New Delhi [India], Feb 27 : Kyocera Corporation has announced the release of TORQUE® X01, a rugged feature phone for Japanese service provider KDDI Corporation.

The TORQUE X01 is the latest in Kyocera's international portfolio of rugged devices that offers ultimate toughness. The 4G LTETM device is compliant with 18 categories of military standard 810G durability testing, as defined by the United States Department of Defense.

It is also certified as IPX5/IPX8 waterproof and IP6X dustproof, and has additionally passed a proprietary Kyocera drop test from a height of 1.8 meters onto a steel plate and concrete.

With a special app for outdoor activities and jobsites, the new flip phone allows users to easily check important outdoor information such as the weather, temperature, altitude and barometric pressure. The phone makes this information available via its external display or by audio notifications at scheduled times.

The handset is also equipped with a 3.4-inch FWVGA liquid crystal display, allowing viewing even under direct sunlight, dual front-facing speakers with high volume for audio clarity outdoors, a 13-megapixel camera with HD video recording and Phase Detection AF for quick focusing, and large embossed touch keys that can be operated with ease even when wearing gloves. Far from a "dumb" feature phone, it also supports Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n), offers an expandable memory card slot (up to 32GB) and includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.1GHz quad-core processor.

The product will be available starting this month in Japan, and will be offered in two colors: Silver and Red.

High reliability proven through durability testing and Kyocera's proprietary drop test. The TORQUE X01 passed testing in 18 categories of Military Standard 810G, including protection from water, dust, drops, extreme temperatures and more. Beyond this testing, it also passed Kyocera's proprietary drop test from 1.8m at 26 angles onto a steel plate and concrete.

Taken together, this rugged profile offers users peace of mind whether working or playing outdoors.

Convenient apps for outdoor use the new handset is equipped with a variety of sensor-based apps, which provide useful outdoor information such as the weather, barometric pressure and temperature. The information can also be displayed on the phone's external display. The phone also offers a built-in pedometer for activity tracking.

Display enabling easy viewing under direct sunlight and touch keys allowing operation even when wearing gloves.

The phone has a brightness adjustment feature for outdoor use and a display that suppresses diffused reflection of light for improved visibility. The display can be easily viewed even under direct sunlight or in places with bright snow reflection. Furthermore, the phone's large, embossed keys can be easily operated even when wearing gloves.

Dual high-volume, front-facing speakers and approx. 13-megapixel camera with a speaker volume of 100dB, users can easily hear even on windy days or around high ambient noise. The front-facing speakers are designed to maintain their high volume even when the handset is folded.

Furthermore, the handset's 13-megapixel camera with HD video recording and Phase Detection AF for quick focusing allows users to take quick, clear photos and videos without missing important moments.

Other useful outdoor functions include audio notifications with outdoor information. The handset reads out information relevant to outdoor activities (e.g., temperature, barometric pressure, etc.). These notifications can be scheduled for 30 minute intervals. (ANI)