Mobility Minute: Rugged Smartphones Provide New Opportunities for Solution Providers

Smartphones are becoming an increasingly essential tool among field workers - they allow for communication and collaboration and access to digital workflow apps. The problem is, not all smartphones deliver the durability workers need in rugged environments

"Many companies that previously employed ruggedized, handheld computers are now looking at smartphones for a more cost effective and flexible solution," Jennifer Arnold, senior manager for B2B mobile product marketing at Samsung told CRNtv.

The Galaxy S8 Active is Samsung's most durable phone - it's tested against MIL-SPEC standards,

"The Galaxy S8 Active has all of the flagship features of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, including a large 5.8-inch immersive display, intelligent services such as Bixby, and advanced biometrics, such as iris scan and fingerprint," said Arnold.

It also has some bonus features – a larger battery, projected bumper, a metal frame and a shatter-resistant screen. The Galaxy S8 Active has also faced 21 tests against environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, vibration, rain, dust, sand and drops from up to 1.5 meters.

Work environments where increased durability is needed include field service, retail, transportation and logistics, manufacturing and public safety

There's also an opportunity for solution providers to offer services, such as device management and support, along with these rugged phones. This gives partners the opportunity to have a turnkey approach that facilitates recurring revenue streams.