TAAP was one of six ISV partners – Independent Software Vendors - in the UK chosen by Motorola to present at the recent launch of the TC55 Android device. The launch was held at Bacchanalia, London with Motorola Resellers and Distributors attending the event in order to hear about the new device and listen to related presentations from selected ISVs.
TAAP has traditionally provided its mobile applications running on ruggedized devices such as the ES400 and MC65, to business users. Although providing applications on other devices such as Windows Phone 7, 8, Galaxy Camera, iPad and so on, it has found the majority of its customers have tended to stick with Windows Mobile 6.5.3 as a platform because of the very low cost of ownership which stems mainly from the operating system's stability in comparison to those of other vendors. Organisations can often end up with a varied estate of devices to support because of vendors such as Apple [iOS] and Google [Android] frequently update their operating systems.
TAAP's Founder Steve Higgon commented "We have been waiting for a business or 'pro-sumer' platform to come along to replace Windows Mobile and until now there hadn't been a platform, device, and manufacturer combination that we were happy with.
With the Motorola TC55 we have that combination - a stepping stone from Microsoft Windows to Android - that provides our customers with an upgrade road map to a modern device. TAAP's Forms applications software for existing platforms will be able to function on the new TC55 device platform in order to provide a phased migration path for those clients that require it."
He went on to say "We like Microsoft technology but there aren't any enterprise device OS solutions we can utilize at present. We are hoping the 'one app everywhere' strategy will be something we can leverage in the future from Microsoft. That may be on a smartphone, tablet or PC as it will be essentially the same app on all platforms in future, but right now it's the TC55 device."
Motorola currently have the momentum over other manufacturers but they have hot competition on their heels, especially in the durable 7" tablet space. It's a great time for ISVs to be developing software now, because the last few years of turbulence and lack of quality devices for those users traditionally classed as blue collar workers has made it difficult for clients to know what to buy and when.
TAAP has worked with both its existing and prospective clients to help navigate the difficulties of mobile distributed working. The TC55 is the first of a range of devices that will help business users be able to use mobile technologies again without worrying about whether a replacement device will be available to purchase in 3 months' time.
The TC55 is a durable device running the Android Jellybean (4.1.2) operating system and is available with a support contract so that customers are reassured that devices can be replaced easily if damaged, lost or stolen. New features offered by Motorola (referred to as Motorola Mx) which transform Android from what is traditionally a consumer operating system into a true enterprise-class OS, including security, device management and support for enterprise data capture capabilities, ensure that organisations feel fully supported by the global manufacturer.
Features such as responsiveness to either a stylus or fingertip touch, even when users are wearing a glove, will be ideal for those users who need to work in harsh environments; audio capabilities for telephone calls include speakers which are said to deliver four times the loudness of popular smartphones, as well as noise-cancelling technology; and the 8MP camera ensures high quality images can be captured.
Speaking at the TC55 partner launch last week, Paul George, Business Systems Analyst at TAAP commented: "TAAP is delighted to be an early adopter partner for the TC55 and has a number of client situations where this will provide a good fit in terms of hardware designed specifically for mobile working, made from durable materials, at a price point which many organisations are willing to commit to."
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