Janam's new XM60+ and XM66 are replacements for the company's earlier XM60 and XM65, respectively, and look identical not only to one another, but also to their predecessors. The only difference between the XM66 and the XM60+, pictured below, appears to be that the former runs Windows Mobile 6.1, while the latter runs Windows CE 5.0.

Janam's XM66 (left) and XM60+ (right)

The XM60 and XM65 were powered by Freescale's 266MHz i.MX21 processor, whereas the XM60+ and XM66 step up to the chipmaker's 533MHz i.MX31. Claiming that the devices are the first rugged handhelds to be so equipped, Janam notes that the MX60+ and XM66 offer DDR memory, "significantly outperforming the competition."

Compared to the XM60 and XM65, the XM60+ and XM66 also gain high-speed USB 2.0, serial ports, more memory, Cisco CCX v4 certification for their wireless LAN adapters, and microSD slots, says Janam. The standard batteries have also been upgraded from 1880mAh to 2000mAh, the company adds.

As before, the XM60+ and XM65 sport 3.5-inch touchscreen displays with 320 x 240 resolution, along with a backlit nnumeric keypad, a directional pad, and an enter key. According to Janam, there are three different buttons that can trigger scans, and tri-color LEDs provide feedback on scanning progress. The devices also include a microphone and speaker, Bluetooth 1.2, an IrDA port, high-speed USB 2.0, and, optionally, 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g wireless networking.

Like so many of their competitors, the XM60+ and XM65 are said to withstand multiple four-foot drops onto concrete. The handhelds also operate over a temperature range from -4 to 122 deg. F (-20 to 50 deg. C), and are sealed to resist water and dust intrusion, meeting the IP54 standard, according to the company.

A 752 x 480 pixel CMOS area imager incorporates Honeywell's Adaptus imaging technology. The hardware on the XM60+ and XM65vaccommodates both 1D and 2D scanning, but the company offers an entry-level version of the devices where only 1D scanning is enabled. Purchasers of this version can upgrade it later in the field by purchasing a 2D firmware upgrade, Janam says.

Other options include extra batteries, cables, RFID and magnetic stripe readers, and single- or four-station battery chargers. The CK-XP-1S cradle, for example, provides charging as well as USB and serial ports, while the CK-XP-1M cradle provides charging/modem capabilities.

Features and specifications listed by Janam for the XM60+ and XM66 include:

• Processor -- Freescale i.MX31 clocked at 533MHz
  
• Operating System -- Windows CE 5.0 (XM60+) or Windows Mobile 6.1 (XM66)
  
• Memory -- 128MB RAM and 128MB flash
  
• Display -- 3.5-inch, 320 x 240 touchscreen display
  
• Keyboard -- backlit numeric keypad
  
• Wireless interfaces:
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 1.2
    
  • WLAN -- 802.11b (optional)
• Barcode scanner -- CMOS area imager with 720 x 480 resolution and 1D and 2D capabilities:
  • 1D -- China Post, Codabar, Codablock F, Code 11, Code 16K, Code 32 Pharmaceutical (PARAF), Code 39, Code 49, Code 93 and 93i, Code 128, EAN-8, EAN-13, Interleaved 2 of 5, ISBT 128, Matrix 2 of 5, Korea Post, MSI, Plessey Code, PosiCode, Reduced Space Symbology (RSS-144, RSS Limited, RSS Expanded), Straight 2 of 5 IATA (two-bar start/stop), Straight 2 of 5 Industrial (three-bar start/ stop), Telepen, Trioptic Code, UPC-A, UPC-A with Extended Coupon Code, UPC-E, UPC-E1
    
  • 2D (via optional firmware upgrade) -- PDF417 (EAN-UCC Composite, MicroPDF417, PDF417, TCIF Linked Code 39, TLC39), 4-CB (4-State Customer Barcode), Australian Post, Aztec Code, Aztec Mesas, British Post, Canadian Post, Data Matrix, ID-tag (UPU 4-State), Japanese Post, KIX (Netherlands) Post, MaxiCode, OCR, Planet Code, Postnet, QR Code
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x IrDA infrared
    
  • 1 x USB 2.0
    
  • Microphone and speaker
• Expansion -- microSD slot
• Operating temperature -- -20 to 50 deg. C (-4 to 122 deg. F)
• Battery type -- 2000mAh lithium-ion battery
• Dimensions -- 5.75 x 3.11 x 1.2 inches (146 x 79 x 30.5mm)
  
• Weight, with battery -- 9.9 oz (280g)

Availability

Janam did not specify pricing or availability for the XM60+ and XM66, but the devices appear to be available now. More information may be found on the company's website, here and here.

• Handheld has security tag, grip-mounted battery
• Data-collection handheld gets GPS
  
• Handheld computer scans barcodes from 30 feet
  
• Giant battery comes with rugged PDA
  
• Rugged handheld has sealed expansion
  
• Rugged handhelds get GSM
  
• POS handhelds scan credit cards
  
• Scanning handheld gains GSM telephony
  
• Wireless data-collection handheld runs Windows CE 5.0
  
• Barcode scanning handheld makes voice calls, too
  
• Barcode scanning PDA has VGA display
  
• Barcode scanner offers VoIP option
  
• Camera-equipped barcode scanner runs Windows CE
  
• Rugged barcode scanner runs Windows CE 5.0
  
• Rugged handheld scans barcodes from 50 feet
  
• VoIP phone includes barcode scanner
  
• PDA reads barcode, resists drops
  
• Data collection handheld does RFID, WLAN, WAN
  
• Pistol-grip data collector runs Windows Mobile
  
• Wireless headless warehouse handheld runs Windows CE
  
• Scanning handheld resists drops, shocks