New radio module

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 39

New radio module

Datacom Equipment, Ltd, has pioneered a further development in hand-held computers with the introduction of a radio communications module for the MSI hand-held computers that it sells. The hand-held computers, about the size of a large calculator, are used mainly for capturing data at locations distant from the main computer system. Usually the data is stored inside the hand-held com-/ puter and later transferred to the main computer by a direct connection between the two machines or over a telephone line. The new radio communications module will allow hand-held computers to communicate interactively with a host computer up to a few hundred metres away. A small plastic case less than eight centrimetres high plugged into the top of the hand-held computer contains the R.F. transmitter and receiver. It is expected to sell for less than ?1000. At the host computer end, a base station unit handles the communications with the remote hand-held comE‘ rs and connects to the computer through an R 5232 link. Datacom Equipment’s general manager, Mr Roger Quayle, sees immediate applications . for the new module in supermarkets. The hand-held computers can be used by staff roving the store checking prices marked on the shelves. In this case the hand-held computer communicates with the store’s main computer, which holds current prices. Other hand-held computers can be used for recording and checking in the supermarket as goods, such as bread, are delivered to the store. The transport industry is expected to be interested in the radio communications module for use in freight tracking applications, such as in railway marshalling yards. Datacom will also be proposing the module for surveying applications, where the company has already

made significant sales of hand-held computers. The module has been developed at the Wellington head office of Datacom Equipment. Negotiations have been held with MSI Data Corporation, the United States manufacturer of the hand-held computers, for the sale of the design rights or the sale of manufactured modules. “This is the type of product we have been looking for,” said Mr Charlie Butler, vice-president of marketing for MSI, who visited Christchurch recently. Mr Butler explained how MSI and Datacom have together pioneered new fields in the hand-held computer market. This included programming work done in Christchurch that has been exported to a number of countries. The latest contract completed by Datacom’s Christchurch team was for a route accounting system for a Canadian bread delivery firm. McGavin Foods, Ltd, in

Vancouver, is equipping its 300 van salesmen with handheld computers and printers. MSI contracted Datacom to write the software for the computers for SUSI4,OOO. Mr Chris Power, the project leader of Datacom’s

research and development team in Christchurch, went to Vancouver this month to oversee the installation of the system.