Socket Mobile launches SoMo 650 handheld computer in Europe

Socket Communications, Inc., dba Socket Mobile, Inc., a  provider of mobile productivity solutions, has announced that its SoMo 650 handheld mobile computer is now shipping to customers in Europe.
 
We are very pleased with the strong initial demand we have seen for our SoMo 650, said Kevin Mills, CEO and president of Socket Mobile. To date, we have already received orders in excess of 2,500 units that were placed prior to general availability and we expect sales will begin making a contribution to total revenue in the third quarter as planned. Customers are motivated by a need to deliver productivity gains and enhance service quality and efficiency. Todays handheld devices do not meet all the cost, functionality and form-factor requirements of small and mid-sized mobile deployments. Our strategy is to address this need by being the one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems for the business mobility market. The SoMo 650 is a strong step forward in that plan.
 
The SoMo 650 is designed specifically for the business mobility market, which, according to Venture Development Corporation, comprises 10.9 million organisations and 69 million workers. These individuals are often on the move throughout the day, require access to a computer to perform key tasks and interact with customers face-to-face. They require a device that is more portable and cost-effective than an industrial-grade computer, but more suitable for a business environment than a consumer PDA or Smartphone. The SoMo 650 is lightweight and durable and is optimised for a wide range of business applications, including field automation, inventory management, patient care, merchandising, asset management and mobile Point of Sale.
 
There is an underserved space in the mobile handheld computer marketplace. Consumer PDAs dont offer the needed durability or functionality for many businesses, while industrial-grade devices are often too costly and bulky, said Jack Gold, founder and principal analyst of J. Gold Associates. As organisations seek to increase the productivity and efficiency of customer-facing staff, there is a growing requirement to meet the needs of mobile workers such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists or retail managers, with a device that combines business-class functionality and reliability in a user-friendly and cost effective form-factor. The SoMo 650 is positioned to address these requirements.
 
Clutterfree design on the in- and outside, and durable casing are essential advantages for busy everyday use in the hospitality trade where employees require instant and easy access to information while on the go. These features, in conjunction with a consumer pricepoint, will ensure the success of the enterprise grade SoMo650 in the hospitality industry, said Barny Short, integration manager at Cratos Hospitality Services Ltd., UK.

The SoMo 650 features the following:

• Lightweight, PDA-like form-factor making it ideal for customer-facing mobile workers.
• A three-to-five year life cycle, enabling customers to gain significant return on their investment.
• Windows Mobile 5.0 Professional operating system to ensure the highest level of mobile application compatibility and user familiarity with the computing environment.
• Robust features for business mobility deployments, including business-class Wi-Fi (and fast roaming for dependable wireless connectivity) and Bluetooth, a 624 MHz processor, a large, bright QVGA display, robust program and storage memory for running multiple applications and a high-capacity battery for users who are mobile all day.
• Programmable action buttons on the side for ease-of-use when deploying industry-specific mobile applications.
• Pre-integration with a wide range of peripherals and information systems, such as scanning, RFID, communications and interface devices, ensuring fast and easy deployment.

Pricing, service and availability

Pricing for the SoMo 650 starts at approximately 450 per unit. The devices are available from Socket Mobile authorised resellers, a list of which can be found at http://www.socketmobile.com/partners/distributors-and-resellers/resellers/.

The Vertical Industry Partner (VIP) Programme and the SocketCare Service Programme were launched to support the SoMo 650. For details of the VIP Programme, visit http://www.socketmobile.com/partners/vip.

For details of the SocketCare Programme, visit http://www.socketmobile.com/support/socketcare.

About Socket Mobile

Socket Mobile makes mobility computing and productivity work. The company is a one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems by offering a handheld mobile computer and one of the most complete portfolios of essential mobile data collection and networking connectivity peripherals that will enable mobile automation and productivity increases for small to medium deployments. The company also offers OEM partner solutions and software development programs.