Winmate e430T – Brings a proper WIndows Mobile Rugged Smartphone the market

Normally in the rugged handheld PDA world we see manufacturers retro-fitting Android to their devices, but Winmate grow devices from Android soil and add Windows Mobile later!

The Winmate e430T will sit along-side the e430M and will give a really great option of a 4.3″ LCD sized Windows mobile rugged handheld and it’s price will mean that it asks serious questions about buying devices like the Pidion BM170 semi rugged PDA which can struggle in rugged environments.  At about £500 it is more expensive, but the service is UK-based and takes days not weeks, it’s fully IP rated, has a lovely capacitive touch large screen and can be specced with built-in barcode scanner, RFID reader, 3G or 3G less and also comes in antimicrobial versions too.

We’re testing the device soon to see if an Android device will convert happily to a Windows Mobile one and will let you know the results very soon.

http://www.ruggedandmobile.com

The Motorola MC92N0-G is the latest improvement to the MC9000 series

You can tell a good Rugged PDA from the lack of changes it has over the years and the MC9000, on the face of it hasn’t changed all that much over the 10+ years it’s been in service.  However look under the hood of the MC92A0 and you would hardly recognise it from the original MC9000 series.

Not to be mixed up with the MC9500 series, the MC9190 and MC92A0 devices sit firmly in the warehouse scenario and give you a super tough, super functional device that’s got one of the best pedigree’s on the market which is why it’s used by many of the top retail and warehousing brands today.

New features

Well first of all the MC92A0 is based on Motorola’s MPA 3.0 architecture.  What does that mean!  Well put in layman’s terms its Motorola’s way to try and give you a platform that can be easily moved on to from earlier devices.  Less code tweaking, less new accessories needed and porting to it is just easier!

There’s upgades to the OS choices with WEH6.5 or Windows CE7, the first device to withstand 2000, 1M tumbles. operates in -20 to +50 degress and has IP64 protection making it one of the most rugged warehouse devices you can buy.

MC9000 series explained

The MC9000 series quickly became popular and over a few years became the 9090 series.  This included short, long keyboard and gun versions that worked in and outside of 4 walls.  The RFID version of the Gun soon became available.  Then with the launch of the MC9500, the ir was a bit of overlap so Motorola enhanced the 9090 into the 9190 with a raft of improvements, but distilled the range down to the long keyboard and Gun form factors.  Today there’s just the Gun format which is commonly used in the warehouse.

http://www.ruggedandmobile.com

The Motorola MC40 brings and option to the Mobile EPOS market

The Motorola MC40 is yet another Rugged android PDA to be launched and despite the sold off Motorola Mobile business being heavy Android advocates, it marks only Motorola Solution’s 2nd Android capable device.  A lot of Rugged manufacturers are quite sceptical about Android and the fact it’s not really designed for the mission critical business market, but needless to say, the devices keep on launching and the MC40 comes with a few USP’s that might just make a difference.

The first is the positioning of the Motorola MC40.  At first glance it looks like any other rugged android device, but look closer and you’ll find everything you need to run a mobile EPOS terminal, minus the printer.  With a Mag strip reader, PCI ready, PTT ready and with customisable bezel for colour and logo, its meant to be in the eyes of the customer and aimed at the Mobile EPOS market.  IP54 and 1.2M drop spec and no Phone/3G chip further conclude this device is aimed squarely to work within the boundaries of a WiFi signal.

So to the Motorola MC40 lets check out some one the highlights…

Highlights

• Optional, built-in Magnetic strip reader, PCI ready.
• 2D built-in barcode scanner.
• Motorola PTT ready.
• 4.3″ LCD.
• Bezel colour can be customised with own colour and logo.
• 1GB RAm and 8GB ROM is generous.

Lowlights

• Android V2.3 is really starting to age now.
• No 3G or phone chop.
• Expensive for the spec.

Price & Availability

Price is going to be sat from about the £700 mark for this device which puts it at just above average for this class of device.  We don’t think it suits the classic Field Rugged Android user where pricing is as low as £350 (Winmate e430) and as high as £1200 in that class but against other EPOS terminals it’s going to ruffle feathers!

Opinion

The general spec of the Motorola MC40 isn’t going to set any hearts racing, but the OMAP 4 CPU running at 800MHz, 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM will be more than enough for most and the RAM/ROM is pretty big. Android v2.3 is a little old but then Motorola has included a whole raft of android based tools to cover up any security flaws people thing it may have so they have to commit to a version to do this and most people using this device won’t ever get to see the underlying OS anyway, using a bespoke app for the job at hand.

We think this is an interesting device and whilst it’s aimed at field based Rugged Android PDA’s users,  it has plenty of USP’s and has definitely found a niche in the EPOS terminal market.  It’ll compete really well against the like of the Casio and Pidion EPOS terminals in our opinion, where the pricing will be far more comparable.  At the least it gives customers a decent alternative form the classically bulky EPOS terminals available now.

www.ruggedandmobile.com

Motorola MC45 – A proper Rugged PDA for the Budget Conscious Business

I’m actually quite excited about the Motorola MC45 and after seeing it in action I think you will too!

Motorola typically exist at the upper end of the Rugged PDA market, but more recently have been reacting to the wave of cheaper devices coming from the far east as more and more new and different businesses adopt a mobile strategy and need new kit that doesn’t bust the bank.  The Motorola MC45 is just that, a rugged PDA for the budget conscious and we got our first full exposed look at the device this week.

So just what is a Rugged PDA for the “Budget Concious?” I hear you say!  Well actually it means different things to different Manufacturers.  In Motorola’s case the MC45 is still aiming to have a quality about it, something more MC65/67 but by removing or downgrading critical features of the device, Moto have managed to get the price down.  So, there you have it, a quality rugged PDA but at an affordable price.

The MC45 in a nutshell

The MC45 is a pretty cool looking, mid-sized Rugged PDA.  It’s rugged, with IP64 and drop spec of 1.5M, has a resistive touch 3.2″ screen and is powered by Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5.  It has 3G, phone, 1D scanner, Camera, a/b/g Wifi. Bluetooth, GPS and is Host USB capable, so all the normal features a business needs are there.

Add to this there’s 1 model only.  No tricky configs to contend with so you buy it and that’s that!  The same 3080mAh battery as the smaller ES400 comes in the box as does a USB charger and cable and it’s heart beats with a Qualcomm MSM7627 600MHz CPU, 256MB RAM and 1GB ROM.

So all in all not to shabby, but also nothing to write home about either.  So far the Motorola MC45 is exactly what it says on the tin!

Price

The pricing is going to be about the £600.  It’s not quite the same great value as a Dotel H300 for example but it’s going to turn your head as its close.

The Motorola MC45 has a full set of accessories

What to watch for

Motorola have openly cut corners on features, rather than quality to get the price down, this is what they did:

• CPU – is not the best out there, it’s a workhorse CPU though and it’ll do the job for 90% out there.
• 3.2″ QVGA LCD -  It makes the device small, in fact it has as much in common with an ES400 as an MC65, it’s bang on in the middle of the two.  The 3.2″ screen might be too small for some though and QVGA gives only 320×240 resolution.
• 3.5G – is a bit old now, think iPhone 3GS, it’ll be way quick enough to do your emails, sync data (Even photos) and to browse the internet or run an HTML5 application.
• 1D laser scanner – is the only option for the full bar code scanner.  Motorola say that their camera technology is good enough for occasional 2D scanning.  We’d agree with the occasional bit but the camera does have full support for the ScanWedge application and SDK so you can use it.
• One keyboard option – The numeric one in the pictures is it other than for language variations.
• Mini USB connector – Its not rugged, it could be a risk for some.
• No RFID – or NFC for that matter.

Worth a mention

The Motorola MC45 does however come with a well targeted range of accessories. There’s not a tonne to choose from but what there is, is well thought out and probably will cater for 90% of what is generally needed by customers.  Again we see here a reduced rnage of products so the costs can be kept down. You can judge form the phot here though that the accessories look pretty nice and well designed.

I also think in this class the battery will out perform most rivals, Motorola is also saying the MC45 will be more durable than the likes of the Intermec CS40 and Honeywell D6000.  Don’t forget that the MC45 is running a smaller LCD and a quarter of the pixels so the battery should stand up quite well.

The full gamut of “Service From the Start” products are available, judging from the list pricing on these they will also be very affordable.

What we think

There’s no doubt that the Motorola MC45 will sell in numbers.  The small screen will put it up against some stiff competition, but I think the quality and services that Motorola bring will mean it will fend off quite a lot of this.  It will be a little more expensive than a Pidion HM40 for example but for some the difference will be enough to shell out for the prestige brand and the quality advantage it will have over any far eastern brand in our experience.

The MC45 will compliment a growing range of Motorola Rugged PDA’s and it will give many businesses a decent option at an affordable price.

The MC45 is available and shipping now, please come and ask about lead times or if you want more information.

www.ruggedanmdobile.com