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First tablet, you say? But what about the Motorola XOOM? Well, children, the XOOM is the brainchild of Motorola Mobility, one half of Motorola spun off into its own business as the company struggled to find ways to remain viable. The other half? Motorola Solutions, a company that today announced their first foray into the tablet world with the business-class ET1. The 7-inch slate features a Gorilla Glass display rated at a resolution of 1024×600, a 1GHz dual-core CPU, and 8MP camera. A front-facing camera is geared towards video conferencing with 720p support.
The ET1 can be adapted to a number of business situations, and gets a host of accessories enabling the device to be used as a mobile point-of-sale system. Options include a barcode reader, magnetic strip scanner, hand strap, and holster. The device is currently only WiFi enabled, but there may be plans for a version relying on cellular data in the future.
The ET1 won’t be available to the general consumer, and will instead be sold directly to corporate entities. With it, Motorola Solutions looks to challenge the challenge the sales model you see in use at your local Apple Store: bringing the cash register to the customer. Only in this case, the product is all Android.
Motorola Solutions Introduces Its First Tablet Computer Built for Enterprise Users
First solutions for Android™-based ET1 tablet focused on retail with functionality to enhance the shopping experience
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Oct. 10, 2011 – Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI), a leading provider of mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers, today unveiled the ET1 tablet, the first in an emerging category of enterprise-class tablet computers designed for a variety of vertical markets. The ET1 brings the familiarity and popularity of a consumer-class user experience to a true enterprise-class device that includes enhanced durability, an optional barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader, hot-swappable battery packs, and secure system software. Key industrial-strength accessories such as secure multi-slot recharging stations are also available.
Intended for demanding day-long use, the Wi-Fi-enabled ET1 is password-protected so it can be easily shared and instantly provisioned for each employee according to his or her level of responsibility and access rights. Based on log-in information, managers can automatically control and monitor use of approved applications to help ensure on-the-job productivity is not compromised.
ET1 KEY FACTS
Retailers can seamlessly and securely run a variety of applications developed by Motorola’s extensive partner and independent software vendor (ISV) community, including:
Assisted selling
Mobile point of sale (mPOS)
Manager electronic dashboards
Planogram management and compliance
Item locatorRunning an enterprise-ready hardened version of the Android operating system, the ET1 tablet is designed to be used 24 x 7 by multiple staff members.
Supported by Motorola’s portfolio of enterprise-grade software modules including RhoElements, a new HTML5 application enablement framework, businesses can now quickly and cost-effectively develop enterprise applications once and deploy them on both traditional Windows Embedded Handheld™ and Android-based Motorola devices, allowing for consistent user experiences.
The ET1 incorporates a durable Gorilla Glass™ 7-inch color display, designed for customer-facing applications containing video and images. In addition, the screen bezel can be customized to match the retailer’s brand.
Motorola’s ET1 tablet offers a comprehensive suite of enterprise-class features and accessories including:
Durable design to withstand multiple bumps and drops during a workday
Optional integrated bar code scanner and magnetic stripe reader
Hot-swappable rechargeable battery pack, with memory back-up battery to retain RAM data for up to 15 minutes when the main battery is removed
Single- and multi-slot tablet and battery chargers
Front- and rear-facing cameras
Availability of Bluetooth-connected handheld bar-code scanners, mobile-payment readers and mobile printers
Optional hand strap for comfortable full-shift handling
The ET1 tablet will be available with Motorola’s Service from the Start with Comprehensive Coverage program, providing coverage for normal wear and tear as well as accidental damage to internal and external components, significantly reducing unforeseen repair expenses.
Motorola Solutions’ ET1 tablet will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Typo on the title … and o yea… FIRST!!!
Disgustingly fat looking. Trim that bezel!
May be fat, but I think that it has potential for the intended use. When was the last time you saw a sexy machine sitting behind the counter at your average BestBuy/Staples/Anywhere? Most of the machines at retail stores where I’m from look like they’re from the mid-90’s.
I think that it needs to be bigger allows for the Customer to have a better grip where as something thin . For the business world I like it!
“…and bring a cashier to them instead of the other way around.” That statement alone make this worth the space it takes up in this world. Now if only that concept would catch on…
Is Motorola Solutions what bought Symbol? Cause we really need some Android-powered barcode guns over here… lol
The very same.
i know im not first but still first! :P