AT&T and Kyocera Communications have announced a new 4G LTE smartphone in the USA, dubbed as Kyocera DuraForce.The rugged, waterproof Android-based smartphone will be available for purchase on Nov 7, 2014, at att.com and AT&T business channels and on Nov 21, 2014, in AT&T retail stores.
DuraForce will be available for $0 down at $19.95 per month on a Next 12 agreement; 3 $0 down at $16.63 per month on a Next 18 agreement;3 $49.99 with a standard two-year contract; or $389.99 with no commitment. The Military Standard 810G- and IP68-certified DuraForce supports AT&T’s Enhanced Push-to-Talk (EPTT).
DuraForce is IP68-certified, meaning it is dustproof, waterproof, and can be submerged in up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of water for up to 30 minutes. With a reinforced housing and Military Standard 810G protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure/high altitudes, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, and water immersion, DuraForce can go more places and withstand tough environments and conditions. The DuraForce durability withstands tough treatment, as evidenced by Bear Grylls, Kyocera’s lead product tester, adventure-survivalist, and star of the new series “Running Wild with Bear Grylls.”
“We know our customers live active lifestyles and need a smartphone that enables them to do more. They don’t want their days to come to a stop because of a drop on the Jobsite or into the kitchen sink,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of Global Sales and Marketing at Kyocera Communications. “DuraForce is intended to keep people productive. Its affordability and tough-all-over durability, combined with AT&T EPTT, allows its users the freedom to work and play as hard as they want.”
DuraForce features the Android KitKat 4.4.2 operating system powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with a 1.4GHz Quad-Core CPU and Kyocera’s Smart Sonic Receiver technology, which enhances audio clarity in noisy environments. The phone comes with 16 GB of onboard storage that can be augmented via an external microSD card slot supporting cards up to 32 GB. It has a high-capacity 3100mAh Lithium-Ion battery that is well suited to long days on the job or on-the-go, along with a 4.5-inch 720p High Definition impact-resistant touchscreen that can be used while wearing gloves,7 with wet hands, or when the screen is wet.
