We get asked all of the time about justifying the cost of a rugged mobile computer over a non-rugged or a consumer-grade device. Depending on the product, there can be a large cost differences between the two product types. There are three points that we like to make when justifying the cost difference:

1)      Ruggedized mobile computing devices like the Motorola MC55 or the Intermec CN3 are designed to resist damage from drops, humidity, misuse and other environmental issues. Consumer- graded devices are not designed this way and after-market cases only provide minimal protection. To put it simply, you drop it….you break it.

2)      Battery life is a very important factor for mobile computing. Ruggedized devices are intended to work for a full eight hour shift with options available to extend this time. This does not just include voice communications – it also includes data transmissions, scanning, image capture and all of the other functions needed for a mobile worker. The battery life for consumer graded devices will die out after only a few hours if used in this way.

3)      The costs for IT to support consumer-graded devices are nearly three times as high due to the increased failure these products. We ask a very simple question…do you want your valuable IT personnel to spend their time on IT projects or troubleshooting broken smartphones? 

For detailed information about the total cost of ownership for mobile computing, view Venture Development Corporation’s white paper. For more information about the value of ruggedized mobile computers, contact a RACO product specialist or visit www.racoindustries.com.

We here at RACO Industries are celebrating a special anniversary this week: the 35th anniversary of the first bar code scanning.  On June 26th, 1974, at a Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio, a pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum was the first item ever scanned in a commercial environment and inventory management has never been the same.  Recently, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Steve Overmyer, Marsh’s original project coordinator that helped the store’s transition from manual check-out stations to electronic scanning.

Check out this impressive product…..a full color, ink jet label printer reliable enough for everyday use and affordable for almost every type of business.  The SecurColor  TM-C3400 printer is Epson’s first color printer designed for on-demand printing of  labels and tags. It can even print color -coded patient wristbands making it ideal for healthcare organizations.

Instant Messaging(IM) on Windows Mobile(WM) seems like it would be simple to implement with four major IM providers offering solutions.   However, when it comes to WM, not all solutions are created equal. GoogleTalk and Yahoo! only offer web browser based IM.    AIM has an application client which looks and works very well.   However, the overall winner is the Windows Live Messenger (formally known as MSN Messenger) client.  A nice advantage of the Windows Live Messenger is that the application comes embedded into WM and a login is the only setup step required.  Live Messenger sets itself apart further by offering one other feature; let’s call it ‘Push-toTalk’ IM.   Any microphone equipped WM device can record a message with just a single click to record and another click to send.  The voice clips are transmitted nearly as fast as any IM message and can be replayed multiple times or saved.   I was very impressed with the sound quality through such a simple connection.  All IM conversations can be archived and viewed at a later date.

Alternatively there are several 3rd party IM programs such as Fring or Agile for example, which facilitate the use of multiple simultaneous  IM carriers.  www.fring.com    www.agilemobile.com
While researching the Google solution I did find an application that showed much potential - Google Latitude.  With this free and easy to use application you can see the current location of all your contacts.  In the mobile arena or DSD, it is a great way to be able to see the location of all mobile assets. 
And for headquarters there is an iGoogle plug-in that integrates easily and allows for asset tracking.  Tracking is accomplished via assisted GPS and is therefore accurate within 1600 meters.  A GPS enabled device is not required.

After a long successful run as the market leader for on-demand color label printers, the VP2020 is set for retirement. The recently released VP485 retains all of the great qualities of its predecessor by delivering large volumes of high quality, color labels but with considerable reliability improvements. Loaded with many of the features of the VP2020, the VP485 is faster, lighter, easier to set up and use and less expensive to operate. Typical 4.0” X 6.0” label costs now range between $0.02/label for about 10% color coverage to about $0.20/label for edge to edge, 100% color printing. Other features include separate ink reservoirs to reduce changeover and expense, Bartender Ultralite label design software and an easy to use keypad – all of this in a smaller footprint than the VIP 2020. 

So if your business requires small run, color labels with variable printing or you want to reduce the amount a preprinted labels on your shelf, the VP485 is a great choice. Print 1 or even 10,000 labels. It is your choice of how much you need and when it is needed.

For more information contact a RACO Product Specialist 1-800-446-1991. In the meantime, see the printer in action by viewing the VP485 Product Presentation Video.

Have you ever tried to do a search on your mobile phone for the closest pizza place but get a very slow response or a bunch of useless information? If so, then you have not been using the best search engines designed for mobile phones. Mobile searches through Yellowpages.com, Hotels.com as well as a few others are easy to use and designed for the mobile environment – the search information minimizes the amount of data sent to the mobile phone i.e. graphics, ads, etc. and only delivers the relevant information that was requested.  The results even include a map of the search result and if needed, driving directions from your starting location. All you need is input what you are looking for and where you are and the mobile search engine will do the rest.  

Behind the scenes, the technology that performs the search and provides results is a bit more complicated. Basically, it utilizes a proximity search feature (x/y coordinates) to determine the closest place that you are looking for in real-time. Once that location is determined, the information is then delivered to the mobile device in order of relevance and location closest to the user. These mobile search sites are also designed for the slower transmission speeds of the wireless world and to fit the screen size of the available devices. The results appear within a couple of seconds and formatted so the content is easily viewable.  After all, who wants to waste time on bad searches when there’s a great pizza joint not far from you?

T-Mobile's UMA technology 

Make or receive mobile phone calls without utilizing my minutes? Browse the internet or send wireless e-mails without worrying about the amount the data I will use? All of this while receiving near flawless voice reception? Yes, this is all possible and the technology is readily available and easy to begin using today.

It has been over a year since T-Mobile has released its UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) technology for mobile phones and mobile users have yet to truly take advantage of this amazing technology. Very simply, mobile phones with UMA, like the BlackBerry Curve and 8900, allow the user to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi network. Data transactions including e-mail access, WAP and internet browsing can also occur. This gives the user the unique ability to receive near flawless reception while not utilizing minutes or data from their wireless plan. As long as as you have access to a WiFi network, you can begin taking advantage of this technology with a few, easy setting adjustments. This can take place at home, at work or anyplace where you can access a wireless network regardless of the quality of the cellular signal. The mobile device will even remember previous networks and automatically connect your mobile device as long as the settings have not changed.

Unlike wireless SIP, VoIP or Skype smartphone applications - UMA allows a user to seamlessly transition back to the GSM network when talking out of WiFi range.  This allows a user to start a phone conversation at the workplace or home where a 802.11 b/g  network is available and continue the conversation, uninterrupted, when walking or driving out of range.

Want to learn more? Contact a RACO Wireless sales representative to learn about T-Mobile's UMA technology and how it can improve your mobile needs.

Socket Mobile has just made the BlackBerry a notch cooler and more useful than it already is.  Socket now supports their 7 series Bluetooth bar code hand scanners with the BlackBerry Curve, Pearl and Bold.

A few applications that come to mind are:

-Inventory tracking for route sales

-Bookscouting (searching for bargain books to resell)

-Mobile price checking

-Retail market research

You only have to load a small application on the BlackBerry and then pair it with the Socket Bluetooth scanner and you are ready to start scanning.  The BlackBerry will treat the scan as data entered from the keypad; so the scan will input anywhere you have a cursor.

Don’t have a BlackBerry or need an application developed for the BlackBerry?  No problem, contact RACO Industries to speak with a representative about your specific needs.

Looking to give your old scanners and printers a proper burial? Sure you do.  You don’t want it sit in a landfill for hundreds of years slowly poisoning Mother Earth.  RACO Industries can help you. 

Increasing government regulations and “green” efforts limit the disposal of these products in landfills across the US and Canada. Add to that security regulations such as HIPPA & FACTA and simply throwing out old equipment without deleting information on the machines can be costly. RACO can help provide an alternative to landfills, ensure data destruction and possibly create a financial return on your equipment.  

We’ll evaluate if there’s still value in your end-of-life equipment and apply it towards replacement products.  When we receive the devices, we’ll sanitize the drives to Department of Defense standards (DoD 5220.22-M Erase) and send the necessary documentation to you supporting appropriate destruction of data and the equipment in accordance to security and environmental regulations. The overall process is simple and can be completed in a very short time.  

For more information on how to retire your obsolete technology products, please contact your RACO Representative at 1-800-446-1991.