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        Rugged PDA goes cellular

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Mar 9, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Motorola has announced a Windows Mobile handheld computer targeting retailers, hospitals, and restaurants. The MC5574 EDA (enterprise digital assistant) offers GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, VoIP, a 3.5-inch QVGA screen, 802.11b/g wireless networking, Bluetooth, and a choice of numeric or...

        QWERTY keyboards, the company says.

        (Click here for a larger view of Motorola's MC5574)

        Despite recent financial losses and falling market share, Motorola remains America's top cellphone manufacturer. But, through its profitable Enterprise Mobility Solutions division, the company is also a prime marketer of handheld devices that omit cellular capabilities, emphasizing VoIP telephony instead.


        Motorola's MC5590
        (Click image for further information)
        A recent example is the MC5590 (right), announced just a week ago with "push-to-talk" IP telephony, a 3.5-inch QVGA screen, 802.11a/b/g wireless networking, Bluetooth, and optional imaging capabilities. As a comparison to the photo at the top of our story suggests, the MC5574 unveiled today is essentially the same computer, but in this case is a cellular phone, offering 2.5G GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity. Apparently, the only other real difference between the devices, apart from a slight increase in size and weight, is that the MC5574 offers 802.11b/g wireless networking, whereas the MC5590 does 802.11a/b/g.

        The new MC5574

        According to Motorola, the MC5574 runs Windows Mobile 6.1, with a 520MHz Marvell processor, 128MB of RAM, 256MB of flash storage, and a microSD slot for up to 2GB of memory expansion. The device has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with QVGA (320 x 240) resolution and LED backlighting, according to the company.

        The MC5574 is available with either a 26-key numeric keypad, for smartphone-like operation, or a 44-key alphanumeric keyboard in QWERTY, AZERTY (French), or QWERTZ (German and Central European) layouts. Also, the device is available with or without a two-megapixel autofocus camera, and with or without 1D and 2D barcode scanners. The 1D laser barcode scanner and 2D 640 x 480 pixel image scanner operate at distances up to 24 inches or 16 inches, respectively, Motorola says.

        Like many of Motorola's other handheld computers, the MC5574 is rated to withstand four-foot drops to concrete, and up to 250 1.6-foot "tumbles." The unit's gray case meets the IP54 rating for resistance to liquids and dust, and resists electrostatic discharges of up to 12KV, according to the company.

        Motorola offers both a standard 2400mAh lithium-ion battery pack, and an optional 3600mAh battery. The MC5590 was rated for eight hours of operation, "based on 600 scans and WLAN transmits per hour," but the company has not released specifications on cellular talk or standby time for the MC5574.

        Features and specifications cited by Motorola for the MC5574 include:
        • Processor -- Marvell PXA270 clocked at 520MHz
        • Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
        • Display -- 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen display
        • Camera -- 2Mpix, with autofocus and user-controllable flash
        • Barcode scanners (optional) -- 1D laser scanner and 2D imager with 640 x 480 pixel resolution and grayscale support
        • Keypad options -- Numeric keypad, or alphanumeric keypad with QWERTY, AZERTY, or QWERTZ layouts
        • Wireless:
          • WWAN -- 2.5G GSM/GRPS/EDGE (frequencies not specified)
          • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
          • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
        • Other I/O -- USB
        • Expansion:
          • Connector for cradle
          • MicroSD slot
        • Batteries -- lithium-ion, 2400mAh (standard) and 3600mAh (optional)
        • Environmental specifications:
          • Operating temperature -- -10 to 50 deg. C
          • Drop resistance -- 4 ft. drop to concrete, 250 1.6-foot tumbles
          • Dust/liquid sealing -- meets IP54 standard
        • Dimensions -- 6.0 x 3.03 x 1.10 (147 x 77 x 26mm)
        • Weight, with standard battery -- 11.8 ounces (336g)
        Motorola's VoIP offerings


        Motorola EWP1000 and EWP2000
        (Click image for further information)
        Motorola's new MC5574, as well as earlier devices such as the MC5590, EWP1000, and EWP2000, are supported by the company's two "TEAM" VoIP server components ("TEAM" stands for "total enterprise access and mobility):
        • A WSM (wireless services manager) runs on a Sun Netra 210. It interfaces between the enterprise's wireless LAN and PBX, while providing device and user authentication, and configuring devices OTA (over the air).
        • An NSM (network services manager) runs on a Windows Server 2003 SP2 system (with a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 or better). It provides security, performance management, and troubleshooting.
        Together, the two TEAM servers can support up to 4,500 client devices, giving them the functionality of a PBX desk phone, such as extension-based numbers, push-to-talk instant calling, group calling, and call forwarding, transferring, and waiting, Motorola says. The company claims VoIP-oriented devices are ideal for indoor spaces, where cellular coverage may be poor but where wireless networking "dial tone" is readily available.

        Availability

        Motorola did not release pricing information for the MC5574, but said the device is available today in EMEA, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region, and is expected to be available in North America and globally during the second quarter. More information may be found on the company's website, here.


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