Why Use the Zebra MC9400?
This blog post starts with a quick history lesson.
In 2014 Zebra Technologies acquired Motorola Mobile Solutions for $3.35 billion dollars in cash. As Tony Montana would say, “that is serious money.”
You can learn more about the Zebra acquisition of Motorola here.
This deal allowed Zebra to rebrand and sell Motorola devices, including their popular mobile computer line known as the “MC” series.
Zebra would later expand upon legacy versions of the MC series, adding the MC9200 and MC9300 to the list of new mobile computer offerings.
So now that you’re all caught up to speed, what the heck is a “mobile computer” and why should you use it?
The Zebra MC9400 offers a great Android roadmap to protect your investment
For those that don’t know, there has been a big push in the mobile devices space to move from Windows Mobile OS to Android OS.
Those of us in the industry call this push “OS Migration”, and this migration was driven by the EOL of Windows 10 Mobile. In fact, Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 Mobile as of December 2019.
As a result, Android has become the leading enterprise operating system, due to it’s flexibility and security features.
The Zebra MC9400 can be upgraded to the most current version of Android using Zebra LifeGuard, which is included with every Zebra OneCare service contract.
Zebra LifeGuard is an excellent way to protect your IT investment and to improve the ROI on your mobile computers.
If your business or org is still using Windows Mobile, now is the time to start thinking about “OS Migration” and embrace the Android revolution.
Run Legacy apps using Ivanti All Touch TE
One of the neat features of the Zebra MC9400 is that you can run legacy apps that are written for Telnet.
Telnet is an older network protocol used for remote terminal access. It sends commands and data in plain text, making it vulnerable to security breaches, and it was at one time a very popular platform for mobile apps.
In layman’s terms, Telnet is the green text against a black background. It’s old-school but some legacy apps still run on Telnet rather than Android OS.
This isn’t a problem, since the Zebra MC9400 features Ivanti All Touch TE.
All Touch TE is a built-in telnet emulator that allows you to run Telnet apps directly on your MC9400 without any third-party apps.
Your business or org can keep using any legacy apps, which allows for a smoother transition from older mobile devices to newer devices.
The Zebra MC9400 features the latest Wifi, Bluetooth V5.3, and 5G options
The MC9400 comes with a variety of interface options like Wifi 6E, 5G, and Bluetooth V5.3.
This is groundbreaking, as the MC9300 only offers Wifi 5 and Bluetooth V5.
The move to Wi-Fi 6E brings a great number of advantages to sites that plan to continue using Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6E offers 4 times the bandwidth, 4 times higher capacity, and triple the speed of Wi-Fi 5.3
In addition, the MC9400 offers 5G connectivity, while the mC9300 does not.
For those that don’t know, the MC9400 means the device only has Wifi interface, while the MC9450 means it has Wifi and 5G interface. This means you can pair your MC9450 with a Sim Card to have internet connectivity outside the four walls.
Loads of useful features like Long-Range Scanning, OCR, Intelliscan, Beacon Tracking, and more
Scanning is part of the lifeblood of Zebra, and they haven’t forgotten this while building out the MC9400.
The MC9400 offers Zebra’s latest long-range scan engine, the SE58, which delivers a 20% longer read range than the SE4850. The SE58 can
seamlessly capture barcodes in hand up to 100 ft. away.
The Zebra SE58 scan engine also features a highly visible green laser aimer with a wide pattern that is up to 7 times more visible than a red aimer and offers up to 10 ft. of visibility in direct sunlight.
You can also upgrade your MC9400 with a BLE battery, which allows you to track your MC9400s using beacon tracking. This means you never lose devices at your workplace.
Bring your flavor of MDM to manage your fleet of MC9400s
Esper, SOTI MobiControl, 42 Gears, MobileIron, you name it, and the MDM is compatible with the Zebra MC9400.
Your fleet of MC9400s can be managed using a variety of new and legacy MDMs, allowing you to lock down devices, push updates, and manage everything out in the field.
At PLS, we really like Esper for it’s ease of use and flexibility.
Find out more about Esper here.
Extreme durability, build for the most rugged warehouses and work environments
Did you know there are three different versions of the Zebra MC9400?
There’s a Standard version, a non-incendive/hazardous location version, and a freezer/cold storage location version.
This guarantees an MC9400 version that will be suitable for your workplace. Add in IP 65 and IP 68 sealing, a 12 ft. drop rating, and freezer ratings to -86 degrees F, and you have a device that can be used in all types of environments.
In addition, the MC9400 offers improved freezer performance with a heated touch panel that ensures clear visibility even under heavy condensing conditions, protecting productivity in cold supply chain workflows.
The Zebra MC9400 is perfect for a variety of markets and industries, including MTL (manufacturing/transportation/logistics), retail, warehousing, hospitality, and more.
PLS can help you with any Zebra MC9400 projects in a non-pushy environment
Here’s the thing: buying Zebra Mc9400s isn’t always an easy task. There are a huge number of variables that can affect price, lead times, etc.
There’s also a huge assortment of accessories that can be difficult to decipher, including the number of cables that you’ll need for your charging cradle…
For this reason I recommend that you work with a Zebra Premier Business Partner like PLS.
Our team understands the Zebra MC9400 and it’s compatibility with software apps, best practices in work environments, MDMs, etc.
We can generate special pricing based on large projects, and we can even help you receive trade-in credits for your legacy devices using Zebra’s Rebate Program.
Please reach out to our sales team here to start talking about your next project.
