Has anyone any experience with barcode scanner SLEDs for iPhone and Co. (specifically iPod Touch)? We have an application where we need a cheap scanner for barcodes that will run a custom application

Normally we use Motorola MC9090/9190 scanners for such tasks, but they cost around 2K each, a cheaper alternative would be an iPod Touch with a SLED. We are currently looking at the KoamTec KDC400 which can read all normal barcodes, including GS1-128 bit and 2D barcodes. It looks like it works as a bluetooth "keyboard", providing the barcode scan as text for the app running on the smartphone or iPod.

The other drawback with the MC9090 is that we usually use it in conjunction with Windows Terminal Server using RDP, but Microsoft have increased the security on RDP and the MC9090 uses Windows Mobile 5.5, which is no longer supported and isn't compatible with a Windows TS using CALs post 2010. The 9190 is better, but still uses Windows Mobile 6.5. The question is, when Microsoft stopped supporting WM5 several years ago, why is the 9090 still a current model?

The advantage of the iPod would be an HTML5 capable browser for the application running on the server.

Normally we use Intermecs or LXEs to be honest.

However, every smartphone in my office has some kind of camera-based Barcode reading app. I wouldn't be surprised if there's either an app or an API you can can use.

The cameras are pretty useless at reading barcodes in industrial settings. The scanner sled can read up to 100 codes a second, works with GS1 and other complex, multi-line labels etc.