Bullitt Group, the global licensee of the Caterpillar name for use on cellphones and accessories, launched its first Cat-brand ruggedized cellphone for use on the Verizon network.
The company’s current five Cat phones (the S40, S50, B15, B30 and B100) are available as unlocked phones through retailers for use on the AT&T and T-Mobile GSM networks, but the new $399 LTE-equipped S50c Android smartphone is the company’s first phone available for use on the Verizon network.
The company doesn’t sell through U.S. carrier channels but sells through distributors such as Quality One Wireless and Planet to such retailers as Amazon, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, HomeDepot.com, and BHPhotoVideo.com. Cat phones are also available through CatPhones.com.
The company, however, is also working with Verizon to make the locked S50c available to authorized Verizon dealers, marking “the first partnership between a U.S. carrier and Cat phones,” the company said.
“Since our focus with the Cat S50c is to sell to the business-to-business audience, we are working closely with Verizon Wireless and its enterprise teams,” the company added.
Caterpillar is the manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural-gas engines, and industrial gas turbines.
The S50c is designed for use by rescue services, construction personnel, ski patrols, and boating and outdoor enthusiasts. It meets U.S. military standards and is IP67-certified for protection against drops, water, dust, extreme temperatures, humidity, thermal shocks, vibration and salt mist.
The phone is drop-proof to 3.9 feet, features scratch- and shatter-resistant Gorilla Glass, and is impervious to dust. It also survives immersion in water up to 3.3 feet for 30 minutes.
Key features include push-to-talk key, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, 64GB microSD card slot, 2630mAh battery for a full day of use, 4.7inch HD display, and access to the Google Play store.
A preinstalled app lets users browse apps recommended for the Cat-phone users.
Bullitt Group is also the global licensee of the Ted Baker brand for audio products; JCB for mobile phones and related peripherals; Ministry Of Sound for audio products and mobile peripherals; and Kodak for mobile phones and related peripherals.
Bullitt Group’s head office is in Reading, England with additional office locations in Taipei, Shenzhen and New York.
