Bell adds ultra-rugged Kyocera DuraForce to its push-to-talk lineup for $99

Bell has added another smartphone to its growing push-to-talk-compatible library with the Kyocera DuraForce.

A device that debuted on AT&T in early November, the DuraForce sports a 4.5-inch 1280×720 pixel impact resistant screen, a 1.4Ghz Snapdragon 400 SoC, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage (expandable), an 8MP rear camera, a 3,100mAh battery, Android 4.4 and LTE support. Its chassis is IP68 certified, able to withstand being waterlogged up to 1m for 30 minutes. It’s MIL-STD-810G certified, too, protecting it against salt, dust, vibration, radiation and massive shock.

Like the recently-released Sonim XP7, Kyocera’s DuraForce is designed for verticals where quick bursts of communication, and high durability, take precedence over aesthetics. There’s a dedicated PTT button on the side, and the bulky 13.9mm-thick chassis weighs 200 grams, nearly double that of many current flagships.

Bell is selling the DuraForce for $99 on a 2-year term and $449.95 outright.

[source]Bell Business Services[/source]