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Sonim launches IndieGoGo campaign for the XP7, an ultra-rugged LTE Android smartphone

Sonim wants to make the all-around most rugged phone there is. But is the XP7 enough to rival the competition?
By
November 25, 2014
Sonim xp7

Rugged phones are unsurprisingly very popular amongst the most active people out there. It’s not a new concept, by any means, just not a concept that everyone knows about. We’ve seen quite a few of these devices try to go mainstream, like Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Active or the Kyocera Hydro Life. Not many of these devices seem to make it very far, but Sonim seems to think they can change that with their newest tough-phone, the XP7.

Sonim announced the IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign in hopes to reach their $150,000 goal. Just to clarify, the campaign is part of the “Flexible Funding” program, so the company will receive all funding even if they don’t make their goal. Okay, enough about the campaign. Let’s take a look at the phone.

The Sonim XP7 has a 4-inch Gorilla Glass 2 screen with Glove Touch and Blanview Display technologies. It’s also pretty chunky, coming in at 137 x 72.1 x 20.8mm at 290g. It brings a 1.2GHz quad core processor with 1GB of RAM, a 4800mAh battery, 16GB of internal storage, and runs Android 4.4 KitKat. As you can see, the specifications are very mid-rangey. But that’s not the point of the phone. Sonim is trying to make a super durable smartphone, and it seems like they’re doing a pretty good job at it so far. So what’s so special about the XP7?

You should really pay attention to this list, because this is where the phone gets really awesome. Here are all of the specialty features Sonim has packed into the XP7.

  • IP68/69 waterproof/dustproof – completely sealed against the intrusion of micro particles, rated IP68 for complete submergibility in water up to 2 meters for 30 minutes, and rated IP69 for resistance to high temperature pressure wash
  • Drop/impact resistant – Resistant to 2 meter drops onto concrete from any angle
  • Shock/vibration resistant – Withstand sudden shocks of up to 30G and vibrations from 5Hz to 500Hz to 5Hz
  • Temperature resistant – Fully operational from -20° C to 55° C
  • Extreme pressure resistant – Withstands up to a ton of metric pressure
  • Puncture resistant – Hardened rubber molded housing can withstand up to 4J of impact energy, the Gorilla Glass screen can withstand impacts of up to 2J
  • Oil and chemical resistant – Resistant to Petroleum oils and the corrosive nature of cleaning solvents

So how much does this thing cost? If you pledge now, $579 will get you an XP7, including some extra goodies. Included in the package comes $49 of prepaid service through Ultra Mobile, a Sonim Bluetooth headset, a microUSB cable, a 3-year comprehensive warranty (including accidental damage), a $200 trade-in on Sonim’s projected 2016-launched phone, and Sonim Explorer Virtual Goodie Bag. That’s a lot of stuff. If you don’t want to purchase the device but still want to help out, $25 will get you an XP7 t-shirt, or $1 will get you product updates and a shoutout on either Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

If you think the Sonim XP7 is right for you, click on the IndieGoGo link below to make your donation. Whether you’re jetskiing, snowboarding, working with chemicals, working on a construction site, or anything else active and dangerous, the XP7 might just be for you.

What do you think of the phone? Is it something you think you could see yourself using? Let us know your thoughts!

[press] Sonim Technologies, Inc.™ today announced the start of the Limited Edition Sonim XP7 Extreme™ Android Smartphone crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The rewards-based program targets active-sports enthusiasts who need a smartphone that meets their demanding lifestyle and can stand up to the most rigorous conditions that they may encounter.

Sonim, best known for making the toughest mobile phones used by people who work in extreme environments, chose Indiegogo to reach the site’s rapidly expanding consumer audience. With the start of the campaign, Sonim becomes the first established Android handset manufacturer to utilize Indiegogo versus more established and traditional routes to reach consumers.

“Over the last nine years, we have been building the most durable phones for our everyday heroes like police officers, firefighters and our nation’s first responders,” said Sonim CEO Bob Plaschke. “So when the outdoor community saw what our latest smartphone can do, they said, ‘Hey, that’s the perfect smartphone for our active lifestyles.'”

Created and built for the active sports participant who has suffered through broken phones, cracked screens and damaged keypads, the Sonim XP7 Extreme surpasses standard rugged-use certifications and is tested against Sonim’s own rigorous Rugged Performance Standards (RPS). The XP7 Extreme’s unique design protects devices from the challenges faced by participants of extreme and rough outdoor sports that often pose a challenge to other smartphones. The limited edition smartphone will be available to sports enthusiasts beginning Nov. 25 via Indiegogo.

The shock-resistant smartphone meets the toughest military-grade certifications, and is constructed to be both submersible in water and drop resistant, meeting IP68 and IP69 standards. Built to withstand high drops on hard surfaces such as concrete, it can survive extreme cold temperatures that mountain climbers and snow sports enthusiasts face, or take the heat and humidity that lovers of water sports crave. The XP7 Extreme can withstand the crushing force of a ton of metric pressure, as well. Produced for use in the outdoors, the touch-screen display can be viewed clearly in direct sunlight and is usable with the gloves often worn by active sports participants.

Featuring advanced audio capabilities, the XP7 Extreme includes an extra loud 103dB front-facing speaker and noise-cancelling microphone, making it the best choice for active-sports participants. Its extra-long-life battery offers up to 1,000 hours of standby time and 40 hours of talk time. And, since even the most rugged phones occasionally break, Sonim backs the device with a three-year, comprehensive warranty for damage to the smartphone caused by extreme use, but not abuse.

“Snow or surf, off-road racing or hiking, the new Limited Edition XP7 Extreme is the ideal smartphone for those who pursue and take part in adventurous outdoor sports,” added Plaschke. “With the XP7 Extreme, those who want to take photos, videos and stay connected will find they no longer have to worry about breaking their phones, shattering screens or have them end up all wet as the Sonim devices stand up to the toughest conditions.”

Sonim chose Indiegogo to enter the active-sports market with the customized XP7 Extreme on the basis of its track record and consumer-demographic consisting of people who look to buy products not yet available through more established, traditional channels.

“We looked at the various platforms out there and considered various business strategies to break into the active-sports, heavy-consumer market,” Plaschke said. “In the end, we decided to do something very different. Rather than spend months building up distribution channels we decided to reach the extreme adventurer through an unconventional channel.”

The Limited Edition XP7 Extreme offer on Indiegogo includes the opportunity to purchase a custom Extreme holster with mounting system that allows the phone to be connected to other popular sporting accessories. With the holster active, sports participants will be able to use their XP7 Extreme devices in environments that other smartphones couldn’t endure on their own.

For more information on how to back the Sonim XP7 Extreme Indiegogo campaign or how to order, visit either SonimExtreme.com or the Indiegogo rewards campaign page for more detaills. http://www.sonimtech.com/

ABOUT SONIM TECHNOLOGIES

Sonim Technologies (http://www.sonimtech.com) is the provider of mission-critical solutions designed specifically for workers in extreme, hazardous and isolated environments. The Sonim solution includes ultra-rugged mobile phones, business-process applications and a suite of industrial-grade accessories, collectively designed to increase worker productivity, accountability and safety on the job site. Sonim’s industry-leading, 3-Year comprehensive warranty has redefined customer expectations of rugged technology. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., and offers its products with mobile operators around the world.

Sonim Technologies, Sonim and Sonim XP7 Extreme are all registered trademarks of Sonim Technologies, Inc.

SOURCE Sonim Technologies, Inc. [/press]