While there are some phones we've wanted to bounce around the walls, there are a select few mobiles that are actually designed to take a bit of rough and tumble. Samsung's B2700 is one such ruggedised phone, crafted for outdoors types who expect their mobile to withstand the odd knock, soaking or splashing.

Built to the IEC IP54 standard, it's water- and dust-restistant, so it'll take a bit of wear and tear from the elements. It also has a chunky plastic casing that feels more robust than your average phone. The B2700 isn't constructed for industrial strength, heavy duty punishment or total submersion though; while other specialist phones, like the Sonim JCB ToughPhone, may invite testing to destruction, the Samsung B2700 is more for active outdoors lifestyles than post-apocalypse phone-a-friend.

Although having a similar heavily-built look, this is a far better-equipped mobile than the Samsung Solid SGH-M110, which may have been a hard-nut handset on the outside but was distinctly weedy in the features department.

The B2700's outdoors active features include a compass, altimeter, motion activated pedometer and flash light. But it's also geared up for contemporary mobile action with 3G connectivity, music and video player functionality, FM radio, video calling support, plus a 2-megapixel stills and video camera. While it's not a do-it-all high-ender, it probably has enough mid-range gadgetry to keep outward-bounders entertained.

Design and handling
The B2700 grips well, and feels sufficiently substantial for cold or wet hands to hang on to. While style isn't really an issue, it's available in black with grey trim (like our review sample from 3), black with red edging, or blue with black.

The water- and dust-resistant casing minimises gaps and cracks, with the rear battery panel fitting tightly via a dual slide-and-prise mechanism, and the bodywork buttonry mostly moulded into the casing. These include a flashlight button as well as the usual camera and volume controls, which all pass the frozen-finger test for usability. This sturdiness gives the device an all-up weight of 115g, while it measures a strapping 115(h) x 52(w) x 18(d)mm.

The display is a modest 1.9-inch, 176x220 pixels resolution screen, which appears small for the phone's footprint. The moulded plastic numberpad has a reasonably responsive action, and works successfully enough for texting and number-tapping, though its smoothness may not be so good for glove-wearing outdoors types. We found no problems in normal use, and the shortcut supporting navigation D-pad and conventional softkey set-up was easy to negotiate without any slip ups.

Above the display is a standard video calling low res camera, while on top there's the flashlight - just hold the side button down and away you go. A moulded ridge hook on the top allows the phone to be clipped on to a belt loop or other part of your kit, via a supplied plastic snap-hook attachment.

Samsung has included its typical mid-level menu system, though on our 3-branded review sample there are pre-configured softkey options taking you to online Favourites - a quick-access spread of popular web-based content and messaging services, social networking sites, and so on  - and the Planet 3 content and online services portal.

Features
Ruggedness tests didn't include hammering the phone into submission or fully drowning it. We dropped it a few times onto hard surfaces for moderate heights with no ill effects on performance and bodywork, and we briefly dunked the phone in water a few times without any bother, confirming its splash-proof credentials. It hits the mark for outdoors sports, biking and beach action, where it's pitched against dodgy weather or mucky environments - though don't expect it to be anywhere near indestructible or completely waterproof for swimming.

The compass worked admirably well and sorted itself quickly with a bit of motion-activated re-calibration. Similarly, the pedometer adds a bit extra to the package; it gives a very rough idea of how many steps you've taken, calories burned and distance travelled, using the onboard motion sensor as you're wandering around.  The altimeter though was a bit flakey, being way out on our actual altitude.

Camera action
If you're looking to capture stunning pics of the great outdoors, the B2700's camera will be a bit disappointing. It's a limited 2-megapixel shooter without a flash or other sophisticated shooting cameraphone gadgetry - and without a lens cover for protection. There's no autofocus, though there is the usual array of stock cameraphone settings adjustments, for white balance, colour effects, resolution, adding frames, plus various multi-shot shootings modes.

Although there's a dedicated side camera button, the phone doesn't automatically switch to landscape full screen view when shooting - it shoots in portrait mode, which is curious. What you see in the full screen isn't what you get - the edges of the pic you're about to take aren't visible, unless you switch to an alternative 'standard ratio view' that presents the full viewfinder image in a 'letterbox' centre screen. It's clunky, and not up to Samsung's recent cameraphone efforts.

Images are as you might expect for a basic 2-megapixel shooter; it's fine for quick snaps, and colour rendition in adequate light is decent enough, but shots have limited detail. As you might expect, without a flash low light shooting quality isn't up to much; indoors shots are soft, with murky, grainy images produced in darker situations.

Video shooting isn't high quality either, though you will be able to capture some footage of your adventures. Clips can be shot at 176x144 pixels low resolution at up to 15 frames per second, so is entry-level stuff for a mobile phone.

Music player
Naturally on a 3G handset, video and audio entertainment can be downloaded over the air or sideloaded to the handset. There's a measly 26MB of internal storage, though this can be boosted by slipping a MicroSD card in to the slot under the battery. No memory card is supplied in-box, which is a shame, though cards up to 8GB capacity will work. It's worth shelling out a few quid if you're keen on tune-playing - the regular Samsung music software onboard puts in a serviceable tune-playing performance that'll do the job.

Average earphones rather than anything more ear-stickingly sporty are supplied, and there's no 3.5mm standard headphone socket for plugging in your own pair - just a Samsung multi-connector socket under a bung on the side. It sounds acceptable enough, though, with a decent range, bass and volume. An FM radio provides an alternative source of entertainment.

Google search and mail apps are supported on the handset, with Google Maps cellsite-based mapping, location finding and routing an option on some versions of the device, including the 3 model we tested. The browsing experience is normal for this sort of mid-level 3G handset using the onboard NetFront browser; it's reasonably  brisk at rendering pages with typical viewing options and limitations. An RSS reader app is included too.

Samsung also stocks this  phone with a standard tool box of organiser features and apps. Functions include a voice recorder, email, document viewer, A2DP Bluetooth, calendar, memo, tasks, world clock, calculator, convertor, timer, stopwatch and alarm functions. A few trial games are also included.

Performance
This outward bound phone does the basics of hanging on to signals well and producing good quality sound when making and taking calls. Its reliable performance was matched by suitably solid battery life. Samsung estimates optimum standby time of up to 480 hours, or an impressive 10 hours 40 minutes of talktime; in our real life tests, the B2700 kept plugging away for more than three days with average use. That should be sufficient to keep most active users in touch when out in the wilds.

If you're after a phone that's built to cope with active outdoors usage without packing in, the B2700 is an attractive device. Compared to its Solid predecessor, Samsung has considerably beefed up the spec, so there's a decent amount of mid-tier 3G multimedia entertainment to go with all the ruggedness.

Its camera and memory are a bit disappointing, but otherwise it offers a reasonable package for an outdoors orientated mobile like this. Sure, it may not be designed for building site armageddon like some other feature-light macho-heavy toughened mobiles, but it's a more versatile all round handset for normal phone use when the splashing stops.