Zebra Technologies Introduces Next Generation QLn™ Mobile Printer For Retail And Healthcare Industries

Industry-first Ethernet device management and Zebra-exclusive smart battery technology enable customers to reduce operational expenses and improve efficiencies

Zebra Technologies Corporation a recognized global leader in bar code, kiosk, card and RFID printers as well as real-time location solutions, today announced the release of its new QLn ™ mobile printer family. According to research released by VDC in 2011, the mobile worker population exceeded one billion in 2010 and with an increasingly mobile and distributed workforce, is expected to grow by over 10% over the next three years. Zebra addresses this growing workforce with the QLn, the third generation of the QL printer, Zebra's all-time best selling direct thermal mobile line.

The QLn builds off of the success of over 700,000 QL printers shipped to date by squarely addressing the primary request made by Zebra's customers: lower the cost of operation. The QLn does this by including the industry's first Ethernet connection for mobile printers. By enabling remote status collection and better device management, the printer helps reduce service time and maximizes printer uptime, delivering a greater return-on-investment.

"Demand for mobile printers continues to scale," says Tom Wimmer, Director of the AutoID and Transaction Processing Practice at VDC. "At the same time, total cost of ownership has become a leading purchase consideration for enterprises evaluating mobile devices. Knowledgeable users are increasingly focused on reducing productivity losses associated with hardware failure, and managing spiraling IT support costs. Leading mobile device suppliers like Zebra understand these requirements and are responding with smarter products designed to address them."

The QLn is also the first printer with Zebra's new Power Smart Print Technology™. This new feature delivers faster processing and throughput with lower power drain, giving mobile workers better quality printing and more uptime on the job. Zebra's ‘smart battery' technology on the QLn displays charge and overall battery health, which minimizes downtime due to older, poor-performing batteries that don't last entire shifts.

"Historically the QL printer line has provided our customers with the productivity and durability required to keep their businesses functioning efficiently," said Scott Lane, product manager, Zebra Technologies. "The innovation and expanded features of the QLn are a result of Zebra's deep industry understanding. We have worked with our customers to identify their pain points and meet their evolving needs as the mobility market changes."

The QLn also improves on the previous QL models by offering: Easier Integration: Backwards compatibility with the QL and QL Plus printers lets users upgrade to the QLn without changing media or label formats, network and other infrastructure. Global reach: Zebra's Unicode ™ UTF-16-compliant Global Printing Solution offers right-to-left printing capabilities, giving companies around the world the option to print in many languages. (available August, 2011) Improved user interface: Larger, easier to read display with 5-way navigation, help menus and alerts gives users greater control, enables faster operation.

The QLn320™ for 3-inch-wide printing is now available in the United States and will be available in Europe later this month, Asia Pacific in July and in Latin America later this year. The QLn220 ™ for 2-inch-wide printing will be available in Q3 of this year. For more information www.zebra.com.

About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation gives customers visibility of critical assets, people and transactions through a broad range of printing and location technologies. Our bar code, card, kiosk and RFID printers as well as real-time location solutions have made us a recognized global leader in providing enabling solutions that identify, track, and manage critical assets, people and transactions for improved business efficiencies. For more information, visit http://www.zebra.com.

SOURCE: Zebra Technologies Corporation

Honeywell Revolutionizes Mobile Computing With Scanphone Introduction

Dolphin 6000 delivers converged communications, computing and scanning technologies to the mobile information worker

Honeywell recently announced the introduction of the Dolphin 6000, a new class of mobile device that bridges the gap between consumer mobile phones, industrial mobile computers and bar code scanners, empowering mobile information workers to connect, collect and communicate at the point of customer service. The compact, yet durable Dolphin 6000 Scanphone automates the data collection process and delivers real-time access to business data, leading to improved productivity, more informed decision making and lower operating costs.

"We've seen an increase in the use of consumer-grade smartphones for enterprise applications as more functionality is added to mobile phones. However, these devices are not specifically designed for enterprise use and do not meet the bar code scanning needs of mobile information workers," said Taylor Smith, director of product management, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. "The Dolphin 6000 fills this gap – delivering more reliability, more powerful scan performance and greater line of business application support than any smartphone on the market."

In addition to its basic mobile phone functionality, the Dolphin 6000 offers advanced productivity features geared towards today's vertical enterprise, including field service, field sales, and retail and logistics operations. An integrated scanner provides fast and accurate bar code scanning, greatly simplifying data entry tasks, while Honeywell's Remote MasterMind for Mobility device management software allows users to manage, update and remotely diagnose all Dolphin 6000 devices within a network from one centralized location, lowering development and maintenance costs.

Utilizing the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional operating system, the Dolphin 6000 was also designed for easy integration with enterprise-grade software applications, such as Pocket Inventory from independent software vendor (ISV), pcAmerica.

"We have been working with Honeywell for many years developing software solutions for the enterprise," said David Gosman, CEO, pcAmerica. "Although we recognize the functionality of smartphones, we do not believe they meet the hardware needs of our enterprise customers for use cases such as inventory tracking and receiving. As such, our Pocket Inventory application is designed to work more seamlessly on enterprise-grade devices such as the Dolphin 6000."

More rugged than a smartphone, the IP-rated Dolphin 6000 is resistant to moisture and particle intrusion, making it suitable for use in adverse conditions, such as those encountered by a field service or logistics worker. The device comes equipped with a long-lasting battery, allowing for uninterrupted productivity throughout an entire shift. The Dolphin 6000 also has an integrated megapixel camera and is optimized for voice communication, eliminating the need to carry a separate digital camera and mobile phone. Multiple wireless options, including GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, help users stay connected in a variety of environments.

The Dolphin 6000 is available with Honeywell's Service Made Simple service offering, which provides comprehensive coverage on normal wear and tear, as well as accidental breakage for up to three years, providing a level of support, reliability and longevity that is not available with a consumer device. Further, the device supports low failure rates and unlike a smartphone, has a 3 year life cycle with 5 years of post production support, helping businesses keep mobile device acquisition costs low.

About Honeywell International
Honeywell International is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.

SOURCE: Honeywell