Panasonic expanded its Toughpad line of enterprise-grade tablets with the introduction of the Toughpad JT-B1 at the CommunicAsia 2013 in Singapore. The JT-B1 is a 7″ Android-powered unit that follows the previous release of the 10″ Toughpad FZ-A1 (Android), and the 10″ Toughpad(TM) FZ-G1 (Windows 8 Pro). Toughpad(TM) tablets are designed for mission-critical and highly mobile workers in the logistics, utilities, telecommunication, construction, healthcare, and the military, among others. With the expanded Toughpad(TM) range, businesses and government institutions have a single partner delivering a selection of highly reliable and purpose-built devices ideal for various operational needs.
“As the market leader in the rugged mobile computing space for nearly 20 years, Panasonic Toughbook has built up a reputation as a reliable solutions provider, with its engineering expertise, world class services, and extensive knowledge of vertical markets,” said Satoshi Mizobata, Director of Toughbook Asia Pacific Group. “Our customers are confident in our products and their ability to deliver performance and return on investments. The Toughpad(TM) JT-B1 is a great addition to our family of rugged tablets with its compact size, ergonomic design, high durability, and advanced security features.”
The JT-B1 is one of the lightest Panasonic mobile computers around and comes with a back strap that allows for one-handed use, ideal for a host of usage scenarios, including inventory control, eForms, field sales, field service, inspections, route delivery, and mobile point-of-sales.
The Toughpad family is designed to meet the same durability standards as Panasonic’s Toughbook laptop product line. The Toughpad(TM) JT-B1 has a MIL-STD-810G rating for 150cm drops as well as an IP65 rated for resistance to dust and water. The device is able to operate reliably in extreme conditions that render typical tablets non-operational.
Enterprise-class mobile computing requires an enhanced level of device security that is not available in today’s tablet market. To address this need, the Toughpad(TM) JT-B1 incorporates security features embedded physically into the device and offers hardware and software encryption, IPsec VPN, root protection, trusted boot as well as device management. This ensures the Toughpad(TM) JT-B1 will be compliant with FIPS 140-2 for use in government departments and regulated industries like financial and health-care institutions. Compatibility with world-class Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools are also available to allow IT managers to manage applications, secure devices from unauthorised use, and perform many other tasks.
The Toughpad JT-B1 offers as standard Bluetooth(R) v4.0 + EDR (Class 2), 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, GPS, optional integrated 3G mobile broadband, and Near Field Communication (NFC) capability. The device allows 8 hours of nonstop computing and the battery is replaceable, ensuring mid-life battery upgrades. The Toughpad(TM) JT-B1 has daylight viewable screens, allowing mobile workers in markets like supply chain logistics and utilities, to clearly see critical data under bright sunlight.
