Qualcomm is most known -- to us, at least -- as a supplier of ARM-based chipsets for mobile devices. However, the company also has an Enterprise Services division, which provides systems and services to transportation and logistics companies around the world. Active since 1988, the unit has more than 2,500 clients and has shipped more than 1.3 million units, the company says.

According to Qualcomm, its Enterprise Services division is now offering a new mobile application created using the Advanced Mobile Technology Suite, described as "an add-on framework and SDK for .NET and Visual Studio designed to address many of its current shortcomings for enterprise mobile-software development." The resulting Proof of Delivery mobile application is designed to run on Intermec's Windows Mobile-powered CN50, pictured at right.

Scheduled to be available this summer, Proof of Delivery is aimed at private fleets, dedicated logistics operations, and specialized carriers. It will help them operate more efficiently and reduce costs by allowing drivers to automate work assignments performed outside of the vehicle, such as barcode scanning, exception management and signature capture, Qualcomm says.

Qualcomm says Proof of Delivery will provide critical information such as delivery timing, change of custody status, and damage reporting claims. It includes integrated application management, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)/cloud integration, administration portal, and "unconstrained customization through professional services," the company adds.

Background

While Qualcomm's Proof of Delivery software could presumably be adapted to run on any Windows Mobile handheld, the company says it has focused on Intermec's CN50. This handheld was first introduced in June 2009, and updated in May of last year to include more memory. (Also, the original CDMA/GSM modem was supplemented with a "more cost-effective" EDGE option, for customers in regions without 3G infrastructure.)

We'd have been surprised if Qualcomm had chosen to work with a handheld that didn't feature its own chipset. Ironically, Intermec itself has only ever specified the CM50 as having an "ARM11 applications processor and ARM9 radio processor," which we've previously guessed has to connote Qualcomm components.

Running Windows Mobile 6.1 with 256MB of RAM, the CN50 is available with a choice of imagers. The EA11 1D/2D area imager is "optimized for scan intensive applications," while the EA21 area imager "is designed for barcode reading as well as full page document imaging."

Intermec touts its optional Enhanced Mobile Document Imaging software, which can be used to scan paper documents in the field and convert them into electronic format. With the EA11 imager, the CN50 supports omnidirectional scanning and decoding of 1D and 2D symbologies, as well as signature capturing, the company adds.

The CN50 also includes GPS and a digital compass, according to Intermec. And, unusually for this class of device, an accelerometer has also been included, capable of switching the handheld's 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen display between landscape and portrait modes automatically.

According to Intermec, the CN50 includes not only wide area networking, but also 802.11b/g wireless and Bluetooth 2.1. A three megapixel autofocus camera is standard, and the CN50 also has both front and rear speakers, the company adds.

Features and specifications listed by Intermec for the CN50 include the following:

• Processor -- ARM11 applications processor and ARM9 radio processor
  
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage
  
• Display -- 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen display
  
• Camera -- 3 megapixel with autofocus and LED flash
  
• Barcode scanner -- EA11 1D/2D area imager or EA21 area imager
  
• Keyboard -- Backlit numeric or QWERTY keypad
  
• Wireless:
  • LAN -- 802.11b/g
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.1
    
  • WAN -- GSM/UMTS/HSDPA and CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A (dual-mode), or 2.5G GPRS/EDGE
    
  • GPS/digital compass
• Other I/O -- 1 x USB 2.0
  
• Battery:
  • 1950mAh standard battery pack
    
  • 3900mAh extended battery (optional)
• Operating temperature -- 14 to 122 deg. F (-10 to 50 deg. C)
  
• Dimensions -- 6.05 x 2.93 x 1.09 inches (154 x 74 x 28mm
• Weight:
  • 11 ounces (310g) with standard battery
    
  • 12 ounces (340g) with extended battery

Further information

Further information on Intermec's handheld may be found on the CN50 product page.

Jonathan Angel can be followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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