It's now easier than ever to print to mobile thermal printers from Motorola handheld computers

With the proliferation of handheld computers such as the Motorola MC75 handheld computer or the Motorola MC9090 Industrial mobile computer, the need to print receipts and barcode labels has increased significantly. Fortunately, the technology used to print to stationary barcode printers in non-field applications is somewhat similar to mobile printing in the field. A quick note on these handhelds as they were previously known as the Symbol MC9090-G industrial computer but Symbol was acquired by Motorola in 2006.

Historically, the approach to printing from a mobile computer to a stationary or portable thermal barcode printer utilized the wireless infrastructure within a building. For instance, workers would typically enter operations on their handheld (e.g. scan a barcode with the Motorola MC9090-G) which would be then sent over the Wi-Fi network to a server; this server would then send print instructions to a thermal barcode printer. Typically, the barcode printer would be a stationary label printer which the server determined was closest to the user or that may have been assigned to that worker. Alternatively, the worker would be using a portable label printer that was assigned to him and the server would send the print instructions to the designated mobile printer.

With field applications however, the Wi-Fi wireless infrastructure is no longer available so the overall print approach is slightly different in that it uses Bluetooth or WWAN technologies. To help companies accelerate the deployment of mobile printers, Zebra has simplified printing from mobile computers with the Zebra's ZebraLink™ Smartphone Utility which enables workers to print from their Motorola MC9090 Mobile Computer or their MC75 handheld computer directly to their Zebra mobile or stationary printers.

The best way to get started with printing from a mobile handheld computer is to get the free ZebraLink Smartphone Utility which can be downloaded directly to your Motorola mobile computer from www.zebra.com/sdk. This utility allows companies to start printing receipts or labels with minimal startup time by utilizing barcode labels designed with the PC-based ZebraDesigner™ label design software. Barcode labels designed with this free software can then be stored either on the phone or on the printer. As a bonus, the utility also includes a set of embedded demonstration examples that allow customer to immediately experience label printing of simulated asset tags, temporary visitor badges or law-enforcement electronic citations.

Many types of applications will benefit from mobile label printing, including field service, mobile workforce, retail mobile point of sale, and healthcare point of care. The potential is tremendous and the implementation is easier than ever! For additional information on Zebra Barcode Label Printers or Motorola Mobile Computer products, visit my recommended website at AutoSavings.com or contact a Barcode specialist at (714)922-1140.