Among these is an option to use Windows Mobile as an alternative platform to Windows CE, according to the company.
(Click here for larger image of the Workabout Pro running Windows Mobile and Windows CE)Psion says the Workabout Pro is now available with a choice of Windows CE 4.2 or Windows Mobile 2003 SE. Both platforms support the .NET Compact Framework programming environment and provide a mobile version of Internet Explorer. Windows Mobile adds ActiveSync and Pocket Outlook. Other recent enhancements include 1D and 2D image readers, a high-frequency RFID reader, and a wide area wireless communications PC Card radio kit, according to Psion. The latter is said to be an alternate mechanism for implementing GPRS and CDMA wireless connectivity.
The company cites data from market analyst Venture Development Corp. (VDC) that says that the market for rugged handheld devices based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile software platform is likely to grow from $113.2 million in 2003 to $733.6 million in 2008.
The Workabout Pro is based on a 400 MHz Intel PXA255 processor and is available in two models. The Pro M features a monochrome display with 64MB of RAM and 64MB of Flash memory, while the Pro C has a color display with 128MB of RAM and 64MB of RAM, along with integrated Bluetooth wireless. Earlier this year the company introduced a compact numeric keypad version, the
Pro S, with the same basic features as the Pro C.
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