According to a recent vnuet.com article, Casio is expected to release two new rugged handhelds this month, the IT-500 and the DT-X10. Both will have numeric keypads in addition to touch-sensitive TFT screens. Both can also stand a drop onto concrete from at least a metre, and they comply with the IP54 environmental standard, which means they can be used safely even in the rain.

Casio's new models are expected to be based on Microsoft's Windows CE.Net 4.1 and offer wireless connectivity options, including 802.11b wireless LAN (WLAN) or Bluetooth. Both models should also have built-in scanners for reading barcodes. The IT-500 can also be supplied with an optional digital camera attachment as well. This could have a number of commercial applications. For example, it might be used to record damage to parcels during transit, for insurance purposes, or it might help traffic wardens to prove that a vehicle was illegally parked when they issued a ticket.