Smith Micro Software

Last updated
Smith Micro Software, Inc
Company typePublic
Nasdaq:  SMSI
Russell Microcap Index component
Industry Software
Founded1982
Headquarters
Key people
William W. Smith Jr.
Chairman and CEO
RevenueIncrease2.svg US $51.3 million (2020)
Number of employees
402 (2021)
Website http://www.smithmicro.com

Smith Micro Software, Inc., founded in 1982 by William W. Smith, Jr., is a developer and marketer of both enterprise and consumer-level software and services. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Smith Micro maintains multiple domestic and international offices. United States locations include Aliso Viejo, California, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. International offices are located throughout Europe and Asia. Currently, the company focuses on digital lifestyle solutions[ buzzword ] and security technologies, and is integrated into the evolving wireless media industry, as indicated by partnerships with cellular service providers such as Verizon Wireless, [1] AT&T, [2] and Sprint Corporation, [3] now owned by T-Mobile US after the Sprint & T-Mobile merger in April 2020.

Contents

Corporate history

Smith Micro's initial focus was on dial-up modem and fax software technology, distributing predominantly to OEM computer software/hardware manufacturers. Smith Micro established an IPO in 1995, and became publicly traded in the NASDAQ under the symbol SMSI. Initial stock values were approx. $12.75 per share. [4]

As the company entered the 90's, dial-up internet was quickly being replaced by cable internet, DSL, and wireless broadband due to substantially higher speeds and increased reliability. This change led Smith Micro to venture into wireless and mobile network software. Network connection management became an expertise of the company and, Smith Micro quickly developed products of interest to large-scale mobile network operators such as AT&T, Bell Canada, Orange, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone. While fax and modem-related products were still a part of their portfolio, the QuickLink Platform of wireless connection managers became a primary source of revenue in the early 2000s.

By 2005, Smith Micro acquired Allume Systems and their StuffIt data compression software. Soon after, Smith Micro acquired Israel-based image editing company, PhoTags. Smith Micro followed with two more acquisitions, (e frontier America and busineSMS.com Software.) [5] By acquiring these smaller companies, Smith Micro rapidly expanded its consumer business presence, however the company retained focus on network and wireless-related products.

In early 2008, the company began to expand its portfolio with the addition of wireless access and mobile services. Smith Micro introduced multiple solutions for enhanced mobile communications, such as push-to-talk software, visual voicemail services, and video streaming. Smith Micro also expressed interest in WiMAX broadband, [6] a newly developed cellular technology which was considered to be a 4G wireless protocol and the replacement of current 3G cellular systems.

In 2019, Smith Micro entered the retail technology space with its acquisition of ISM Connect, LLC’s Smart Retail product suite. [7] Most recently, the company has continued to expand its family safety business through the acquisitions of  Circle Media Labs’ operator business in February 2020, [8] and the Family Safety Mobile Business of Avast Software s.r.o in April 2021. [9]

In a December 2023 interview, Bill Smith, the Chairman of the Board, President & CEO at Smith Micro Software, provided insights into the company's strategic direction. Smith discussed the development of white-label applications tailored for Mobile Network Operators and retailers, with an emphasis on brand enhancement and customer engagement. The company's main products, including the family safety application SafePath and the retail solution ViewSpot, were noted for their ongoing improvements, particularly in incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve safety features and market response. Smith also touched on Smith Micro's approach to supporting product deployment through marketing and management services aimed at delivering sustained value to their partners. [10]


Products

Family safety

Communications

Smart Retail

Major acquisitions

Acquisition dateCompanyBusinessCountryValue (USD)
July 2005 Allume Systems Software / Data compression Flag of the United States.svg  United States $11 million
April 2006PhoTags Software / Image editing Flag of Israel.svg Israel $6 million
December 2007e frontier America Digital distribution / Graphic design Flag of the United States.svg  United States --
February 2007Ecutel Software, wireless Flag of the United States.svg  United States $8 million
January 2008PCTel Wireless Software / Wireless Flag of the United States.svg  United States $59.7 million
December 2008MxPlay Software / Multimedia Flag of the United States.svg  United States --
September 2009Core Mobility Software / Wireless Flag of the United States.svg  United States $20.2 million
July 2016iMobile Magic Software Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal $2.2 million
January 2019ISM Connect Software / Multimedia Flag of the United States.svg  United States $9 million
February 2020Circle Media Labs Software / Multimedia Flag of the United States.svg  United States $13.5 million
March 2021Avast’s Family Safety Mobile Business Software Flag of the United States.svg  United States $80 million

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3Com</span> Former American maker of computer network products

3Com Corporation was an American digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney and others. Bill Krause joined as President in 1981. Metcalfe explained the name 3Com was a contraction of "Computer Communication Compatibility", with its focus on Ethernet technology that he had co-invented, which enabled the networking of computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avast</span> Czech security software company

Avast Software s.r.o. is a Czech multinational cybersecurity software company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, that researches and develops computer security software, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Avast has more than 435 million monthly active users and the second largest market share among anti-malware application vendors worldwide as of April 2020. The company has approximately 1,700 employees across its 25 offices worldwide. In July 2021, NortonLifeLock, an American cybersecurity company, announced that it was in talks to merge with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion.

TracFone Wireless, Inc. (TFWI) is an American prepaid, no-contract mobile phone provider. TFWI is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications, and offers products and services under several brands. It operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), holding agreements with the three largest United States wireless network operators to provide service: AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US, and Verizon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alltel</span> Former American telecommunications company

Alltel was a landline, wireless and general telecommunications services provider, primarily based in the United States. Before its wireless division was acquired by Verizon Wireless and AT&T, Alltel provided cellular service to 34 states and had approximately 13 million subscribers. As a regulatory condition of the acquisition by Verizon, a small portion of Alltel was spun off and continued to operate under the same name in six states, mostly in rural areas. Following the merger, Alltel remained the ninth largest wireless telecommunications company in the United States, with approximately 800,000 customers. On January 22, 2013, AT&T announced they were acquiring what remained of Alltel from Atlantic Tele-Network for $780 million in cash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sprint Corporation</span> Defunct American telecommunications company

Sprint Corporation was an American telecommunications company. Before being acquired by T-Mobile US on April 1, 2020, it was the fourth-largest mobile network operator in the United States, serving 54.3 million customers as of June 30, 2019. The company also offered wireless voice, messaging, and broadband services through its various subsidiaries under the Boost Mobile and Open Mobile brands and wholesale access to its wireless networks to mobile virtual network operators.

Intellisync Corporation was a provider of data synchronization software for mobile devices, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The company was acquired in 2006 by Nokia.

Qwest Wireless LLC was a cellular phone service owned by Qwest Communications and offered in the United States. Qwest Wireless was a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that operated on Sprint's CDMA network. While Qwest originally owned its own wireless network, it discontinued that network in 2004 as part of the move to become an MVNO. The network elements were sold to other carriers after shutdown. Qwest was the only Baby Bell that offered its wireless service as an MVNO; since the wireless company used Sprint's network, most of their phones were Sprint phones with the Qwest name on them. Their phones included models from Sanyo, Samsung, Nokia, UT Starcom, HTC, and Motorola. Qwest Wireless ended the year 2007 with 824,000 wireless subscribers.

Lively is a connected health technology company based in the United States of America.

Mobile VoIP or simply mVoIP is an extension of mobility to a voice over IP network. Two types of communication are generally supported: cordless telephones using DECT or PCS protocols for short range or campus communications where all base stations are linked into the same LAN, and wider area communications using 3G or 4G protocols.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvarion</span>

Alvarion Technologies is a global provider of autonomous Wi-Fi networks designed with self-organizing capabilities for carrier-grade Wi-Fi, enterprise connectivity, smart city planning, smart hospitality, connected campuses, and connected events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femtocell</span> Small, low-power cellular base station

In telecommunications, a femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station, typically designed for use in a home or small business. A broader term which is more widespread in the industry is small cell, with femtocell as a subset. It connects to the service provider's network via broadband ; current designs typically support four to eight simultaneously active mobile phones in a residential setting depending on version number and femtocell hardware, and eight to sixteen mobile phones in enterprise settings. A femtocell allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors or at the cell edge, especially where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable. Although much attention is focused on WCDMA, the concept is applicable to all standards, including GSM, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX and LTE solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nextel</span> Former telecommunications company

Nextel Communications, Inc. was an American wireless service operator that merged with and ceased to exist as a subsidiary of Sprint Corporation, which would later be bought by T-Mobile US and folded into that company. Nextel in Brazil, and formerly in Argentina, Chile, Peru, the Philippines, and Mexico, is part of NII Holdings, a stand-alone, publicly traded company not owned by Sprint Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CommScope</span> American network infrastructure manufacturer

CommScope Holding Company, Inc. is an American network infrastructure provider based in Hickory, North Carolina. CommScope employs over 30,000 employees. The company joined the Nasdaq stock exchange on October 25, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MiFi</span> Brand name for a wireless router that acts as mobile Wi-Fi hotspot

MiFi is a brand name to describe a wireless router that acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device.

Novarra was a mobile internet software company founded in 2000 and based in Itasca, Illinois, United States. It created web-based services such as web internet access, portals, videos, widgets and advertising for mobile devices. Novarra provided access to the internet and other services through wireless handsets, PDAs and laptops and sold directly to operators, mobile handset manufacturers and internet brand companies. In 2010, Nokia acquired 100% of Novarra's shares.

Birdstep Technology is a public company, founded in 1996 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange since 2002 under the ticker BIRD. The company has 66 employees and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with competence centers in Sweden, Finland, UK and the United States. Birdstep Technology is a global provider of Smart Mobile Data and Secure Mobility for operators, enterprises and governmental organizations.

Glentel is a Canadian telecommunications retailer based in Burnaby, British Columbia, jointly owned by BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications.

Skyfire is a software company founded in 2007, and acquired by Opera Software ASA, now Otello Corporation, in 2013. In 2015, the company became the Network Solutions division of Opera, and ceased using the Skyfire brand name. They offer network optimization technologies including video optimization and monetization tools for carriers. Skyfire discontinued its Skyfire Web Browser in 2014 in order to consolidate its focus on its mobile operator technology. Skyfire was funded by venture capital, and was acquired by Opera Software ASA in March 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ting Mobile</span> Wireless service company

Ting Mobile is an American mobile virtual network operator owned by Dish Wireless. Originally established in February 2012 by Tucows, Ting provides cellular service in the United States using the T-Mobile and Verizon networks. The service is sold off-contract with billing that adjusts the cost of service based on actual customer usage.

References

  1. Verizon Wireless Chooses Smith Micro Technology to Support New VZAccess Manager
  2. Smith Micro to buy PCTEL unit for $59.7 million
  3. Sprint's Safe & Found App Powered by Smith Micro's Family Location and Parental Control Platform
  4. Google Finance Chart: SMSI
  5. Smith Micro Announces The Acquisition Of busineSMS.com Software
  6. Smith Micro Teams Up to Maximize WiMAX User Experience
  7. "Smith Micro Completes ISM Connect Acquisition - socaltech.com".
  8. "Smith Micro buys the operator business of Circle Media Labs".
  9. "Smith Micro Software acquires Avast's Family Safety Mobile business to expand market growth".
  10. "An Interview With Bill Smith, The Chairman Of The Board, President & CEO At Smith Micro Software". SuperbCrew. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.