Check out the rugged Sonim XP7 (pictures)

The Sonim XP7 is built for businesses that need tough devices. It isn't the prettiest smartphone, but it's waterproof, can withstand falls and has a screen you can see in direct sunlight.

It's also pricey: $750 Canadian unlocked (about US $665), and starting at about $100 Canadian with a 2-year contract. We should be hearing more news about a US release later this year.

The phone is 0.8 inch thick, and weighs 290 grams, or just over half a pound. It's bulky, but you'll appreciate that heft if the phone takes a fall.

Raised buttons are accompanied by a glove-friendly display that has an 800x480-pixel resolution. That's rather low, but the phone is rather bright, and clearly visible in direct sunlight.

The front-facing speaker gets pretty loud.

The left side of the phone hosts the push-to-talk button, and the dedicated camera shutter.

The red Sonim Protect button will offer emergency support to remote workers.

The headphone jack is sealed up against the elements. The notification light pokes up from the top of that antenna nub.

You'll want to keep an eye on the white balance to make the most out of the 8-megapixel camera, though it still tends to muddle the details in shots.

The XPS 7 has a 4,800mAh battery, which isn't removable. I'm no fan of proprietary cables, but it keeps the phone sealed.