| Data-collection handheld gets GPS |
Jul. 07, 2008
 Honeywell is using Windows Mobile 6.0 for a new "industrial grade" mobile computer targeting transportation, retail, warehousing, logistics, and healthcare. The Dolphin 9900 includes integrated GPS, GSM wide area networking, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, a digital camera, and barcode scanning capabilities, according to the company.
(Click here for a larger view of Honeywell's Dolphin 9900)
Like the Dolphin 7600 released by Honeywell in May, the new Dolphin 9900 is related to an earlier product sold by Hand Held Products, which Honeywell acquired at the end of 2007. Replacing the Dolphin 9500 in the company's lineup, it is designed to use that device's accessories, batteries, and peripherals. The Dolphin 9900 is also "nearly identical" to operate, requiring little or no operator retraining, the company says.
However, a key addition to the new device is its GPS capabilities, provided by an unspecified chipset. Honeywell touts this as providing a useful variety of "location-based functionality," such as turn-by-turn navigation, route optimization, and the ability to document deliveries or service calls with time and location stamps.
The device also includes GSM quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) telephony, with an accessible SIM card interface. Other wireless interfaces include Bluetooth and 802.11b/g local area networking.
Like a variety of earlier Dolphin devices, the 900 includes Honeywell's proprietary Adaptus Imaging Technology 5.0, which allows the unit to read 1D barcodes, 2D symbologies, OCR codes, and a variety of postal codes. The device also includes digital camera functionality, with unspecified resolution. This is apparently optimized for focal lengths from about three to 12 inches, relevant to capturing signatures or making a pictorial record of damage to a parcel.
The Dolphin 9900 is powered by Marvell's PXA270 processor, clocked at 624MHz. It has 256MB of RAM, 1GB of flash storage, and an SDIO-compatible SD slot for memory expansion.
As for the user interface, this is provided not only by Windows Mobile itself, but also by a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 resolution. In addition to a variety of function keys and scanning buttons, the Dolphin offers a choice of two keyboards: either a 56-key layout separating letters and numbers (as shown in the photo at the top of the story), or a 43-key "alpha-shifted" layout.
Manufacturers of mobile computers are chronically doubtful of mobile workers' ability to keep a grip on their tools, and Honeywell is obviously no exception. It says the Dolphin 9900 not only withstands multiple five-foot drops onto concrete, but also can endure more than 2000 three-foot tumbles. Additionally, the device meets IP64 standards for dust and moisture resistance, according to the company.
Finally, a 2500mAH battery pack is said to power the device for more than ten hours, and is also hot-swappable. Options inherited from the Dolphin 9500 include a four-slot battery charger, and diverse charging/communications devices that add RS232, USB, or Ethernet interfaces.
Features and specifications provided by Honeywell for the Dolphin 9900 include:- Processor -- Marvell PXA270, clocked at 624MHz
- Memory -- 256MB RAM, 1 GB flash
- Storage -- SD slot
- Display -- 3.5-inch QVGA (240 x 320) TFT touchscreen display
- Keyboards:
- 43-key shifted alphanumeric keyboard, or
- 56-key full alphanumeric keyboard
- Wireless interfaces:
- GPS
- WAN -- Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz), GSM release 99, EDGE multi-slot class 12, PRS multi-slot class 12
- PAN -- Bluetooth
- WLAN -- 802.11b/g, with WPA2, EAP, CCXv4 (certification pending), WEP, LEAP, TKIP, MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, WPA-PSK, and PEAP security
- Other I/O:
- Barcode scanner:
- 5300SR area imager with high-vis laser aimer
- 5100 scanner with green aimer
- 1D symbologies -- Codabar, Code 3 of 9, Code 11, Code 32, Pharmaceutical (PARAF), Code 93, Code 128, EAN with Add-On, EAN with Extended Coupon Code, EAN-8, EAN-13, GS1-128, GS1 Databar, Interleaved 2 or 5, ISBT 128, Matrix 2 of 5, MSI, Plessey, PosiCode, Straight 2 of 5 IATA, Straight 2 of 5 Industrial, Telepen, Trioptic code, UPC, UPC-A, and UPC-E
- 2D symbologies -- Aztec, Codablock, Code 16, Composite, Data Matrix, GSI Databar, MaxiCode, OCR, PDF417, and QR code
- Composite codes -- Aztec Mesa, Codablock F, EAN·UCC, GS1 Databar-14
- OCR -- OCR-A, OCR-B
- Postal codes -- Postnet, Australian Post, British Post, Canadian Post, China Post, Japanese Post, KIX (Netherlands) Post, Korea Post, Planet Code
- I/O connector supports USB and Ethernet via cradles
- IrDA
- Internal speaker, microphone, headset jack
- Battery type -- 2500mAh lithium-ion, with ten-hour life
- Physical specs:
- Operating temperature -- -10 to 50 deg. C (14 to 122 deg. F)
- Relative humidity -- 95% humidity (non-condensing)
- Shock -- survives multiple 5-foot (1.2m) drops to concrete and more than 2000 three-foot tumbles
- ESD -- Air: +/- 12K VDC, Direct: +/- 8K VDC
- Environmental -- IP64 rating for blown dust and water intrusion
- Dimensions -- 9.6 x 3.4 x 2.1 inches
- Weight -- 21.4 oz. (606g)
- Software:
- Operating system -- Windows Mobile 6.0
- Development environment -- Honeywell SDK for C/C++, C#, and Visual Basic developers
- Supported software -- PowerNet Terminal Emulation (TNVT, 3270, 5250); SOTI MobiControl remote device management tool; ITScriptNet
Pricing was not disclosed, but the Dolphin 9900 is available now.
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