Mobile Computer enables plug-and-play customization.
Share:
Press Release Summary:
Ruggedized Symbol MC9000-G is designed around standards-based modular platform that allows users to select industry feature sets for specific tactical and strategic supply chain management needs. Architecture, built around Intel XScale embedded processor, is designed for performance of key automatic data capture technologies required for supply chain solutions. Unit also includes 3.8 in. display and multiple communications options.
Original Press Release:
Supply Chain Management in Real Time: Symbol Technologies Introduces Advanced Ruggedized Mobile Computer for Mission-Critical Enterprise Applications
Symbol MC9000-G Enables Plug-and-Play Customization and Easy Upgrades for Long-Term Customer Benefit and Effectiveness
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. - October 6, 2003 - Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), a global leader in enterprise mobility solutions, today introduced a ruggedized mobile computer designed around an innovative standards-based modular platform. This technology platform allows customers to select industry leading feature sets for their specific tactical and strategic supply chain application needs. The Symbol MC9000-G is to be demonstrated this week at the Post-Expo 2003 trade show at the Brussels Exhibition Center in Belgium. It is currently available for limited shipments and will begin volume production in November.
Far more than a new mobile computer, the Symbol MC9000-G provides a platform for a full systems-level solution based on Symbol's core competencies of advanced data capture, mobile computing and wireless networking. It incorporates peripherals, accessories, software tools and services that can be tailored to a wide range of vertical market needs - everything from manufacturing and retail to wholesale distribution and third-party logistics (3PL).
Royal Mail, H-E-B and Waitrose Select the Symbol MC9000-G
"Royal Mail has experienced great value from its existing track and trace infrastructure supplied by Symbol Technologies. It has proven to be robust and reliable. Now we have decided to move forward with the Symbol MC9000-G, which we are currently piloting at our facilities in Doncaster and Birmingham, England," said Paul McGinley, United Kingdom systems manager, Royal Mail. "We look forward to continuing our key strategic partnership with Symbol to develop new offerings for our major corporate customers who are increasingly demanding innovative mobility business solutions." Royal Mail is the United Kingdom's government-owned postal service.
"We selected the Symbol MC9000-G due to its multiple configurations and support of a wide variety of application architectures that make deploying it enterprisewide much easier than other products," said Shawn Sedate, vice president of Supply Chain systems for H-E-B. "We also liked the MC9000-G's modular engineering design that will help us implement upgrades more quickly and effectively, therefore setting us up for our future as well as present needs." H-E-B is one of the largest independently owned food retailers in the United States with more than 300 stores in Texas and Mexico.
Waitrose, a leading food retailer in the U.K., is piloting the Symbol MC9000-G in selected stores, with plans to roll out the solution throughout its 143 locations.
"With the Symbol MC9000-G, we can introduce flexible, cutting-edge technology to support a variety of applications. This technology allows us to improve stock estimate accuracy, leading to enhanced customer service," said Alistair Cairns, analyst, branch ordering systems, Waitrose. "It also enables us to realize the benefits of accurate stock management, resulting in increased efficiency and significant cost savings. These factors will help ensure we remain competitive in the fierce battle for market share among supermarkets."
Ideal for Channel Partners
"We've been working closely with one of our customers to develop applications for use on the Symbol MC9000-G and believe the durability and the architecture of the product to be ideally suited for supply chain solutions," said Jerry Sacks, president, Systems Application Engineering, Inc. (SAE), a leading provider of mobile business solutions for various industries and a Symbol solution provider. "We also think the value-add of Symbol services is important in helping us deliver the best enterprise mobility solution for customers."
"As a leading provider of extended supply chain execution solutions, we believe the Symbol MC9000-G shows great promise as the key component of an overall solution to help our global customers streamline their businesses by increasing efficiencies, improving the bottom line and decreasing overall logistics costs," said Bill Morris, director, hardware systems, Manhattan Associates, Inc., a Symbol channel partner.
Symbol MC9000-G Addresses Supply Chain Challenges
Today's supply chain issues include aging and incompatible IT architecture as well as the need to eliminate errors while gaining visibility to real-time data -- issues that businesses need to address to remain competitive.
According to The IT Spending Report, 2003-2004 by AMR Research, "Nearly 30 percent of 2003 IT budgets will go to the purchase and development of new technology, and more than 80 percent of companies expect their 2004 IT budgets to grow or remain stable." The report indicated that, "Every IT organization must focus on three areas for the next year: get control of maverick technology spending ... and eliminate non-strategic purchases of technology, begin to shift IT spending away from maintaining legacy systems and start to invest in new technology and capabilities, and focus on core competencies while considering cost-saving alternatives."
Key applications for the Symbol MC9000-G include inventory management, price verification, shipping/receiving, warehouse management, shop floor data capture and baggage reconciliation. Key benefits include real-time visibility into mission-critical needs such as information sharing, improved data accuracy, increased worker productivity and financial efficiency.
Symbol's advanced architecture, built around the Intel XScale embedded processor, is designed for longer battery life, reducing the need to recharge or replace batteries during a work shift. This allows workers to capture and process more information within a given timeframe, resulting in increased workforce productivity, a critical factor in today's competitive marketplace.
In addition, the architecture is designed for performance of key automatic data capture technologies required for supply chain solutions. The Symbol MC9000-G offers Symbol "fuzzy logic" technology in its standard and extended-range laser scanning configurations as well as two-dimensional imaging with Symbol "smart focus" technology. The Symbol MC9000-G will be available with either Microsoft Windows CE.NET or Windows Mobile 2003 operating system variants.
A large 3.8-inch display, available in either color or monochrome, a selection of field replaceable backlit keypads and integrated Bluetooth wireless communications are additional options enabling customers to select a configuration for their specific business applications. Also, the RS232/USB client or wireless LAN capabilities deliver multiple communications options.
The Symbol MC9000-G was designed to be extremely durable and in tests withstood multiple six-foot drops across various operating temperatures and thousands of three-foot drops. For added assurance, the Symbol MC9000-G is backed by end-to-end support provided by Symbol Enterprise Mobility Services - designed to ensure that customers experience a solution that works seamlessly and efficiently to help them achieve their business results.
"We designed the MC9000-G to help our customers bring their supply chain management to a new level of efficiency and effectiveness," said Todd Hewlin, Symbol senior vice president of global products. "Great effort went into developing the modular design because we want to deliver a solution for our customers that is not just good for today, but will also lay the foundation for their future needs."
More product information is available at: www.symbol.com/MC9000-G. The Symbol MC9000-G press kit is available at: symbol.com/news/pressreleases/presskit_mc9000.html .
About Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Symbol Technologies, Inc. delivers enterprise mobility solutions that enable anywhere, anytime data and voice communication designed to increase productivity, reduce costs and realize competitive advantage. Symbol systems and services integrate rugged mobile computing, advanced data capture, wireless networking and mobility software for the world's leading retailers, transportation and logistics companies and manufacturers as well as government agencies and providers of healthcare, hospitality and security. More information is available at www.symbol.com.
