7-inch Windows tablet addresses changing mobile Point-of-Sale technologies
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Panasonic took the occasion of the 104th annual National Retail Federation Big Show to launch the Toughpad FZ-R1 on January 11, 2015. Billed by the company as the industry's first 7-inch all-in-one mobile POS tablet running Windows 8.1 for retail environments, this new Panasonic Toughpad tablet is designed to address the rapidly changing omni-channel regulations as well as customer expectations for mobile payment systems, with special attention to secure transaction features and enterprise-class deployment and management tools.

Panasonic's impetus for the development of this specialized tablet was the dramatic increase in mobile electronic payments combined with increasingly more stringent security regulations as well as the industry's demand for more robust, integrated mobile Point-of-Sale solutions.

This includes the ability to handle the now mandatory Chip and PIN smart card payment system for credit, debit and ATM cards with embedded chips via an integrated EMV (which stands for "Europay, Mastercard and Visa) reader, as well as NFC capabilities used by the Apple Pay mobile payment system, and, of course, a good old-fashioned magnetic stripe reader. And not only does the Toughpad FZ-R1 provide all those capabilities, but it does so in an all-in-one integrated, enterprise-class device instead of a fragile consumer smartphone inserted into a third-party sleeve.

How did Panasonic implement this device? In the form of a specialized Windows tablet that merges standard tablet technology with dedicated point-of-sale features such as the various readers and also a capacitive touch ATM-style keypad beneath the display.

The display itself measures 7 inches diagonally, uses 1280 x 800 pixel WXGA resolution for a 16:10 aspect ration, and comes with Microsoft-mandated 10-point capacitive multi-touch. The 500-nits screen is daylight-readable, features anti-reflective coating, uses hardened glass, and can also be used with a capacitive stylus pen (hopefully the same great one that comes with the Toughpad M1).

Processing power is supplied by a dual-core Intel Celeron N2807 CPU runing at 1.58GHz and capable of speed bursts up to 2.16GHz. It's part of the Bay Trail family and has a minuscule Thermal Design Power of just 4.3 watts, contributing to the R1's anticipated battery life of around 8 hours with the standard battery, and up to 16 hours with an optional extended battery.

Panasonic considers the FZ-R1 semi-rugged, which here means IP53 sealing (protected against dust and also against water spray from the front), a "broad" (but unspecified) operating temperature range, and the ability to handle 3-foot drops. Some users may wish for an optional case to add a bit more protection.

Panasonic also stresses the Toughpad FZ-R1's enterprise-class management and deployment features that make it neatly fit in with common IT standards and requirements.

So what we have here is a powerful, robust 7-inch Windows tablet that weighs no more than one of the earlier iPads, benefits from Panasonic's decades of rugged mobile systems desgn experience, comprehensively addresses retailers' need to adopt new and mandatory EMV payment technologies, and meets enterprise-class IT requirements. Should be selling like the proverbial hotcakes.

Below is Panasonic's intro video for the Toughpad FZ-R1: