Launch marks mobile hardware manufacturer’s next major open innovation landmark

Launch marks mobile hardware manufacturer’s next major open innovation landmark

Psion Teklogix this week unveiled another strategic landmark for the company, with the launch of Psion Omnii, a modular mobile computing platform.

The company said its new Omnii platform will give Psion, its resellers and developer partners the opportunity to co-create the widest range of adaptable solutions in the industry.

Psion’s Omnii platform coupled with the open, online community at IngenuityWorking.com, has been designed to deliver an new way of developing mobile products.

With Psion’s Open Source Mobility (OSM) business model at its heart, Psion’s Omnii platform will deliver a new, adaptable and rugged handheld computing family of devices according to the company.

Flexibility is central to offering

By being almost completely re-configurable in the field, devices built on the Psion Omnii platform are designed to be adapted for new technologies or even be re-purposed as customer needs change. The upgradeable and interchangeable modules are not only developed by Psion, but also by a network of more than 200 developer partners around the world, connected together via Psion’s open, online community.

John Conoley, Psion chief executive, said: “The development and launch of Psion’s new Omnii platform is the next major strategic milestone for the company. We’ve tested, adapted and evolved the platform based on direct feedback from the people who will use and develop on it. This modular design approach enables customisation at far greater levels than anyone in this industry has achieved before. The savings that can be generated through lower TCO [total cost of ownership] and longer product life are compelling. The modular approach is also great for Psion, giving the company unrivalled flexibility, cost control and continuity as well as significant market differentiation.”

The first device to be created from the new Omnii platform is the Omnii XT10, which also launched this week. The Omnii XT10 is an ultra rugged, modular handheld computer, targeted at demanding users, such as ports, airports, supply chain and logistics operations.

First device sets strategic standard

Psion’s Omnii XT10 comes with an IP65 and a 2.0-metre drop rating and, due to the inclusion of the Texas Instruments OMAP3 processor, performs up to two times faster than the competition on industry benchmarks according to Psion claims. The superscalar architecture delivers parallel ARM instructions for better performance and better efficiency, at lower MHz.

“Our new Omnii platform is the most technically advanced enterprise mobile computing environment we’ve developed so far. It builds on the success of our previous products, such as the Workabout family, and extends our commitment to developing highly adaptive, ingenious and open products that meet the widest possible array of mobile computing demands,” added Mike Doyle, Psion chief technology officer. “With Psion’s Omnii XT10, we’re starting a new and exciting journey to take advantage of an evolving abundance of niche applications for rugged mobile devices.”