About Socket Mobile

Socket Mobile, Inc. provides data capture and delivery solutions for enhanced productivity in workforce mobilization. The company's data capture solutions are incorporated into mobile applications used in point of sale (POS), commercial services (field workers), asset tracking, manufacturing process and quality control, transportation and logistics (goods tracking and movement), event management (ticketing, entry, access control, and identification), medical and education. Products The company's primary products are cordless data capture devices incorporating barcode scanning or RFID/Near Field Communications (NFC) technologies that connect over Bluetooth. All products work with applications running on smartphones, mobile computers and tablets using operating systems from Apple (iOS), Google (Android) and Microsoft (Windows). The company offers an easy-to-use software developer kit (CaptureSDK) to application providers, which enables them to provide their consumers with its advanced barcode scanning features. The company's products are integrated by the application providers and are marketed by the application providers or their resellers. The number of application providers supporting the company's data capture solutions continues to grow. SocketScan Family: The company's SocketScan family consists of the 700 Series (S700, S720, S730, S720, S740) companion scanners and 800 Series (S800, S820, S840, S860) attachable scanners. 700 Series are available in multiple vivid colors: blue, green, red, white, yellow and black. S720 reads both 1D and 2D barcodes on paper and screen. It's a drop-in replacement for the company's most sold S700 while adding QR code functionality. 800 Series, 1D linear imaging (S800) and 2D (S820, S840, S860) are attachable to smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices with an easily detachable clip or DuraCase, creating a one-handed solution. S860 includes MRZ (machine-readable zone) support, making it capable of scanning passports, visas, and other travel documents in addition to barcodes. SocketScan 800 Series scanners may be used stand-alone as well. S820, which was launched recently, provides a basic and affordable option for those who wish to upgrade to 2D scanning. DuraScan Family: The company's DuraScan family consists of 700 Series (D700, D720, D730, D740, D745, D750, D755, D760) companion scanners and 800 Series (D800, D820, D840, D860) attachable scanners, which are designed to be durable barcode scanners with IP54-rated outer casing to withstand tougher environments. D740 is priced competitively with a 1D barcode scanner, making it the affordable 2D option available in the market. D820, which was launched recently, provides a basic and affordable option for those who wish to upgrade to 2D scanning. D745 and D755 are medical-grade, universal scanners. D760 and D860 include MRZ (machine-readable zone) support, making it capable of scanning passports, visas, and other travel documents. D820 provides a basic and affordable option for those who wish to upgrade to 2D scanning. DuraSled Family: The company's DuraSled (DS800, DS820, DS840, DS860) is a barcode scanning sled designed for durability. It combines a phone with a scanner to create a one-handed solution. DuraSled protects phones from impact damage and provides a robust charging solution for all environments. It is easy-to-use and ideal for delivery services, stock counting, ticketing and other App-driven mobile solutions. The DuraSled products are compatible with Apple, Samsung and Windows devices. DS820 provides a basic and affordable option for those who wish to upgrade to 2D scanning. Contactless RFID/NFC Reader Writer: The company's contactless product line includes D600, S550 and S370. The D600, an ergonomically handheld model with IP54-rated outer casing, can read and write many different types of electronic SmartTags or transfer data with near-field communication. The S550, a contactless membership card reader/writer, is designed to facilitate tap-and-go smart card and NFC applications. S370 supports both barcode scanning and Near Field Communication (NFC) reading and writing technologies. It provides App providers the ability to read both QR code-based and NFC-based credentials, allowing App providers to accept multiple formats with one device. S370 can also read credentials following ISO 18013-5, the Mobile Driver's License (mDL) standard being adopted in many states and countries. SocketCam Family: In Q1 2022, the company's announced its SocketCam product, C820, a software-based barcode scanner, which offers a free, flexible, quick, and reliable data capture solution to its App partners who can include the C820 in their applications to provide free scanning to their end-users. The SocketCam C820 is the first member of the SocketCam family and turns any mobile device into a high-performance barcode scanner. App providers are challenged to service a wide range of customers with various data capture requirements, from price-sensitive to performance-sensitive, and even multiple data types. The addition of the C820 seamlessly enables these diverse requirements. End-users whose data capture requirements exceed the capabilities of the free camera-based scanners will have the choice of purchasing a Socket Scanner or using an advanced version of the camera-based scanner which is expected to be available in 2023. Software Developer Kit (CaptureSDK): The company's Software Developer Kit (CaptureSDK) supports all its data capture devices with a single integration, making it easier for App providers to integrate its data capture capabilities into their applications. With the installation of the company's data capture software, the App providers' customers can choose any of its products that work best for them. The company's CaptureSDK enables the App providers to modify captured data, control the placement of the barcoded or RFID data in their applications, and control the feedback to the user that the transaction and transmission were successfully completed. The company's CaptureSDK also supports the built-in camera in a customer's smartphone or tablet to be used for occasional or lower-volume data collection requirements. The CaptureSDK uses tools integrated with software building environments, such as Swift Package Manager, Maven and NuGet, adds support for high-level frameworks, such as MAUI, ReactNative, Java, JavaScript and Flutter, and adds other features to make it easier for App providers to integrate the company's data capture software into their applications. The company designs its own products and is responsible for all associated test equipment. The company subcontracts the manufacturing of all its product components to independent third-party contract manufacturers located in the United States, Mexico, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and China that have the equipment, know-how and capacity to manufacture products to its specifications. The company performs final product assembly, testing and packaging at, and distribute its products from, its Fremont, California facility. The company offers its products worldwide through two-tier distribution enabling customers to purchase from large numbers of online resellers around the world, including application providers who resell their own solutions along with its data capture products. The company's data capture products address the need for speed and accuracy by today's mobile workers and by the systems supporting those workers, thereby enhancing their productivity and allowing them to exploit time-sensitive opportunities and improve customer satisfaction. Marketing Dynamics Application Provider Relationships: The company actively supports application providers to integrate its data capture solutions into their applications. The company provides an easy-to-use software developer kit (CaptureSDK) and training and technical support to its application providers. The company supports the marketing activities of its application providers in promoting the applications that include its products. Once the company's data capture products are integrated by the application provider, its products become an ingredient of the application solution and part of the application provider's marketing program. The company provides regular CaptureSDK updates, including updates that support the latest operating system updates provided by Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The company spends extensive engineering time and resources to ensure that its cordless data capture products are compatible with a wide variety of the most popular smartphones, tablets, and mobile computers running a variety of operating systems. The company complies with the standards set by the standard-setting bodies whose technologies are used in its products, such as Bluetooth SIG, NFC Forum, GS1, and AIM Global. Mobile Markets: The company's revenues are primarily driven by sales of barcode scanners integrated into mPOS (mobile Point of Sale) applications used with Apple tablets and other mobile devices. Many mPOS application providers develop software for smaller retailers using tablets as cash registers. Other mobile markets addressed by application providers include commercial services (field workers), asset tracking, manufacturing process and quality control, transportation and logistics (goods tracking and movement), event management (ticketing, entry, access control, and identification), medical and education. The company expects these markets to increase the use of mobile applications and the demand for barcode scanners. Expanded and Improved Product Offerings: The company offers a wide range of products that enable application providers and their consumers to design their mobile systems to meet their specific requirements, and it encourages its distributors to support the full range of its products. The company's products include stand-alone barcode scanners in both durable and standard cases, attachable barcode scanners, and RFID/NFC reader/writer. The company provides a software developer kit to application providers to enable its advanced data capture software to be easily integrated into applications. The company designs its products to comply with the regulations of the many worldwide agencies that regulate the safety, performance, and use of electronic products. Worldwide Product Availability: The company distributes its products through a worldwide distribution network that places products into geographic regions to shorten purchasing time and provides a credit shield to it. The company's largest distributors are Ingram Micro, ScanSource and Blue Star, and they support a worldwide network of online resellers, including Shopify, Amazon.com, and CDW. The company also offers products in its own online stores. Competition Cordless Barcode Scanning: The company's Cordless Barcode Scanners face competition from similar products from Koamtec, Code Corporation and Opticon (Japan). Proprietary Technology and Intellectual Property The company has been granted U.S. patents and design patents and have other patent applications under review. The company has registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the mark 'Socket', its logo, DuraScan, and SocketScan. Research and Development In 2022, the company's research and development expenses were approximately $4.4 million. History The company was founded in 1992 as Socket Communications, Inc. It was incorporated in 1992 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1995. The company began doing business as Socket Mobile, Inc. in 2007 to better reflect its market focus on the mobile business market and changed its legal name to Socket Mobile, Inc. in 2008.