Trimble’s Juno T41 is a rugged smartphone designed for the jobsite

Juno T41 with Android 2.3.4Juno T41 with Android 2.3.4

For those looking to implement smartphones into the day-to-day operations of their jobsite but are worry about the fragile nature of those devices, Trimble stepped forward Wednesday with a solution.

The company announced the new Juno T41 handheld computer, meant to bring “a smartphone-inspired option to industries demanding a rugged field computer for data collection and mobile workforce management.”

Trimble says the Juno T41 is a developer-friendly device designed for real-world field conditions, and can be loaded up with either Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Handheld operating system or Google’s popular Android OS. If you opt for the Windows Embedded model, you’ll be getting version 6.5 while the Android model is loaded up with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. The latest release of Android is 4.1 Jelly Bean, so the Juno is, initally at least, a few releases behind the current Android smartphone market.

The computing power of the Juno is further behind the current smartphone market. Both the Windows and Android models can be equipped with a processor ranging in power from 800 megahertz to 1 gigahertz. Meanwhile, both versions only pack 512 megabytes of memory. The latest smartphones on the market today devices boast 1GHz processors with two cores and a full 1GB of RAM. Both Juno models feature up to 16 gigabytes on-board storage and thankfully that storage space is expandable through microSD cards.

But as Jim Sheldon, general manager of Trimble’s Mobile Computing Solutions division notes, the Juno, with a IP65 or IP68 rating, is mainly about durability rather than computing power.

“With the release of the Juno T41, we are providing a rugged handheld that delivers the capabilities and convenience of a smartphone,” says Sheldon. “It’s slim, ergonomic design is thinner and lighter than other rugged computing products in its class today. Powerful, connected, compact and easy-to-use, the Juno T41 handheld computer is ideal for any mobile professional or demanding consumer.”

The Juno features a large 4.3-inch, multi-touch display with durable Gorilla Glass display technology that Trimble says is easy to read under direct sunlight. The devices also packs an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and the ability to geotag photos with GPS. Along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, the Juno is compatible with GSM cellular networks such as AT&T in the U.S. and packs SMS text and voice capabilities along with data connectivity with 3G and HSPA+ data speeds.

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No announcement regarding price was made, but Trimble says the Juno is avialble for order now and shipments will go out in September.