LOCK DOWN: The FX 100 can be secured by systems administrators to meet business needs

Technology startup Famoco has begun shipping the FX 100, a US$200 Android device that runs a custom version of Android 4.0, enabling settings to be locked by system administrators so that it can only be used for pre-authorized functions.

The lock feature means that "only trusted applications can be installed through Famoco's own mobile device manager available on the cloud," the company says.

First announced in February 2013, the FX 100 includes an embedded secure element as well as slots for both a SIM card and secure access module (SAM), a MediaTek 1GHz processor and 3.5-inch touchscreen display. WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity can be included as an optional extra.

The device is suitable for a range of applications, Famoco says, including acting as an mPOS for merchants, a mobile ID reader, an NFC ticketing reader and a writer for access control systems.