Barcode Scanning application developed for a Box Office Ticketing Company

Issue:
Theatres and entertainment centers using the online ticketing solutions often need to accept tickets in multiple locations which change frequently, for example for golf tournaments. They needed a scanning device that would enable them to take tickets in different locations and would be easy and handy to use. Today the company uses a solution developed to run on a Symbol (PPT8846 and MC3090) device, with a built in scanner, running Windows CE (WinCE). Though the device is functioning well, it has a couple of drawbacks in terms of size and usability. It is a special device that can be used only for bar code scanning, and is not able to provide additional helpful information to the ticket taker, also in terms of size, it is much larger than today's pocket devices.
A new scanning solution needed to be developed that could take advantage of today's mobile devices, and could provide much more than just bar code scanning. 
Solution:
The solution was to develop a scanning app that could run on an iPod Touch. The iPod Touch was chosen because it is a light, easy device to carry around, has a long battery life which is very important in places where there aren’t many outlets to charge a device such as at outdoor venues.  As well there was an attachable scanner available already for the iPod which lends itself to very fast ticket taking. The scanner used was the Linea-Pro Scanner made specifically for the iPod Touch, by Infinite Peripherals (IPC)*.
Development took place in two phases. During the first phase, Softjourn developed the main functionality of the barcode scanning app: getting the list of events with the dates of performances, scanning for the selected event, scan in/scan out options, displaying data on screen alerting ticket takes to VIP's and those with special needs, etc. Softjourn also developed the web services portion to interact with the client's main ticketing solution. 
The second phase involved expanding of the basic functionality for manual scanning: new search features including search by name/s in the case of a group ticket purchase, search per order #, ticket #, etc.  Search via a credit card number was also added, enabling those customers who purchased by credit card, to simply swipe their card in order to be let in to an event, rather than having to show a ticket.  
Result:
With the new scanning app and an iPod Touch complete with a barcode scanner from Infinite Peripherals attached, users of the client's Ticketing System will be able to quickly provide access at mobile venues and be able to provide better service to their customers by being alerted to VIP’s and those with special needs.
Technologies:
Operating System: iOS (iPhone OS)
Programming language: Objective C
Framework: Cocoa Touch
Web service: SOAP
[See the scanner in action]