The MC70 is much lighter and smaller than traditional rugged handhelds, measuring 6 in. by 3 in. by 1.5 in. and weighing no more than 12 oz., according to Symbol officials. It is the second model in the company's Enterprise Digital Assistant category, which was launched in 2004 with the MC50.

The MC70 comes in two versions: a US$2,195 iteration that offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a $2,845 version that adds cellular capabilities, said Mark Chellis, director of go-to-market product marketing at Symbol. Chellis said the MC70 is intended for indoor and outdoor use across field service, field sales, transportation, manufacturing, health care and retail settings.

An extended- capacity battery allows the device to be used for up to eight hours without recharging. Two keypads are available as well, one with 26 numeric keys and the other with 44 QWERTY keys. Data capturing can be done either using an imager or laser scanner.

When it unveils its new hardware, Symbol also plans to announce an early-adopter customer as well as a service provider customer.

The MC70 is more rugged than the MC50, which has caught on with some sales groups and retail store managers who may not want the additional ruggedness of the MC70, said analyst David Krebs of Venture Development Corp. in Natick, Mass.