Is the 810-F the tradies' best (i-)mate?

Stephen Withers
Monday, 16 February 2009 04:32

IT Industry - Market

Smartphones and building sites don't mix very well unless you're prepared to spring for insurance against accidental damage - apart from anything else, those large screens are easily broken. But i-mate thinks it has the answer in the form of a new handset dubbed the 810-F.

The i-mate 810-F is designed to provide the sophistication of a Windows Mobile based smartphone with a rugged design that can hold its own on a building site, on the beach or even hanging off the side of a cliff face.

Designed to comply with MIL-STD-801F, the handset "can cope with pressure, heat, water, humidity and even extreme shock without missing a beat," according to i-mate officials.

"The 810-F is equally happy at a chilly -10°C or sweltering 60°C, and can be fully submerged in water," they added.

i-mate hasn't revealed the dimensions of the 810-F, but does claim that it's a "sleek package" in contrast with previous bulky ruggedised phones.

We haven't seen a photo yet, but there's no real reason why the 810-F should look any worse than a conventional smartphone in a protective case.

i-mate's PR people sent a photo, and the 810-F is definitely presentable. Here's a lo-res version of the image:



The feature list seems pretty complete - QWERTY keyboard, touch screen, tri-band HSDPA, quad-band GSM/EDGE, 2 megapixel camera with video, GPS, Wi-FI, digital compass, accelerometer and Bluetooth.

But i-mate can see a market that goes beyond those who work in harsh environments - see page 2 .