Symbol Technologies Australia leads world in GPRS Pocket PCs for business applications
Announcement posted by Symbol Technologies Australia 31 May 2002
World's first ruggedised GPRS Pocket PC developed and tested by Australian R&D team
Symbol Technologies Australia has announced the world's first ruggedised, GPRS-enabled Pocket PC handhelds for business and industrial applications. The Australian-developed product will be sold by Symbol Technologies globally.
The products are in the final stages of carrier certification and will operate on all three GPRS networks (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone). This means users will not be locked into a particular carrier for their industrial voice and data requirements.
Cal Anderson, vice president and general manager of Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand, said, "The development of the products by Symbol's Australian R&D team gives Australian businesses a great opportunity to gain a competitive edge through GPRS. Because GPRS sends data in self-contained packets, users are charged only for the amount of data sent and not for the period of connection time.
"With expected data speeds of 30kbps into the terminal and 10kbps out, Symbol's GPRS solution will meet the needs of most industrial applications. Workers can be always connected, without the prohibitive costs of a standard mobile connection. Based on our field tests, communications costs can be a fraction of those currently offered by standard GSM connections."
"Businesses will find Symbol GPRS handhelds easy-to-use and to maintain. You'll have one device for voice and data, one battery to charge and only one vendor to contact for support."
Advantages of GPRS
GPRS sends data in self-contained packets making it an ideal medium for interactive, real-time data applications. The user is not charged for waiting time like a circuit-switched data call and can therefore be connected all the time.
The user is only billed for the amount of data sent or received in these packets.
Cal Anderson said, "Symbol's GPRS Pocket PC handheld is a serious industrial business tool, not an executive gadget or multiple devices lashed together. These handhelds are for businesses that depend on accurate and efficient collection, transmission and processing of data."
Transport and logistics - a lot to gain
Cal Anderson said, "Symbol is looking for early adopters in GPRS business solutions. The transport and logistics sectors, for example, have a lot to gain from a GPRS system. Workers will be able to capture signatures and proof-of-delivery information on a handheld and send it to a corporate database in a matter of seconds.
"With full voice support, urgent questions can be answered through the same handheld without forcing a worker to juggle multiple devices. Each task will cost only a few cents per transaction."
Other early adopter areas where Symbol's GPRS solution will provide a clear advantage include:
Field service (job status, tracking, parts tracking, database synchronisation)
Field sales (customer information, inventory tracking, sales data, stock status)
Route sales/route accounting
Waste management
Health-care/pharmaceutical
Specifications
Both GPRS Pocket PC handhelds combine ruggedisation with Wide Area Network (WAN) capabilities. The handhelds are IP54 certified and can withstand windblown dust, rain and 1.2 metre drops to concrete. WAN capabilities for data are on GPRS, GSM and SMS with GSM for WAN voice.
The PPT 2837 is a streamlined pen-based configuration while the PDT 8137, also pen-based, offers multiple keyboard options. Both feature the Intel StrongARM processor operating at 206 MHz and a rechargeable, extended-use lithium-ion battery. Both are fully compatible with Microsoft SDK for Pocket PCs with a Symbol API available to support bar code scanning. Integrated miniature scan engine, conveniently placed scan triggers and ergonomic design enable simple one-handed data capture. High resolution 1/4 VGA display with responsive touch-screen and backlit keyboard further enhance ease-of-use.
About Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand
Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand is a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. based Symbol Technologies Inc (NYSE: SBL). Established in 1990, Symbol Technologies Australia is the market leader in wireless networks, mobile devices and barcode scanners.
Company sales and profits have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 30% every year since its launch. With over 70 employees nationwide, company headquarters are in Melbourne with a sister office in Sydney.
Symbol's direct sales force targets strategic accounts and works closely with authorised distributors covering each state - providing experience and expertise to customers in a wide range of industries. The Company's indirect sales force is a network of business partners throughout Australia and New Zealand specialising in vertical markets, application solutions and industry expertise. Full service, technical support and training is available from Professional and Customer Services Departments (ISO 9002 certified). Symbol Technologies Australia is a member of AIIA, ADCA, and EAN.
Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand achieved over $AU50 million in revenues for 2001. Symbol Technologies Inc. world wide recorded $US1.45 billion in revenues with 750 U.S. technology patents in use at the end of 2001.
Find out more at http://www.symbol.com/australia
The products are in the final stages of carrier certification and will operate on all three GPRS networks (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone). This means users will not be locked into a particular carrier for their industrial voice and data requirements.
Cal Anderson, vice president and general manager of Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand, said, "The development of the products by Symbol's Australian R&D team gives Australian businesses a great opportunity to gain a competitive edge through GPRS. Because GPRS sends data in self-contained packets, users are charged only for the amount of data sent and not for the period of connection time.
"With expected data speeds of 30kbps into the terminal and 10kbps out, Symbol's GPRS solution will meet the needs of most industrial applications. Workers can be always connected, without the prohibitive costs of a standard mobile connection. Based on our field tests, communications costs can be a fraction of those currently offered by standard GSM connections."
"Businesses will find Symbol GPRS handhelds easy-to-use and to maintain. You'll have one device for voice and data, one battery to charge and only one vendor to contact for support."
Advantages of GPRS
GPRS sends data in self-contained packets making it an ideal medium for interactive, real-time data applications. The user is not charged for waiting time like a circuit-switched data call and can therefore be connected all the time.
The user is only billed for the amount of data sent or received in these packets.
Cal Anderson said, "Symbol's GPRS Pocket PC handheld is a serious industrial business tool, not an executive gadget or multiple devices lashed together. These handhelds are for businesses that depend on accurate and efficient collection, transmission and processing of data."
Transport and logistics - a lot to gain
Cal Anderson said, "Symbol is looking for early adopters in GPRS business solutions. The transport and logistics sectors, for example, have a lot to gain from a GPRS system. Workers will be able to capture signatures and proof-of-delivery information on a handheld and send it to a corporate database in a matter of seconds.
"With full voice support, urgent questions can be answered through the same handheld without forcing a worker to juggle multiple devices. Each task will cost only a few cents per transaction."
Other early adopter areas where Symbol's GPRS solution will provide a clear advantage include:
Field service (job status, tracking, parts tracking, database synchronisation)
Field sales (customer information, inventory tracking, sales data, stock status)
Route sales/route accounting
Waste management
Health-care/pharmaceutical
Specifications
Both GPRS Pocket PC handhelds combine ruggedisation with Wide Area Network (WAN) capabilities. The handhelds are IP54 certified and can withstand windblown dust, rain and 1.2 metre drops to concrete. WAN capabilities for data are on GPRS, GSM and SMS with GSM for WAN voice.
The PPT 2837 is a streamlined pen-based configuration while the PDT 8137, also pen-based, offers multiple keyboard options. Both feature the Intel StrongARM processor operating at 206 MHz and a rechargeable, extended-use lithium-ion battery. Both are fully compatible with Microsoft SDK for Pocket PCs with a Symbol API available to support bar code scanning. Integrated miniature scan engine, conveniently placed scan triggers and ergonomic design enable simple one-handed data capture. High resolution 1/4 VGA display with responsive touch-screen and backlit keyboard further enhance ease-of-use.
About Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand
Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand is a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. based Symbol Technologies Inc (NYSE: SBL). Established in 1990, Symbol Technologies Australia is the market leader in wireless networks, mobile devices and barcode scanners.
Company sales and profits have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 30% every year since its launch. With over 70 employees nationwide, company headquarters are in Melbourne with a sister office in Sydney.
Symbol's direct sales force targets strategic accounts and works closely with authorised distributors covering each state - providing experience and expertise to customers in a wide range of industries. The Company's indirect sales force is a network of business partners throughout Australia and New Zealand specialising in vertical markets, application solutions and industry expertise. Full service, technical support and training is available from Professional and Customer Services Departments (ISO 9002 certified). Symbol Technologies Australia is a member of AIIA, ADCA, and EAN.
Symbol Technologies Australia and New Zealand achieved over $AU50 million in revenues for 2001. Symbol Technologies Inc. world wide recorded $US1.45 billion in revenues with 750 U.S. technology patents in use at the end of 2001.
Find out more at http://www.symbol.com/australia