April/May 2007

The dividing line between ruggedised handhelds and PDAs seems to keep getting thinner, at least in appearance, but the ruggedised units are gaining steadily in capability even as they find wider applications. Sharon Clancy reports.

Handheld computers are becoming more versatile - and that applies whether they're intended for the warehouse or for on-the-road applications.

In the past, you would probably buy a device tailored to the task it was intended for. By today's standards it would be clunky in appearance, limited in terms of display (often just a few lines of monochrome text), and not necessarily easy or intuitive to use.

All that has changed. Overall, the trend is very much towards multi-function data capture devices with large colour screens, multiple wireless connectivity (and sometimes voice too), powerful processors and a variety of data capture options: products not a million miles away from the kind of PDA you might buy for yourself to store addresses and personal information, though somewhat bigger and tougher, and with functionality you would seldom need in your private life.

Such devices, supported by suitable application software, can be adapted to suit a variety of different tasks, and that's what is giving them such compelling appeal.

Versatility on the road

Mobile applications represent one of the fast-growing sectors of the handheld industry - partly because of the potential for enormous sales in the white-collar mobile market.

Superficially, the manufacturers tend to address the growing army of mobile workers with two slightly different types of multi-functional device: small-format PDA-style terminals such as Motorola's MC70 and Intermec's CN3, designed primarily for data capture and communications, and increasingly offering a full keyboard; and similar-looking ruggedised units such Hand Held Products' Dolphin 7900, Belgravium's Atlanta 8000, Casio's IT-600 and Datalogic's Jet, which may lack a full QWERTY keyboard but can incorporate voice and other advanced capabilities.

However, sometimes these devices are offered with several keyboard options, including cut-down numeric and full alphanumeric versions; so the dividing line between them may actually be quite thin. A classic example of this is the Psion Teklogix Workabout Pro, which comes in these two different form factors both in its established form, and in the new and more powerful 'black-look' version described elsewhere in this issue (Products, page 26).

Not falling quite into either of these two camps, and offering an intriguingly different slant on the market, is LXE's MX3, which comes with a shallow but wide screen surmounting a full 'type-able' QWERTY keyboard, and in its various forms can include voice directed applications and full Wi-Fi capability, as well as RFID.

And between this and the conventional handhelds comes the distinctive orange Gotive H42 - typically used in landscape mode, offering a fast 520MHz Intel processor, and reliant on "soft" virtual keys for user input. Computer, scanner or GSM phone, this will do the trick.

'In the mobile market it seems our customers want every piece of functionality possible, with the biggest battery and the most rugged of devices but in the smallest form,' says Duncan Smillie, managing director of Psion Teklogix. He advises buyers not even to consider a device unless it has a good screen and keyboard combined with GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth - and all this out of the box. Depending on the operation, other options might include a built-in camera, printer, RFID, and GSM SIM card for voice communications.

Despite their multi-function capability, these units tend to carry a lower price than what might be termed 'traditional' WAN mobile computers. Partly this is because in these days of global manufacturing, components can be sourced more cheaply, but a lot is down to market forces. Despite their added functionality, these units have to be affordable, or risk losing sales to the multi-functional semi-ruggedised PDA-style units that are also after a share of this market.

That's one reason plenty of ruggedised terminal manufacturers offer integrated GPS on their road-going units. It ticks another box for companies comparing them with PDA-style units. However, for logistics operations, the jury is still out over whether it is better to have hard-wired GPS tracking in the vehicle or to have it on mobile computing devices that dock into a power-port on the vehicle.

Having GPS on the vehicle does mean the vehicle (along with its load) can be tracked if it is stolen, and many companies prefer that. On the other hand, if the delivery person or engineer is away from the vehicle for any length of time, only their last known position will be available, not the current one. And integral GPS does enable the terminal to run turn-by-turn and voice navigation software - increasingly viewed as an essential tool for delivery workers and mobile service personnel.

Battery life, important enough in a warehouse, is doubly significant for mobile workers. Some units can be recharged from an in-cab docking cradle. Others are designed to last a whole shift between recharges. 'A mistake users often make is to forget about docking and charging facilities,' says Smillie. 'When you start hanging options off a device the battery feels the pain.' Certainly, applications such as GPS location fixes are power-hungry, so without an in-vehicle charger, battery life could become an issue for those companies relying on real-time position data.

Operating systems for mobile devices are still split between Windows CE and Windows Mobile, although there are signs that the extra standard functions such as power management available with Mobile 5 and remote-over-the-air upgradeability are convincing many terminal manufacturers to adopt it. Windows Mobile 6 is also on the horizon.

Motorola's mobile rugged and semi-rugged terminals, the MC70 and MC35, are both products of the acquired Symbol stable, but are now grouped under their new owner's Enterprise Digital Assistant banner. The new MC35 is perhaps the closest to a hybrid PDA/industrial handheld to emerge so far in this market. It has a smaller form factor than the MC70, but incorporates GPS, camera and barcode reader as well as voice, and it comes complete with full QWERTY keyboard somewhat in BlackBerry style.

It has both 802.11b and 802.11g wireless connectivity and Bluetooth for connecting to peripherals such as printers, and its operates under Windows Mobile 5 Phone Edition, which enhances memory management and security and can include 'push' e-mail capabilities.

The MC35 may be more PDA-style than true ruggedised terminals, but Motorola, like others in this fast-growing sector, has recognised that users want the same level of back-up they have come to expect for their ruggedised units. So the MC35 is sold with Service-from-the Start breakdown coverage, which includes accidental damage to displays, keypads and other internal and external components at no extra charge.

These latest rugged-PDA style units are certainly smaller: Intermec's CN3 for example measures only 157mm by 84mm by 30mm. The CN3 also has integrated GPS, 3G, WAN, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio communication, a 2D imager for scanning barcodes and 1.3 megapixel camera are optional. Intermec points out that the colour camera with flash allows workers to document assets and damaged goods records at the point of transaction, while the in-built voice capability eliminates the need for a separate phone.

Hand Held Products is also has a contender in both sectors with the Dolphin 7600 and 7900 ranges. The 7900 is the PDA-style unit with voice capability. Both units incorporate Adaptus imaging technology for 1D and 2D barcodes and have WLAN capability.

Opticon will shortly unveil its contender in the market: the H-19. This offers similar versatility to Intermec's CN3 and Motorola's MC70 at 'a fraction of the cost', says Opticon marketing director Richard Adlington. The H19 PDA-smartphone comes with a built-in laser barcode scanner, or a 1.3M pixel CMOS array for 2D code scanning. This unit, which goes on sale this summer, will operate on Windows Mobile 6 and will have a GPS modem as standard, along with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Edge GPRS/GSM.

Service back-up and whole life costs are often cited as a deterrent to using as ruggedised PDAs for mission-critical mobile tasks. Opticon aims to answer that with the support package for the new H-series. The standard warranty is increased to 48 months and there are guaranteed repair times.

Versatility in the warehouse

If you're using your handheld purely for warehouse activities such as picking, it might still be cheaper to buy a device matched closely to your requirements.

But even here, it can be wise to use multi-function data capture devices simply to ensure you can capture all the information you need to pass through your supply chain. That might mean incorporating barcode-reading capability, RFID reading, signature capture and so on.

A classic example of the adoption of targeted but versatile handhelds for this type of application can be seen in the current roll-out by German logistics company Hermes of no fewer than 23,000 Motorola MC3090 terminals, with another 15,000 to follow. The 3090 is the type of terminal with an extended keyboard and grip surmounted by a large screen.

One key function required for this application was the ability of the 2D imager to read any kind of 2D code, including PDF417, Datamatrix and QR-code.

The MC3090 can also take high-resolution pictures at digital camera quality - a feature Hermes plans to use to provide evidence of damaged shipments on site. Digital signature capture is also included.

Switching between data capture methods is becoming increasingly desirable as the use of wireless technologies becomes commonplace. But switching within a warehouse environment can put stress on the RF network; that's the warning made by Duncan Smillie of Psion Teklogix.

'Hot swapping is a key requirement for a data capture system where companies are dealing with variables such as periodic peaks, seasonality of demand, special promotions and other changes in business. You therefore need an RF network that has been designed and built for that specific purpose, with the robustness to operate with different technologies - not to mention printers and IP phones.'

Scanning remains the most popular data capture method, says Smillie - although interestingly, he says the company is currently getting more requests for imaging technology than for traditional scanning. 'There are various benefits to imaging - not least cost of ownership, as there are no moving parts in an imager.'

One reason handheld terminals now have more functionality is that users need to future-proof current purchases. Use of voice technology and possibly RFID will no doubt grow, and terminals such as Psion Teklogix's Workabout Pro have been designed so extra functionality can be added later. However, multi-function devices also have their place in today's warehouse by helping increase worker productivity.

Psion Teklogix's Workabout Pro Speech is a handheld data collection system that enables users to pick and put-away by voice, then scan or image a barcode or read an RFID tag.

LXE has voice-enabled all its terminals including the MX7 ruggedised computer and the vehicle-mounted MX and VX ranges. The MX3X unit incorporates voice, while another model adds RFID capability (there'll be a full round-up of developments in vehicle-mounted computers in the next issue).

Upgradeability

Adding input options can add weight, but suppliers say the real key question is whether a device can be upgraded in the field to accommodate extra functionality. 'There is no point in buying everything on day one if you don't need it, but be careful to check up front what the costs are for a retro upgrade,' advises Duncan Smillie. 'Imaging having air con fitted to your car one year after you buy it. A £1,000 option at time of purchase could cost you £5,000 at a later date.'