Sprint gets rugged with Sanyo SCP-7050

Nextel tends to get the lion's share of the beat-'em-up handsets in Sprint-Nextel's stable, but that's not to say the Sprint side of the equation doesn't have a few heavy duty customers of its own. The freshly announced SCP-7050 (or simply "7050," if you will) from Sanyo rocks mil spec 810F compliance for dust, shock, and vibration resistance -- and eschews the oft-banned camera -- for those all-work-and-no-play types out there. Besides the ruggedized shell, major features include dual displays, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and GPS that can continue to track without a signal from the overlords at Sprint. Look for it to hit in early April for $150 on a two-year contract.

[Thanks, Brandon]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 28th 2007 10:56AM]

Ooh...yet another boring Sanyo clamshell!

Does this have EV-DO? What about screen size spec?

Rugged...that's nice. 1990s clamshell design...it's a Sanyo!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 28th 2007 6:17PM]

Jr, I'm always amazed when I see comments like yours from people who apparently have no dog in the fight and yet still seem upset by the fact that the styling of a cell phone is boring. I can only assume that either you are a competitor to Sanyo or else you are just completely destroyed that Sanyo didn't come out with the product that fit your perfect wish list. Whatever dude.

I agree that the styling is nothing that you'd want to enter in a sexy phone contest with Motorola or even Samsung but this 7050 also has some FUNCTIONALITY that those other two mfg's can't touch like ruggedization, typical Sanyo durability, GPS on board and I'm guessing rock solid signal strength.

Is it the perfect phone??? Hell no, but show me one that is. They're all a different set of compromises but I, like you will continue to try to find,,,the perfect phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2007 1:44AM]

I have been a die-hard motorola user since 1988. I replaced my last motorola with the 7050 and it did not come with a camara. If I want pictures I'll by a canon. This phone has functionality. It is built tough and that is what I need.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 22nd 2007 8:16PM]

I agree "built tough" is great - BUT a clamshell/flip-top is just unprofessional. Fliping a phone open gives it a toy/child's feel. It's not Sanyo's fault it's Sprint's. Lately nobody wants to make professional phones for Sprint.

I too want the perfect phone and why shouldn't I? I have to close multi-million $ deals every day! I like Sprint as a carrier - but all some of us ask for is a rugged phone, "candybar" style, with the ability to program call restrictions and caller groups! Sounds simple, but amazingly doesn't exist.

Hats off to Sanyo and Motorola for at least coming to the Rugged part - but I'm not 12 and shouldn't have to "flip" a phone in front of a VIP.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 7th 2008 8:55PM]

Gee, Anand, why bother [posting something like that here if you close multi-million dollar deals on your phone? WHy don't you have a Blackberry 8830 Worldly Edition or a Moto Q World Edition?

Sounds like you may have settled for a simpler phone without shopping around for something more suitable to your "jet set".

I was looking for a phone, one I could drop without destroying it, one I could hang on the handlebars of my motorcycle with a little sprinkle of rain without fear of destroying it. I wanted one that actually had some signal reception, speakerphone. Hell, this thing even announces who's calling by voice... "Incoming call from Christi".

It's a man's phone, Anand... If you were looking for something a little more stylish to go with your Gucci's maybe you shoudl have gotten a oink Palm Centro like my wife has.

Choke on that "big Boy".