An adapter (100, 200, 300, 400) for a mobile device (102, 302, 402), comprising: a handle portion (108, 204, 306, 412) comprising a trigger switch (110, 210, 320) that is accessible to an index finger of a hand of the user when the handle portion is held in the hand of the user; a cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410) positioned above the handle portion configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile device in a slot such that a plane of a display of the mobile device is substantially aligned with a long axis of the handle portion and the display is viewable by the user when the mobile device is positioned in the slot of the cradle portion and the handle portion is held in the hand of the user; wherein the cradle portion comprises: a data acquisition device adjacent to the slot, the data acquisition device configured to acquire data from an object upon actuation of the trigger switch, and a memory configured to storing a docking application being loaded onto the mobile device by the adapter when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410), the docking application configuring the mobile device to recognize an activation of the trigger switch; and a processor that communicates with a processor of the mobile device (102, 302, 402) when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion, wherein, upon actuation of the trigger switch, the data acquisition device acquires the data from the object, and the data acquired by the data acquisition device is transmitted to the mobile device for processing; a pointing device coupled to the cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410) such that the pointing device is accessible by a thumb of a user holding the adapter, wherein the pointing device is adapted to manipulate a mouse pointer displayed on the display of the mobile device (102, 302, 402) when the mobile device (102, 302, 402) is positioned in the cradle portion. a handle portion (108, 204, 306, 412) comprising a trigger switch (110, 210, 320) that is accessible to an index finger of a hand of the user when the handle portion is held in the hand of the user; a cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410) positioned above the handle portion configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile device in a slot such that a plane of a display of the mobile device is substantially aligned with a long axis of the handle portion and the display is viewable by the user when the mobile device is positioned in the slot of the cradle portion and the handle portion is held in the hand of the user; wherein the cradle portion comprises: a data acquisition device adjacent to the slot, the data acquisition device configured to acquire data from an object upon actuation of the trigger switch, and a memory configured to storing a docking application being loaded onto the mobile device by the adapter when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410), the docking application configuring the mobile device to recognize an activation of the trigger switch; and a data acquisition device adjacent to the slot, the data acquisition device configured to acquire data from an object upon actuation of the trigger switch, and a memory configured to storing a docking application being loaded onto the mobile device by the adapter when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410), the docking application configuring the mobile device to recognize an activation of the trigger switch; and a processor that communicates with a processor of the mobile device (102, 302, 402) when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion, wherein, upon actuation of the trigger switch, the data acquisition device acquires the data from the object, and the data acquired by the data acquisition device is transmitted to the mobile device for processing; a pointing device coupled to the cradle portion (106, 202, 304, 410) such that the pointing device is accessible by a thumb of a user holding the adapter, wherein the pointing device is adapted to manipulate a mouse pointer displayed on the display of the mobile device (102, 302, 402) when the mobile device (102, 302, 402) is positioned in the cradle portion.