No sooner did my iPhone 3GS become my new electronic partner than I began to think about protection – for it. If history shows anything, it is that I am not very kind to external surfaces of electronic equipment. Enter Speck Products and the new SeeThru hard shell case line.

I requested a unit for review, in their choice of color, and they graciously sent me two for field testing. No problem, my Field Training Officer carries a new iPhone, so we could test them at the same time.

Gary chose the new smoke (black) shell and I took the red, a color available exclusively through AT&T stores. Installation was a snap – literally. (We just had to follow the drawings, the instructions contain no printed words.) The packing box also contained a protective film for the face of the iPhone, a pleasant inclusion. The new cases work well and I have had other friends commenting on how they appreciate the one-piece shell, given their experiences with two-piece cases from a variety of other iPhone case manufacturers.

These new cases are lightweight and durable and only add minimal bulk to the iPhone external dimensions. In fact, Gary is able to use his existing belt holster while his iPhone is in the SeeThru case. Mine would not slide into the flip-type case I sometimes use, but with the new Speck case on I simply toss my iPhone into one of the utility pockets on our uniform pants.

As with any case worth its salt, the new SeeThru cases from Speck are designed with cutouts in all the right places for full use of the iPhone, and the Speck cases have rubberized button covers over locations of external controls on the Apple device.

The new SeeThru cases come in a variety of colors to please any iPhone user, including clear, black and pink. The additional colors of aqua blue and red are available exclusively through AT&T online and retail stores. Red is also available internationally. All new SeeThru cases for iPhone 3G and 3GS are $29.95 MSRP (USD).

What I Like:/What Needs Improvement: While these two items are normally addressed as separate issues, I am going to combine them into one for this review as they deal with one feature on the cases that is both a positive and a negative in my opinion. The hard rubberized ring around the opening of the case protrudes at a sharp angle past the face of the iPhone. I like this as it offers enhanced protection for the unit. I dislike this as it irritates my ear on long phone conversations. It is so troubling that if I continue to use the case I am going to grind down the top edge so my ear will quit sending me hate mail.

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