Handheld Group, a fast-growing manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, PDAs and smartphones, has started shipping the Nautiz X1. The highly anticipated Nautiz X1 is the toughest enterprise smartphone in the world - it's waterproof, dustproof, shock-resistant and can handle extreme temperatures, yet it's also slim, lightweight and smartly designed for both work and play.

The Nautiz X1 is now shipping to customers worldwide. Interest in Handheld's ultra-rugged smartphone has been tremendous, and the first batches are completely sold out.

The Nautiz X1 is part of the Nautiz product family of rugged and ultra-rugged PDAs and smartphones. It has an IP67 ingress protection rating, which means it's fully dust- and waterproof and can withstand immersion in water, and it also meets stringent MIL-STD-810G military test standards for enduring humidity, vibration, shock and extreme high and low temperatures.

"As a company specializing in rugged computers, we know our customers expect all our products to be built rugged from the inside out. The Nautiz X1 is no exception - it comes with the reliability and sturdiness of an ultra-rugged computer," said Product Manager Johan Hed of Handheld Group. "People are increasingly using their smartphones all the time, everywhere, and they're expecting mobility and connectivity anytime, anywhere, and in all environments and weather conditions. The Nautiz X1 ultra-rugged smartphone is a natural choice, as it's built to survive these challenges."

"This is the toughest smartphone ever built," said Jerker Hellström, CEO of Handheld Group. "We see a huge demand for truly rugged smartphones among field professionals and outdoor enthusiasts who want to be constantly connected. We're excited to see the great response this product receives from the market."

The Nautiz X1 is slim and lightweight, weighing in at less than 180 grams (6.3 ounces). It has a 4-inch special sunlight-readable capacitive touchscreen and ultra-durable Gorilla Glass. It runs on a powerful 1 GHz dual-core processor and has 1 GB of RAM. It features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a compass, a professional u-blox GPS, and a 5-megapixel camera. The Nautiz X1 comes with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 operating system, and runs on both GSM and CDMA networks. Multiple battery options enable a full day's work in the most demanding environments.