Handheld US is a North American distributor of rugged PDAs and handheld computers. It is part of HHCS Handheld Computer Specialists AB which was founded in 1997 and is one of Europe's leading suppliers of ruggedized handhelds for use in markets such as utility, military, logistics, forestry, transportation and field servce. While Handheld US does not manufacture hardware itself, some of its lineup is unique and, to the best of our knowledge, not available from anyone else in the US market.
The M3 Mobile, officially introduced in May of 2008, is a handheld computer that combines extreme ruggedness with the kind of light weight and slender profile not usually associated with rugged PDAs. It is also a very versatile product that can handle anything from voice and data communication, to mapping applications, to scanning and data capture, and regular Windows Mobile tasks such as desktop integration, browsing and email.
The M3 is three inches wide, 6.3 inches tall, and under an inch thick. It weighs under ten ounces. Yet, it is tough enough to survive the MIL-STD-810F mandated 26 drops not from three, but from FIVE feet. It can also operate in a very wide temperature range from -4 all the way to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. And it is sealed to IP64 specifications. This means it is immune to sand, and also against water spray from all directions.
For a unit this compact, the M3 Mobile can do a lot. It runs Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition on a 520MHz Marvel PXA270 processor. There's a generous 128MB of SDRAM and 128 to 512MB of onboard Flash. Memory expansion is via Mini-SD card slot. The M3 Mobile can be used as a GSM cellphone. You can use it to browse or transfer data via EDGE or 802.11b/g WiFi. It is available with either an optional 1D laser scanner or a 1D/2D imager (nd yes, you can get a pistol grip for scanning applications). It can accommodate an integrated GPS receiver. It has a 2 megapixel camera with an LED illuminator light.
Connectivity is via USB host/client that also serves as a serial connection. There's IrDA, which still comes in handy at times.
The M3's display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and uses the standard 240 x 320 QVGA resolution (in a device so advanced it would have been nice to have full 480 x 640 VGA). 
The keypad combines a fairly large 4-way navigation disc with four function buttons and a standard phoe-style numeric keypad. There are also dedicated phone answer and hang-up buttons.
For use in vehicles, Handheld US offers a vehicle charging cradle that uses the industry-standard RAM-Mount rubber ball technology that makes for supreme adjustability and virtually no vibration. The cradle can accommodat a GPS option and comes with either a suction cup or a screw-type mount.
The M3 Mobile joins earlier M3 models, such as the M3 eTicket, which run Windows CE .Net 4.2 and 5.0 and are used in a slew or markets.
