Android TSD - Prospects and Existing Solutions
The data collection terminal is inherently a portable small computer with which a person receives tasks and reports on their implementation. Most often they are used in warehouses and courier services.
Until recently, all terminals came mainly with the Windows operating system (CE, Mobile, etc.). And not so long ago, models with the Android OS began to appear. Below are my thoughts on the prospects of this direction.
On any TSD installed one or another operating system (DOS, Windows, Android). And already in the operating system itself, the main working application is launched. The more advanced the operating system, the more features you can implement in a working application. As an example - in Windows and Android there is the ability to work with graphics, unlike DOS.
The share of TSD running Android is currently very small. Windows has firmly taken this niche. However, in recent years, there has been an active development of smartphones and tablets running Android OS. The number of devices sold is in the hundreds of millions. The system is constantly being improved, improved and optimized. Many applications have been written, including a number of product accounting programs. And these programs are freely available in the general repository - either free or costing modest enough money.
Moreover - 1C has released a mobile platform, which is now actively developing. This fact opens up great prospects for this direction.
For mass implementation of software for Android, only hardware is missing. Small companies can quite afford to use the software on smartphones and tablets, but industrial solutions still require a barcode reader and a higher level of security for the device.
Considering all the prospects of this area, we can soon expect a flood of the market with Android terminals.
Let's compare two devices with different operating systems for a visual demonstration.
For comparison, we selected TSD - Motorolla MC3190 running Windows CE and Urovo V5000 running Android.
Motorola MC 3190
Urovo V5000
Iron review:
Price for the device - according to Google, Urovo devices are 30% cheaper than Motorola.
The cost of software and licensing policy - here a lot depends on the specific solution. Windows CE TSDs are typically licensed by PerDevice. those. for each device you still pay separately a software license.
For our retail network, we bought another license for telnet terminal + license for connecting to the server.
Android does not have such a strict licensing policy as Microsoft (at one time I was very surprised at the need to purchase a telnet license for Win CE).
When buying through Google Play, you buy one license for all devices tied to this account.
When developing on a 1C mobile platform:
Repair - Despite the protection, damage to the terminal is quite common. Motorola has no problems with service centers and warranty. Spare parts are almost always and in almost unlimited quantities. Android terminals cannot yet boast of this, although service centers are already opening.
The cost of software development (data taken from rabota.yandex.ru in Moscow) - 91 000 p. - the average salary of an “android” programmer, 82 000 p. - the average salary of 1C programmer, 99 000 p. -the average salary of a C # programmer (program for WinCE). As we see the most economical option - to puzzle 1C programmer to write a program for TSD.
Manufacturer's Warranties- Motorola guarantees that their equipment will not be suddenly discontinued. It is calculated that the device will be operated for at least 5 years. Other manufacturers can not boast of this yet.
To summarize: Android terminals are very interesting for small and medium-sized businesses. They are cheaper, more productive, more secure, development is cheaper for them, there are many inexpensive boxed solutions, they can receive a software update centrally (which is especially important if it is often updated, and devices are scattered across remote objects), they have many additional options (camera, 3G module, sim card, etc.)
However, their use in serious enterprise solutions is still difficult - there are no statistics on mass use, there are almost no service centers, problems with spare parts are possible, and existing software systems are not yet configured for their use.
PS With the help of just such nozzles for reading barcodes, now you can quickly turn your smartphone into a TSD. :)
Until recently, all terminals came mainly with the Windows operating system (CE, Mobile, etc.). And not so long ago, models with the Android OS began to appear. Below are my thoughts on the prospects of this direction.
On any TSD installed one or another operating system (DOS, Windows, Android). And already in the operating system itself, the main working application is launched. The more advanced the operating system, the more features you can implement in a working application. As an example - in Windows and Android there is the ability to work with graphics, unlike DOS.
The share of TSD running Android is currently very small. Windows has firmly taken this niche. However, in recent years, there has been an active development of smartphones and tablets running Android OS. The number of devices sold is in the hundreds of millions. The system is constantly being improved, improved and optimized. Many applications have been written, including a number of product accounting programs. And these programs are freely available in the general repository - either free or costing modest enough money.
Moreover - 1C has released a mobile platform, which is now actively developing. This fact opens up great prospects for this direction.
For mass implementation of software for Android, only hardware is missing. Small companies can quite afford to use the software on smartphones and tablets, but industrial solutions still require a barcode reader and a higher level of security for the device.
Considering all the prospects of this area, we can soon expect a flood of the market with Android terminals.
Let's compare two devices with different operating systems for a visual demonstration.
For comparison, we selected TSD - Motorolla MC3190 running Windows CE and Urovo V5000 running Android.
Motorola MC 3190
Urovo V5000
Iron review:
Price for the device - according to Google, Urovo devices are 30% cheaper than Motorola.
The cost of software and licensing policy - here a lot depends on the specific solution. Windows CE TSDs are typically licensed by PerDevice. those. for each device you still pay separately a software license.
For our retail network, we bought another license for telnet terminal + license for connecting to the server.
Android does not have such a strict licensing policy as Microsoft (at one time I was very surprised at the need to purchase a telnet license for Win CE).
When buying through Google Play, you buy one license for all devices tied to this account.
When developing on a 1C mobile platform:
- Up to 50 devices licensing is not required,
- More than 50 - it is necessary to contact 1C and solve the issue individually.
Repair - Despite the protection, damage to the terminal is quite common. Motorola has no problems with service centers and warranty. Spare parts are almost always and in almost unlimited quantities. Android terminals cannot yet boast of this, although service centers are already opening.
The cost of software development (data taken from rabota.yandex.ru in Moscow) - 91 000 p. - the average salary of an “android” programmer, 82 000 p. - the average salary of 1C programmer, 99 000 p. -the average salary of a C # programmer (program for WinCE). As we see the most economical option - to puzzle 1C programmer to write a program for TSD.
Manufacturer's Warranties- Motorola guarantees that their equipment will not be suddenly discontinued. It is calculated that the device will be operated for at least 5 years. Other manufacturers can not boast of this yet.
To summarize: Android terminals are very interesting for small and medium-sized businesses. They are cheaper, more productive, more secure, development is cheaper for them, there are many inexpensive boxed solutions, they can receive a software update centrally (which is especially important if it is often updated, and devices are scattered across remote objects), they have many additional options (camera, 3G module, sim card, etc.)
However, their use in serious enterprise solutions is still difficult - there are no statistics on mass use, there are almost no service centers, problems with spare parts are possible, and existing software systems are not yet configured for their use.
PS With the help of just such nozzles for reading barcodes, now you can quickly turn your smartphone into a TSD. :)
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