Symbol Technologies handheld computers used at Little League World

Long Island Business News, Aug 29, 2003 by Ken Schachter

Symbol Technologies Inc. went to bat at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., this month with handheld computers used in a wireless-network security system.

The Little League World Series, which features baseball players up to 12 years old, concluded Sunday night as Musashi-Fuchu of Japan routed East Boynton Beach 10-1 in the final game.

Symbol, which donated handheld PDT 8146 models for use by security guards at the games, has been trying to position its systems for use in security applications, said product manager Darin Rotoli.

Security - whether it's in the airline industry or elsewhere, we would like to see our mobile computers play a larger role, he said.

The handhelds used in Williamsport employ a barcode scanner that tells officials whether the holder of a badge is cleared to enter a particular area. But Rotoli said that other models can scan barcodes plus take a picture of an individual that could be compared with one in a database.

Symbol was invited to contribute to the event by Manhattan-based Enterprise Air, which provided the mobile security software, and Rochester-based Lenel Systems International Inc., which supplied photo identification badges and a wireless network.