Abstract: A peripheral device to a preexisting handheld communication device is disclosed. The peripheral device may include a housing capable of receiving the preexisting handheld communication device, a connector disposed in association with the housing, the connector configured to be removably coupled to the preexisting communication device, and a sensor assembly disposed in association with the housing, the sensor assembly operably associated with the connector assembly. Alternatively, the sensor assembly may be in wireless communication with the preexisting communication device. The sensor assembly preferably includes an optical image sensor for acquiring image information, and a processor for receiving and processing the image information. The sensor assembly may be configured to recover data corresponding to a microscopic code embedded on a surface of an object. Further, the housing may include a conformal cavity to receive the communication device.