U.S. carrier Sprint has announced an ultra-rugged Android smartphone in the form of the Kyocera Torque. The Kyocera Torque sports a 4-inch WVGA screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual core Qualcomm MSM8960 processor, as well as 1 GB of RAM.
4G LTE connectivity is also included, as is a 5-megapixel camera, NFC, 4 GB of internal storage (which can be expanded up to 32 GB via a microSD slot), and a 2,500mAh battery. It'll run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The company has also made efforts to ensure the phone can stand up to some every day wear and tear.
"Anyone will quickly appreciate the durability of this smartphone, whether you work in rugged environments or just enjoy outdoor activities," said David Owens, vice president of Product Development.
"It seems like everyone I talk to has damaged a phone by dropping it on a hard surface. This phone is for all those customers who want to make sure even if that happens, the phone will withstand the fall. This is an impressive Android device that can withstand extreme conditions while bringing our customers the speed of Sprint 4G LTE and convenience of instant push-to-talk communications from Sprint Direct Connect."
Sprint says that the device is waterproof and can function in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The carrier said it still functions after being dropped 26 times from four feet high and can survive heavy dust for six hours.
Beyond "soon," Sprint didn't reveal availability or pricing for the Kyocera Torque.
