Emkat

A Special Visit made to Emkat!

2011-09-12T14:53:00.003-05:00

What an exciting day for us all here at Emkat! We were honored to have a visit from Nick Schultz, #55 from the MN Wild today along with a member of the National Guard. Talk about a special way for the MN Wild to show their appreciation to a few of their season ticket holders.

Pictured above from left to right Chris Kane, Nick Schultz, Brad Kieley, and M. Turner.

Great News From Honeywell.....

2011-08-18T08:38:00.001-05:00

"HONEYWELL LAUNCHES AIDC INDUSTRY’S FIRST DEVELOPER PROGRAM FOR HONEYWELL MOBILE DEVICES UTILIZING THE ANDROID™ OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) Software Vendors and Customers to Support Honeywell’s Entrance into Market for Devices using the Android™ OS
Fort Mill, S.C. - August 15, 2011 - Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced the launch of its Honeywell Developer Program for Android™ OS compatible devices, giving independent software vendors (ISVs) and end-users a voice in the development of Honeywell mobile computing products that will utilize the Android OS. Through the program, participants will also have the opportunity to develop and test Android™-specific applications on Honeywell’s newest mobile computer, prior to launch.A recent study of the smartphone market commissioned by Honeywell and conducted by Booz & Company indicates that CIOs and IT leaders from various companies that utilize mobile devices are integrating the Android™ OS into their overall technology strategy. This is largely because the Android™ OS is customizable and familiar to a large number of users, due to its success in the smartphone marketplace.“Innovation and leadership have always been key factors in Honeywell’s success in the AIDC market,” said Taylor Smith, director of product management, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. “Enterprises are demanding more flexibility and more options when it comes to mobile devices. Honeywell is one of the first AIDC hardware manufacturers to meet this need, presenting us with a unique opportunity to deepen the relationships we have with our partners and end-users, and work closely with them to develop new offerings that continue to meet their needs, without compromising the quality user experience they’ve come to expect from Honeywell.”Honeywell’s Developer Program for Android™ OS compatible devices starts today. By joining the program, participants will gain access to Honeywell’s ISVstore.com, have their offerings displayed along with Honeywell products at upcoming conferences, and have the opportunity to participate in joint marketing and public relations activities. Given the flexible nature of the Android™ OS, participants will also be able to ensure the best possible performance and user experience is introduced on Honeywell mobile devices. Independent software vendors and end-users who have signed up for the program include Aldata, ALK Technologies, Apacheta Corporation, Astea, ClickSoftware, Cornell Mayo, Countermind, Mobile Tornado, RetailPro and Vodafone.“We expect the Android platform to continue making inroads into the enterprise and we’re excited for the opportunity to work with a leader like Honeywell to ensure that we stay ahead of the competition,” said Debbie Geiger, vice president of marketing, Astea International. “Like us, Honeywell recognizes that the line between consumer and enterprise solutions is blurring. By working so closely with their partners on this developer program, we expect Honeywell will see great success as they officially enter the Android space.”For more information on the Honeywell Developer Program, please visit www.honeywellaidc.com/HoneywellDeveloperProgram "

This information was taken from their recent press release.

Honeywell 99EX

2011-04-15T15:33:00.002-05:00

Bringing your company outstanding durability, cutting-edge wireless technology and a multi-functional data capture for front-line workers in both indoor and outdoor areas. This device will take mobile worker productivity to a new level while helping to cute operating costs. Contact an Emkat Sales Representative to get more information today.

Emkat and Paper-Less are pleased announce a formal partnership

2011-02-24T09:28:00.000-06:00

Paper-Less, LLC is a software provider specializing in solutions to help discrete manufacturing optimize their processes by creating visibility into production and enabling a management by exception environment. Offering solutions for almost two decades, Paper-Less has helped customers worldwide in the areas of production reporting, lean initiatives, quality reporting, scheduling, and managing work in process inventory. The primary goal is to help cut costs and increase throughput, and ensure that the production plan is upheld and orders are delivered on a timely basis. Paper-Less supports these goals by communicating mission critical information to and from the plant floor without disruption of daily workflows.

GO Zebra11

2011-02-03T13:18:00.003-06:00

Own a Zebra printer and ready for an upgrade? With Zebra's Trade-in Program you could receive up to $500 cash back when you purchase a new select Zebra Printer.

For a complete list of eligible printers included in this program contact your sales rep.

Emkat Shop Dog...one of many!

2011-02-01T12:45:00.004-06:00

Most days at Emkat you may walk in and find yourself greeted by one of several shop dogs that like to put in a full days work.

Pictured above is Hobbs, a 4.5 year old Boston Terrier that can be found burrowed under blankets and often snoozing while on the clock!

Thinking it might be time for a NEW Zebra printer?

2011-01-20T11:06:00.001-06:00

GO Zebra11 Trade-In Program

When you purchase a select new Zebra printer and trade-in an older eligible Zebra or competitive model, you'll receive up to $500 cash back. Return of trade-in printers will continue to be completely free of charge to you and are 100% recycled by Zebra.

GO Zebra11 is scheduled to launch at the end of January, 2011.

Emkat is excited to now offer:

2011-01-19T15:22:00.001-06:00

Intermec New 70 Series: One Platform, Four Products

Intermec today announced the launch of the 70 Series, its next generation portfolio of ultra-rugged mobile computers, delivering unparalleled performance to maximize worker uptime and efficiency. Comprised of four products over one platform, the 70 Series nearly doubles Intermec’s mobile computer portfolio in one release.

Featuring Windows Embedded Handheld, the 70 Series is the only platform to deliver the following feature benefits:

1. The most advanced 1D/2D scan engines, including:
The new EA30 2D scan engine, with breakthrough motion tolerance performance and an advanced aiming system – delivering increased productivity and ease of use for scan intensive applications
The new, 3rd generation EX25 near-far scan engine - increasing the distance and velocity of data capture
2. The industry’s first 802.11n dual-band WLAN – enabling better connectivity and communication for mobile workers

3. Six-foot drop spec across all temperatures, IP67 sealing, Gorilla glass touch panel, and indestructible keypad technology – delivering best in class ruggedness and reliability

4. INcontrol managed services platform - delivering business intelligence from the point of work, along with remote monitoring and diagnostics

5. On-board diagnostics and device health monitoring – improving service uptime and serviceability of large fleets of devices

RTE Inc.

2011-01-05T09:24:00.000-06:00

Emkat is pleased to announce the expansion of its partnership with RTE, Inc., of Waite Park, MN, to provide hardware support for riteTIME, RTE’s innovative new labor data collection software. Designed to interface with a variety of ERP systems, riteTIME simplifies employee task recording, providing better performance monitoring of the work floor through accurate, real time information. Since 2006, Emkat has also been RTE’s preferred hardware partner for riteSCAN, its Mobile Warehouse solution for SYSPRO. Based on SYSPRO’s e.net technology, riteSCAN has been recognized as the leading bar code solution for SYSPRO users.

Penchant Software

2010-12-22T08:51:00.000-06:00

Emkat is pleased to announce our partnership with Penchant Software from Minneapolis Minnesota. This partnership gives our mutual customer base access to a complete end to end, off the shelf, customizable mobile solution. Please visit their site for further information on their software offerings and make sure to download the attached PDF.
www.penchant.com

SmartTurn

2010-12-15T11:19:00.000-06:00

SmartTurn Inc. is the leading On-Demand Inventory and Warehouse Management System (WMS) provider. SmartTurn™ Inventory and Warehouse Management System and the SmartTurn Inventory Grid™ are the first true on-demand warehouse management systems to provide enterprise class functionality at a fraction of the cost of traditional license and install software. Designed for quick implementation, ease-of-use, real-time inventory accuracy and warehouses performance, the SmartTurn system provides visibility on every item across single or multiple warehouses.

Partnership Spotlight - WiSys

2010-12-08T09:24:00.001-06:00

Building on a four year partnership, Emkat is proud to present WiSys in this edition’s Partnership Spotlight. The leading business solution provider for Macola Software, WiSys has developed fully integrated inventory, distribution and manufacturing business solutions ideal for Exact Macola users. With the introduction of the Agility Suite, WiSys provides Exact Macola users with the ability to meet modern day business challenges and drastically improve supply chain operations. The Agility Suite is just a portion of products positioned within WiSys’ Operational Performance Management (OPM) directive.

Appolis

2010-12-02T16:03:00.001-06:00

WithoutWire WarehouseWithoutWire Warehouse is a full-featured WMS solution from Appolis Mobile Business Solutions that utilizes the latest development technology from Microsoft to control the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse, process the associated transactions, and provide real-time and web-based visibility about the status of goods in the warehouse. Automation of warehouse processes via WithoutWire WMS delivers value and return on investment justification to the client via efficiencies gained in both inventory and labor optimization.

Global Economic Supply Chain Issues:

2010-11-29T08:36:00.000-06:00

- Global economic conditions in 2009 caused the global semiconductor supply chain to dramatically reduce capacity as demand dried up. Due to this constriction many smaller manufacturers went out of business

- As the demand for semiconductor products has increased due to improving global economic conditions semiconductor manufacturers have not been able to ramp quickly enough to keep up with demand.

- Increased demand compounded by the insolvency of smaller manufactures & the understanding that there is a global shortage (Everyone is requesting larger than normal supply to build buffet stock & get ahead of the line) has only exacerbated the issue. The two primary vendors that manufacture our specific chip-set are dealing with the same issues.

- This is not a vendor specific issue but a global one.-

Bluetooth Scanners now designed for iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

2010-11-18T08:33:00.001-06:00

KoamTac, Inc. announced today the release of the KDCi range of Bluetooth barcode scanners designed specifically for use with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. At less than two cubic inches and weighing only 1.2 ounces, KoamTac’s KDCi offers enterprises the opportunity to add professional barcode scanning to their mobile workers’ handset of choice in many industries including: transportation, field service, retail and health care.

802.11n The New Standard in Wireless

2010-11-16T16:15:00.000-06:00

The 802.11 family includes over-the-air modulation techniques that use the same basic protocol. The most popular are those defined by the 802.11b and 802.11g protocols, which are amendments to the original standard. 802.11-1997 was the first wireless networking standard, but 802.11b was the first widely accepted one, followed by 802.11g and 802.11n. Security was originally purposefully weak due to export requirements of some governments,[1] and was later enhanced via the 802.11i amendment after governmental and legislative changes. 802.11n is a new multi-streaming modulation technique. Other standards in the family (c–f, h, j) are service amendments and extensions or corrections to the previous specifications.

What about Printer Resolution?!?!? Difference between 200 & 300 dpi.

2010-11-11T10:19:00.002-06:00

All of thermal barcode printers can produce a 2D barcode and all of them also have fixed resolutions. The fixed resolution is desirable because this is what allows them to produce perfect barcodes at speed. The higher resolution printers also cost more; a 600dpi printer is generally twice the price of a 200dpi. The difference the resolution makes is that the smallest barcode one of these printers can make has a narrow element of a single pixel and a 300dpi printers pixels are 33% smaller than a 200dpi printer. Therefore if you were making a barcode (2D or 1D, doesn’t matter) on a 300dpi printer the smallest size it could make is a 3mil barcode, in order to read a barcode this small you would need a special purpose high density scanner, the smallest size a standard 2D scanner will read is 10mil. A 3mil datamatrix 2D barcode with 10 characters would measure be a .048 inch square. The smallest barcode you could make on a 200dpi printer would measure 5mil, if this barcode had 10 characters it would be a .08 inch square, still too small to be read with a standard imager. When barcodes are made larger their size is determined by a factor of how many pixels make the narrow bar, so the smallest barcode has a narrow bar made with 1 pixel, the next largest barcode is made with 2 pixels, then 3 and so on, this means on a 200dpi printer your choices for barcode size would start at 5mil, the next size larger would be 10mil, then 15mil, then 20mil, etc. on a 300dpi printer your size choices would be 3mil, 7mil, 10mil, 13mil, 17mil, 20mil, etc. So if the intent is to make a small barcode both resolutions can produce a 10mil barcode, which would be a .16 inch square, but with a 300dpi printer you have more flexibility in size choices.

The mil size of a barcode refers to the measurement of the narrowest element, which is the width of the smallest bar in a 1D barcode and the width of one of the square elements in a 2D barcode. 1mil = 1/1000 in.

Emkat Press

2010-11-09T09:02:00.002-06:00

Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal has announced that Emkat made #38 in the Twin Cities Fastest-Growing private companies in Minnesota. We are proud of this accomplishment, especially with the economic activity that has taken place this past year. The Emkat team, partners, vendors, and most importantly our loyal customers deserve a pat on the back for making this happen. Thank you to all.

ITalkie™

2010-11-05T08:27:00.000-05:00

Turn your Mobile handheld computer into a walkie-talkie with iTalkie™
iTalkie™ is a groundbreaking solution to painlessly add the efficiency of voice and text communications into your business workflow.

Add walkie-talkie, messaging and phone-like intercom to your mobile computer. iTalkie™ combines the ease of use and deployment of traditional walkie- talkies with the benefits of serverless one-to-one calls and presence!

Social Networking

2010-11-03T09:09:00.000-05:00

Emkat is pleased to announce The” Emkat” Linked In Group. The purpose of this group is to embrace our customer base and give you access to collaborate with each other. We will keep this updated with all of the latest industry information and promotions from our vendors.

*If you are not already a linkedin subscriber we encourage you to sign up and join the group. This is a valuable tool for all professionals to build your network. If you are a current subscriber, simply log in and request to join the group.

Have you ever wondered why your speakers on your PC make a weird noise when your cell phone rings?

2010-10-28T08:28:00.000-05:00

When a cell phone begins receiving a call, or checks in with a nearby tower, the phone’s RF receiver is turned on and off repeatedly at a very fast rate. This ‘pulsing’ can be picked up by nearby devices that do not have proper shielding. The phone is actually required to transmit at a higher level the farther away it is from the nearest tower, which may translate to a louder buzz.

New technology is changing the way this transmission occurs, and there are now standards in place for manufacturers of equipment like your computer speakers to ensure that they build their products with enough shielding to prevent this buzz from occurring. In the future, the cell phone buzz may be a thing of the past!

TEAM VoWLAN Business Smartphones

2010-10-26T15:12:00.000-05:00

The TEAM VoWLAN business smartphones are part of Motorola’s TEAM VoWLAN solution, which turns the desktop into a pocketable virtual office, delivering comprehensive mobile access over the WLAN to the voice and data services needed to increase productivity, collaboration and customer satisfaction.

Ncomputing

2010-10-21T09:05:00.001-05:00

MAXIMUM COMPUTING. MINIMUM COST.
Today's PCs are so powerful that the vast majority of applications only use a small fraction of the computer's capacity. Ncomputing's virtualization software and hardware tap this unused capacity so that it can be simultaneously shared by many users. Each user connects to the shared PC through a small Ncomputing access device. The access device has no CPU, memory, or moving parts—so it is rugged, durable, and easy to deploy and maintain.

Tech Tidbits - ARM's Multicore Chips Aim for Netbooks

2010-10-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

The race to faster netbooks and smartphones is making more advanced mobile applications possible…
BARCELONA—ARM, the company that has designed most of the processors in mobile phones, on Monday announced a new, low-cost processor called "Sparrow" at the Mobile World Congress trade show. The company said it is aiming to conquer the netbook market with its multi-core Cortex A9 architecture.
Sparrow is a small, inexpensive chip which shares its instruction set with ARM's top-of-the-line Cortex A8 product, the chip used by the Palm Pre. While one Sparrow chip has about the power of an existing ARM11 (the chip in Apple's iPhone and other leading smartphones), Sparrow can also be used in a multi-core setup to multiply performance.

Mobileframe

2010-10-14T10:02:00.000-05:00

MobileFrame has pioneered the field of User Configurable Mobile ApplicationTM software. MobileFrame's revolutionary Smart ArchitectureTM contains a Graphical User Interface that allows novice computer users to instantly create, manage and deploy sophisticated mobile applications by means of built-in point and click features without the need of custom programming. All programming complexities are handled in the background so they are transparent to the business user. These features make MobileFrame software readily adaptable to changing business processes.

T-Mobile

2010-10-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

Emkat is an Authorized T-Mobile Activation Partner

As an activation partner emkat can tailor a wireless solution that fits your needs and saves money. T-Mobile offers excellent data plans that are below market rate. Emkat, as an activation partner can offer additional cost saving measures. Emkat changed our own cellular plan and is already saving 35% on a monthly basis.

Emkat in the press.....Wireless in Manufacturing

2010-10-07T09:18:00.002-05:00

Managing Mobile

Plymouth-based Emkat, Inc., works to integrate mobile technologies for its business clients, including devices, software, and infrastructure. For manufacturing companies that have deployed a variety of wireless tools, the company offers the Mobility Services Platform from Motorola. The unit helps to manage all the wireless devices on a network by aiding in security, software upgrades, and troubleshooting.

The platform allows network managers to handle issues with mobile computers and devices remotely. The system also shows them when an unauthorized device is trying to access the company’s wireless network. Mobile applications on all network devices can be upgraded at the same time, and device metrics, such as battery power remaining, memory usage, and application and operating system versions can be monitored centrally. Support staff can even take control over a remote device to troubleshoot and resolve problems.

Teklogix Ikon

2010-10-05T09:05:00.000-05:00

A Level of Enterprise Productivity Ikôn packs incredible functionality and flexibility into a compact form factor with class-leading ergonomics, aesthetics and ease of use. Combining an integrated imager or scanner with the standard color camera, Ikôn is a category-leading data capture device.

Teklogix

2010-09-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Psion Teklogix Inc. is a leading provider of rugged mobile computing solutions to a range of industries around the world. For over three decades, companies have turned to Psion Teklogix to empower their mobile workforces by increasing efficiency and productivity. Psion Teklogix offers a wide range of rugged mobile computers fully supported by responsive and reliable customer service and a creative approach to solving your mobility problems.

Zebra Z-Slip

2010-09-28T08:55:00.003-05:00

Looking for a great way to save substantial time when printing and applying packing slips? The Zebra Z-Slip packing slip solution - consisting of our Z-Slip packing slip label with integrated, peel-and-stick sleeve and our 170XiIIIPlus™ high-performance wide-label thermal printer is the perfect fit! Printing and applying traditional packing slips is a labor-intensive process that devours an average of 40 seconds per package. It requires shipping-department employees to print a slip on a laser printer…fold the slip in half at least twice…slide the slip into the sleeve…remove the liner…and stick the sleeve onto the box. With our all-in-one Z-Slip system, you can print, peel, and apply in just 11 seconds!

Technical Tidbits

2010-09-23T09:28:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can use your Symbol wireless infrastructure to have more than one wireless network at the same time? Even better, you can set up a network for guest access just like you would see at a hotel. Users can be easily directed to a website hosted on your WS2000 and prompted to log in with a user name and password. When they do log in, they will have wireless access to just the places you allow them. Emkat can help you configure this feature, usually with less than two hours of technical consulting time. Call us today!

Wavelink Speakeasy

2010-09-15T16:37:00.001-05:00

“With Wavelink Speakeasy Technology Terminal Emulation Speaks for Itself.” Voice technology brings tremendous benefit to the enterprise yet adoption is slow because enterprises do not want to make changes to their host-based applications and the implementation can be time and cost-prohibitive. Wavelink Speakeasy now delivers low-cost, high quality integration of client-side, voice driven data collection into existing host connectivity applications.

Emkat is now on LinkedIn!

2010-07-27T12:03:00.000-05:00

*If you are not already a linkedin subscriber we encourage you to sign up and join the group. This is a valuable tool for all professionals to build your network. If you are a current subscriber, simply log in and request to join the group.

The New Standard in Wireless – 802.11n

2010-07-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

802.11n deployments are increasing across all industries in office, warehouse, and manufacturing environments. The latest wireless standard in wireless communications, even users with legacy 802.11a/b/g clients can reap the performance benefits of deploying an 802.11n enabled wireless network. As an extension of the 802.11a and b/g standards, 802.11n is fully backward compatible to 802.11a/b/g wireless clients, making 802.11n ideal for customers looking to “future-proof” their wireless network while extending support to legacy radio devices.

Additionally, networks enabled with 802.11n give wireless users the benefit of receiving considerably higher throughput levels. In true 802.11n deployments, throughput levels can reach 130 Mbps in 2.4 GHz environments and 300 Mbps in 5 GHz environments thus making 802.11n the perfect fit for users with high bandwidth requirements such as wireless video streaming or voice applications.

To read more about 802.11n, click here to view the official Emkat brief.

Global Economic Supply Chain Issues

2010-07-27T11:53:00.000-05:00

Due to global economic conditions in 2009, the global semiconductor supply chain was forced to drastically reduce manufacturing capacity as demand dropped. Unfortunately, this caused many smaller semiconductor manufacturers to dissolve. As the economy has improved, demand has drastically increased causing a severe temporary shortage due to diminished supply. This is not a vendor specific issue and has greatly affected parts supplies for all major manufacturers within the industry. This shortage has caused a longer than average lead time on new hardware and product repairs. Please bear with us as we deal with these supply issues through the coming weeks and months. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause for our end-users and hope to have this issue alleviated shortly. In the meantime, we will do everything in our power to decrease product lead times and continue to find alternate solutions to meet the needs of our end-users.