock Resistant

Not a smart phone but they are getting stronger

[zerog46]

Wirelessly posted (Tour)

Get an Otterbox case for the BB. Very well constructed.

[tripps]

Thanks mate. I've had a few rugged cell phones. but what's the point of having a smartphone if you can't treat it like a tool. it's like having guest towels in your bathroom.

[Sydman]

Originally Posted by tripps

it's like having guest towels in your bathroom.

Haha. Well put

[tripps]

whatever you do don't tell my wife what i use the guest towels for.

[texasPI]

Originally Posted by zerog46

Wirelessly posted (Tour)

Get an Otterbox case for the BB. Very well constructed.

I agree with this. PITA when you have to do a battery pull but if you get the Quickpull app its not a big concern.

[marymegali]

Nokia is the most robust out there...

[WillWeb]

Another vote for Otterbox. When I was out on construction projects with the Otter on my belt I felt confident knowing that if it was run over by a bulldozer it would probably still function. What it isn't is waterproof; the trackball hole brings splashes right into its guts.

[jddoerr]

I add my vote for using a Blackberry with an Otterbox.
WillWeb is correct though, the Blackberry having a trackball is its "Achilles Heel". It makes it virtually impossible to water proof.

I am hoping the New Blackberries with the "Trackpad" instead of the "Trackball" help remedy this.

I would really like it if they a "D-Pad" set of keys to the 4 sides of the "Trackball". This would allow for a "Water PROOF' case and also allow the user full functionality of their device. Plus it would be nice to have another option in using my Blackberry, especially when the "Trackball" is messing up.

[mgerbasio]

I think the 7290 was the last of the "hardened" blackberries. I'd try and get my hands on one if you need a tough phone. I think RIM sees its devices for white collar use. Most of the trades I see on the job, the company PM or engineers have a BB, sometimes a foreman but a journeyman is lucky to get a cell.

There are quite a few rugged cell phones. I've seen the Samsung Rugby but RF doesn't seem to be as good as other phones. For smartphones, try Symbol. Our guys use the Symbol PDAs and they get tossed around quite a bit. These are wireless PDA only, no cell phone; I'm sure by now they make a smartphone.

[takeshi]

Originally Posted by mgerbasio

I think the 7290 was the last of the "hardened" blackberries.

...and even so we still had field guys killing them.

[KOR]

As posted above, the Otterbox is a nice product. We've got several guys in the field, with various types of BBs, who climb poles dig trenches, etc. and have never had need of any third party products to protect the devices. Doing network implementations, I'd suggest any device, just keep it in a holster. The only devices that have come back to me due to being banged up are ones that were dropped from pretty decent heights (1+ story buildings) or been run over by trucks.