Motorola’s new DS3500 rugged digital barcode scanner is the sophisticated Enterprise Mobility Solution that has now been added to its advanced data capturing portfolio. This scanner is meant for harsh industrial environments and offers the largest barcode reading range that any scanner in this class can provide. The innovative DS3500 digital scanner is meant for a better-quality of scanning and is designed for an excellent digital imaging which improves the business efficiency.

Vice President and General Manager in the advanced data capture segment of Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Al Quinn says, “Motorola has always been into the up-gradation of its advanced data capture portfolio and digital image capturing devices, and is committed to fulfill the varying needs of the customers from different business segments. Our new DS3500 rugged digital scanner ensures better-quality performance on almost all symbologies and also increases efficiency. This way, it improves operational efficiency in almost all types of business environments. And finally, the solution aims to help businesses to get a competitive advantage.”

This all-new DS3500 rugged digital scanner is proficient in capturing one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcode labels and images quickly and perfectly. This rugged digital scanner efficiently functions in direct part marks (DPM) and Item Unique Identification (IUID) features.

This all-new DS3500 rugged digital scanner comes with a 624 MHz microprocessor. This amazing digital scanner can interpret barcodes at a flash of light, no matter whatever is the size or density. Its quick illumination and swift speed of the sensor shutter deliver exceptional motion tolerance that increases output and efficiency. And also, its multi-directional scanning capacity allows the users to capture the barcodes quickly from any angle, and hence removes the scope of aligning the barcode with the laser lines.

The DS3500 digital scanner is available in six models which fulfills a variety of data capturing needs of various industries. This is also available in cordless models, integrated with Bluetooth® which facilitates employees to move more freely in the business premises which in turn increases efficiency and competency.

The DS3500 digital scanner utilizes sophisticated software meant for DPM, which is integrated with IUID parsing efficiencies suitable for government agencies and industrial manufacturing units. In true sense, this is a cost-effective device that efficiently captures 1D and 2D barcodes and DPMs of every type.

Vice President of Technologies of Freedom Technologies, John Piatek says “The DS3500 series of scanners of Motorola has unparalleled performance efficiency. The sturdiness of the device presents an exemplary case for industrial organizations and businesses. The excellent features of this device will reduce the operational costs and help improve customer services and operational efficiencies of an organization.”

The DS3500 digital scanner has an ergonomic design and hence is easy to handle. This digital scanner has a virtually advanced technology that improves the external possibility of withstanding the harsh operating business environments. The device is proven to perform efficiently even while experiencing bumps and drops during business operations. Its IP65-rated seal enhances its water and dust resistance power and thus reduces the downtime and the total cost of ownership. The device also functions properly even in noisy environments and poor lighting conditions. The device comes with bright LEDs, changeable volume beeper as well as a pulsating pager motor located in the handle; with the help of which a user can validate the completion of a scan with imagery, audible and material deciphering feedbacks.

Motorola also extends Advance Exchange Support to its customers for this device. This service agreement, extended over years, guarantees the replacement of devices on the very next working day of experiencing a default and minimizes the downtime. The DS3500 scanners also enjoy protection from unexpected wear and tear, as well as enjoy coverage against the damage of the components due to some accidental breakage. This takes care of unexpected repair expenses and ensures the customer’s peace of mind from the first day of purchase. The technical software support ensures optimal efficiency for customers in their business operations.

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This article is a short outline of the P4T mobile barcode printer from Zebra Technologies and it possible uses. The only portable printer for producing permanent tags in the market today is the P4T. The printer makes use of the thermal transfer method which produces a lasting or permanent manufactured or paper tag by subjecting the ribbon to heat. The printer is also capable of printing using the direct thermal method. A tag produced using the direct thermal method is created by applying heat directly into the tag or paper causing some parts to darken creating an image. Temporary labels and printer made receipts are created using this method.

Portable computers and laptops used in the field will be the frequent users of the P4T. This will be used mostly for tracking assets. Portable and handheld gadgets can be utilized separately or these can linked with other portable gadgets without any problems creating a situation which would reduce missing labels, do away with preprinting of tags and facilitates effortless asset management. Whenever wireless connections are available, a good number of people who manage asset tracking prefer to print at the “point of application.”

The P4T is equipped with a number of production functions such as reattachment of tags on the items whose tags were already detached or were not labeled properly. The P4T can be linked to industrial vehicles such as fork lifts and can be utilized immediately. Employees can easily communicate a label or tag for easy local printing by a user using a portable computer or smart phone when 802.11b is available on the printer.

Officers can utilize the portable printing and ticketing system offered by Zebra for computerized citation solutions to print the tickets with ease while on the field. The work of officers making the citation will be made easier using the thermal transfer printing function of the P4T/RP4T printer with the unique and genuine receipt media from Zebra. You will be assured that the technology will guarantee that the tickets will still be legible and can be implemented even though it will be open to the elements.

The P4T can also be used for tagging freight or provisional tags using the direct thermal method even though it was intended for producing permanent labels. The freight employee or vehicle driver will be able to add a freight tag immediately into the cargo as it goes out for delivery. This is applicable to several provisional tagging sections wherever a direct thermal printer is presently being employed. The P4T can now be used instead of the older direct thermal printer units.

In general, the P4T is a device that has a huge number of possible functions, and a small number of which are cited in the article. A considerable LCD display monitor, advanced battery, and a ribbon cartridge are some of the features of the P4T. The P4T is among the easiest to use printer in the market with its capability to detect ribbon out, label out and other irregular situations. With its capability to use com ports, Bluetooth, USB, or wireless 802.11b/g, the P4T cane easily communicate with portable computers.

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Honeywell Scanning introduces all-new Dolphin 6500 mobile PC and adds a modern high-performance computer to its Dolphin® 6000 product range. This lightweight device is suitable for most of the retail, supply-chain and other industrial environments. Honeywell’s this lightweight PC comes with a large color touch screen and multiple keypads. The most efficient capabilities in data gathering, image capturing and communications make it an efficient and quality product. Dolphin 6500 mobile PC has several value-added features that help enhance the productivity and efficiency of business operations.

This quality has been designed for a range of front-end and back-end operations such as price checking, product search, stock management, customer support and also asset management. The Dolphin 6500 PC comes with a 3.5 inch color touch screen monitor. A large screen is helpful in displaying more of an application on a particular screen and thus enhances the user benefits in a graphically-based application. The device comes with two separate keypad options, which are the numeric keypad with 28 keys and an alphanumeric keypad with 52 keys. These keypad options facilitate key-based data entry needs of a business in a rather convenient manner. The lightweight and ergonomic design of the device makes it quite handy, making it a multi-tasking device.

The Vice-president Worldwide Marketing of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, John Waldron says, “Our loyal customer base has been continuously increasing due to our continuous up-gradation in mobile computing device portfolio. We assess the need of our customers and develop a device that suits their in-premise environments optimally. The Dolphin 6500 mobile PC is a feature-rich device that meets the needs of a business with its easy deployment facilities that help to update operations and thus improves the productivity.”

The Dolphin 6500 mobile PC is yet another value-added device from Honeywell which comes with Adaptus® Imaging Technology. This technology helps the users to collect high-performance data for linear and 2D barcodes, digital imaging as well as quick signature capture. The Operating System in this device is the Microsoft Windows based CE 5.0, which brings forth a user-friendly programming environment that supports the rich applications needed for the business operations.

Moreover, the superior device configuration improves the ease of installation. The Shift-PLUS power management ensures a minimum battery life of 10 hours. This Shift-PLUS technology enables a steady use throughout a work-cycle with no charging breaks in between, which increases efficiency and lowers battery changing costs. The 6500 model also comes with an IP rating of 54 that makes it sturdy against dust, dirt and moisture. Even up to 500 tumbles from a height of 1 meter can’t damage the device which helps to increase downtime and also improves efficiency.

The Vice President of Magstar, Steven Greenwood says, “Magstar is a leading retail solutions provider, and is an integral part of the Honeywell’s Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Program only due to the high-end capabilities and functionalities of the Honeywell’s products. We have selected to endorse Honeywell’s Dolphin 6500 with our Retail Solutions. This will serve as a common device among all retail segments, which includes POS, stock management and also warehousing. The Dolphin 6500 PC can simplify the customer loyalty programs of the users. With a scan of their licenses simply, an associate can search for customers’ loyalty reports and thus increase an overall customer satisfaction.”

The Dolphin 6500 PC comes with Service Made Simple™, which offers constant productivity to the businesses. This service provides a wide-ranging coverage for a period of three to five years which includes usual wear and tear, and also some sort of unintentional breakage. This service coverage considerably reduces unforeseen repairing costs and product downtime. This also offers an additional financial protection and also a peace of mind to the users of Dolphin 6500.

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With the economic crisis, businesses are continually coming up with cost-cutting measures specifically in reducing overhead expenses. Due to this fact, mobile barcode printers come to the attention of a growing number of businesses as a cost-effective investment.

Although a number of businesses are making an effort to maximize the use of their old but serviceable printers, more progressive businesses realize the advantage of infusing funds in mobile printing due to the long term savings it can offer through its compatibility with other computerized and portable systems.

The use of ineffective printing systems will result into losses in time and money for the company in the long run, something that can be averted through the utilization of mobile printing. Reducing the space between the printer and the user will save time resulting in savings, mobile printing allows this reduction of the distance between the fixed printer and the users, saving labor costs and keeps the company’s operation on schedule

The latest portable printers are durable and dependable at the same time conforms to the standards of the IT industry. Efficiency is enhanced and expenses are reduced, at the same time the flow of work is facilitated with the use of portable printers.

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ipad-tablet

Survey points out that there is a strong demand for tablets

As a Software Advice survey points out, interest in tablet computers has been very strong across the healthcare industry, even though the iPad is devoid of certain significant features that physicians wish it had. The survey pointed out that more than half of the respondents were either very likely or somewhat likely to opt for a tablet sometime in the following year.

The physicians contacted by the survey expressed a wish to use the tablet for notes, prescription drug reference, lab orders, clinical decision support, medical image viewing, e-mail, e-prescribing and a host of other tasks. The number one reason for choosing the tablet turned out to be ease-of-use, closely followed by software and durability.

The iPhone operating system from iPad scores high in the ease-of-use factor. However, physicians have pointed out that the current App Store excludes comprehensive software required to manage electronic medical records (EMRs). We will have to wait to find out whether the additional capabilities that the iPad has promised lead to the developers creating a new utility in future. There are already a wider range of advanced software titles offered for the healthcare industry that are compatible with traditional notebooks, however traditional notebooks do not offer the ease-of-use and portability that the iPad and iPhone offer. The physicians who participated in the survey revealed that the second most important addition they desired was resistance to dust and liquids. The iPad, in its native form, does not have a high level of protection against rugged environments. That being said as with the iPhone third parties are already working to create accessories to accompany the iPad. A number of other important features, including barcode scanning, fingerprint access, integrated camera and RFID reader, are missing in the iPad.

It is a wasted effort to try to shoehorn a desktop OS into a tablet. This has already been attempted by Microsoft only to discover there just isn’t a market for it. A respondent to the survey also pointed out that a modal interface, like that of the iPhone, is more appropriate for touch-screen use which makes it more sensible for use in the healthcare system.

At this stage, when the market is yet to witness the arrival of the iPad, one can’t be certain how it is going to fare in respect to its competitors that are set for release later this year. According to analytical forecasts, the device expected to sell over 10 million units by 2011.

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Microsoft, which has already signed contracts with the top players in the market, enjoys significant advantages over some of the leading companies including EZcode, Datamatrix, QR and some other lesser known companies.

Tikitag displayed a RFID type tag kit at CES,. It came with 10 labels as well as a USB equipped reader kit, priced at $50. Since the tags are very expensive, they have promised to comply with software for other sorts of two Dimensional barcodes.

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The financial results for the fourth quarter of Intermec, Inc. (NYSE: IN), ending on 31st December 2009, was announced today.

The income for the 2009 end of Quarter, Fourth Quarter, was $179.1 million. Net earnings for the same quarter resulting from ongoing operations were $6.0 million; this translates to a diluted share amount of $0.10. When compared to the end of Quarter results for 2008, Fourth Quarter, the total income fell over the 2009 business year by $42.9 million. Also the ongoing operations net earnings fell approximately 3.3 million which amounted to a $0.05 loss in value per diluted share. As Patrick J. Byrne, President and CEO of Intermec, puts it, with fourth quarter revenue and income, Intermec witnessed sequential growth; Intermec is suitably positioned to recover in the market, thanks to its innovative product line, expanded channel and lower ceiling for breaking even. The company’s pre- tax GAAP income, net income and diluted income per share from a total of the continuing operations are represented below, based on the reports for the fourth quarters of both 2008 and 2009, after adjusting by taking out the effect of restructuring changes. EQ Dec. 31, 2009

Total Earnings Net Earnings Diluted Earnings Per Share
Reported Earnings 7.4 6.0 0.10
Restructure Charges 1.9 1.6 0.02
Adjusted Earnings 9.3 7.6 0.12
EQ Dec. 31, 2008
Reported Earnings 8.5 9.3 0.15
Restructure Charges 2.4 1.6 0.03
Adjusted Earnings 10.9 10.9 0.18

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RFID technology has provided technologically advanced solutions for organizations requiring high performance asset control systems. Access control systems have become increasingly important in organizations and it is for these that RFID proves to be most suited. Some of the reasons behind the need for access control systems include:

• Greater work place security in the workplace for employees
• Ability to keep track of employee activities
• Minimize losses and thefts
• Conforming to government security regulations after the 9-11 attack on the American World Trade Center

RFID technology is able to resolve all these issues and uses the latest cutting edge technology to provide them without leaving any scope for loopholes or deficiencies of any kind. Their cost effectiveness makes them the ideal solution for all applications.

It has been generally found that barcodes and magnetic stripes provide suitable results wherever it is a question of direct contact between the barcode, magnetic stripe and the scanner. However, the drawback of these traditional methods lies in the information being imbedded in the barcode with no scope for it to be updated at any point, and only one barcode can be read at a time.

RFID badges are in stark contrast because not only do they permit updating of information by overwriting and rewriting of information any number of times, they can also be read from a distance without the necessity of direct contact. This makes RFID a preferred choice for tracking solutions. RFID systems can read multiple badges simultaneously, thus providing the time advantage.

RFID systems can store information on employees like their identity code, attendance details, duties performed etc, and regular checks can be conducted. The access information can be attached with a Windows Active Directory or LDLAP. This is helpful in user authentication and be implemented in the organization’s authorized access control mechanism.

RFID helps resolve security worries with its innovative solutions offered to companies that make tracking easy and this enhances the efficiency of existing security systems. Los prevention apart, it helps companies meet the stringent security regulations stipulated by the government.

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Motorola, Inc. announced its investment in Scanbuy, Inc., which just happens to be a top contributor in mobile barcode solutions. While Motorola is the primary investor in the project, they are accompanied by Masthead Venture Partners as well as various other smaller private investors. The financial specifications have yet to be disclosed.

The “ScanLife” platform from Scanbuy simplifies the process of getting digital information from businesses to consumers by way of smart phones and bar codes. Through ScanLife businesses can place 1D and 2D barcodes on the products packaging, or any other form of advertising medium. With the use of their ScanLife enabled web phones, customers can easily access the barcode and in order to gather information including product reviews, discount coupons, comparison pricing and so on. With a simple click they can upload videos, pictures and other information to popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. By placing barcodes on the signs of local businesses they open up the possibility of providing customers with detailed directions and product listings with just a few clicks on a screen. The ScanLife Code Management Platform, which is designed for the average business owner, enables the user to follow and study all pertinent data, including the locations at which their product is scanned the most often. This is beneficial to a growing business because it tells you where your customer base is so you can concentrate advertising needs appropriately. ScanLife is already being used by thousands of people across the globe on devices, which use key operating systems like Android, BlackBerry, iPhone and Symbian, this helps to extend the power and reach of these products.

Reese Schroeder, managing director of Motorola Ventures says that they have taken a very careful look at this niche and have come to the conclusion that Scanbuy possesses the best possible combination of significant ecosystem partners and technology in its field.

Reese adds that mobile barcodes have emerged as an increasingly powerful product line for both businesses as well as customers. For this reason combining their technology with Microsoft is an exciting opportunity indeed. Jonathan Bulkeley, Chief Executive Officer of Scanbuy, talks about how they have spent recent years forming various partnerships with the top dogs in wireless technology in an effort to establish a firm foundation for the launching of mobile bar code technology. He adds that Scanbuy is delighted to have a big player like Motorola investing, especially at this crucial stage of Scanbuy’s development. He believes that their undoubted experience and resources will work towards a total acceptance of this technology in the near future.

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motorola-symbol-mc70-cell-phone-1The Symbol MC70 devices currently available in the market and using a Windows Mobile 5 platform can read only standard capacity SD cards. This free update installs an SDHC driver that helps a Symbol MC70 device to work with high capacity SD cards. SD cards with a capacity of up to 8GB have already been tested to work with Symbol MC70.

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