Unitech's new feature packed hand held opens up the options for warehouse apps

Rugged PDA manufacturer, Unitech, has launched the new HT660 compact and aggressive rugged mobile computer as part of its hand held terminal line. Reportedly packed with features, including an optional gun grip, this device opens up new market opportunities for Unitech in scan intensive applications.

MCL Collection (an open-standards based development environment for rapid development and deployment of mobile applications) comes as standard with the HT660 along with the Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 Core operating system, an 802.11b/g radio and Bluetooth offering one of the best price/performance ratios in its class.

The optional gun grip reportedly makes the HT660 ideal for scan intensive applications, particularly in the warehouse. This opens up a variety of new applications for Unitech's partners.

Unitech says take away the gun grip and the HT660 is small and perfectly balanced making it equally suitable for a variety of real time data capture applications in the manufacturing, retail, transport and logistics sectors. Its size also makes it suitable for applications requiring single-handed operation.

Weighing only 330 gm, the HT660 weighs considerably less than other units in this class. This has been achieved without any compromise to its rugged design, which withstands multiple 1.5 m drops to concrete. It is also IP54 rated, making it suitable for use in damp or dusty environments and includes comfortable rubber grips designed to prevent the unit slipping out of the hand.

According to the company, its versatile design gives users the option of using the integrated laser scanner, the 36-key luminescent keypad or the _ VGA colour touch screen for data entry. User productivity won't be reduced by low batteries as the HT660 has a 10-h battery life that will last a full shift. Data is further protected by the units back-up battery that lasts 72 hours ensuring no data is lost and the charging cradle is designed to support an additional battery ensuring a spare is always available.

Unlike most of its competitors, the HT660 comes with a comprehensive range of onboard software as standard including MCL rapid application development tools, auto installer, WiFi site survey tool, back up utility, server management and a scanner utility to set up scanning functionality. This enables quick and easy set up and use straight out of the box.

Including a universal power supply, RS232, USB and modem connectivity and Li-Ion rechargeable battery pack, Windows CE 5.0 Core and the MCL Collection suite, the HT660 comes with everything the user needs in a single package.

Raymond Wolfert, EMEA sales and marketing manager for Unitech Europe said: The HT660 extends our range of rugged mobile computers into the warehousing and manufacturing environments and opens up a variety of new applications for us. We can now o ffer our partners a product for all common applications enabling them to take advantage of opportunities that were not available to them in the past and helping them to grow their Unitech business.