3/26/08 - Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT) announced the immediate availability of Enhanced Wi-Fi Companion (e-WFC), a software platform that adds robust, enterprise-class wireless connectivity to any business mobility device such as the Socket Mobile SoMo 650 handheld computer. 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, a Socket branded compact flash (CF) Wi-Fi card and is also offered as an OEM embedded module to other manufacturers of products requiring robust Wi-Fi connectivity. The e-WFC 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 or CF card purchase.

The e-WFC software can be implemented on any Windows Mobile 5.0, Windows Mobile 6.0 and Windows CE 5.0 handheld devices using the Socket Mobile Compact Flash (CF) WLAN plug-in card. In addition, handheld OEM customers will be able to leverage CCX features by embedding Socket Mobile WLAN modules in their reference design and using e-WFC software.

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 organizations demand that the Wi-Fi radios in their mobile devices bear the Cisco Compatible seal, which is earned through the Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) program. 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. Socket Mobile has a unique advantage where both the Socket Go Wi-Fi! Module P700 and the client device Socket SoMo™ 650 handheld computer have achieved the Version 4 Certification.

Key features of e-WFC software are:

• Incorporates award-winning wireless configuration program, known as Wi- Fi Companion 
•  Supports Windows CE 5.0, Windows Mobile 5.0 and Windows Mobile 6.0
•  Advanced security and reliability for WLAN traffic of business organizations 
•  Complete solution from Socket Mobile without any third party supplicant. User will have assurance that solution will work right out of the box and Socket Mobile provides both integration professional services and post sales support
• Designed to use minimum power, and Automatic Power Save enables you to further reduce the power usage and to maximize the battery life of your device
• Support for WPA/WPA2 (Enterprise) and EAP methods (LEAP, EAP-FAST, and EAP-TLS) in a single program
• Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM), a standard for quality of service (QoS) and Cisco roaming enhancements using Cisco Centralized Key Management (CCKM) protocol
•  VOIP over Wi-Fi: CCX features incorporate voice-specific enhancements, such as seamless routing of traffic among access points, especially as users "roam" or move through a network and their calls transition from one access point to another.
• Enhanced client and network management through multiple SSIDs and VLAN support on an AP and AP-specified transmit power at client.
•  Wi-Fi Alliance Certified and CCX 4.0 certified

"Theft of data and confidential information is a concern among organizations that have an increasing number of remote or mobile workers using handheld devices and laptops," 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. While our SoMo 650 handheld computer is positioned as a durable PDA product, 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. In addition, the software extends the long heritage of Socket Mobile providing the industry with open systems software to enable third party products embedding our WLAN modules to take advantage of our e-WFC with CCX 4.0."

Availability

Socket Mobile Enhanced Wi-Fi Companion is available immediately as a software upgrade to existing Socket Mobile customers or as a WLAN plug-in card to businesses using third party, Windows Mobile 5.0 supported devices. The plug-in cards are 802.11b/g, radio modules designed to be embedded into ASDs, with the following specifications:

-- Socket Go Wi-Fi!® P700: Wi-Fi Module available to OEM customers -- Socket Go Wi-Fi!® P500 Rev C: runs on devices with compatible CF slots

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