The Samsung Convoy 2 is the latest rugged cellphone in Verizon's portfolio

Yes, a rugged clamshell phone. And yes, they do work. I know that the predecessor to this phone, the original Convoy, kicked total ass- it wasn't waterproof, but could survive everything else, and it was reliable and loud as hell too. Casio also makes these, and while they're not as reliable in my experience, they can still take a terrific beating. I've heard of them sinking to the bottoms of lakes, getting run over by semis, people falling on them, being used as hockey pucks, and getting into 120 mph car crashes- and surviving it all.

Phoneresearcher Honestly, I'm not sure if it will be a downgrade or not. The phone is too new and I have yet to hear any feedback from the handful of people I know who have them. You're right, the microphone can be an issue. Casio chose an odd spot for their microphone placement and I have noticed that most people can obscure the microphone with their fingers when holding it, thus causing the tinny or "far away" sound. The only effective way to rectify that issue is not to hold the phone by the hinge. Instead, clasp the bottom of the device with your thumb, ring, middle and pinky fingers and then place your index finger on the outside display of the Ravine (the round window). It's a silly quirk of the phone and in theory you should be able to hold a phone however you'd like, but if you can look passed that minor gripe then your experience should be really great. As I mentioned, I can't speak for the quality of the Convoy 2, but if you're willing to take the risk and try it out the payoff could be worth it. I'd just tread lightly in making the switch. I will note that the build quality makes the phone feel like a cheap toy. That's my objective opinion. My personal opinion is that I wouldn't make the switch. Hopefully that helps!

There IS as significant difference in signal reception both among carriers AND manufacturers. Overall, Motorola phones generally have superior signal reception to most phones. I wish I could give you a concrete reason as to why, but comparing my personal experience to the experiences of the customers I have served I can say with certainty that Motorola outclasses most other manufacturers. It may help to know that I office out of rural areas in Minnesota where signal reception has always been an issue. Motorolas just work. LG, HTC and Casio usually come in at a close second, trailing behind them are Samsung, Blackberry and various other manufacturers. That isn't to say that signal reception is evident of overall device quality. Just because Motorola makes a phone with a great signal that doesn't mean their phone is great overall (take the Motorola Rival as an example.) My opinion is obviously biased due to who I work for, but since I have worked for AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Alltell, Cingular and Cricket in the past I have some knowledge of them all. Verizon has the best coverage area you're going to find in rural areas. No one can hold a flame to them in those regards. Are they the cheapest or the best choice for everyone? Hell no. If you live in a populated area and don't travel frequently I might recommend going with Sprint or T-Mobile. If you have any concerns about reception or live in a troubled Cellular area then Verizon would definitely be best of all the evils. To address the Barrage specifically I would say that the phone is above average in the sturdiness category. I have seen many of those phones come back with broken hinges due to normal wear and tear. That shouldn't happen unless you have impact damage and is evident of inferior build quality. The shell itself (especially the bottom half) is quite resilient and haven't heard many complaints about it. The back battery door is awful; most of the time the gasket doesn't properly seal when twisting battery door screw. I would say it happens with about 80% of the new phones I see. This will be the cause of major headaches if you have OCD or are anal about your belongings. Not to mention the issues that causes when it comes into contact with water. I remain hopeful that the Samsung has addressed signal concerns with the Convoy but I haven't heard feedback from any owners so I am unable to verify it. Hopefully this helps!

Bannerone If you had great luck with the Convoy I am happy for you and I must point out that you are an exception to the norm. I honestly cannot count how many original Convoy returns I have seen since its' inception. If I had to guess I would say that the Convoy has a 60% return/exchange rate in the region I work. Perhaps it's a regional thing. Here in rural Minnesota the phone doesn't work at all. I assume you live somewhere in the Southwest and the one major thing you have going for you is that the desert normally doesn't have much tree cover or forest/mountains/rolling hills to obscure Verizon's tower based signal coverage like we have here. I'm sure you can run into the occasional grove of Palms or Palo Verde Trees (stupid thorns) but that won't do much. I try to remain completely objective when giving advice on Verizon's phones, but it isn't easy because user experience differs. If Samsung has worked in the past then I would consider using it, but calling me a loser because I'm trying to help people based on my years of experience is a bit silly don't you think?