Symbol unveils rugged mobile device

Symbol Technologies on Monday made a concerted effort to attack the low end of the mobile-computing market, introducing a Windows CE-based hand held device targeted at SMBs in the retail and manufacturing markets.

The ruggedized entry-level MC1000, which weighs 7.23 oz. including battery, is best suited for users who carry out data-capture and numeric-entry applications, including inventory management, stock checking, delivery confirmation and a number of applications involving scanning, company officials said.

“At $695, we think this [MC1000] opens up a whole new product category for us,” said Chuck Dourlet, vice president of product marketing responsible for Symbol’s mobile computing line. “It is the final brick in the wall of our rugged mobile lineup, which is built around our core platform. Getting a Windows-based system down to this price we think is pretty big.”

Besides Version 4.2 of Windows CE, the MC1000 has an Intel XScale processor, 32MB of RAM, 32MB of ROM, a 240-by-240 2.2-inch monochrome screen, a laser-scan engine, and support for USB 1.1 devices. The unit’s rugged design allows it to withstand a four-foot drop to a concrete floor without sustaining any damage, a company spokesman said.

The system contains an SD (Secure Digital) socket allowing users either to add more storage to the device or to add in wireless support, something that is increasingly in demand with users in the retail and manufacturing communities.

“It has a user-accessible SD slot and so we will be able to certify socket communications, so people can have a Bluetooth plug-in card and their 802.11b card. This carves out an upgrade path to wireless for them,” Dourlet said.

The MC1000 comes with Symbol’s Mobility Services Platform (MSP), responsible for collecting and monitoring information and delivering terminal information to a centralized console. The feature also helps users address the problems typically associated with deploying and managing enterprise-class mobility systems.

One user appeared encouraged by the announcement, indicating that he liked the greater flexibility a Windows-based system affords him.

“By including the standards-based Windows CE operating system, we think this can be an enterprise-class mobility tool creating and delivering targeted applications. It creates more affordable technology for small and medium-size businesses,” said Thomas Chau, general manager with Schmidt & Co.

The system will also ship with MCL Designer so developers can create new applications using Visual Studio or they can write software, or “wrappers” that allow older proprietary applications to work with Windows CE, a company spokesman said.

For more information about the new product, visit www.symbol.com.