Sonim Technologies, the maker of rugged work phones, has introduced its first NFC-enabled handset, betting that cleaning companies, security guard firms and home-health care agencies are ready for a more durable–and higher-priced–NFC phone for workforce management.
Sonim’s XP1301 CORE NFC, is designed to survive two-meter drops onto concrete, dunks in toilets and other rough treatment by employees, who could be asked to tap the phone dozens of times per day to register time and attendance and use other work-related applications.
But while Sonim says its new NFC handset will last years–offering a three-year warranty that includes coverage for accidental damage–and touts the “longest battery life for NFC usage” of any phone on the market, the XP1301 also costs twice as much or more than most NFC handsets now used for workforce management.
