Sometimes a standard handheld or mobile handset simply won't do. Not because you can't find one or the other with the features you need, but because traditional mobiles aren't rugged enough to meet your requirements. In certain environments, such as warehouses and the wilderness, for example, you’re going to need something far tougher. Enter the solutions outlined below; each representing a different variation on ruggedness.

The Neo from Psion Teklogix is a rugged and highly adaptable Wi-Fi-enabled handheld. Samsung’s Rugby from AT&T on the other hand is a tough military-grade cell phone. Then there's the 1937 Defender Series case from Otterbox, which takes a standard BlackBerry Bold and toughens it up.

Psion Teklogix Neo
NEO is pocket-sized handheld computer from rugged-device maker Psion Teklogix. It runs on Microsoft's Windows CE.NET 5.0 platform and sports an angled 2.7-inch QVGA color touch screen for clearer viewing when the device is held in a user's hand.

There's also an integrated imager/scanner, Wi-Fi, voice over IP (VoIP) push-to-talk and Bluetooth wireless capabilities. Neo can be expanded to incorporate additional features, such as radio frequency identification (RFID), for example. It also has an easily removable pistol grip that clips on and off.

The rugged handheld weighs in at 9.7 ounces and measures 6.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches. It is IP 54 rated for water and dust resistance and rated for repeated 4-foot (1.2 meter) drops to concrete.

NEO has an 8-hour battery life at 3,000 mAh and is available with a 48 key alphanumeric or 26 key numeric keyboard.

See here to learn more about Neo.

AT&T Samsung Rugby
AT&T recently released the Samsung Rugby, a rugged military-grade mobile handset. Rugby is 3G-enabled with support Video Share, which allows mobile workforces to transmit live streaming video to a colleague, supervisor or back to the home office to get help in diagnosing and repairing a problem, show progress of a job, etc., and conduct a phone conversation with them simultaneously.

Rugby also features Push To Talk (PTT), built-in GPS to support location-based apps like AT&T Navigator (domestic and global), TeleNav Track and Xora GPS TimeTrack.

The phone is available for $129.99 with a special limited time offer of $79.99 for small businesses that activate 5 lines or more. Also, with the introduction of the Rugby, AT&T dropped its PTT monthly service charge to $5.

See here to learn more about the Samsung Rugby.

OtterBox for BlackBerry Bold
Rugged case-maker OtterBox just introduced a new model in its 1937 Defender Series, this one for the new BlackBerry Bold. The 1937 Defender turns the new BlackBerry into a semi-rugged drop and scratch-proof smartphone.

As with OtterBox Defenders for other handhelds and smartphones, the edition for the Bold features three layers of protection that allows full access to all features. A thin, thermal-formed sheet covers the screen and keys, while a polycarbonate shell protects against drops and bumps. Then there's a silicone skin that wraps around it all to absorb shock.

The case measures 4.84 x 2.93 x 0.96 inches and weighs 2 ounces.

Available in black or yellow, the 1937 Defender for the BlackBerry Bold sells for $49.95 here.