Company insight
The shift to rugged Android mobile devices
Without the right operating system and customer support, rugged mobile devices risk not fulfilling their potential. Peter Thomas, vertical strategy manager for public sector at Panasonic Mobile Solutions Business Division Europe, breaks down how his company is listening to customers and investing heavily in Android TOUGHBOOK solutions – while also offering deep personalisation options for defence clients everywhere.
ver the past few decades, new technology has transformed how militaries operate. That is true across a number of areas, of course, yet it is arguably in the sphere of rugged mobile devices where change is most dramatic. According to one report, the market for these computers is expected to reach $2.6bn by 2028, up over $1bn from 2020. This can be seen in purchases by armies, with the US and the UK being just two of the Nato militaries investing in these machines. Yet, even as rugged mobile devices go from strength to strength, the industry is in flux. Though defence ministries have traditionally relied on the Windows operating system, the changing design of critical applications is pushing them towards less familiar Android models, with all the obstacles that such a switch involves.
O Rise of rugged
Few people are better placed to understand the growing importance of rugged devices than Peter Thomas. A defence industry professional for nearly a decade, he started his career selling directly to the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD). At Panasonic
since 2017, Thomas is now responsible for public sector sales of the TOUGHBOOK range of rugged mobile devices across Europe. Though Thomas’s purview encompasses military applications, it also includes emergency services, local government and other public institutions. As Thomas explains, their “accessibility” makes these computers useful across a range of applications. “Rugged devices have always been incredibly important for accessing data on the front line,” he says of their military potential. “But although that requirement is still there – and will continue to be there – there’s a growing adoption of rugged devices for other applications.” Among other things, this includes vehicle diagnostic requirements, battlefield management applications and logistics. Manufacturers are developing sleeker models that look and weigh closer to civilian tablets than bulky models of the past. And while older machines normally ran on Windows, many defence ministries are now shifting to Android. “When we look at battlefield management applications like Nett Warrior or ATAK,” explains Thomas, “these are the critical applications that
defence forces are now operating – and they need an Android product to run.”
The very best Panasonic’s TOUGHBOOK selection for Android rests on three pillars: the N1, the S1 and the A3. A 10in tablet, the A3 is the bigger of the three, and is certified to the latest MIL-STD-810H standards. The machine’s robustness is clear in other ways too: it can cope with temperatures from -20°C to 50°C and boasts anti-reflective screen treatment. Thomas, for his part, is keen to highlight the A3’s powerful performance, including 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage and optional 4G. At 7in, the S1 is smaller than the A3 – but is not any weaker for it. Resistant to drops of 1.5m onto IP67 concrete, it also has two special configurable buttons, allowing users to ‘go dark’ at speed, crucial for stealthy night-time operations. That is complemented by technology that allows it to run for up to 14 hours without needing to be recharged. And finally, the N1 is a super-rugged 4.7in handheld end-user device featuring similar specs as the S1 and A3, as well as eight fast-access programmable buttons, making launching and switching between applications in the field easy. With its rain- sensing and glove-touch mode, 100dB loudspeakers and 19-hour battery life, military professionals can stay connected and informed in mission-critical situations. All three devices are currently equipped with deep customisation options, as well as the latest Qualcomm processors, which means that – from a security perspective – these devices are fully supported for many years to come. ●
To find out more visit Panasonic Toughbook at Eurosatory in Hall 5A Booth J 721.
Panosonic's TOUGHBOOK range offers rugged features in a sleek and usable design. Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
www.toughbook.eu 31
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