Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA, February 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Ultra-Tough, Next-Generation Mobile Phone Extends Sonim Portfolio and Helps Introduce Company's RPS (Rugged Performance Standard)

Sonim Technologies, the world's leading manufacturer of rugged handsets and solutions, announces the Quest - an ultra-rugged phone for people who work or play in extreme environments.

On display with Sonim's full device portfolio at Mobile World Congress, February 16-19, in Barcelona, Spain, the XP3 Quest delivers unsurpassed water, shock and drop resistance. Coupled with a suite of mission-critical services, the Quest gives small business owners, large enterprise teams, emergency services /first responders and sports/adventure enthusiasts the ability to communicate dependably -- no matter what conditions they find themselves in.

Building off Sonim's popular XP Enduro handset, the next-generation XP3 Quest features all the core elements that make Sonim devices unique: an extra-large keypad for easy use through workgloves . . . extra loud speakers to be heard over industrial-grade noise . . . long battery life to survive up to 16 hours out in the field . . . and non-slip rubber grips and action-oriented design. Add to that a new 2 megapixel camera, the world's most accurate assisted GPS, Bluetooth, PC Sync and a pre-installed OperaMini web browser, and the Quest takes users further than ever before. And, as with all Sonim phones, the Quest comes with an unconditional, no questions asked, three year warranty including same day replacement to virtually eliminate down-time.

When it comes to mobile solutions, what works for a 14-year-old girl in New Jersey is not going to work for a construction foreman in the UK or a forestry ranger in Germany, said Bob Plaschke, CEO of Sonim Technologies. And while this may sound obvious, it's about much more than marketing segmentation. Our customers are unique and they demand devices and applications that fit their specific, rugged needs. The new XP3 Quest delivers on both counts by providing a form factor and design that works over-time, along with software and application upgrades that deliver even greater dependability and security.

The Quest is also helping Sonim introduce its Rugged Performance Standard (RPS) to the world. RPS identifies 12 dimensions of ruggedness across three tiers to help categorize mobile handsets as Tough, Rugged or Extremely Rugged. Based on the world-renowned testing procedures used in MIL-STD 810F and IP military classifications - along with input from thousands of key customers across 40 different countries - Sonim's RPS is used by the company as a measuring stick for device manufacturing. This means any Sonim phones that don't pass or exceed the criteria of RPS simply don't get produced.

We created RPS to set the bar for rugged device manufacturing and help eliminate some of the confusion over what makes a device truly rugged - especially at the consumer and retail level, said Plaschke. There are many great devices out there that include rugged features, but aren't suitable for a real extreme or mission critical environment. With RPS, we hope to provide some focus on the critical elements needed for rugged manufacturing, make it easier for consumers to get the devices they need, and engage others in the broader discussion of what makes rugged, rugged.

For more information about RPS, including the 12 dimensions of ruggedness, visit http://www.sonimtech.com. And to see the full line of Sonim phones - including the new XP3 Quest - visit Sonim at Mobile World Congress, booth 2.1 D18 in the Fira Montjuic.

About Sonim Technologies

Sonim Technologies (http://www.sonimtech.com) is the leading provider of premium-quality ruggedized mobile phones designed and engineered specifically for people who work and play outdoors or in less than pristine industrial environments. Sonim's XP family of phones feature outstanding craftsmanship, extreme resilience and an industry-leading unconditional three year guarantee that has redefined consumers' expectations of rugged technology. Sonim also provides a complete end-to-end mobile VoIP platform that delivers high-performance push-to-talk services on GPRS, UMTS, EVDO, WiFi and WiMAX data networks. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and has a business presence in 16 additional countries.

Media Contacts: UK/EMEA, Robin Dhara, Red Robin PR, +44(0)7880-807-752, Robin@red-robin.co.uk; Emma Tarring, +44(0)7957-439-080, Emma.tarring@tiscali.co.uk; North America, Sharen Santoski for Sonim Technologies, +1-847-312-0806, Sharen@Signalrockcomm.com