A method for transitioning a handheld device from a partially inoperative state to a fully operative state, characterized by: obtaining a unique identifier from a first communication device that is in range of a second communication device, wherein the handheld device comprises the second communication device; comparing the unique identifier to a plurality of pre-stored unique identifiers identifying authorized users of the handheld device; performing operations to pair the first communication device with the second communication device in the handheld device when results of the comparing indicate that the unique identifier matches one of the plurality of pre-stored unique identifiers; in response to the pairing of the first device with the second communication device in the handheld device, transitioning the handheld device from the partially inoperative state in which deactivation operations for deactivating an active Electronic Article Surveillance ("EAS") security tag are disabled to the fully operative state in which said deactivation operations are enabled; and transitioning the handheld device back to the partially inoperative state when the first communication device travels out of range of the second communication device in the handheld device. obtaining a unique identifier from a first communication device that is in range of a second communication device, wherein the handheld device comprises the second communication device; comparing the unique identifier to a plurality of pre-stored unique identifiers identifying authorized users of the handheld device; performing operations to pair the first communication device with the second communication device in the handheld device when results of the comparing indicate that the unique identifier matches one of the plurality of pre-stored unique identifiers; in response to the pairing of the first device with the second communication device in the handheld device, transitioning the handheld device from the partially inoperative state in which deactivation operations for deactivating an active Electronic Article Surveillance ("EAS") security tag are disabled to the fully operative state in which said deactivation operations are enabled; and transitioning the handheld device back to the partially inoperative state when the first communication device travels out of range of the second communication device in the handheld device. performing operations to pair the first communication device with the second communication device in the handheld device when results of the comparing indicate that the unique identifier matches one of the plurality of pre-stored unique identifiers; in response to the pairing of the first device with the second communication device in the handheld device, transitioning the handheld device from the partially inoperative state in which deactivation operations for deactivating an active Electronic Article Surveillance ("EAS") security tag are disabled to the fully operative state in which said deactivation operations are enabled; and transitioning the handheld device back to the partially inoperative state when the first communication device travels out of range of the second communication device in the handheld device.