Windows CE HandHeld Barcode Scanners with .NET

[Jay1b]

Hi

 

My company is planning to install a new barcoding solution using wireless handheld barcode scanners running Windows CE. We would like to develop this 'inhouse'.

 

For a previous system we brought in a separate company to handle the handheld scanner side of things. This used Windows CE, something else to handle a connection and then a .NET interface. Personally i cant see why they used or needed the middleware. Does anybody have any ideas?

 

I would of thought that as the handhelds which have built-in wireless, a .NET program on them could connect to a SQL server the same way as a normal client? I have no experience with programming .NET for CE so if anyone can help please do :)

 

Thanks

Jay.