The "BIP-6000" includes a 3.5-inch screen, three megapixel camera, 1D/2D barcode scanner, RFID reader, and a GSM cellular modem, the company says.

(Click here for a larger view of the Bluebird Soft BIP-6000)

The Pidion BM-350 (Click image for further information)

Bluebird Soft, previously encountered as the manufacturer of the full-featured Windows phone pictured at right, is now offering a rugged handheld computer targeting applications such as parcel delivery, meter reading, public safety, and inventory management. According to the company, the Pidion BIP-6000 has already been adopted in its homeland for use by the Korean postal service.

Bluebird Soft says the BIP-6000 includes a wide range of wireless capabilities, including GPS, a five-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 and 2100MHz) GSM modem with HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access), 802.11b/g wireless networking, and Bluetooth 2.0. Given that the Windows Mobile 6.1 device is also said to have a 1D/2D barcode scanner, an RFID reader, and even an IrDA reader, we're hard put to recall a handheld that offers more.

Wired connectivity includes an RS232 port, plus USB 1.1 host and client ports. Meanwhile, the BIP-6000 also connects to Ethernet via an optional cradle, and it has slots for a SIM and for a microSD memory card, Bluebird Soft says.

According to the company, the BIP-6000 has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with full VGA resolution, and it's available with either a numeric or QWERTY keypad. Powered by a 806MHz Marvell PXA320 processor, the handheld also sports a three megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, plus a 4400mAh battery, Bluebird Soft says.

Finally, if a meter reader is chased by a dog and drops the BIP-6000, the computer, at least, will survive, or so the device's specifications promise. The handheld is said to survive six-foot drops onto steel surfaces, and to be sealed against liquids and dust to the IP65 standard.

Features and specifications listed by Bluebird Soft for the Pidion BIP-6000 include the following:

• Processor -- Marvell PXA320 clocked at 806MHz
  
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage
  
• Display -- 3.5-inch VGA (640 x 480) touchscreen
  
• Camera -- 3 megapixel camera with autofocus
  
• Wireless:
  • WAN -- Five-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 and 2100MHz) GSM modem with HSDPA
    
  • GPS
    
  • LAN -- 802.11b/g
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • Barcode scanner -- 1D laser scanner and 1D/2D CMOS imager
    
  • RFID reader
    
  • IrDA
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x RS232C
    
  • 1 x USB 1.1 host
    
  • 1 x USB 1.1 client
    
  • Headset jack
• Expansion -- microSD slot
  
• Battery -- 4400mAh
  
• Operating range -- -4 to 131 deg. F (-20 to 55 deg. C)
  
• Dimensions -- 6.3 x 3.1 x 1.4 inches (160 x 80 x 35.5mm)
  
• Weight -- 14.4 ounces (407g) including battery

Further information

According to U.S. distributor SDG Systems, the Bluebird Soft BIP-6000 is available now, for prices ranging from $1650 to $2100. More information can be found on the SDG Systems website, here.

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