How to pick a mobile barcode scanner

Mobile barcode scanning has evolved rapidly in the past few years. For many who are not familiar with the current state of mobile scanning technology, choosing a mobile barcode scanner can be a confusing chore.

This page is meant to provide some valuable guidelines that can be used when choosing a mobile barcode scanner, no matter what your mobile application for barcode (or RFID) scanning might be.

Serialio.com has delivered over 10,000 mobile scanning solutions, and are well prepared to meet your mobile scanning needs.

Smart mobile phone and smart mobile devices enabled for web browsing is expected to be nearly 700 million by 2013 according to a new study by ABI Research released in April 2008.

Considering these numbers, a good starting point for this process is to ask:
Do you have an existing mobile device that you want to barcode enable?

If the answer is yes, choosing a solution that works with your current mobile device should be considered. SerialMagic Professional software is unmatched for enabling smart mobile devices for barcode (and RFID) scanning than any other product of it's type.

Next question might be:
Do you want a scanning solution that uses Bluetooth, or one that is built-in?

Bluetooth advantages (at least when using SerialMagic) are

  • Bluetooth scanner has own power, so that scanning does not run down battery on mobile smart phone.
  • Faulty scanner can be immediately replaced without updating complete device
  • Mobile phone or smart mobile device can be viewed easily as scanner is used a distance from the mobile device. e.g. Put phone in pocket, on belt-clip and have scanning in-hand.
  • Swap the scanner as scanning needs change. e.g. If you have needs to upgrade to 2D scanning, simply use a 2D scanner in place of the 1D scanner.
  • Relative low cost compared to industrial built-in scanning solutions (LaserChamp Bluetooth scanners are very economical)
  • One-handed solutions possible with small Blueooth scanner options (e.g. like KDC200)

Built-in scanner advantages (at least when using SerialMagic)

  • Allow one-handed scanning
  • Industrial solutions even allow scanners that can be dropped in water! (e.g. like Archer Ruggedized Field PC).

After choosing the type of scanner you want, the next step is to determine what the needs of your application are.
Based on answers to these questions, your choice above may likely change.
Bluetooth scanning solutions offer the fullest range of options.

  • What is the budget?
  • How durable does the scanner need to be? (e.g. CCD scanners like SF51 and MS1633 tend to be more durable than laser scanners)
  • What size scanner is desired? (scanners come in many sizes, small like KDC200, and larger like MS1633)
  • Is scanning from a screen required or only printed material? ( SF51 and MS1633 can read from mobile phone screens)
  • What types of codes (symbologies) will be scanned? e.g. Only 1D codes or also 2D codes?
  • How much battery life is needed? (Some units like the LaserChamp have standard battery types, others have proprietary rechargeables)

No matter what your mobile barcode and RFID scanning needs, SerialMagic should be considered as a part of your solution.

If you a complete solution including mobile phone, scanner, and software Serialio.com also has one of the broadest solution categories in the mobile barcode scanning sector.
Please feel free to contact us.

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