Earlier, we brought you news of a teaser trailer released by Motorola Solutions. In this video, the business communications-oriented manufacturer hinted at some type of rugged Android device. There has been speculation of it being a rugged Android phone or tablet, but it appears that is not the case. Since the video was released, we have obtained pictures and a spec sheet for the device ahead of Motorola’s planned October 21 reveal date. While Motorola has not officially announced the name of the device, it will most likely be the TC70.
The TC70 will be a handheld device running Android 4.4.2 (KitKat). Included on the device is Motorola’s enterprise security and data capture software, Extensions (Mx). The TC70 is the next device after the TC55 in a line of enterprise-grade mobile devices. It is primarily aimed at retail and manufacturing markets for inventory, asset management, audits and other enterprise uses. The ruggedized device is IP67 certified, meaning it is dustproof and waterproof, making it perfect for use in rough environments. The 4.7 inch 720p display and scanner panel are covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 2, ensuring the device will be able to survive drops, bumps, and scratches in a harsh workplace. The capacitive touchscreen can work with bare or gloved fingers, or a stylus, even when it is wet.
The handheld has a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front, and a 8 megapixel camera on the rear panel. The device is also equipped with a barcode scanner, which is capable of reading 1D and 2D barcodes. Inside the TC70 is a dual-core Qualcomm 1.7 GHz and 1GB of RAM. The device comes with 8 GB of onboard memory, which will be expandable to 32 GB via a MicroSD card slot. While these are by no means flagship specs, a specialized device like this won’t need the extra performance.
Even though the device is not equipped with a cell radio, the TC70 can connect to the workplace using onboard Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC. Extending the handheld’s functionality will be easy, as a wide variety of accessories will be available, including snap on handles, holsters, and card readers. Another feature of the handheld that will be useful in loud workplaces is the 108 dB speaker, which is up to 4 times louder than the average smartphone.
While the device has not yet been officially announced, based on the information we have, the mysterious reveal on the 21st will be the new TC70.
