Bluebird Soft's BIP-7000 is a follow-on to the BIP-6000, a similarly rugged handheld the company released last year. Like the earlier device, it uses an 806MHz Marvell PXA270 processor, has a 1D laser scanner and 1D/2D CMOS imager, includes a GPS receiver, and sports a three megapixel camera.

However, the BIP-7000 offers a taller, more slender form factor that may be more ergonomic for all-day scanning operations. Equipped with a 40-key "shifted alpha" keyboard plus dedicated scanning buttons and function keys, the device has a 2.8-inch touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixel resolution, according to Bluebird Soft.

Bluebird Soft says the BIP-6000 includes a wide range of wireless capabilities, including not only GPS, but also either a five-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 and 2100MHz) GSM modem with HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) or a CDMA/1x modem. Offered with either Windows CE 5.0 or Windows Mobile 6.5, the device is also said to have 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0. (However, an RFID reader and an IrDA port, both found on the BIP-6000, are not cited here.)

Wired connectivity includes an RS232 port, plus USB 1.1 host and client ports. Meanwhile, the BIP-7000 has slots for a SIM and for a microSD memory card, Bluebird Soft says.

According to the company, the BIP-7000 has a standard 2260mAh battery or an optional 3390mAh battery. Operable from -4 to 131 deg. F, the device is said to survive six-foot drops onto steel surfaces, and to be sealed against liquids and dust to the IP65 standard.

Features and specifications listed by Bluebird Soft for the Pidion BIP-7000 include the following:

• Processor -- Marvell PXA320 clocked at 806MHz
  
• Memory -- 128MB or 256MB of RAM and 256MB or 512MB of flash storage
  
• Display -- 2.8-inch VGA (320 x 240) touchscreen
  
• Camera -- 3 megapixel camera with autofocus
  
• Wireless:
  • WAN -- Five-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 and 2100MHz) GSM modem with HSDPA or CDMA/1x modem
    
  • GPS
    
  • LAN -- 802.11a/b/g or 802.11b/g
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • Barcode scanner -- 1D laser scanner and 1D/2D CMOS imager
    
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x RS232C
    
  • 1 x USB 1.1 host
    
  • 1 x USB 1.1 client
    
  • Headset jack
• Expansion -- microSD slot
  
• Battery -- 2260mAh or 3390mAh
  
• Operating range -- -4 to 131 deg. F (-20 to 55 deg. C)
  
• Dimensions -- 7.7 x 2.8 x 1.3 inches
  
• Weight -- 10.79 ounces (306g) with standard battery or 11.49 ounces (326g) with extended battery

BI-500 scanner

Obviously not required with the BIP-7000, Bluebird Soft's separately announced BI-500 (left) is a handheld scanner designed to transmit information to a laptop or other computer via Bluetooth. The device runs Windows CE on a 400MHz S3C2440, according to the company.

The BI-500, which includes a GPS receiver to record the location of scans, is presumably able to store data so that an active Bluetooth connection is not required at all times, though Bluebird Soft did not provide details. The device has 32MB of RAM and a "32MB ROM," according to the company.

According to Bluebird Soft, the BI-500 is equipped with a 128 x 64-pixel OLED display and offers both a 1D laser scanner and a 1D/2D CMOS imager. It also has an RFID scanner that reads ISO 14443 A/B and ISO 15693 tags, the company adds.

It's said the BI-500 meets IP54 sealing requirements, withstands 18 five foot drops onto a steel surface, and operates in temperatures ranging from 14 to 104 deg. F. It also includes a "long lasting" 1130mAh battery, Bluebird Soft adds.Features and specifications listed by Bluebird Soft for the Pidion BI-500 include the following:

• Processor -- Samsung S3C2440 clocked at 400MHz
  
• Memory -- 32MB of RAM and 32MB of ROM
  
• Display -- .96-inch OLED display with resolution of 128 x 64 pixels
  
• Wireless:
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • Barcode scanner -- 1D laser scanner and 1D/2D CMOS imager
    
  • RFID reader
• Battery -- 1130mAh
  
• Operating range -- 14 to 104 deg. F (-10 to 40 deg. C)
  
• Dimensions -- 2.0 x 3.9 x 1.3 inches
  
• Weight -- 3.88 ounces (110g) with battery

Further information

Pricing for Bluebird Soft's BIP-7000 was not released, but the device appears to be on sale now. More information may be found on the company's website, here.

The BI-500 scanner will be available in early 2011, according to Bluebird Soft. More information may be found on the company's website, here.

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