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£250 mobile phone can survive shocks, ice and the fury of supermodels
Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Correspondent17.07.09
IT IS billed as the first "indestructible" mobile phone on sale in Britain.
Impervious to dust, dirt and shocks, it can be dropped from six feet on to concrete. It will work a metre underwater, in -20C conditions and cope with short bursts of 100C heat.
The phone should survive angry outbursts from supermodel Naomi Campbell, who has admitted in court throwing hers at her assistant.
It could also be just the thing for Downing Street - one Labour MP claims Prime Minister Gordon Brown broke three handsets in a week by throwing them against the wall.
Covered in a tough rubber coating, the phone has even been approved for use by the military.
Today, Tesco said it has been inundated with orders for the £250 phone, which went on sale this week.
A new study found that on average, one in three young people breaks a handset during summer months, costing users £157million each year for replacements.
Tesco said it hoped the new handset, which was designed by Land Rover and comes with a three-year unconditional guarantee, could help save people money.
"Our research shows that summer holidays can be holidays from hell for mobile phones," said Lance Batchelor of Tesco Mobile.
"The new, virtually indestructible Land Rover S1 phone by Sonim is the first in the world to be as tough as a Land Rover and is the world's only military-rated mobile phone - making it resistant to humidity, dust, shock, salt and heat.
"Add to that water resistance, the ability to survive drops on to concrete, extreme temperatures and resistance against drops into the nastiness of public lavatories and you have the most resilient phone in the world."
Lindsay Weaver, from Land Rover, said: "Like our vehicles, this phone is extremely capable and will work in the toughest of environments.
"It is made from hardened plastic which is injection-moulded to the handset, and water, oil and petrol-resistant. This is covered with a hardened rubber allowing the phone to withstand drops.
"A non-porous coating is applied to stop anything penetrating the case. It has hardened rubber keys and a scratch-resistant screen."
Reader views (3)
Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK beat me to it!
Have a good weekend Reuben.
- Inspector Morse, Eurozone 14
So, pay £250 and carry on acting like a spoilt brat.
- Bj, London
At the rate Gormless Brown goes through mobile phones Downing Street needs to order a few thousand of these indestructible Land Rover models.
On expenses, of course!
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
