TETRA PDA from Motorola for disaster relief

With events like the crushing tsunami in Southeast Asia, the powerful earthquake in Pakistan, and the devastating hurricanes in the southern United States burnt into our memories, the need for the timely delivery of emergency information and services is paramount. Motorola is addressing this issue with a new innovation in emergency data delivery: the new TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) PDA is the latest in their TETRA-powered line-up, and is the first ever handheld computer utilizing the TETRA standard. Equipped with a 3.5” TFT screen, this new data assistant should have optional Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS and a digital camera for whatever the need demands, helping public safety organizations better communicate with one another on the go.

Defined by the European Telecommunications Standardization Institute, TETRA is an open radio standard designed for disaster relief professionals to have a secure, dedicated line in times of need. They have the potential to quickly and efficiently – and wirelessly – deliver critical data between emergency workers, and thus help them provide the timeliest and most appropriate aid.

According to the press release, “The PDA offers the same value of Motorola’s TETRA hand-portable radios: Always On, Trusted, Reliable and Secure.” The TETRA handheld should be commercially available by the 3rd quarter of 2006.