HexTec™ Six-Sided Drop Protection Goes Ballistic on OtterBox and Speck

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballistic Case Co., maker of smartphone and tablet cases to withstand life's most brutal moments, will announce at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) an aggressive repositioning initiative, "Perfecting Protection," aimed at meeting true consumer needs that competitors have overlooked.

Additionally, Ballistic will reveal its newest product – Hydra for the Samsung Galaxy S4 – and a full marketing rebrand.

"We design, engineer and aggressively test our cases to offer the best protection on the market," said Hank Goradesky, Ballistic's founder and chief executive officer. "Let's face it – we're rough on our devices, and we drop them all the time. At Ballistic, we believe every case, whether it's sleek or rugged, should protect your valuable devices. Our HexTec™ Six-Sided Drop Protection means you can drop your device on the front, back or corners and have confidence that it's safe."

Every Ballistic case offers at least six feet of certified drop protection, with some models offering protection up to 12 feet. New Ballistic packaging will highlight these ratings, enabling Ballistic to lead the industry by clearly defining the level of protection offered by each case.

Ballistic executives also will reveal extensive consumer research that notes the majority of consumers – approximately two-thirds – say they absolutely want their devices to be protected from drops, but do not want cases to be bulky or to interfere with the look and feel of the devices.

"We believe our competitors, including OtterBox and Speck, have overlooked people who don't want bulky cases but do want refined-looking, expert protection," said Jason Naylor, Ballistic's vice president of marketing. "Ballistic serves those individuals by clearly defining, right on the front of the package, how our cases protect devices. We have a case for every lifestyle, whether you're a mom on the go or a rugged professional."

Competitive Data:

Ballistic today released data revealing that Ballistic cases outperform key competitors when protecting dropped cell phones from cracked screens, dashed corners and shattered backs.

In corner drop tests, Ballistic cases for the iPhone 5 scored as follows (data on file):

• Versus OtterBox – The Ballistic SG Maxx, Ballistic Lifestyle and Ballistic Aspira offer more protection in six-foot drop tests than competing cases from OtterBox.
  • In corner drop tests, the Ballistic SG Maxx, for example, cut g-forces that can damage dropped phones by 17.6 percent compared to the OtterBox Commuter and by 27.3 percent when matched against the OtterBox Armor.
  • In eight-foot corner drop tests, the Ballistic Hard Core outperformed OtterBox competitors, reducing g-forces by 26.9 percent compared to the OtterBox Defender.
• Versus Speck – The Ballistic SG Maxx, Ballistic Lifestyle, Ballistic EVERY1®, Ballistic Hydra and Ballistic Aspira all offer more protection than the Speck Candy Shell in six-foot drops.
  • In corner drop tests, the Ballistic cases reduce the g-forces on dropped iPhones by between 6.7 percent and 41 percent compared to the Speck Candy Shell.

Meanwhile, Ballistic's lineup of rugged cases continues to offer the ultimate protection. In independent lab tests by Certifi Group^[i], the Ballistic Hydra case for the iPhone 5 provided waterproof protection while submerged under seven feet of water for 30 minutes, and one hour of protection while submerged at three feet.

HexTec™ Six-Sided Drop Protection and Ballistic Rebranding Initiatives:

Ballistic engineers each of its cases with HexTec™ Six-Sided Drop Protection technology, which includes Ballistic Corners® to protect against cracked screens, as well as raised lips and corners to protect against scratches. The technology safeguards valuable devices from impacts on the front, back or corners.

"Ballistic has made significant investments to understand what device owners need and what 'protection' really means to them, and we developed our rebranding efforts in line with what we found," said Naylor. "We know our cases offer superior protection at competitive prices. As the industry shifts, we plan to keep exceeding consumers' rising expectations for what a case can deliver."

At its CES booth (5639, North Hall), Ballistic will unveil new packaging across its lineup of protective cases, including the Hard Core line for rugged professionals who need ultimate protection. The vibrant packaging, along with a new website including improved e-commerce capabilities, will help make consumers' choices simple and easy.

New Products and CES Product Line-up:

Hydra for the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a waterproof case for the popular device and will be featured for the first time at CES. Ballistic also will feature its full lineup of cases – including Jewel, Urbanite, EVERY1®, Tough Jacket, Tough Jacket MAXX, Hard Core, and Hydra – all enhanced with new packaging as part of the company's rebranding efforts.

Unlike some competitors, Ballistic cases are intentionally engineered to place only soft surfaces – not hard plastic or metal – in contact with phone and tablets. Ballistic cases offer internal cushion to enhance g-force protection in the event of a drop.

About Ballistic Case Co.

Ballistic Case Co. is a leading mobile accessories brand, designing some of the industry's best drop protection cases for smartphones and tablets. Since 2009, Ballistic has helped consumers save their phones and tablets from expensive mishaps of all kinds – cracked screens, scratches and even water damage. Ballistic's dedicated team of engineers is passionate about one thing: "Perfecting Protection" for high-tech, valuable personal devices. Based in Sunrise, Fla., Ballistic has created an extensive collection of cases right for every lifestyle. Every Ballistic case is engineered with HexTec™ Six-Sided Drop Protection technology, which includes patented Ballistic Bumpers™ to protect against cracked screens, and raised lips and corners to protect against scratches. Ballistic cases provide at least six feet of certified drop protection. Ballistic products can be found in most major wireless carrier stores and consumer electronics retail outlets in the United States and at www.goballisticcase.com.

^[i] Certifi Group data available upon request.

SOURCE Ballistic Case Co.