Motorola ships new enterprise handheld

The MC55 ships in a number of configurations

Motorola has introduced a new wireless handheld aimed at mobile workers, combining a compact design with an array of capabilities to target various vertical industry sectors.

Available immediately, the MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) is a ruggedised device with a 3.5in 320 x 240 touch-screen, running Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 platform. It features a full suite of communication and data capture technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a barcode scanner and camera.

Bob Chen, vice president of Motorola's enterprise mobility business, said that the new device will help mobile workers work without boundaries, providing robust connectivity to mission-critical business applications.

Target markets for the device include field workers, hospitals and the police, according to Motorola. Unlike consumer-grade PDAs and smartphones, the MC55 is designed for a three- to five-year lifecycle.

The MC55 is available in two main variants. The MC5590 EDA offers 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for on-campus roaming, and includes Motorola's TEAM Express push-to-talk client.

The MC5574, meanwhile, has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but adds a GPRS/Edge modem for cellular wide-area connectivity, plus GPS capability. Motorola said that many enterprise customers do not require 3G connectivity for current mobile applications.

Both models are available with either a numeric or Qwerty keypad. Data capture options include a 1D laser barcode scanner or a 2D imager, either of which can be combined with 2-megapixel camera for capturing photos or signatures.

Motorola said that the MC55 derives some of its ruggedness from a patent-pending monocoque shell, and the device is sealed to IP54 specifications to survive harsh environments.

The MC55 is based on a 520MHz XScale processor with 128Mb RAM and 256MB Flash memory, plus a microSD card slot for storage. It weighs 315g with the standard 2400mAh lithium ion battery, and is compatible with Motorola's Mobility Services Platform for provisioning and management.

Pricing for the new MC55 models varies between $1,695 (£1,200) and $2,135 (£1,512) depending on configuration.