"Welcome to the U.S. smartphone pool party, Samsung and Sony," a Kyocera PR rep wrote in an email, reminding the rest of the world that you don't have to pay a fortune for a rugged smartphone, that is water safe and strong.
Over the past few years, Kyocera has developed a reputation for being a leader in waterproof cell phones. From 2010's ultra-rugged Kyocera Taho flip phone to the prepaid, mass-market Hydro in summer 2012 and now the recently launched Hydro Series of smartphones, Kyocera has brought EIGHT unique, affordable waterproof handsets to the U.S. market including two 4G LTE smartphones, Kyocera Torque and Kyocera Hydro XTRM.
The Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active costs $199 with a contract and the Sony Xperia Z is expected to be costly also. But not everyone going to want to pay that much for a waterproof smartphone, and what about people loyal to other carriers?
- Boost Mobile customers have been snapping up the original Kyocera Hydro consistently ranked in the top 10 of ITG Majestics' monthly smartphone sales tracking - since August 2012. Get $20 off the Kyocera Hydro.
- Cricket customers were added to the Hydro ($109.99 without a contract) fold in February 2013.
- Sprint customers have enjoyed waterproof phones from Kyocera dating back to 2010 with the Kyocera Taho, but more recently have been looking to the ultra-rugged Kyocera Torque (FREE to new customers, $99.99 otherwise with a 2-year contract). Underwater photos can be taken by reprogramming the Push-to-Tak button to be a dedicated camera key with the Torque.
- U.S. Cellular customer recently got their hands on the Kyocera Hydro XTRM, a waterproof and shock-proof 4G LTE smartphone priced at just $29.99 (with a 2-year contract).
Kyocera is further expanding its Hydro Series over the next few months with more phones going to more carriers, such as the Kyocera Hydro EDGE coming to Sprint and Boost Mobile towards the middle of this summer.
"Kyocera has now brought 30 waterproof devices to the Japanese and U.S. markets since 2008 and we have no plans to jump out of the water."
See demo of the latest Kyocera models from CTIA.