USDA Forest Service Contracts with Handheld Systems to Purchase New Husky Fex21-DOS Rugged Handheld

Handheld Systems, a leading provider of rugged handheld computers and data collection software, has received the initial orders for several hundred of it’s Husky Fex21-DOS rugged handheld computers. This is believed to be the first of several significant orders resulting from an open quantity USDA Forest Service contract awarded to Handheld Systems, Inc.

The Husky Fex21-DOS is the world’s first rugged handheld to be provided with both the Microsoft Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition operating system and the MS-DOS operating system. This versatile hand held computer features full MIL-STD 810E environmental certifications, Husky’s unique "open book" design ergonomics and a wide range of communications and expansion capabilities, adding up to a very flexible platform for the many Forestry specific applications currently in use by the USDA.

Fully sealed user accessible PC Card slots and standard Serial, IrDA and USB interfaces ensure ease of connectivity to various host computers and peripherals. The Fex21’s will replace a number of early data collection computers including the CPM based non-Y2K compliant Husky Hunter 1 and Hunter 2 handheld computers that have been in use by the USDA since the mid 1980’s.

Art Clinton, Director of Field Data Acquisition with the USDA Forest Service in Portland, Oregon said: "We have thoroughly investigated the current handheld computer marketplace and have selected the Husky Fex21-DOS based on a feature set that combines performance and expansion capabilities in a rugged Windows CE based platform. With Handheld Systems CPU emulator for Windows CE and MS-DOS v6.22 , we can deploy the hardware immediately and continue to run our existing applications while developing new applications with much greater functionality."

Mike Berg, President of Handheld Systems, Inc., has worked closely with the USDA ever since his involvement in the initial Forest Service data collection hardware acquisitions nearly 15 years ago. Mr. Berg said: "Handheld Systems are very excited to have received this USDA contract. The award further substantiates our corporate focus of providing the highest quality products, services and support for Forestry applications."

Handheld Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of rugged handheld computers and data collection software, and is an authorized dealer for Husky Computers, DAP Technologies, and Norand. Handheld Systems, Inc. also provides support services and handheld computer maintenance. For more information, please feel free to contact us.