Socket scanner made Blackberry compatible

NEWARK, USA: Socket Mobile, Inc., a provider of mobile productivity solutions, has announced expanded compatibility of the Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) Series 7 with BlackBerry smartphones including the Bold, Curve, Pearl, Storm and Tour.

According to a press release, the CHS Series 7 brings industrial-class barcode scanning into a lightweight, pocket-sized form factor and is available in 2D and 1D scanning options with either standard or antimicrobial casing, which protects the device against the multiplication and spread of harmful bacteria and microbes and is a popular choice in the healthcare and hospitality industries. Socket provides free SocketScan software, which enables the CHS to connect to any BlackBerry smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing easy integration by an IT team or individual users.

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"One of the key areas where we're seeing increased opportunities for barcode scanning applications on smartphones is in the healthcare industry. According to Manhattan Research, 64 percent of physicians use smartphones, and that number is expected to grow to 81 percent by 2012," said Samantha Chu, data collection product manager at Socket Mobile. "Popular applications for barcode scanning to smartphones in healthcare include patient identification, medication administration, documentation and inventory and asset management."

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"Many healthcare clinicians experience mobile device overload, so enabling them to accomplish more tasks with one device helps them be more effective in patient care," said Chu. "BlackBerry is currently the number one smartphone of choice for both physicians and home care providers, and with the CHS, healthcare workers can seamlessly and cost-effectively integrate valuable 2D and 1D barcode scanning functionality into a device they are already using on a day-to-day basis."

RIM will be demonstrating the CHS and Blackberry live at the ESRI International User Conference in San Diego and at Syclo Mobile Conference in downtown Chicago, the release added.

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