Intermec CS40 Product Review

Rick Caldart, Ryzex

I had the opportunity to spend some time with the Intermec CS40 mobile computer recently and this post includes my thoughts about it.

For front line mobile workers that need more than a smart phone, the CS40 is a solid rugged data collection centric handheld computer solution.

The CS40 is Intermec’s smallest 7^th generation handheld computer to date. When used in rugged deployment environment applications, the CS40 has field automated data collection functionality in a palm size smart phone with an ergonomic form factor.

I would recommend the CS40 in the following deployment environments:

• presales in-store merchandising
• shelf stock management
• remote inventory management
• in-field ordering
• light-handling delivery
• residential/business field service
• long haul truck load transportation

Below are what I believe are the top CS40 rugged functionality features:

1. Withstands 4 foot drop to concrete.

2. IP54 rated sealing for rain, moisture and dust ingress protection.

3. 7 ounce total weight with battery.

4. Touch panel display glass chemically strengthened.

5. Backlit keypad is wear-proof

6. Battery is encapsulated in a single-rugged package to prevent disengagement when the device is dropped.

Additionally, the CS40 includes the following versatile data collection features:

1. Windows Mobile 6.5 OS.

2. Multi-processor architecture; Main Processor ARM 11 @ 528 MHz Radio Processor ARM 9 @ 528 MHz, increases battery life.

3. 4 integrated radios, including 3.75G wireless WAN HSUPA, 802.11b/g Cisco CCX v4, Bluetooth™Class II version 2.1+EDR, and GPS for radio independence.

4. 1D/2D bar code imager and 3.2 MP color camera, for all bar codes and color images.

5. TFT-LCD display, daylight viewable, 2.8 in, 240 x 320 pixel (QVGA) trans-reflective 65,536 (16 bit RGB) colors, LED backlight.

6. Rapid field deployment capability with SmartSystems Foundation “Scan N Go” through bar codes or WWAN.

7. Customer-accessible micro-SD slot for removable memory cards up to 32 GB for applications and storage.

8. Embedded accelerometer enables automatic or application-specific features such as “screen rotation” enhances the user experience.

9. Audio Support supports VoIP / Speech recognition / PTT, Front panel Microphone or BT headset.

10. Comprehensive software toolkit using Windows APIs through the Intermec Developer Library to simplify application development and shorten time to deployment

Bottom line: The complexities of rapid deployment of Enterprise ready mobile computers have been alleviated with the introduction of the CS40.