Bringing Android to Special Vertical Markets
At the APCO Public Safety trade show in Philadelphia in August, EB launched its versatile Android-based Mobile Platform Designed for Specialized Vertical Markets
With the EB Specialized Device Platform, – which is targeted to vertical markets such as defense, public safety and security, our customers can roll-out customized mobile devices that meet specific industry functional or performance requirements—faster and with lower development risks and costs. The platform leverages mass market mobile device hardware/software technologies and economies of scale.
The platform is comprised of components specifically focused to extend product life cycle, deliver excellent performance and simplify the platform evolution. It is anchored by the Texas Instruments OMAP™ family of application processors and includes both OMAP3™ series single-core and OMAP4™ series dual-core options. EB chose TI's OMAP processors for their balance between competitive mass market performance and unique features, such as integrated and fully programmable C64x Digital Signal Processor, that appeals to the target vertical markets. Other key features include integrated cellular connectivity options including LTE with Band 14 support for the U.S. Public Safety market, a high-resolution touch-screen enabled display with superior sunlight readability, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and advanced battery and power management features.
The EB Specialized Device Platform is generally available today for devices to be commercialized with the OMAP3 Series applications processor and 3G cellular connectivity options. Devices requiring the OMAP4 Series applications processors or the 4G/LTE cellular connectivity options can be commercialized in the first half of 2012.
"Specific markets such as defense and public safety require unique mobile devices that must meet stringent compliance and regulatory requirements; thereby making it difficult for them to deploy traditional smartphones and tablets across their field teams," said Jani Lyrintzis, vice president at EB. "EB has solved this problem, by introducing the Specialized Device Platform – that uniquely offers the best of the traditional mobile world, with the Android operating system and key mobile hardware/software/radio features, combined with product-and industry-specific features—which allows these vertical organizations to bring new mobile devices to market quicker, more cost-effectively and with less development risk."