The new VC6096 from Motorola, announced Monday, would give UPS managers automatic access to vehicle information such as fuel economy, and will help drivers log departure and arrival times wirelessly, a spokeswoman said.
UPS is currently testing the VC6096 inside long-haul trailer trucks and large trucks that move packages from one sorting facility to another. A UPS spokeswoman, Donna Barrett, said it would not replace the fourth-generation proprietary handheld computers that more than 100,000 UPS drivers use globally to deliver packages to customer's homes and businesses.
That proprietary computer, known as Delivery Information Acquisition Device IV (DIAD), was manufactured to UPS specifications by Motorola and Symbol Corp., which was acquired by Motorola. The was announced in 2003.
UPS won't reveal how many VC6096 computers it intends to buy, although it will be a "sizeable" number, Barrett said, assuming testing goes well.
One advantage of using the VC6096 is its use of the , which is expected to be widely used in business settings. It gives UPS Wide Area Network connectivity as well as Wi-Fi connectivity to allow drivers to stay in contact with dispatchers outside of facilities and inside them, where Wi-Fi access points are often deployed, Barrett said.
"We would prefer to buy off-the-shelf where we can," including devices such as the VC6096, although the proprietary DIAD helped solve specific needs for UPS, she said. Other standard hardware that UPS has purchased includes wireless scanner devices. The new VC6096 devices must be mounted inside a vehicle, using the vehicle's power to operate.
The VC6096, available in the first quarter of 2009, will sell for US$4,395, said Sheldon Safir, director of marketing for mobile computing in the enterprise mobility division at Motorola.
Because it runs , it gives companies access to the many applications already written for that widespread operating system. In addition, it will run on GSM and High Speed Downlink Packet Access Network speeds over networks operated by AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA, Saifr said.
Analysts said that in-vehicle computers are sold by Motorola competitors such as Intermec Inc. and Psion, but Motorola believes the VC6096 will be an attractive alternative to a proprietary service from
The new computer includes a standard QWERTY keyboard, a 6.5-inch touch display and weighs 4.8 pounds, according to a Motorola specifications sheet. It is 9.5 x 9.2 x 1.9 inches in size. It includes 128 MB of RAM and 256 MB of Flash memory, with an SD card slot for an additional 2 GB. Rugged specifications include protection from extreme temperature, dust, humidity, vibration and more. Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth are supported.
Tom McNeela, senior product manager at Motorola, said the telemetrics supported by the device will give drivers and dispatchers access to information on the next route they need to find, as well as automatic information on factors such as excessive vehicle idling or excessive speed. Barrett said the telematics applications tested successfully so far included truck speed, RPM, braking data, and idle time, although more functions will be tested later.
Kevin Burden, an analyst at , said vehicle telemetrics have often been controversial, with objections by driver's unions worried that managers will be tracking a driver and invading his privacy. A year ago, thousands of New York City taxi drivers . But Burden said managers for delivery operations have learned they can use GPS and vehicle information to "stay on top of the work force in the trucking business, where time is everything." The technology has proven to be , including J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
It is often the mere threat of installing such devices that will improve the productivity of a driver, Burden said.
Even though UPS appears to be adopting the Windows Mobile platform with the VC6096, Burden said the transition to standard and modern operating systems has been surprisingly slow with many companies, partly because of the training involved with large work forces that are familiar with old, but reliable systems.
"There's still a ton of DOS devices out there," Burden said.