Avnet Electronics Marketing Helps Bring Rugged Ultra Mobile PC to Market.PHOENIX -- In 2005 Justin Dyster and Shane Lewis saw a need for a rugged handheld computer A computing device that can be easily held in one hand while the other hand is used to operate it. The Palm devices are a popular example. See Palm, smartphone and palmtop. that was a little more advanced than anything else currently available on the market. The two engineers left the major defense and aerospace systems contractor they worked for, moved from Tucson to Chandler, Arizona Chandler is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Chandler is one of the major suburbs of Phoenix. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 176,582. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 234,939. , and began their quest to design and build the world's first rugged ultra mobile PC. They turned to Avnet Electronics Marketing for help getting off the ground. Now their company, Black Diamond Advanced Technology, is set to bring the SwitchBack switch·back n. 1. A road, trail, or railroad track that follows a zigzag course on a steep incline. 2. A sharp bend in a road or trail on a steep incline. 3. Chiefly British A roller coaster. Ultra Mobile PC to market. Larger than a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer for managing contacts, appointments and tasks. It typically includes a name and address database, calendar, to-do list and note taker, which are the functions in a personal information manager (see PIM). but more compact than a tablet PC (1) A tablet computer environment from Microsoft that is based on an enhanced version of Windows XP. Designed to function more like a portable writing tablet than previous tablet-based computers, it includes handwriting recognition as well as the ability to retain handwritten words , the SwitchBack is designed and built around military specifications to withstand extreme shock, moisture, vibration, dust and extreme temperatures. It is designed to meet an Ingress An entrance. Contrast with "egress," which means exit. See ingress traffic. See also Ingres 2006. Protection (IP) rating of IP67 (designated for ultra rugged designs), which classifies the level of protection that the electronics casing provides against the intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contact and water. One might think that getting the backing and support of suppliers and distributors to produce such a product would be easy. However, being a small start-up company start-up company A new business. left the founders with limited resources to put product on the shelf. Avnet Electronics Marketing recognized Black Diamond's vision and helped the company with parts procurement and samples, and provided field applications engineers for technical support -- all under tight time constraints. "Avnet really demonstrates how it looks past the pocketbook and issues like minimum quantity orders, in order to recognize the vision of its entrepreneurial customers and act like a technology partner," said Justin Dyster, president and co-founder of Black Diamond. "What the Avnet team has done really says a lot about how it is truly helping to identify and promote disruptive innovations in the marketplace." "Avnet is really proud to play such an integral role in getting Black Diamond and the SwitchBack PC off the ground," said Ed Smith, senior vice president of sales for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "It's exciting to see a product evolve from the design stage, to production, to being utilized in the marketplace. Avnet is committed to helping Black Diamond and other small companies just like it make their dreams come to fruition through the design chain and supply chain products and services we provide." Additionally, Avnet will provide supply chain support as the company brings its product to market. "As we move forward we see the partnership between Black Diamond and Avnet being one that is very strong and one we will grow and nurture as we move forward," added Dyster. Weighing just three pounds, and small enough to fit inside a cargo pant pant v. To breathe rapidly and shallowly. pocket, SwitchBack gives users the power of a desktop computer in the portability of a handheld. Users include a broad spectrum of field workers from the public safety, military, warehousing and logistics, and field service industries. All need a device that is ruggedized and will work in extremely cold temperatures or the scorching scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. hot temperatures of the Middle East. In addition to being ultra mobile and ultra rugged, the SwitchBack is also extremely versatile. The SwitchBack can add to it just about any device a user needs with its customized BackPack Module. For example, a police officer might customize the device with a BackPack that is used to scan a driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something barcode, photograph a crime scene, process a thumbprint or be used as a breathalyzer breathalyzer Public health A device used to detect alcohol on a suspected drunk driver's breath; see DWI . The first SwitchBack is expected to roll off the assembly line between late August and early September and the company plans to build 3,000 units in the 2007 calendar year. For more information on Black Diamond and the SwitchBack PC, please visit www.switchbackpc.com/. About Avnet Electronics Marketing Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AVT AVT avian arginine vasotocin. See vasotocin. ), a Fortune 500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at http://www.em.avnet.com/. About Avnet With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70 countries worldwide, Avnet (NYSE:AVT) markets, distributes and adds value to the products of the world's leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Additionally, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of service capabilities, such as supply-chain optimization, logistics solutions, product assembly, device programming, computer system integration and engineering design assistance. For the fiscal year ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25 billion. Visit http://www.avnet.com/. About Black Diamond Advanced Technology Black Diamond Advanced Technology (Black Diamond) is an advanced technology development firm that specializes in the design and implementation of rugged electronic systems. With an extensive background in electrical, mechanical and systems design for the military, the Black Diamond engineering team serves clients in the military, industrial and commercial markets. Black Diamond specializes in creating sophisticated custom electro-mechanical products for the use in the most complex, rugged environments, ranging from electronics packaged in missiles and artillery to highly customizable, next generation rugged mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings solutions. Visit us on the Web at www.switchbackpc.com. |
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