Rugged mobile computers
by Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 5/1/2007
Worldwide sales of rugged mobile computers closed in on $5 billion last year, with the majority of sales in smaller form factors, such as the handheld wireless terminals common in warehouses and distribution centers. Roughly one fifth of the mobile computers market is in the handheld, wearable and vehicle-mount units used in warehouse environments. Others are used in the field by police officers, salespeople and delivery truck drivers. Brand names on many of these devices have changed in recent years as evidence of the convergence happening in the rugged mobile computer market.
Recent supplier shakeups
| Date |
Announcement |
| April 2007 |
Datalogic restructures, completing its integration of PSC |
| Jan. 2007 |
Motorola completes its acquisition of Symbol Technologies |
| Sept. 2006 |
Metrologic Instruments goes private |
Operating system used
| Large form factors |
2005 |
2010 |
CAGR* |
| Windows XP/Future Derivative |
492,948 |
874,447 |
12.1% |
| Windows CE.Net |
84,224 |
187,732 |
17.4% |
| Windows Tablet/XP Tablet |
73,673 |
155,851 |
16.2% |
| DOS |
33,370 |
0 |
-100.0% |
| Linux |
6,558 |
42,488 |
45.3% |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
– |
| Total |
690,774 |
1,260,518 |
12.8% |
| Small form factors |
2005 |
2010 |
CAGR* |
| Windows CE.Net |
1,272,175 |
2,594,179 |
15.3% |
| Windows Mobile |
463,962 |
1,392,464 |
24.6% |
| DOS |
308,086 |
0 |
-100.0% |
| Palm OS |
69,450 |
0 |
-100.0% |
| Other |
54,103 |
75,689 |
6.9% |
| Linux |
46,594 |
165,114 |
28.8% |
| Total |
2,214,370 |
4,227,447 |
13.8% |
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