Huawei and Discovery Channel Team Up To Release Mobile Phone [Huawei-Discovery Expedition Packs A Variety Of Traveler-Friendly Features In One Phone]

Posted on TFTS by Steve Anderson on Tuesday, 27. September 2011 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

I love the Discovery Channel. No, really–between them and a handful of like networks it’s about the only thing keeping me from junking my entire Dish Network system in disgust these days. That and the incoming Blockbuster Movie Pass, which really has me rethinking Netflix, but anyway. But while Discovery has made no bones previously about merchandising, they’ve stepped it up to a whole new level with the announcement of the Huawei-Discovery Expedition cell phone.

Yes, you read that right: it’s a cell phone with the Discovery Channel brand name, manufactured by the crew out at Huawei. And true to the brand name, it’s packing a variety of features geared toward the folks who can’t get enough of being outside for some reason, including GPS, a built-in flashlight, compass, G-sensor, and a set of ruggedization features including dustproofing, shockproofing (though to what extent isn’t clear, some shockproofing is proof against a drop onto concrete from three feet while others can handle much less, or even more) and water resistance (not waterproofing, so while you can take this one into the rain, don’t try and swim with it).

But in the grandest Discovery Channel tradition, it’s not an outdoor experience until you tell someone about it, so you’ll even get a suite of applications for working with Facebook and Twitter. You’ll be able to constantly tell everyone about the lengths you went to to survive in the wild and maybe even get your own television show out of it. Here’s hoping you don’t go quite as far as Bear Grylls, though.

You can look for these in stores in time for Christmas shopping, as they’re set to hit in the fourth quarter of this year for an as yet unmentioned price.

It doesn’t sound like that great a phone, at least on the surface and trying to compete with some big name Android phones, not to mention the imminent landing of the iPhone 5, but chances are the ruggedization efforts and Discovery brand name will pick up a few Les Strouds in the making. But what about you guys? Anyone think they’ll pick up a Discovery phone? Or does this smack way too much of desperation for your tastes? Either way, we want to hear from you, so hit the comments section and tell us what you think!