I know this has come up before but wanted to get an idea of everyone is currently using and how it is working. Looking at getting a Motorola Razzor for a crew chief but worried about the abuse it will take and the fact that it is not waterproof even in an Otterbox.
What do you have? How do you like it? How is the battery life?
Iphone4 with Otterbox Defender.
SWMBO upgraded her phone to the Motorola Razor. It is a great phone and faster than my desktop.
The extra things that is will do makes it a battery hog because it is doing so much behind the scene. If you get one be sure to get one of the golfer solar battery backup.
The Raxor Max has a bigger battery but it needs the extra battery power to keep it going.
Neither is what I would call field ready.
I have complained to Verizon about not having a good field phone and their answer is the Defy. It is not as good as the Razor.
I like the Sony Xperia but Verizon does not support that phone.
my 0.02
http://www.casiogzone.com/commando/
I dropped mine as I was getting out of the truck last week. Because I was getting out of the truck, I also kicked it and sent it skipping across the gravel parking behind the office. It hit and slid screen side down (note that I have not put a screen cover on it due to reviews of the durability of the screen).
Covered in gravel dust, I took it into the office and rinsed it off.
Not a scratch on it and still working fine.
My only complaint is the battery life can seem short on a very active day.
Motorola Tundra is the way to go. Not many bells and whistles but it comes out of the box with mil spec weatherization.
I have a Razr with an Otter Box. Box was too big and took it off.
For a field phone seems its seem more than they would need. Unless they use the internet a lot.
Turn off 4G and GPS, then battery lasts 1.5 days.
I just recently upgraded to a Motorola Atrix. i love it, but it is not meant for everyday field use. I did take a hard look at the Samsung Rugby. I thought it looked and was designed for a more durable use of a smart phone. Samsung Rugby
I have a Razr Maxx with an Otter Box and have had no problems with it since I got it 3 or 4 months age. The otter box is a little bulky but for the protecion you get its worth it.The phone can stand getting wet and a few shakes to remove any water its back to working as good as it did before.The battey life is great, we get about 12 hours when were using the 3g hot spot link up. The standard Razr was giving us about 3 hours of life when using the 3g hot spot.Everything we do now is through the moble phone (Sending downloading files Ect.)and field crews very rarely come back to the office any longer.
The Droid 3 and 4 are our preferred phones. The physical keypad, with dedicated # keys make it great for texting/emailing coordinates. I keep mine in an Otterbox...no problems yet (though I don't get in the field everyday like I used to).
Also, (like many Verizon smart phones) the Mobile Hotspot is great for VRS...we don't need the MiFi anymore.
I've been pleased with my casio commander. It's only 3G capable and in direct sunlight the screen is hard to see. But it is Mil-spec certified, typically charge it every 4 days, can be used as a mobile hot spot.
Not a smartphone but my Motorola Barrage has been underwater... several times. I am not real careful with it but its been working fine for 2+ years. Now with the display window glass broken, I have to be careful not to drop it in water. I believe the Barrage is built similiar to the Tundra.
99% of our work is not in the boonies so I use these.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/TracFone-Samsung-105-P4-Prepaid-Cell-Phone-Bundle/15128229
Cheap to use and replace and it comes with these goodies; power adapter, carrying case, hands-free headset, car power adapter, power adapter all for $10.
Have a great week!
I use a straight talk phone from wally mart and its great. 3G and unlimited everything for 45 a month.
Have you considered having them use their own and giving a monthly phone allowance or somehting like that?
Stephen
I have an old Verizon phone about six years old that goes ring ring, and that is all I want in a phone. I dropped it this afternoon in dense cactus and brush and didn't realize it until two hours later when I staggered out the other end of the line. The business on the next block let me call my wife, she called my phone while I walked the line, and there it was, ringing away in the desert.
That's great, Bruce! Lost mine once and walked back down the cut line to find it clipped neatly on a small branch. Still have no idea how that happened.
We use the Samsung Galaxy. Does more than I need. I keep limited apps running and get a work day out of the battery.
Been carrying a Motorola Tundra for the past couple years. Never had one before that would last more than a couple months.
Ashtech Mobilemapper 10. GSM phone which is submersible and droppable four feet on concrete.
Does some other things too.
> I have an old .. phone .. that goes ring ring, and that is all I want in a phone...
That's what I used to say before I got the iphone, Bruce.