OtterBox and AT&T to Release Armor Series Case for the iPhone in February

Earlier this month at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show, OtterBox and AT&T unveiled what they claim to be the toughest smartphone case ever built. A bold claim, to be sure, but the fact that this case, the Armor Series, is waterproof, drop proof and crush proof lends some credibility to this claim.

The Armor Series for the Apple iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5 are to be available toward the end of February in AT&T retail locations and the carrier's online store, while Armor Series cases for the popular Samsung Galaxy S III will be available "soon."

A reinvention of the classic OtterBox case, the Armor Series protects against water, drops, dust and crushing with four layers fused together to enable a high level of protection against force. Meanwhile, the watertight latches, patented o-ring technology, port covers and mesh coverings allow the Armor Series to handle submersion in water in depths up to 6.6 ft. for up to 30 minutes.

Image via otterbox.com

The port covers and vents are made out of a non-permeable membrane with a protective mesh layer that keeps harmful elements like dust out, while not restricting voice transmission at all.

Advanced materials on the interior and exterior of the case allow the Armor Series to effectively protect from drops up to 10 ft. while over-molded bumpers on the corners of the case help absorb shock. Overall, the Armor Series can withstand up to two tons of force.

Lastly, a built-in screen protector helps prevent scratches and other damage to the phone's display.

In April 2012, OtterBox introduced the Defender Series protective case for the Amazon Kindle Fire, which sports foam pads, a polycarbonate shell and silicone skin for absorbing shock and protecting ports from dust and dirt.

In October, the company was recognized as one of the best places to work in the United States on the Great Places to Work annual 2012 Best Small & Medium Workplaces list, published in FORTUNE magazine.