The ability to access information from a DBMS server on a LAN, from a minicomputer, or from a mainframe is commonly requested by users of mobile computing.

Mobile Data Collection
These solutions are based on some sort of handheld device scanning information on an item and either storing it locally or transmitting it to a central processor. A number of vendors (Symbol, Telxon and Handheld Products) have been offering mobile data collection systems in various settings - from simple portable bar code readers to more sophisticated PDTs (Portable Data Terminals) with RF capability that will read information from various devices and send this information automatically through wireless local area networks or wide area networks.