With its new PRea AT-100 (right), Canon joins the many other companies already using Windows as the operating system for a rugged handheld computer. According to the company, the device is offered with either Windows CE 6.0 R3 or Windows Mobile 6.5.3. We presume the latter is supplied when a purchaser specifies the optional HSDPA/HSUPA-capable cellular radio, which is said to be capable of both voice and data calls.

According to Canon, the AT-100 is built around a Texas Instruments OMAP3505 CPU clocked at 600MHz, with 256MB of RAM, 256MB of flash storage, and a microSD expansion slot. Like many handhelds of the same ilk, it features a 3.5-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, the company adds.

Judging by the images supplied by Canon, the AT-100 (pictured at left with an optional mobile printer) is available only with a telephone-style keypad. The device's body is said to resist 1.5-meter falls onto concrete, and to meet IP54 standards for resistance to liquids and dust.

Canon says the AT-100 includes a 1D laser scanner that reads UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8 (JAN-8), EAN-13 (JAN-13), UPC-E1, EAN-13, Code128, and Code39 barcodes. The device also includes a 2D scanner, with 752 x 480 pixel sensor, that reads QR Code, MaxiCode, PDF417, DataMatrix, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8(JAN-8), EAN-13(JAN-13), UPC-E1, EAN-13, Code128, Code39 MaxiCode, PDF417, DataMatrix, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8 (JAN-8), EAN-13 (JAN-13), UPC-E1, EAN-13, Code128, and Code39, the company adds.

Apart from this, the AT-100 is also said to offer a two megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, supplied with OCR software for recognizing business cards, according to Canon. The device additionally has a smart card reader compatible with ISO/IEC14443 Type A and B and FeliCa cards, plus an optional MSR (magnetic stripe reader), the company says.

Unlike many handhelds, the AT-100 has an IrDA port, which, Canon says, is useful for communicating with vending machines, for example. Also included is 802.11a/b/g wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.1, plus the optional WAN connectivity that was mentioned earlier.

According to Canon, the AT-100 also has a GPS receiver. Batteries come in a standard, 1460mAh version or an optional 2920mAh version, and operating life is said to be ten hours, though the company did not specify which battery pack this requires.

Features and specifications listed by Canon for the PRea AT-100 include:

• Processor -- TI OMAP3503 clocked at 600MHz
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
• Expansion -- microSD slot
• Display -- 3.5-inch touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixel resolution
• Keyboard -- numeric keypad
• Camera -- 2 megapixel with autofocus and flash
• Scanning:
  • 1D laser scanner and 1D/2D imager
  • smart card reader
• Wireless:
  • WLAN -- 802.11a/b/g
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.1
  • WAN -- cellular (HSDPA/HSUPA; optional)
  • GPS receiver
• Other I/O:
  • USB 2.0 client/host
  • IrDA
• Battery -- 1460mAh (standard); 2920mAh (optional)
• Operating range -- 14 to 122 deg. F (-10 to 50 deg. C)
• Dimensions -- 6.1 x 2.95 x 0.62 inches (150 x 75 x 16mm)
• Weight, with standard battery -- 6.34 ounces (180g)

Further information

According to Canon, the PRea AT-100 is available now in Japan, for prices starting at 188,000 Yen (about $2,310). More information may be found on the company's website, here.

---

Related stories:

• Windows PDA is easy to handle, safe to drop
• Rugged PDA's a Windows smartphone, too
• Rugged Windows handheld doubles as smartphone
• Motorola spins two new Windows handhelds
• Microsoft spins new OS at Motorola's handheld launch
• Windows handheld gains imaging, connectivity options
• Windows handhelds offer document scanning
• Rugged handheld adds smart card reader
  
• Rugged handheld has GSM, 3Mpix
  
• Windows handheld targets VoIP users
  
• Rugged PDA runs Windows Mobile
  
• Pistol-packin' handheld targets retailers
  
• Rugged handheld has sealed expansion
  
• Rugged handhelds get GSM
  
• Rugged handheld has barcode reader