The "FR68" and "FR6000" run Windows Mobile 6.1 on 624MHz Marvell PXA312 CPUs, and resist three-foot drops to concrete, the company says.
(Click here for a larger view of Motorola's FR68 and FR6000)
Motorola's MC5574
(Click image to enlarge) |
The new FR68 and FR6000 have been created especially for the Asia-Pacific market, where they'll target retail, healthcare, logistics, transportation, utilities, manufacturing, and public safety, the company says. The devices are a product of Motorola's profitable Enterprise Mobility Solutions division, which continues to prosper, despite the
recent financial losses and
falling market share of Motorola's mobile division. The EMG also recently shipped the
MC5574 last week.
As the picture at the top of our story suggests, the FR68 and FR6000 have different form factors, yet the devices actually have the same core capabilities. Apart from the obvious difference in shape -- the FR68 has a QWERTY keyboard and measures 5.57 x 2.59 x 0.93 inches, while the FR6000 is 7.4 x 2.83 x 1.78 inches -- the FR68 includes a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, whereas the FR6000 doesn't.
Also, the FR68 is rated to withstand 300 1.5-foot drops to concrete, while the taller FR6000 is rated to withstand 500 1.5-foot drops, perhaps because there's no camera to break! Both handhelds, though, are said to meet IP54 standards for sealing against liquids and dust, while operating temperate is from -10 deg. C to 40 deg. C (14 to 104 deg. F).
Apart from these details and different battery life (see spec table below for details), Motorola's new handhelds are "much of a muchness," as the British say. Both include Windows Mobile 6.1, offered in English along with simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, and both include 2.8-inch QVGA displays, 624MHz Marvell PXA312 processors, 128MB of RAM, and 256MB of flash storage.
The FR68 and FR6800 also both include 1D barcode scanners, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, plus voice/data cellular communications. The operating frequencies aren't specified, and may vary by country, but Motorola says the devices are compatible with HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) data mode, where available.
If you're looking for CompactFlash expansion, the FR6000 should be your choice, since it has a Type II CompactFlash slot, along with the microSD slot also found on the FR68. Both devices have an RS232 port, a USB 2.0 client port, and IrDA ports, according to Motorola.
Features and specifications cited by Motorola for the FR68 and FR6000 include:
- Processor -- Marvell PXA312 clocked at 624MHz
- Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
- Display -- 2.58inch QVGA touchscreen display
- Camera -- 3.2 megapixel, with autofocus and user-controllable LED flash (FR68 only)
- Barcode scanner -- 1D laser scanner
- Keypad options -- QWERTY keyboard (FR68) or alphanumeric keypad (FR6000)
- Wireless:
- WWAN -- 3.5G EDGE/HSDPA (frequencies not specified)
- WLAN -- 802.11b/g
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- Other I/O -- USB 2.0 client
- RS232
- IrDA
- Expansion:
- Connector for cradle
- MicroSD slot
- CompactFlash Type II slot (FR6000 only)
- Battery type/life:
- FR68:
- Standard 1950mAh battery and optional 3600mAh battery
- 85 hours standby and three hours talk time with standard battery
- 150 hours standby and five hours talk time with optional battery
- FR6000:
- 3600mAh battery
- 150 hours standby and five hours talk time
- Environmental specifications:
- Operating temperature -- -10 to 40 deg. C
- Drop resistance:
- FR68 -- 300 1.5-foot drops to concrete
- FR6000 -- 500 1.5-foot drops to concreteDust/liquid sealing -- meets IP54 standard
- Dimensions:
- FR68 -- 5.57 x 2.59 x 0.93 inches (141.5 x 65.9 x 23.5mm)
- FR6000 -- 7.4 x 2.83 x 1.78 inches (188 x 72 x 45.3mm)
- Weight, with standard battery:
- FR68 -- 8.89 ounces (252g)
- FR6800 -- 12.17 ounces (374g)
Motorola did not release pricing, but said both the FR68 and FR6000 are available now. More information may be found on the company's website, here.
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