Web Application vs. Proprietary development environment

If you are faced with the need for delivering a solution to provide access to your enterprise applications from your hand held terminals, consider the following arguments for implementing a web-based application:

  • Why use a proprietary application development environment when you can use your existing in-house web experience to build a standards-based web application?
  • Your web application will not require any licensing fees and can be easily updated by readily available web programmers. You won't be locked into a proprietary environment that may or may not survive in the marketplace.
  • A mobile application can operate in “batch-mode” by using on-device web servers or static html pages. A mobile application can also directly query and update your corporate databases via your in-house web servers.
  • Web-based applications are easy to develop, update and manage. They offer rich graphical data presentation on the mobile terminal and have a lower Total Cost of Ownership. To access these applications requires a web browser running on the handheld terminal.

Naurtech Web Browser vs. Pocket IE

Windows CE devices come with a built-in Web Browser application. However, this Browser is highly inadequate for data collection solutions. Here are some reasons why:

  • Pocket IE cannot lock out the operating system and prevent users from navigating away from the web application
  • Pocket IE cannot remap hardware keys
  • Pocket IE cannot intercept barcode data in the web page JavaScript for intelligently filling web forms
  • Pocket IE cannot control device and its peripherals programmatically from within web page HTML source
  • Pocket IE cannot control display and hiding of the built-in SIP (Standard Input Panel or Soft Keyboard)
  • Pocket IE cannot lock down the device and run the application in full screen mode

Our Data Collection Web Browser offers special capabilities to manage its application environment and control peripherals like barcode scanners and RFID readers. It also supports multiple concurrent sessions, scripting automation, customizable function keys and seamless handling when roaming in and out of RF coverage. All these features address necessary requirements for building robust Web based applications for data collection. Review the feature benefits for details.

Naurtech Corporation was the first to introduce a special Web Browser for industrial terminals. We have consistently led the marketplace in offering the most innovative platform for building web-based applications. No other vendor has such a rich feature set in their offering. Here are some of the reasons to consider when making your choice:

.NET and Windows Mobile platform support
Our Web Browser fully supports any Windows CE device running either Windows Mobile 2003, Windows CE .NET 4.2, Windows Mobile 5.0 or Windows CE 5.0 OS platforms. We are the only vendor with such a broad support of OS platforms and terminals.
Multiple Web Browser sessions
You can run up to four simultaneous, independent Web Browser sessions. Separate instances of the application are not needed. This significantly eases proper and reliable lockdown of the device.
Associate keypad hardware keys
Touch screen navigation may not be suitable for every web based application. Therefore we provide the ability to associate onscreen menu options, form buttons and URL links to any hardware key. You can also assign a hardware key to a JavaScript function.
Operating System lockout
Unlike the built-in web browsers on your Windows CE terminals, you can completely lock out a user from the operating system by hiding the address, navigation and Start bars. This prevents your users from exiting the web application or launching any other application and locks down the device completely.
Device Control using Java Script
The handheld terminal and its integrated peripherals, such as barcode scanner, RFID reader, and printers can be fully configured and controlled through our Browser using HTML META tags and embedded JavaScript within your web page. You can specify JavaScript functions to be invoked on various HTTP and Form events. You can also interface with our Scripting engine to programmatically control the device, OS or application from within your JavaScript functions.
Parse scanner and RFID decoded data
You have the ability to parse, validate and manipulate barcode scan and RFID data. Any data can automatically be read into multiple input fields within a web form.
Full screen readability & Context Menus
You can hide the "Start" bar, application menu, toolbar, and keybars to maximize usage of your screen real estate giving you the full 320 x 240, ¼ VGA screen for display. "Tap and hold" Context menus are available for application control.
RF Signal, Battery and Wait State Indicators
When the device is fully locked down, the Start bar is hidden. This also hides the operating system provided status icons. You can configure display and update of various Indicators, such as RF Signal and Battery strength in your Browser sessions.
Application Launcher
You can configure an HTML page to act as an application launcher to invoke various legacy host or web based applications.
WebSAPConsole Support
When interfacing with WebSAPConsole to access your SAP transactions, you need to remap function keys on your terminal for correct operation. Our web browser has built in support to seamlessly integrate with WebSAPConsole.
Easily automate your business processes using Scripts
Our Web browser includes a Scripting engine to easily automate workflows, control the device, OS and peripherals. Scripts can be easily imported or loaded and edited right on the device. Scripts can be as simple as editing barcode or RFID data before submitting the web form or as complex as parsing an external XML document or reformatting a TE session screen and presenting it as a web page.
Seamless Migration
Terminal emulation and HTML sessions can co-exist under the same application. You do not have to run two separate applications and can easily switch between the two. This provides a seamless migration path from legacy text based to GUI rich applications.
Cross Compatibility (SPB and iBrowse)
Our product supports the ad hoc Web Browser extensions of the Symbol Pocket Browser and Intermec iBrowse products. As an example, if you have a web-based application built using SPB META tags and extensions, our Web Browser will work with it seamlessly. This allows you to choose a device from a vendor other than Motorola (Symbol) and access the same web based application, without making any changes. It also allows you to use our product while evaluating hardware terminals from multiple vendors.
Hardware terminal choice
We offer "device tailored" versions of our Browser for complete terminal product families from every major hardware device manufacturer. This includes Motorola (Symbol), Intermec, Hand Held Products, Psion Teklogix, LXE, Casio, Datalogic (PSC) and several others. By selecting our product, you are not locked into a single hardware vendor, as their browser solution will only work with their terminals. (For example, Symbol Pocket Browser will not run on Intermec terminals and vice versa. Our Smart clients will run on terminals from either manufacturer).