27 Jul 2009
Keeping up with its name, the Sonim Landrover S1 is the mobile phone version of the Land Rover automobile, which is specifically designed for outdoor adventures with eco-friendly features incorporated. Tagged as the "solid" and "virtually indestructible" mobile phone, the Land Rover S1 joins the XP range of Sonim's handsets, which is synonymous to a clearly identifiable toughness.


The Sonim Landrover S1 appears every bit as strong as the handset's branding implies. This mobile phone is wrapped in a rugged-looking, anti-water plastic casing called XENOY Daru. The casing's material is the main component of film and plastic bottles. The handset dons either a yellow or black colour complete with silvery highlights. It is part of Sonim's special range of durable handsets, which the manufacturer is highly known for.


This mobile phone comes with a strong keypad that is resistant to micro-particles and dust. Its highly durable keypad has been tested to withstand 5,000 pushes. For ease of use, this handset is installed with a keypad is composed of extra-wide keys for more convenient usage. This handset also has an accelerometer complete with auto-call for safety purposes.


Sonim and Land Rover recognise that getting instantly connected to the World Wide Web and communicating online is of paramount importance to today's handset users. It is under this premise that this mobile phone is equipped with WAP browsing capabilities, through its pre-installed Opera Mini WAP Internet browser. This handset also offers users connectivity with compatible devices like laptops, personal computers or printers. Through the revolutionary Bluetooth technology, users are able to share or transfer data without the hassle of entangled wires and cables.


As this handset is all about practicality, it comes with a pre-installed A-GPS system to assist users in satellite navigation. It is also equipped with a built-in flash light to aid users in poorly lit environments. In addition, this handset has extra loud speakers to make receiving or making calls more convenient.


As its primary feature, the Sonim Land Rover S1 boasts of being the only handset in the world that has acquired an IP-67 military rating. It is fully submersible unto one-metre depth of water and is able to withstand being dropped to a hard concrete surface from a maximum of two metres. It is also resistant to up to 400-kilogram of pressure and can resist punctures, road shock, random vibrations. Moreover, this handset's toughness impresses as it remains normally functional under temperatures ranging between 20 to 55 degrees Celsius.


The Sonim Landrover S1 may be filled with handset features that make it tough and rugged, but it has not compromised the element of fun in its ensemble. To the delight of photo buffs, this mobile phone has an integrated 2-Megapixel camera that allows users to freeze precious moments and store them in the internal storage for future viewing on the TFT display screen. The camera is equipped with an auto-flash to light up otherwise dark environments during photo shoots. Expectedly, this mobile phone's integrated camera takes photos even under water, as it is a waterproof device.


Additionally, this handset also keeps music-loving users happy with its support for FM radio that offers quality music listening. Playtime is anytime with the Sonim Landrover S1. It continuously entertains its users by allowing them to play pre-installed mobile games in J2ME Java format.


Users can store their contacts, photos and other data and files into the 2-Gigabyte default memory of this tough mobile phone. This mobile phone's fitted standard battery offers standby time of more than 1,500 hours or an equivalent of 62 days. Users will enjoy speaking with their contacts for a lengthy talk time of over 18 hours.


While this handset flaunts a host of features that guarantee long-lasting durability, dissatisfied users criticise this mobile phone for its rugged and unsophisticated look that would otherwise appeal to modern users. Some are also unhappy with the mobile phone's features that seem too basic, and its lack of advanced utilities. Nevertheless, users who value practicality opine that the Sonim Landrover S1's unmistakable toughness makes this mobile phone hard to resist.