Can the REDFLY and WM device match the Motorola VC6096 functionality?
The Motorola VC6096 WWAN In-Vehicle/Fixed Mount Mobile Computer runs the latest version of Windows Mobile with an Intel XScale 624MHz processor, 128MB RAM/256MB ROM, large 6.5 inch VGA (640x480) display, full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5G GSM radio, 802.11 a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth v 2.0, Class II, integrated GPS receiver, rugged construction built to MIL-STD-810F, and SecureDigital card slot. This is the first Windows Mobile device I have seen with these classes of WiFi and Bluetooth radios. The device is designed to server a specific purpose and it actually looks like a solid solution. There is no pricing available online, but I imagine it will have a rather high cost.
As regular readers here know, I am quite the fan of my REDFLY Mobile Companion and think this type of usage may work for the REDFLY. A REDFLY combined with something like an AT&T Tilt would have specs similar to this Motorola device and if a large display and keyboard were the primary reasons for selecting such a device then the fit may be a lot cheaper. A device like the Tilt also has integrated WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and WWAN so the only missing feature would be the different WiFi and Bluetooth radios. The REDFLY is also quite rugged and can handle lots of abuse.
My buddy Joel just posted his take on the REDFLY and made the statement, "While using the REDFLY I kept wondering why someone doesn’t come out with a Windows Mobile-powered device like the REDFLY at a $200 price point." It seems that these specialized devices that run Windows Mobile in a device like the REDFLY are focused on the enterprise and have a rather high cost. It sounds like Joel is looking for a new Handheld PC running the latest version of Windows Mobile, but the last time we saw Handheld PCs running Windows CE they were priced at US$600 to US$800+ in most cases.