HP and Panasonic separately launched new tablet products giving solution providers additional rugged mobile options to add to their linecards and appease customer demand for tablet solutions.
HP announced a POS attachment for their recently unveiled Slate 2, while Panasonic unveiled two new rugged tablets aimed at the government and public sector markets. The devices will compete with tablet offerings already on the market (or coming soon) from Motorola, Lenovo, and Motion.
VSR has yet to get its hands on either of these tablets, so we can't give readers an in-depth review just yet, but here are the specs straight from Panasonic and HP.
Panasonic unveiled the Toughpad family of professional-grade Android-powered tablets, which includes a 10” and 7” device. The devices—targeting mission-critical and highly mobile workers—will be supported by an eco-system that includes an enterprise focused app store, peripherals, developer tools, deployment support and more.
The 10” Toughpad A1, available first, is ideal for highly mobile outdoor workers in markets like aviation, construction, field sales and the public sector, where exposure to extreme environments is a constant challenge and the consequence of a failure is significant. The device can also be used as a tool to optimize business processes as a cost effective pen / paper replacement. The 7” Toughpad B1 targets similar markets, but in applications where screen real estate is not as critical and where device mobility and portability are critical.
The Toughpad A1 incorporates security embedded at the hardware level and offer technologies like hardware and software encryption, enhanced VPN, dual factor authentication, trusted boot and device management. The Toughpad A1 will be compliant with FIPS 140-2 for Federal government use and HIPAA ready for healthcare environments.
Besides having access to the existing selection of Android Market applications, the Toughpad is supported by the Business AppPortal, an enterprise-focused app store offering best-of-breed vertical market specific solutions as well as applications addressing broad enterprise concerns, including Mobile Device Management, security and virtualization.
The Toughpad A1 has a high brightness, 10.1” XGA capacitive, multi-touch, daylight-viewable screen so mobile workers, in markets like supply chain logistics, utilities and the military, can easily see critical data and operate the device regardless of lighting conditions.
The Toughpad A1 offers a stylus and active digitizer, enabling flexible data entry in the field, as well as signature capture and handwriting recognition functionalities—ideal for sales, customer service and mobile point-of-service environments. Other features include integrated cameras, a serviceable battery, multiple options for peripheral connectivity and battery life that will accommodate a full day of work.
The Toughpad A1 will be available in the Spring of 2012 starting at $1299. The Toughpad B1 will be released later in 2012, with more details coming closer to availability. Both devices can be purchased through authorized Panasonic resellers.
The Return of the Slate
HP, last week, announced the company’s first mobile point-of-sale solution for retailers, helping them to deliver a personalized shopping experience to their customers.
The HP Retail Mobile Point-of-Sale Case attaches to the newly announced HP Slate 2 Tablet PC, adding an integrated magnetic stripe reader (MSR) and a barcode scanner.
Salespeople are able to complete customer transactions anywhere in the store, reducing long lines at fixed checkouts and boosting sales and productivity.
Retailers also can use the HP Slate 2’s integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless technology to check product availability, find alternate colors and styles, track orders and email customer receipts. The 8.9-inch screen is ideal for employees wanting to share videos or inventory selections with their customers.
The HP Retail Mobile Point-of-Sale Case is planned to be available in early December in the United States and Canada.