HMD

HMD Terra M: The ‘Tank’ phone

In a market dominated by fragile glass screens and sleek designs, HMD Global has decided to launch the opposite. The company, known for being the home of Nokia phones, has now made the HMD Terra M available in select European markets, a robust device that doesn't aim to be a smartphone for the masses, but rather a survival tool for professionals.

HMD describes it not just as a mobile phone, but as a “fully managed communications ecosystem.” The goal is clear: to serve those who work in environments where an iPhone or Galaxy wouldn't survive five minutes, from dusty construction sites to busy hospitals and airport runways.

The Terra M's design is utilitarian and brutalist. The device boasts a trinity of resistance certifications that command respect:

IP68: Resistance to immersion in water and dust.

IP69K: The highest possible rating, guaranteeing protection against high-pressure and high-temperature water jets.

MIL-STD-810H: Military-grade resistance to shocks, drops, and extreme temperatures.

Unlike modern smartphones, the Terra M relies on large physical keys, designed for use with gloves, and a 2.8-inch touchscreen that also responds to touch with gloves. The 2,510 mAh battery, while seemingly small by 2026 standards, is sufficient to power this efficient hardware during long work shifts.

"Push-to-Talk" Ecosystem...What distinguishes the Terra M from an old "brick" is its software and connectivity. The phone is designed to replace traditional radios, integrating Push-to-Talk (PTT) capabilities over cellular networks.

Through partnerships with Zello and Mobile Tornado, the device offers instant and secure group communication, with dedicated and programmable hardware keys (including an emergency button). Connectivity is managed by Lyfo, which ensures intelligent network switching between carriers to guarantee that the signal never fails, even in border or remote areas.

For businesses, data security is as important as physical resilience. HMD promises five years of quarterly security updates, a rare commitment in this segment.

The pre-installed software reflects this "no distractions" philosophy:

Threema: For end-to-end encrypted messaging, ensuring that corporate communications remain private.

Joplin: For secure note and knowledge management.

OsmAnd: Offline and privacy-focused browsing, essential for operations in network-free locations.

The HMD Terra M is the antithesis of the consumer smartphone. It's not for watching TikTok or playing games, but it promises to be the best friend of those who need to communicate in situations where failure is not an option.

by mundophone