Originally Posted by tarheelnj

I understand this has been around a while, but this is the first time I've experienced it (use of a handheld device to scan BPs instead of the fixed podium scanner). (Mods, didn't see another post about it - please move if there is.)

Had two flights in the last few days, one from the dreaded EWR C71 bus gates and one from GSO back to EWR. In both cases the GA used a handheld device. Clearly necessary by the bus departures where there is no fixed scanner, and useful departing GSO, where there were several wheelchair passengers. The GA just walked down the line scanning the BPs, instead of having to go back & forth to the podium. Appeared to have speeded things up. If this technology consistently works, it would be an actual boarding technology upgrade (along with the self-scan gates).