The Palmtec Plutonia is a handheld computer with an integrated printer and PC interface that weighs around 500 grams and runs on a rechargeable battery. It can be used for spot billing tasks like utility billing where carrying a full PC, printer, and UPS is not practical. It has applications in fields like banking, insurance, petrol pumps, and delivery billing. It stores customer data and allows field workers to quickly generate bills on site by entering meter readings. Data is synchronized back to a main office PC daily. The Palmtec Plutonia automates utility spot billing tasks previously done manually with paper, reducing billing time and errors.
1. An Introduction to
An Introduction to
PALMTEC PLUTONIA
PALMTEC PLUTONIA
The Handheld Computer
The Handheld Computer
For Utility (Electricity/Water) Spot Billing
FOR UTILITY SPOT BILLING
Page 1 of 5
Address: KINFRA Small Industries Park, Menamkulam,
St.Xaviours College P.O, Thumba, Trivandrum – 695586
Phone: 91-471-2704090, 2705880, 3266671. Fax: 91-471-2706350.
Email: softland@vsnl.com Website: www.softlandindia.co.in
2. PALMTEC PLUTONIA = PC + Printer + UPS.
Palmtec Plutonia is a hand-held computer with in-built Printer & PC interface. It is
very rugged, and hence suitable for the rough environment. It weighs around 500
grams and runs on a rechargeable battery.
Palmtec Plutonia can be used in places where keeping (or carrying) a set of PC +
Printer + UPS is impossible. Eg: in Buses, Go-downs, Delivery Sales Vans, Raw
Material Collection Centres, Fertilizer Depots etc. Daily Deposit Collection & Loan
Recovery of Banks, Ticketing in buses, Spot billing in Electricity & Water Suppliers,
Spot Billing in Petrol Bunks and Billing in Delivery Sales Vans are some major
applications of Palmtec Plutonia.
An array of models is available to suite to the need. There are models with RS232
interface, with Infra-Red (IR) Interface, with GPRS Modem connectivity, with Bard
Code Reader, with Smart Card Reader, with Finger Print Scanner etc. It comes with a
built-in 30 key alphanumeric keypad.
Precisely, Palmtec Plutonia is equivalent to a set of PC + Printer + UPS +
Software, in your palm. Sophisticated environments like AC room, Computer
furniture & qualified operator also are not required. Virus threat is also ruled out.
Since Palmtec Plutonia is programmed for specific applications, there is no chance
for misuses. Though the operation is simple for laymen, security is ensured by data
encryption and multi-level password protections.
The Major applications of Palmtec Plutonia offered are as follows.
Palmtec Plutonia for Field Collection in Banks & NBFCs
Palmtec Plutonia for Loan Recovery for Banks & NBFCs
Palmtec Plutonia for Field Collection of Insurance Companies
Palmtec Plutonia for Spot Billing in Petrol Pumps
Palmtec Plutonia for Billing in Delivery Sales
Palmtec Plutonia for Payment Collection, in distribution network.
Palmtec Plutonia for Order Processing
Palmtec Plutonia for Billing in Depots/ Regional warehouses
Palmtec Plutonia for Spot Billing for Electricity Cos.
Palmtec Plutonia for Spot Billing for Water Supply Cos.
Palmtec Plutonia for Property Tax Collection
Palmtec Plutonia for Courier Services
Page 2 of 5
Address: KINFRA Small Industries Park, Menamkulam,
St.Xaviours College P.O, Thumba, Trivandrum - 695586
Phone: 91-471-2704090, 2705880, 3266671. Fax: 91-471-2706350.
Email: softland@vsnl.com Website: www.softlandindia.co.in
3. Technical Specifications of Handheld Computer
Sl No. Details Palmtec Plutonia
1 Processor ARM Series
2 Programming Tool C
3 Date/Time Battery Backed Real Time Clock.
4 Security Multi-level Password & Data Encryption
5 Power 2200mAH Li-Ion, rechargeable battery
6 Recharging Time Approx. 3 hours
7 Input Voltage 190 –240 V
8 Power Consumption .8000 to 10000 lines printing per charge
9 Battery Life Approx. 500 charge-recharge cycles
10 Charger Portable, compact AC adaptor
11 Charging Source AC
12 Display 128 * 64 Graphical LCD with backlight.
13 Keyboard 30 Key, Alphanumeric, Tactile, 10 million operable.
14 PC Interface . USB Port.
15 Host System Windows XP
16 Program Memory 512 KB Flash
17 Data Memory MINIMUM 1 GB
Approx. 24.5 x 4 x 10 cm at the printer portion and
18 Size
Approx. 24.5 x 4 x 6.9 cm at holding area
19 Weight 500 grams
20 Body Moulded ABS / PC body.
21 Carrying Method Shoulder Bag
22 Printer 24 Col. Dot Matrix
23 Paper Width 57 mm width (24 characters in a line)
24 Paper Roll Dimension 40 mm diameter. (about 12 – 15 meters)
25 Paper Loading Manual
RF ID – 13.56 MHz Contact Less Smart Card
26 Smart Card Reader
Reader Optional
27 In-Built GPRS Modem Optional
Page 3 of 5
Address: KINFRA Small Industries Park, Menamkulam,
St.Xaviours College P.O, Thumba, Trivandrum - 695586
Phone: 91-471-2704090, 2705880, 3266671. Fax: 91-471-2706350.
Email: softland@vsnl.com Website: www.softlandindia.co.in
4. Application of Palmtec Plutonia for Utility (Electricity/Water) Spot
Billing System
Palmtec Plutonia can play a very important role in automating Spot Billing of Utility Service
Companies such as Electricity Companies, Water Supply Companies etc. efficiently. Our
Handhelds are used by Electricity Companies in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala, Orissa etc and
Water supply companies in Goa, Kerala etc.
Present System
Before going to the field, Meter Readers note down the Consumer Number and last reading
and previous balance of the consumers in a book and carry it to the field, in a day. Then they
also carry bill book with pen & carbon paper. Read the present meter reading and note down it
on the consumer card. Calculate the consumption by deducting previous reading manually.
Write this figure in the bill book. Calculate the bill amount by referring to the tariff table. Write
down this amount, bill date & due date and give it to the consumer. The consumer can go to
the office of the Electricity/Water Distribution Company and pay the bill later.
Drawbacks of the Present System
It takes hours for the meter reader to prepare data for each day before going to the field. So he
is able to go out to the field only by noon. Also it takes more than 10 minutes for him to finish
just one meter reading and related writing. He has no proper system to know the previous
reading, previous dues etc. It is almost impossible to take note of all these information of
thousands of people every day. Though theoretically there are records for all, it is not practical
to have the up-to-date information on every day morning, since, there will always be back logs
in accounts posting.
Need for Automation
Unlike earlier, now even public sector Utility Companies have to keep track of their revenues
and monitor the fund flow very strictly. For most of them timely fund flow has now become very
critical. Managing millions of data manually is impossible. Improved efficiency by automation is
the only solution. So it is very evident that they have to have system to automate billing.
Conventional PC-based computerization can solve only the office level problems. Field level
problems are still not attended. It is not practical to carry a set of PC, Printer & UPS with billing
software to each and every doorstep to issue bills. Re-chargeable battery operated, hand held
computer with in-built printer is the option. PC connectivity is also required for these terminals.
That is why we introduce Palmtec Plutonia to the field.
Page 4 of 5
Address: KINFRA Small Industries Park, Menamkulam,
St.Xaviours College P.O, Thumba, Trivandrum - 695586
Phone: 91-471-2704090, 2705880, 3266671. Fax: 91-471-2706350.
Email: softland@vsnl.com Website: www.softlandindia.co.in
5. Working of the Palmtec Plutonia based system
Step-1: We provide a stable utility that can be invoked within your application software, to load
necessary data to the Palmtec memory. Before going to the field, information like Consumer
Number, Consumer Type, Previous Balance, Previous Reading etc of a specified group of
consumers are downloaded to Palmtec memory from the application software installed in PC.
Option is given to load the data in "Walking Order", so that it will be easier for the meter
reader to select next customer in minimum time.
Step-2: At every doorstep, all he has to do is just type Consumer No. All relevant data will be
displayed on the screen. Look at the meter and enter the Current Reading. Bill will be
generated with calculations based on the tariff applicable to that particular consumer.
Since previous reading is there in the memory, Palmtec will automatically calculate the current
consumption. Since consumer type is also available in the memory, bill amount is calculated
as per the tariff rules set by the authority. Then Palmtec will instantaneously print a detailed
bill with Consumer No., Consumer Name, Reading Date, Opening & Closing Reading, Pay-by-
date, Date-with-fine, Disconnection Date etc. Meter Reader can hand over this bill to the
consumer. Then go to the next door step and continue the operation.
If he is going to the very next doorstep, he doesn’t even have to enter the consumer number. It
will come automatically, since data is stored in Walking Order.
Step-3: At the end of the day (or next day morning), take Palmtec Plutonia to the office and
upload the billing information back to the PC, using the utility provided by us thru the USB port
in the PC.. The data will get posted in the relevant fields of the application package installed in
the PC. There is no need of data entry and data verification. Software in the PC will generate
reports pertaining to the PALMTEC such as Number of customers billed,. Total amount billed
etc.
The same data transfer can be used for updating any other information like change of tariff
etc. The tariff change or creation of a new type of customer or any such information can be
done at the PC and be downloaded to all Palmtec units uniformly. This will speed up the
process as well as eliminate any sort of mistakes.
USB
Page 5 of 5
Address: KINFRA Small Industries Park, Menamkulam,
St.Xaviours College P.O, Thumba, Trivandrum - 695586
Phone: 91-471-2704090, 2705880, 3266671. Fax: 91-471-2706350.
Email: softland@vsnl.com Website: www.softlandindia.co.in