Socket Mobile releases Cisco certified Enhanced Wi-Fi® Companion™ software

Published 29th February 2008

Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT), dba Socket Mobile, Inc., an innovative provider of mobile productivity solutions, has announced the immediate availability of Enhanced Wi-Fi Companion (e-WFC), a software platform that adds robust, enterprise-class wireless connectivity to the Socket Mobile SoMo 650 handheld computer for the business mobility market. With CCX certification, e-WFC greatly increases Wireless LAN (WLAN) security, mobility and overall network management. The e-WFC software works in conjunction with the Socket Mobile Wi-Fi chipset that is used in the Socket Mobile SoMo 650 handheld computer, and is available for purchase by Socket Mobile customers as an upgrade to their pre-existing Wi-Fi Companion software or as an orderable feature in their Socket Mobile handheld computer purchase.

CCX value proposition and e-WFC key competitive advantages

With Cisco products in nearly two-thirds of enterprise wireless LAN, or Wi-Fi®, infrastructures today, most business organisations demand that the Wi-Fi radios in their mobile devices bear the Cisco Compatible seal, which is earned through the Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) programme. The CCX specification defines the set of features needed for a Wi-Fi radio or a client device that uses Wi-Fi Radio, to be deemed “compatible” with a Cisco wireless LAN infrastructure. Although Cisco has published five versions of its CCX specifications, today a product can be certified only for the two most recent versions: Version 4 (V4) or V5.

“Theft of data and confidential information is a concern among organisations that have an increasing number of remote or mobile workers using handheld devices,” said Bob Zink, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Socket Mobile. “By integrating Cisco CCX into our platform we are able to directly address the challenges our customers face in terms of security, interoperability and scalability regardless of their size or industry. Our SoMo 650 handheld computer is a durable PDA product, and our Wi-Fi software and integrated WLAN offering along with our extended SocketCare™ service and technical support provide features we feel are unique in the industry for this class of device.”

Socket Mobile will be formally launching this new product at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference and exhibition February 24-28 in Orlando with Cisco, and providing demonstrations at both the Socket Mobile booth #1312 and the Cisco booth #6251. Reference to Socket Mobile CCX compatibility can currently be found on the Cisco Web Site at http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/pr46/pr147/socket_p700.html