Panasonic Toughbook CF-19

BRACKNELL, UK, May 27, 2011 -- Thames Water, the UK's largest water utility company, has extended its 8 year Panasonic relationship with an order for 2,000 Toughbook devices for its mobile field workers.

Thames Water's Below Ground and New Connection teams will be using the Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 fully rugged notebooks, whilst the Above Ground engineers and Water Quality Sampling teams will be using the full function hand-held PC, the Toughbook CF-U1.

The devices will allow the engineers to interact with the company's new work and asset management information system, improving operational efficiency through more effective job allocation, scheduling, reporting and communication.

All devices include an integrated GPS system to help locate network pipes, correctly record work against other fixed assets and to provide live information to the scheduling teams to enable improved response to customer and operational calls. The devices are also providing key information and data to manage and improve Health and Safety in all Thames Water Operational areas.

Sanjay Patel, Head of IS Service Delivery at Thames Water, said: "Mobilizing our workforce is a key element in our work management transformation program." The utility, he said, selected the Panasonic Toughbooks based on the quality and flexibility of the devices, implementation and ongoing support.

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