Symbol Technologies, Inc. has introduced a rugged, full-functioned handheld computer that integrates advanced imaging capabilities with voice over Wi-Fi communications and Symbol's Spectrum24 wireless local area networking. The Symbol PDT 8146 Imaging Computer is an ideal data capture, data management and communications device for the steadily growing enterprise mobility workforce, particularly in transportation and logistics, parcel and post, public safety, field sales and service and in-store retail.

Symbol also announced that the Symbol PDT 8146 Imaging Computer is now being shipped to Schenker, a Germany-based integrated logistics provider offering land transport, air and sea freight as well as comprehensive logistics solutions, for tracking and managing delivery logistics. The product is extremely durable and reliable, and it withstands repeated drops to concrete as well as the harsh conditions of real-world industrial applications such as rough handling, extreme temperatures and weather conditions.

The Symbol PDT 8146 Imaging Computer features voice over Wi-Fi, allowing direct voice communications between mobile workers and managers. It's driven by a digital signal processing (DSP) co-processor which maintains excellent voice performance even while data intensive applications are simultaneously executed by the XScale processor; voice applications run in the background while other applications are running. Another Symbol voice over Wi-Fi differentiator is hardware-based G.729A audio compression and decompression which maximizes wireless LAN bandwidth efficiency by supporting multiple, simultaneous calls per Access Point while minimizing network traffic. The initial Symbol voice application features "walkie-talkie" and pager functionality combined with private peer-to-peer phone calling.

The PDT 8146 has features that benefit vertical market application customers, including a bright, high-resolution color screen for easy reading indoors and outdoors; the Microsoft Pocket PC Premium Edition operating system for robust application development; the 32-bit XScale processor from Intel; a backlit, interchangeable keyboard and rechargeable, extended-use lithium-ion batteries.

"Symbol provides a complete family of rugged mobile wireless computing devices and we team closely with our customers to provide the best solution for their mobile workforce," said Ron Goldman, senior vice president and general manager, Symbol Technologies. "Our solutions truly empower a mobile worker with information at the point of activity, no matter where that is, and enhance productivity and efficiency where it counts. Symbol is taking a leadership position in converged voice and data in mobile computing as well as integrated imaging for both bar code data capture and image capture."

"The multifunctional capabilities of the Symbol PDT 8146 address many of the current and emerging form factor, input and communications requirements expressed by end users," said David Krebs, AIDC group manager, Venture Development Corp. "We believe rugged devices that embed and integrate useful technologies such as data collection, wireless LAN and voice, data, image and video capture, are ideal solutions for mobility applications and the mobile worker.

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