>The handhelds are for the sales data collection only. Finalizing a sale will be done on the hardwired(ethernet) cash register workstation - along with the beginning/end of day reconciliation. As mentioned in my first post, the cash register will use a sales number generated by the handheld (or application running on the server) to bring up the sales information to finalization.

Malcolm,

I saw some neat technology over the holidays while shopping at Walmart. I don't know anything about cost or availability but it did what you're looking for without a handheld display unit. A salesperson came up to my shopping basket, while I was still way back in the line, scanned all my items and handed me a credit card that had been loaded by the scanner. At the register, the clerk scanned the card and the sale data was automatically transfered to the register.

Is your customer driving the requirement for handhelds or are they there just because their possible? Sometimes we tend to let flashy technology overcome our better judgement.