This is a short review of the Intermec's CN4 featuring ground breaking 3G technology. I wanted to get this out as fast as possible. This is important. Intermec has changed the game by introducing a 3G radio to their popular CN3 PDA. Essentially the CN4 is a clone of the CN3 with one important difference: True 3.5G communications.

Everything you know about the CN3 applies to the CN4. (Read my CN3 review here) Now, I barely got to see the CN4 before the sales team took it on the road, so a full testing will have to wait until they get back. But here's what I did see: communications sessions that take less than a tenth of the time you're used to with the CN3.

The CN3 transmitted data at a rate of 4-6 Kb/s. The CN4 transmits at a rate of 100-120 Kb/s. In our tests data loads that took 8-10 minutes on the CN3 were completed in 45-60 seconds on the CN4. Need to call the boss while downloading your catalog? No problem. Just like your 3G mobile phone, you can talk and transmit data at the same time.

The CN4 is slightly longer than the CN3, but in all other respects, it is physically similar. In fact, if you add the CN4 to your fleet, your existing cradles, batteries and holsters will all work with the CN4. I like that. It means you won’t have to shell out a lot of extra money on buying new accessories to take advantage of the main selling point of this machine—its lightning fast 3.5G communications.

The second major difference between the CN4 and it's predecessor is a feature called eMDI or Enhanced Mobile Document Imaging. Basically, Intermec noticed that their area imager (scanner) is a gray scale camera. eMDI allows the user to capture paper documents by snapping a picture with the imager. It stores the image as a jpg, and sends it home with the rest of your transaction data. This is handy if your business rules require copies of the documents left with the customer.

That's it for now. I'll be doing a full test when I get my hands on the unit again in a few days. For now, just let me say I'm very impressed with what I've seen.

Brett Birdsong
Sr. Editor