Technical Info

BrokerScan is a powerful web-based solution developed on the .NET Framework and the .NET Framework for Pocket PC. This combination of platforms provides for fast and reliable collection of data by the Pocket PC, easy sychonization to the web server, and a rich reporting environment that will give users easy exportability of finalized reports to a variety of commonly used formats such as Excel, Word, or PDF.

Getting Started

Subscribers to the BrokerScan solution will receive individual user licenses and logins that correspond with each Pocket PC that the application is installed on. This method will allow your company to more accurately track the collection of data as well as restrict access to the finalized reports based on authorization level.

BrokerScan will help subscribers deploy the Pocket PC portion of the application as well as provide users and easy web-based interface where they can create and maintain their item and customer database.

Choosing Hardware

The broad proliferation of the Pocket PC platform on mobile devices means that many hardware choices exist. We have elected to provide users some guidelines and product recommendations for making hardware selections. While many more Pocket PC devices may be capable of running the BrokerScan solution, BrokerScan is only supporting hardware listed on this page.

The PDA

BrokerScan supports the following devices running on the Pocket PC 2003 Platform.*

Some suggested models to use are:

*BrokerScan only will run on Pocket PC platform. Palm O/S devices are not supported at this time.

Internet Connectivity

BrokerScan was designed to connect the Pocket PC to the BrokerScan web server via an 802.11 b wireless connection. We strongly suggest devices utilizing the Pocket PC 2003 platform and integrated 802.11 b receivers to minimize possible connection problems.

Expansion Slots

Note: All devices must have either a CF Card Expansion Slot or a SDIO Now! Multi-media Expansion Slot to interface with the plug-in scanner. Simple SD Expansion Slots are insufficient to support the use of the scanner. Some of the more expensive devices have both types of expansion slots.

Please read your product description carefully to ensure the presence of an SDIO Now! Slot or CF Expansion Slot. SDIO Now! Technology was not commonly deployed on Pocket PCs older than 2003.

Scanners

The Socket SDK allows BrokerScan to support the use of multiple Socket scanning devices. The final choice your company should select will depend largely on your budget and your overall anticipated scanning needs.

Socket SDIO in Hand Scanner

The Socket SDIO In Hand Scanner is the smallest and lightest bar code scanner available on the market. This unit will meet the scanning requirements of most users of the BrokerScan application. Rather than using a laser “sweep scanner” this unit uses CMOS linear imaging technology to read the barcode. This allows the unit to be manufactured for about ½ the cost of a true laser scanner but with some reduction of scanner ability. This unit is designed to be plugged into a SDIO NOW! Multimedia Expansion Slot on the Pocket PC.

Type 1 CF Card Expansion Slot Scanner

CF Card Expansion Slot Scanner is designed to plug into a Pocket PC via a CF Card Expansion Slot at the top of the Pocket PC. This scanner is more expensive that the SDIO model but has genuine “sweep scan” laser functionality which will give improved scanning performance in difficult light conditions or in situations where many rapid scans are necessary.