harrkev, you're correct that the mil-spec encompasses a variety of conditions, although without looking it up, I believe that "F" includes all the "degree of ruggedness" ones. I don't think I have ever seen a cell phone that claimed to be compliant with all mil spec 810F conditions. Even with the ruggedized Nextel models, it's confusing because I have seen different types of claims for different models.

I have seen one website with the Nextel(Motorola) i386s advertised as "...conforms to military standard 810F for blowing rain, humidity, and salt fog. That means its designed to withstand exposure to rain, sleet, and snow..." Simiarly, on a different website, I've seen the i605 advertised as being of "...Rugged construction that is certified to Military Standard 810 F for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, low pressure, and solar radiation. Performs in extreme outdoor environments and stands up to dusty environments, drops, exposure to vibration from heavy machinery use, and hot/cold climates..."

That's not to say that a rugged Nextel phone that isn't specifically rated for, say, rain can't handle any water. Just doesn't meet the mil spec critera. But these Nextel phones are probably the toughest you can find.

Personally, for cell phone reliabilty, I have always stuck with models that don't involve any moving parts, like flip phones, phones with twisting/sliding covers, or anything with a pull out antenna. My current phone is an old Nokia 3390. There's nothing that moves or that can break off. I wouldn't leave it out in the rain or repeatedly drop it, of course, but nothing has ever gone wrong with it. But I seem to hear a lot fewer complaints about cell phone breakage these days than 5-10 years ago. Either they're making them better, people have learned to treat them better, or maybe people are just getting new models faster and faster?