As big players like Apple, Blackberry, and Samsung battle for supremacy in the global smartphone market, Sony today introduced the Xperia ZR, a dust-resistance and water proof Android phone that, according to Sony, can be submerged into 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

According to Sony, the Xperia ZR has "the highest level of water-resistance for capturing photos and Full HD videos or snap pictures underwater." The phone is IP55 and IP58 complaint, meaning it has been independently tested certified to withstand water jet spray and and full fresh water submersion.

For phone enthusiasts, here are some of the specs:

- 4.6” HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for sharp and bright viewing experience.
- An anti-shatter film on the display.
- 13-megapixel fast capture camera with “Exmor RS for mobile” and HDR.
- Waterproof and dust-resistant (IP55 /IP58).
- 4G LTE.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5 GHz processor.
- Near-field communication (NFC).

A global release is scheduled for 2nd quarter 2013, although it will be launched on separated dates in different markets. The phone price is yet to be set.

It sure seem like a cool phone to have. Only time will tell how well it does in the market since it's another Android phone.

To get more information on the phone, visit Sony's website.

http://www.infonubia.com/2013/05/sony-unveils-new-waterproof-smartphone.html