According to recent research conducted by Venture Development Corp., mobile device failure frequently is a result of organizations deploying devices that are not suitable or rugged enough for the environments in which they are used. These failures in direct store delivery/route accounting applications, where replacement units are not readily available, can result in as much as $125 in lost revenue per hour. To help keep mobile workers on the road, Intermec Technologies Corp. today introduced the company’s most rugged mobile computer, the CK60, designed specifically for the physically demanding requirements of the DSD market.
The Intermec CK60 is constructed with a magnesium top cover, rubber bumpers on each corner to cushion against drops, and a case that is sealed against water and dust to IP64 standards. It is designed for fast input and retrieval of information with a QVGA touch screen display, enabling it to run both text-based applications and graphical interfaces, and a large, easy-to-use keypad that allows one- and two-handed input of large amounts of data.
To avoid loss of data, the Windows CE 5.0-based CK60 has onboard, non-volatile memory, called Persistent Storage, which preserves applications and databases, even if the battery becomes depleted. The mobile computer also has an SDIO card slot that enables the use of removable storage cards providing more memory for large databases.
“The Intermec CK60 takes advantage of the advanced networking and communications technologies in Windows CE 5.0, which dramatically increases data-processing speeds and provides mobile professionals with reliable access to information on the road,” said Jane Gilson, director for the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. “We’re pleased to see Intermec basing a new era of rugged mobile computers on Windows CE.”
The CK60 uses Intermec’s SmartSystem™, the ADC industry’s most comprehensive system for complete device management. With SmartSystem, installation, routine maintenance and application software updates, security adjustments and device settings can be performed automatically and managed remotely, dramatically reducing field downtime and increasing efficiency.
“Mobile workers require devices that won’t quit on them, no matter what the working conditions,” said Intermec Vice President Mike Colwell. “With its rugged construction, long battery life, and Persistent Storage, the CK60 keeps route drivers productive for their entire shift while protecting the valuable data they collect.”
A variety of connectivity methods are integrated into the CK60, including high-speed Ethernet, USB and RS232 serial connections as well as Bluetooth wireless personal area communications.
The CK60 will be available for delivery in Q2.
