Korean manufacturer Bluebird Soft entered the U.S. market last year with several Windows handhelds, including the BIP-6000 pictured at right. The new BIP-7000 uses the same 806MHz Marvell PXA320 processor as the BIP-6000, but has a different form factor, with a smaller, 2.8-inch touchscreen, according to the company.

Rather than the BIP-6000's VGA resolution, the BIP-7000 gets QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) resolution, but again offers a three megapixel camera with LED flash. Sold with either a 1D laser scanner or a 1D/2D CMOS imager, the device has a 40-key "shifted alpha" keyboard, Bluebird Soft says.

Bluebird Soft's BIP-7000

According to Bluebird Soft, the BIP-7000 (above) has an ergonomic design featuring one enlarged scan key on the front, one scan key on each side, and a trigger within the "finger saddle" on the back. Built for single-handed operation, the device also offers a detachable pistol grip, the company says.

With a crack-resistant screen, the device withstands drops from six feet, meets the IP65 standard for sealing against intrusion by dust and liquids, and has an operating range extending from -4 to 131 deg. F, Bluebird Soft says.

A video promoting the BIP-7000
Source: Bluebird Soft
(click to play)

Bluebird Soft says the BIP-7000 comes with an 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g wireless network adapter, with Cisco's CCX v4 security extensions, and also includes Bluetooth 2.0. Options include a cellular modem that can support either GSM or CDMA networks, plus a GPS receiver, the company adds.

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

• Processor -- Marvell PXA320 clocked at 806MHz
• Memory -- 128MB or 256MB of RAM, and 256MB or 512MB of flash storasge
• Display -- 2.8-inch touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixel resolution
• Expansion -- microSD slot; SIM slot
• Keyboard -- 40-key shifted alpha, plus four trigger keys for scans
• Imaging -- 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash; 1D laser scanner or 1D/2D CMOS imager
• Wireless:
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g or a/b/g with CCX v4 extensions
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
  • WAN (optional) -- GSM/GPRS/eGPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz), /UMTS/HSDPA(850, 1900, 2100MHz), GSM/GPRS(850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz), or CDMA/1x
  • GPS
• Other I/O:
  • RS232
  • USB 1.1 host/client
• Battery -- 2260mAh (standard); 3390mAh (optional)
• Operating range -- -4 to 131 deg. F (-20 to 55 deg. C)
• Dimensions -- 7.7 x 2.8 x 1.3 inches
• Operating system -- Windows CE 5.0 or Windows Mobile 6.5

Further information

Bluebird Soft did not cite pricing for the BIP-7000, but the device appears to be available now. More information may be found on the company's website, here.

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