More tough handhelds for field staff

Rugged shells boast Bluetooth, cameras, barcode scanners and impressive battery life

Casio is among several vendors shipping new Windows-based handhelds for demanding environments such as warehouses, retail outlets and delivery vehicles.

The Casio IT-600 is designed to give staff in particular industries a more efficient method of capturing information, according to the firm. To this end, one of its configurations includes a one megapixel colour camera with software enhancement to eliminate the need for a flash. This allows traffic wardens to capture photographic evidence of illegal parking, for example.

The IT-600 has a bright 3.7in display viewable in a variety of ambient light conditions, and a battery life long enough for a full working shift, according to Casio. Bluetooth, a barcode scanner and a numeric keypad are standard in all four IT-600 models, and 802.11b/g wireless is optional.

Prices start at £1,215 for the basic model and rise to £1,449 with camera and wireless LAN.

Meanwhile, Intermec is aiming at harsher environments with its new CK61. This has a magnesium top cover, rubber bumpers to cushion against drops, and a case sealed against water and dust.

Datalogic’s Kyman-Net is the lightest handheld in its class at about 540g, the company said. This device can capture 1D and 2D barcodes, and images and data from RFID wireless tags. It also features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GSM/GPRS wireless connectivity options.