According to Newport, the chunky-looking P37M is constructed with an alloy top corner, shock-proof corner bumpers for protection against drops, and is waterproof up to three meters. The device incorporates an RFID reader that is said to have been developed in conjunction with Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry (III) and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

Newport adds that the P37M also includes a GSM/GPRS cellular modem that will be certified for use on the AT&T network in the U.S. Apart from the RFID module and the pending AT&T certification, however, the device appears to be identical to a PDA that was previously introduced by Glacier Computer as the Ridgeline Q100, and by Industrial Computing as the Guardian Model 37.

The rugged Newport P37M looks identical to the previously-released Guardian Model 37 (pictured)
The PDA, pictured above via images originally supplied by Industrial Computing, measures 5.7 x 3.8 x 1.7 inches, and features oversize buttons and labels, for operation by gloved fingers. It also includes three locking doors on its left and right sides, designed to protect the ports for its wired interfaces when not in use.

In fact, the device provides a much greater than average number of wired interfaces, including two USB 1.1 host connectors, a USB 1.1 client connector, an RS232 port, an RS232/422/485 port, and a 10/100 Ethernet jack. In addition, the P37M likely features the same internal microphone and monaural speaker, external microphone input, stereo headphone jack, and bottom-mounted docking connector specified by Glacier for its Ridgeline Q100.

Additional wireless interfaces -- originally touted by Industrial Computing and Glacier, and confirmed by Newport -- include 802.11b/g wireless networking, Bluetooth 1.2, and a GPS receiver based on the SiRF starIII chipset. The P37M also includes a CompactFlash slot, for memory expansion, according to the company.

Newport did not provide information about the P37M's processor or memory complement. As noted, however, we believe the device's specifications tally with those previously listed for the Glacier/Industrial Computing devices, as follows:

• Processor -- Marvell PXA270 clocked at 624MHz
  
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 256MB or 512MB of flash
  
• Display -- 3.7-inch touchscreen display, VGA or QVGA (320 x 240)
  
• Keys -- Power button, navigation key, four function keys, one "terminal" key
  
• Wireless:
  • RFID reader
    
  • WAN -- GSM/GPRS cellular modem, with pending AT&T certification
    
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • GPS
• Other I/O:
  • 2 x USB 1.1 host
    
  • 1 x USB 1.1 client
    
  • 10/100 Ethernet
    
  • 1 x RS232
    
  • 1 x RS232/422/485
    
  • Audio mic in and headphone out
    
  • DC input jack
• Expansion:
  • CompactFlash slot
    
  • Docking connector
• Battery type -- Industrial Computing cited 1350mAh battery, while Glacier cited 1900mAh
  
• Operating temperature -- -20 to 60 deg. C (-4 to 140 deg. F)
  
• Dimensions -- 6.1 x 3.8 x 1.7 inches
  
• Weight -- n/s

Availability

According to Newport, the P37M will ship within three or four months, as soon as AT&T certification has been completed. Pricing was not released.

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