AT&T, Cricket Wireless offer new Kyocera ruggedized devices

AT&T, and their pre-paid subsidiary Cricket Wireless, announced today they will be expanding the offerings of ruggedized devices available for consumers on their network. Cricket Wireless will offer the new Kyocera Hydro VIEW smartphone while AT&T gets the Kyocera DuraForce XD smartphone and the Kyocera DuraXE flip phone. All of the new Kyocera devices for the carriers will be available starting later this week on January 8th.

The Kyocera Hydro VIEW will be a Cricket Wireless exclusive priced at only $79.99. The device comes equipped with a 5-inch display, support for 4G LTE, and has an IP57 rating for dust and water. That rating means the device can stay submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes and still work. In addition to the protection provided by the device, Kyocera incorporated “Wet Touchscreen” technology that enables use of the screen even when it is wet.

For AT&T, Kyocera is making the Kyocera DuraForce XD Android smartphone available. The device has a 5.7-inch screen, a Snapdragon processor, a 3,700 mAh battery, and supports 4G LTE. The device meets US MIL-STD-810G for resistance to dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity and water immersion. The DuraForce XD has an IPX5 certification for protection against water jets and IPX8 certification for immersion in water of up to 6 feet depth for 30 minutes. The smartphone has dual front speakers and a large side button for making push-to-talk calls. AT&T is pricing the DuraForce XD at $14.97 per month on their AT&T Next24 plan or $49.99 on a 2-year contract.

If consumers need a traditional flip-phone format, AT&T and Kyocera are also making the DuraXE available. This device meets the same specifications and certifications for protection against a wide variety of hazards and conditions as the DuraForce XD. The DuraXE is priced at $13.50 per month for 20 months on an installment plan or $49.99 with a 2-year agreement and Enhanced Push-to-Talk service.