Reader input required: how would you test a ruggedised handset?

So the other day I hit upon a great idea – I’m an outdoorsy kinda guy, I like my mobile gadgets, and I always shed a small electronic tear when one of them gets damaged. So rather than weep, I figured I should turn that frown upside down and test out some devices that just might come out on the good side of a harsh physical test….

But lo, what devices would I choose? Well I got out the interweb lasso, and chased down the Nokia 5140 (Old skool but cool), the Samsung Solid (new boy, but not a toy), and the JCB Toughphone (The world’s ruffest and tuffest – apparently).

Now, down to the reader input part – I want your ideas on the best real-world tests to expose these candybar hard-nuts to. Over the course of the new few weeks, the best ideas will get filmed, and we’ll see how these ninja-tuff handsets do against the perils you come up with!

So get commenting, and let us know what you’d like to see

[Note: keep it sensible folks, any tests that will be either offensive to people, animals, or delicate inanimate objects won't make it through - the idea is to give these devices a thorough test in the 'everyday environment']

About The Author

Ben Robinson

Ben is a 10+ year veteran of the Mobile industry – starting his career when SMS was a still a relatively new concept for most people (!), he has now consulted on everything from bleeding-edge Mobile content, to the next-gen accessories you might view it on. As a result he has a broad and deep knowledge in numerous areas of Mobile – from network operators to device vendors, to infrastructure and middleware vendors (not to mention content delivery) – and has worked for companies in all of these areas! He is based in the UK, a hotbed of activity for mobile, and recently became a father for the second time – as oppose to in his younger years when he was happy spend time tweaking all manner of mobile devices to 'nth' degree, he now looks for services and hardware that provide the most efficient, compact, and reliable improvements to his already manic life! It’s his opinion that Mobile solutions should be there to help to make your life better – if a particular solution (be it service or device) isn’t doing this, he believes you need to ask the very important question of why you continue to use it... His focus at IntoMobile is mainly on Mobile content, services, and infrastructure, particularly as regards the UK market – and with the occasional look at devices. Additionally, using his extensive experience in the industry, he will provide commentary on the industry at large, with regular (and hopefully thought-provoking) articles.

Tom

Drop it in front of you while running, and step on it… That’ll do a job on it from personal experience…
Chad

drop it down 2 or 3 flights of stairs, let it “fall” out of your car driving on the interstate. Once I had a motorola a1200 that withheld getting run over by my car. let a 3 year old play with it… make sure it’s not active so they don’t start calling people, that was a fun time.
Raimo van der Klein

Sandtest: bury it in sand

Watertest: use a waterpistol and give it a couple of squirts.

Shocktest: Throw it in the washdryer together with a couple of rocks

Pressuretest: ride your car over the phone

Cut and tear test: use a breadknife and have fun!
Mathias

Drop it from at least a couple of stories up.

Drop it in the toilet (or such, maybe just the sink)

Throw it against a wall/drive it over with a car

Let it rest in a hot car (or heat in an oven)
mihai

bury it in cement …leave it there 2 or maybe 3 days and then brake the cement and if it still work`s ……..throw it a glass with sea water…:))
ceze

take it a hiphop concert. drop it like it’s hot
take it a rock concert. shake it all night long
take it on a trip and put in the most outer suitcase alone.
if these are not ‘tough’ enough. try competing against the Blendtec