Panasonic Solutions Company, a provider of collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions, said its newly-released Toughbook U1 Ultra has been designed to offer enhanced sunlight viewability and faster performance.

The new device runs on Intel (News - Alert) Atom Processor (Z530 1.6Ghz) over the Windows 7 OS and features TransflectivePlus display for up to 6000 nit viewability in direct sunlight, 64GB solid state hard drive and 2GB of memory. The company claimed that the device is highly suited for mobile jobs such as direct store delivery, eCitation and vegetation management in markets like supply chain management, public safely and utilities.

The device weighs 2.3 pounds with the strap and batteries installed, and the battery can offer up to nine hours of runtime while on the go. The device itself is designed to take a beating as it can withstand drop impacts up to six feet off the ground. The fan-less design is also dust- and water-resistant.

The optional 2-megapixel camera features updated software to offer faster auto-focus and improved white balancing, while the optional barcode reader has been improved with new software that allows for onboard, data and symbology configuration. Panasonic (News - Alert) has also enhanced the device with features like enlarged screen icons, a larger soft keyboard, programmable "right-click" onscreen button, a zoom and pan mode for easy navigation of robust content and a soft "Ctrl-Alt-Del" button for log-on access.

It is also integrated with a wide range of connectivity options like optional integrated WWAN/Gobi2000 mobile broadband (EV-DO and HSPA), Intel WiFi (News - Alert) Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR and more.

“The ability to provide mobile workforce with a reliable, powerful and adaptable handheld computer running a full Windows OS is critical for organizations attempting to stay ahead of the competition,” said Kyp Walls, director of product management at Panasonic Solutions, in a statement. “Relying on a single-purpose device that runs a pared-down or proprietary OS is no longer acceptable in environments where information is critical and computing solutions must deliver a clear ROI. The Toughbook U1 Ultra, running Windows 7 and incorporating an impressive list of available integrated features, is the ideal handheld mobile computing solution for companies with an eye on future success.