1 ) A mobile machine readable data acquisition apparatus comprising: a housing, a power means, a scanning means for scanning a machine readable symbology, a digitizer means receiving input from said scanning means and outputting a digital input signal for a processor means having a machine readable symbology identification and decoding function which is linked to a memory means for local data storage; said scanning means, said digitizer means, said processor means, said memory means and said power means arranged and configured within said housing, adapted to be energized by said power means.