A waterproof cell phone, and the great Skype tease
It was just introduced in Japan, so it may be some time before you can get your mitts on this waterproof—30 minutes at 1 meter—Sony Ericsson SO902iWP+. But still, isn’t nice to think that such phones will one day be available? And isn’t funny that the whipper snapper author of the blog where I found out about this phone calls the waterproof feature “useless”, adding “we’ve never really seen the point of waterproof gadgets unless the manufacturers are actively targeting people who make a habit of dunking their gear in toilets.” So cute! We’ll politely not call him an idiot, but simply note that our very first cell phone died dead from just a wee splash of salt water. We like waterproof.
Meanwhile Skype, the king of free computer-to-computer VOIP telephony, is offering free calls to any landline or cell within the U.S. and Canada until the end of 2006. That’s going to please some cruisers who like to use Skype over WiFi along the coasts, as is Skype’s plan to offer a “SkypeIn” service whereby you can purchase a phone number that friends and associates can use to dial your VOIP system. Perhaps the wildest concept: Set up your boat with an amplified and marine antenna’d cellular high speed data card and unlimited service, and then use it along the coasts for e-mail, Web access, and phone calling using a cordless Skype phone like this.
Dumped the land line years ago in favor of Skype. Works wonderfully. I use with a Logitech USB microphone for incoming and outgoing calls.
I agree with Ben. I like waterproof.
The cell phone lets me use my boat more. The cell phone with an external antenna works great in The Puget Sound area.
I am also a scuba diver. Long ago I stopped picking up cell phones I may pass by during a dive. I certainly would pay extra for a waterproof cell phone. They are so small now that it is easy to drop them over the side or into the bilge.
I would add one more attribute to a waterproof cell phone. The ability to float!!
Pat
what materials is the waterproof cell phone made up of?
If this phone falls in water it better be a kiddy pool or a glass of water. One meter, what good is that. I agree a water proof phone should be waterproof to a greater depth and float.
Waterproof to 1 meter still does quite a lot of good if it is in your pocket and you fall in the water. Assuming you don’t go diving with it in your pocket, 1 meter should do it. This, and dropping a phone into a wet bilge is the most common way I have seen phones damaged and my biggest worry when using my phone as a camera or flashlight on boats I am inspecting.