PANASONIC TO EXPAND TOUGHPAD ENTERPRISE-GRADE TABLET LINE WITH LAUNCH OF TOUGHPAD FZ-G1

10.1” Windows 8 Pro-based Tablet Offers Options for Professionals in Rugged Industries

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 MARCH 2013 – Panasonic Toughbook Asia Pacific Group (TAPG), an industry leader in rugged, reliable handheld and tablet computers since 1996, will be launching the Toughpad FZ-G1, a 10.1” tablet featuring Windows 8 Pro at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2013). The introduction of this new product will expand the Toughpad line of enterprise-grade tablets. The device follows the original 10.1” Android-powered Toughpad FZ-A1 which became broadly available late last year. With the Toughpad family of ruggedized tablets, businesses and government institutions operating in tough environments will have access to a selection of highly reliable and purpose-built devices suited to their rigorous needs.

“For nearly 20 years, Panasonic has engineered the most reliable mobile computing devices on the market,” said Mr. Satoshi Mizobata, Director of TAPG, Panasonic Systems Communications Asia Pacific. “Our customers know they can count on our products to deliver performance and return on investment. Due to this, the Panasonic Toughbook brand holds nearly 60 percent market share in the rugged mobile device space. We believe our engineering acumen, vertical market expertise and reputation for reliability, backed by our world-class service, will result in the Toughpad family being the leading B2B tablet solution in the coming years.”

“We believe that our product will be able to support rugged industry professionals within the region, especially in countries like Malaysia that are pursuing many important nation building initiatives under its Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). With more than 24 years of experience designing, testing, and building the most reliable professional tablet solutions, Panasonic is unrivalled in offering a Windows 8 Pro tablet that combines date and device security, seamless connectivity, enterprise-grade technology and worry-free operation. Not every tablet can take the bumps, knocks, drops and spills that come with extensive mobile use. The Toughpad FZ-G1 is a ruggedized tablet operating on Windows system engineered to withstand the hard knocks of life on the road. It can operate flawlessly in every environment - from intense heat and sunlight, to pouring rain and freezing temperatures,” he added.

Toughpad tablets are designed for mission-critical and highly mobile workers in fields such as defence, public safety, utilities, construction, healthcare, retail, maintenance, supply chain logistics and insurance. The devices are ideal for a host of usage scenarios, including inventory control, eForms, field sales, field service, route delivery, eCitations, electronic medical records, inspections, mobile point-of-sales and GIS.

Toughpad tablets are MIL-STD-810G tested for drops, fluid ingress and temperature; to ensure that they deliver reliable performance under circumstances that render more typical tablets non-operational. The devices feature daylight viewable screens, user-replaceable or serviceable batteries, a stylus for signature capture and handwriting and multiple options for peripheral connectivity.

“Our Toughpad tablets were designed based on years of input from customers,” Mr. Mizobata added. “This customer feedback is a critical part of the development process and will continue to shape Toughbook and Toughpad devices in the future. The wide variety of devices in the Toughbook and Toughpad families is a clear indication that we build products to meet our customers’ specific needs.”

Toughpad tablets are supported by an ecosystem that includes developer tools and deployment support. Panasonic will offer a full set of enterprise-grade accessories to support its Toughpad line.

Availability
The 10” Windows 8 Pro-based Toughpad FZ-G1 will be available from March 2013 onwards, but the pricing is to be confirmed.  The 10.1” Android-powered Toughpad FZ-A1 is now shipping. All Toughpad tablets can be purchased through authorized Panasonic resellers. For further information, please visit www.panasonictoughbook.asia.

All products in the Toughpad family come standard with the industry's most comprehensive 3-year warranty.