Sonim and Land Rover announced back in December that this year they would come to the market with rugged handsets that should fulfill the needs of any outdoor mobile phone user. The first of the devices, namely the Land Rover S1, is already reported to have passed FCC tests, which means that it won't be long before it makes it to the market.

Upon announcing the plans to manufacture said Land Rover mobile phones, Sonim stated that they would be able to withstand salt, fog, humidity, transport and thermal shock, that they would be submersible and that they could survive drops from1.6-meters without suffering injuries. The company also mentioned Bluetooth connectivity.

The iconic designer Scott Wilson has been engaged in the development of the product lines, and the new Land Rover S1 indeed looks like a device that would be able to withstand harsh outdoor conditions with its long-lasting, re-useable, rugged, water-resistant protective case, just like its four-wheel counterparts on the toughest off-road routes.

Bob Plaschke, Sonim’s chief executive officer, stated back in December, “We are delighted to be partnering with Land Rover on this range of rugged mobile phones,” while also adding, “We are thrilled about the opportunity to further connect with global adventurers through our durable phones and our truly breakthrough form of packaging.”

The Land Rover S1 will be followed by a Land Rover S2 G4 handset, also expected to come to the market by mid-2009, while a third device from the series should surface later during the ongoing year. Unfortunately, there are no details on the exact launch date or price tag of the Land Rover S1, yet we hope that more info will become available in the near future, so stay tuned to learn the news.