The last few months have shown a number of changes in the barcode scanner industry. Just to name a few, the integration of Honeywell and Hand Held Products is well underway, Motorola bought Symbol Technologies, and Datalogic has bought PSC.
These were big names in the industry of barcode scanners and data collection devises. Hand Held Products also known as HHP has been around since 1972. Hand Held Products has been a worldwide leading manufacturer of data collection and management solutions of mobile, and transaction processing applications. 
Through its exclusive Adaptus® Imaging Technology platform, Hand Held Products has delivers product solutions that improve productivity, lower costs, and enhance customer service. Hand Held Products is represented in every major market and geographic region of the world through more than 30 sales offices and hundreds of resellers. Now that Honeywell is purchasing HHP, the new company name is Honeywell Imaging and Mobility and is still located in Skaneateles Falls, NY.
Some of the brands under the HHP, now Honeywell Imaging and Mobility, include the Dolphin 7000 series and the Dolphin 9000 series mobile computers, the 3800, 4000 2D, and 6000 Handheld Imagers, document readers, transaction terminals, kiosks and verification solutions. These are still considered some of the most rugged in the industry.
Symbol, which is now Motorola, has also been around in the industry for many years. They are known for their innovativeness in the barcode industry with barcode scanners, mobile computers, RFID solutions, kiosks, and payment terminals. Software solutions can easily be modified to fit these units and the Motorola unit is the most widely installed solution in the US under the old Symbol name. It will be interesting to see what Motorola does with this technology, as barcode scanning becomes more and more a part of everyday life, along with cell phones that Motorola is known for.
PSC and Datalogic came together on April 2, 2007 and now Datalogic has 4 distinct focuses. Datalogic Corporate, Datalogic Scanning, Datalogic Mobile, and Datalogic Automation. PSC fit right into Datalogic Scanning and Datalogic Mobile. PSC had the brands know as Falcon in the Mobile computer field and the QuickScan and PowerScan in the handheld barcode scanners. The QuickScan 6000 or QS6000 unit was the workhorse of the industry. Known for its durability, this barcode scanner could not be damaged. The PowerScan is taking right after it and with brighter colors and a stronger case, it will be working in receiving departments and warehouses for years to come.
Datalogic has always been known for its compact, ergonomic and durable barcode scanners and has had a strong foothold in the Retail, Distribution, Manufacturing, Public Sector, Banking and Finance, and Healthcare industries for years.
This merger puts two manufacturers of barcode scanners and mobile computers in the driver seat when it comes to meeting retail needs. With some of the new technology coming out of Datalogic after the merger, they are really showing their strength with the recent launch of the Kyman. This unit can have a real impact on the industrial segment.
It seems that all of these events have and are providing new strength and technology to the barcode scanning industry. Both Honeywell and Motorola are cutting edge technology companies and should provide a lot of new and creative barcode scanning solutions. Datalogic has been in the industry and combines the better of two companies from the industry and already they have shown some great synergies with the launch of the Kyman barcode scanner mobile computer.
Keep you eye on these companies and the innovated scanning technology that emerges from these shakeups. It will be cutting edge!
