Roper Mobile Technology Announces Shipping of SwitchBack Rugged Ultra Mobile PC
Written by Roper Mobile Technology
Monday, 29 October 2007
Shipments of SwitchBack PC Commence for Customers in Military and Industrial Markets
TEMPE, Ariz.--Roper Mobile Technology announces the commercial availability of its flagship product, the SwitchBack PC. Roper Mobile Technology is a leading provider of fully rugged, highly customizable mobile computing solutions for challenging environments. Debuted last fall as the world’s first rugged UMPC (Ultra Mobile Personal Computer), the SwitchBack is a powerful Windows XP-based PC in a lightweight, rugged form factor.
“Over the last year, we have experienced an overwhelmingly positive market response to the SwitchBack PC and its unique modular design. The SwitchBack is now exploding onto the market and our first customers have been pleased with the technology and service we are providing,” said Justin Dyster, Vice President of Engineering at Roper Mobile Technology. “Our BackPack initiative is already a success, with many customers placing orders for the Standard BackPack and with several more in military markets ordering Custom BackPacks or working with us to develop their own.”
“The UMPC is emerging as a highly viable form factor for use in vertical applications currently supported by rugged mobile computers,” said David Krebs, Practice Director, Venture Development Corporation. “The SwitchBack is uniquely positioned to support many of these applications and its design emphasizes the need for more platform-based modular computing solutions.”
Roper Industries (NYSE:ROP), a global and diversified provider of industrial products and solutions for global niche markets, recently acquired Black Diamond Advanced Technology, the technology development firm that created the SwitchBack PC. The SwitchBack PC will be manufactured and marketed through Roper Mobile Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roper Industries.
“The strength of this highly talented Research and Development team combined with our established global resources in sales and service will greatly accelerate SwitchBack’s market success,” said Gene Yazbak, President of Roper Mobile Technology. “Roper Mobile is pleased to expand our capabilities in order to retain our fierce focus on innovating disruptive technologies, like the SwitchBack, that go the extra step to anticipate customer needs in harsh environments.”
The latest version of the SwitchBack PC is the most powerful version yet. Operating on a Windows XP or Windows Vista platform, it utilizes a 1.0 GHz Intel® Celeron® M processor, 2GB of 400 MHz DDR2 and up to 120GB of optional storage. It has passed rigorous environmental testing and meets military specification MIL-STD-810F and IEC 60529 standard IP-67 for operating in conditions of extreme shock, vibration, temperature and immersion.
The standard SwitchBack PC comes with a one year standard warranty and is equipped with a condensed QWERTY keyboard, removable hard drive, hot swappable battery and a 5.6-inch WSVGA sunlight viewable touch screen with stylus. Wireless capabilities like Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi b/g are standard and GPS can be integrated. The newest SwitchBack also has a patent-pending Status & Control feature that enables remote diagnostics for automatic troubleshooting in the field. This first of its kind diagnostic tool intelligently manages and controls vital functions of the PC including:
Primary & secondary battery levels
Temperature fluctuation
Accelerometer to measure drops
Power consumption
Input and output shortages
The BackPack Program
The SwitchBack’s patent-pending BackPack Technology allows the user to incorporate multiple devices into a single BackPack such as a digital camera, biometric security, an RFID reader or any combination of I/O options.
The BackPack (standard or custom) attaches onto the back of the SwitchBack and interfaces to the computer through a special ultra-wide, high-speed connection to the Switchback. This PC’s design is so flexible almost any electronic peripheral can be designed to interface with it.
Today, customers can order the Standard BackPack which includes:
Type II PCMCIA
USB 2.0 Port
Serial Port
VGA output
Audio Line In
Audio Line out
Roper Mobile also works closely with its customers to design customized BackPacks that are right for them. In addition, customers can choose to utilize Roper Mobile’s BackPack Development Kit which allows them to build their own BackPacks.
Pricing & Availability
The SwitchBack PC and the Standard BackPack are available immediately through Roper Mobile Technology. For pricing and information on custom BackPack Modules or a BackPack Development Kit, contact Roper Mobile at 480-705-4200 or at
About Roper Mobile Technology
Roper Mobile Technology is the leading provider of fully rugged, highly customizable computer solutions for challenging environments. Designed from the ground up, the Company’s full line of rugged mobile computing solutions include lightweight handhelds, Tablets, Ultra Mobile PCs and fixed mount computers.
Roper Mobile Technology, located in Tempe, Arizona, is newly formed and draws from over 35 years of combined experience through the joining of DAP Technologies, LTD, JLT Mobile Computers, Inc. and Black Diamond Advanced Technology.
Roper Mobile’s highly customizable and versatile products bring efficiency and reliability to mobile data communications for customers in a breadth of industries including public safety, military, warehousing, mining, construction and transport. Roper Mobile’s hardware solutions are available through certified partners and resellers worldwide. Roper Mobile Technology has corporate offices in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., and sales offices worldwide. Roper Mobile Technology is wholly-owned subsidiary of Roper Industries (NYSE:ROP), a global and diversified provider of industrial products and solutions for global niche markets. For more information, go to www.ropermobile.com.
About Roper Industries
Roper Industries (NYSE:ROP) is a market-driven, diversified growth company with trailing twelve month revenues of $2.0 billion, and is a component of the Fortune 1000, S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 1000 Indexes. Roper provides engineered products and solutions for global niche markets, including water, energy, radio frequency and research/medical applications. Additional information about Roper Industries is available on the Company’s website at www.roperind.com.
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