Panasonic Launches One Of The World’s Most Rugged 5 Inch Handheld Tablet With Data And Voice Capabilities
A powerful all-in-one device for mobile workers combining the best of handheld, smartphone and tablet devices
BRACKNELL, UK. 4th SEPTEMBER 2014
Panasonic today launched one of the world’s most rugged 5 inch handheld tablets with data and voice capabilities at the IFA electronics show in Berlin, Germany. The Toughpad FZ-E1 (Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld) and FZ-X1 (Android TM) devices bring together the best of the handheld, smartphone and tablet market in the most rugged, easy to use, long working device, making it the ideal device for mobile workers in transportation and logistics, public sector and emergency services, utilities, retail, manufacturing and aviation.
“They may be small but these latest Panasonic Toughpads are the toughest, most powerful and longest lasting in their class and address the key challenges of businesses wishing to deploy the most mobile work devices,” said Jan Kaempfer, General Manager of Marketing for Panasonic Computer Product Solutions. “They are rugged to withstand 3m drops, extreme temperatures and even water submersion. They have a crystal clear, sunlight readable HD touchscreen display for easy use, a powerful Qualcomm® Quad Core Processor to handle the latest applications with ease, the broadest range of business configuration options and a 1,000 hours standby, hot swappable battery to work in the field as long as required.”
The Toughpad FZ-E1, powered by Microsoft’s latest handheld OS platform Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld, and the Toughpad FZ-X1, running the Android TM 4.2.2 operating system, represent a significant expansion of Panasonic’s Toughpad line, the world’s most comprehensive portfolio of enterprise-focused tablets.
Fully Rugged, Secure and Enterprise-Ready
With resistance to drops of up to 3m to concrete, the Toughpad FZ-E1 and Toughpad FZ-X1 go beyond MIL-STD-810G specifications to assure reliability. Both devices are fully sealed against dust and are submersible in up to 1.5 meter of water for up to 30 minutes, meeting IP68 certification requirements. The devices can operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 60°C thanks to a built-in heater, and are also tested for resistance to impact, shock, vibration, altitude and extreme humidity.
The devices’ numerous unique enterprise-grade features include a sunlight-readable, anti-reflective HD (1280×720) 10-point capacitive, toughened multi-touchscreen display that works even with heavy gloves. It includes a rain-sensing feature that allows for single touch use even in pouring rain. In addition to an 8MP rear camera with bright LED flash and a 1.3MP front camera, configuration options are available such as an integrated 1D/2D barcode reader and a gadget expansion facility allows enterprises to customise the ideal tool for their workforces. Programmable, function buttons make customising the device for one touch access to favourite applications easy to achieve.
Voice and Data Connectivity
The Toughpad FZ-E1 and Toughpad FZ-X1 are the first devices in the Toughpad line to offer voice connectivity. Both models will be available with voice and data on 4G LTE/3G/GPRS. Standard on both models is an integrated Micro USB port, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, near field communications (NFC), standalone GPS and Bluetooth® v4.0 (Class 1). The integrated high accuracy GPS functionality is ideal for field workers that require navigation in vehicles and pin-point location capabilities, with accuracy to between 2-4m.
Clear Voice Communications
To ensure clear voice communication above construction or automobile engine noise, the devices are equipped with 3 mics for intelligent noise cancellation and dual front speakers reaching an astounding maximum volume of 100 dB — which ensures voice could be clearly heard even in very noisy construction sites.
Industry-Leading 14-Hours* Battery Life
A major requirement for enterprise mobile solutions is strong full-shift battery performance. With a 6,200mAh battery providing up to 14 hours of continuous data access based on Panasonic test conditions, the Toughpad FZ-E1 and Toughpad FZ-X1 are purpose-built to enable workforce productivity. A quick- charging feature allows for a 50% charge in approximately 1 hour** and full charge in approximately 3 hours** with a Hot Swap functionality that allows a depleted battery to be swapped out for a fresh one without powering down the device, providing virtually unlimited use. Single battery standby time is approximately 1,000 hours and talk time 23 hours.
Both the Toughpad FZ-E1 and the Toughpad FZ-X1 are supported by an ecosystem of accessories — such as holsters, hand straps, vehicle mounts and desktop cradles — making it a wearable and mountable tablet solution for the mobile work force.
The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-X1 (Android TM version) is available now from £1024 (excluding VAT).
The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-E1 (Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld version) will be available in November from £1056 (Excluding VAT).
* Battery life measurement conditions: Wireless LAN connection enabled; continuous access to the server while browsing; swipe every 1 second; page change every 30 seconds, communication every 30 seconds.
** Battery charging times varies between FZ-E1 and FZ-X1. Please refer to the respective fact sheet in the product webpage for exact information.
Toughpad FZ-E1 and Toughpad FZ-X1: Key Features
· Operating System:
o Toughpad FZ-E1: Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld
o Toughpad FZ-X1: Android TM 4.2.2
· Processor:
o Toughpad FZ-E1: Qualcomm® Snapdragon MSM8974AB 2.3GHz Quad Core
o Toughpad FZ-X1: Qualcomm® Snapdragon APQ8064T 1.7GHz Quad Core
Rugged Durability: MIL-STD-810G certified; tested for 3m drops to concrete; IP68 certified fully sealed design (sealed against dust and submersible in water), operating temperature range of -20°C to 60°C
Handheld Portability: 30.9mm / 1.2inch thin (standard configuration)
Industry-Leading Battery Life: Fully charged standard battery offers standby time up to 1,000 hours, talk time up to 23 hours and up to 14 hours of continuous data access depending on usage conditions. Hot Swap functionality allows the main battery to be swapped without powering down.
Enterprise-Grade Display: 5-inch sunlight-readable, anti-reflective HD (1280×720) LCD with high-sensitivity 10-point capacitive multitouch input. Glove and rain mode features are also included
Storage and Memory: 32 GB flash memory with 2GB RAM; and micro SDXC card slot (max. 64GB)
Connectivity & I/O: 4G LTE/3G/GPRS (voice and data); standard Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, standalone GPS, Bluetooth® v4.0 (Class 1) and micro USB 2.0; optional integrated 1D/2D barcode reader
Camera: 8MP rear camera with auto focus and LED light; 1.3MP front camera
Security: FIPS 140-2 Level 1 compliant
Warranty: The Toughpad FZ-E1 and Toughpad FZ-X1 are backed by the industry’s most comprehensive 3-year warranty and customer support
For a full list of specifications and more detailed information, visit www.toughbook.eu
About Panasonic System Communications Company Europe (PSCEU)
PSCEU is the European branch of Panasonic Systems Communications Company, the global B2B division of Panasonic. PSCEU’s goal is to improve the working lives of business professionals and help their organisations’ efficiency and performance. We help organisations capture, compute and communicate all sorts of information: image, voice, and textual data. Products include PBX telephone switches, document printers, professional cameras, projectors, large visual displays, rugged mobile PCs and fire alarms solutions. With around 400 staff, engineering design expertise, global project management capability and a large European partner network, PSCEU offers unrivalled capability in its markets.
PSCEU is made up of four product categories:
· Communication Solutions, including professional scanners, multifunctional printers, telephony systems and SIP terminal devices.
· Visual System Solutions, including projectors and professional displays. Panasonic offers the widest range of Visual products, and leads the European projector market with 28 % revenue share. (Futuresource B2B market tracking, Q1/2014)
· Professional Camera Solutions, including Broadcast & ProAV products, security, fire alarm systems and industrial medical vision (IMV) technology. Panasonic is one of the top two professional camera vendors in Europe.
· Computer Product Solutions helps mobile workers improve productivity with its range of Toughbook rugged notebooks, Toughpad business tablets and electronic point of sales (EPOS) systems. As European market leaders, Panasonic Toughbook had a 66.4% revenue share of sales of rugged and durable notebooks and Panasonic Toughpad held a 50.4% revenue share of sales of rugged business tablets in 2013 (VDC Research, March 2014).
