User manual
35
Industrial PDA
(EDA)
Automotive PC
Tablet PC
IEIMobile
Introduction
The world is in the midst of a mobile revolution with the rapid consumer uptake and adoption of smartphones. Its year-on-year growth rate in the third quarter of 2010
nearly doubled at 96 percent; while sales of mobile phones only rose by 35 percent according to Gartner research group. As smartphones are rapidly becoming an
integral part of a consumer’s digital life, a demanding tech-savvy public is beginning to seek a more interactive
and engaging mobile device experience in the workplace. Mobile integration in the workplace means devices with
features such as operating systems that support sophisticated applications, text messaging, Internet and email
access, document viewing, touch screen interface, built-in cameras, GPS navigation software, barcode readers,
and wireless connectivity.
PDAs and smartphones often develop in tandem, with data-centric PDAs taking on more voice-centric aspects,
and smartphones including features previously limited to PDAs. As the line between PDAs and smartphones
keeps blurring, there is concern that smartphones will eventually replace PDAs, just as they have begun to make
traditional mobile phones seem obsolete. This may be true in the consumer sector where convenience trumps all
and a dialed-down system requirement would sufce for everyday use.
In the business sector, however, industrial PDAs are riding the wave of the smartphone-led mobile revolution and
enjoying what the growing smartphone ecosystem has to offer. They benet greatly from the advances and mass
popularization of consumer handheld technologies, such as RFID,
high quality scanners and integrated high resolution cameras. Rather
than being peripherals, these technologies have become powerful,
small, and reliable enough to be integrated into industrial PDAs,
offering a cost-effective all-in-one solution for business travelers and
professionals who are constantly on the move.
Moreover, the more ubiquitous, affordable and versatile wireless
technology becomes, the easier it is for PDAs to synchronize
and update information anytime anywhere. In essence the PDA
has become miniature mobile business portal.With this increased
mobility, employees can feel empowered to initiate changes and go
after new projects. In this way, Industrial PDAs serve as a catalyst for
reform in the workplace, promoting innovation and exibility.
For eld force workers that require the ability to access and forward data where it is needed most, a data-centric PDA
packaged in tough, rugged shell is perfect for the job at hand. Many businesses and government organizations often rely on rugged PDAs, or enterprise digital
assistants (EDAs), for mobile data applications. EDAs often have extra features such as data capture, barcode readers, radio-frequency identication (RFID) readers,
magnetic stripe card readers, or smart card readers. The ability of industrial PDAs to enable work in different environments and for different purposes allows businesses
to go beyond traditional computing and information seeking infrastructures, enhancing workow and productivity.
Businesses in the hospitality industry face a highly competitive environment in which differentiation and innovative customer experiences are critical in improving sales
and revenue. Wireless access to a centralized hospitality management system facilitates efcient handling of client requests for information and services as well as
better execution of loyalty programs. Offering High-impact individualized service is made easier with on-demand retrieval of client information and purchase records.
Time and energy saved by utilizing an industrial PDA can then be used to provide
more personalized service with the customers, effectively increase revenues
through improved customer satisfaction.
We here at IEIMobile are excited about the future of
industrial PDAs. A major initiative has launched with our
upcoming product line to harness the mobile revolution in
the workplace as a key component of our industry wide
development agenda.
Mobile Revolution in the Workplace
Industrial PDA (EDA)
Spectra GmbH & Co. KG
www.spectra.de spectra@spectra.de
Spectra (Schweiz) AG
www.spectra.ch info@spectra.ch
Niederlassung Österreich
www.spectra-austria.at info@spectra-austria.at