Fujitsu and Socket Form Strategic Partnership

By KRISTA GIFFORD
Published: June 24, 2008

In May, Socket Mobile aligned with Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation in a strategic partnership with plans for joint product offerings aimed at improving mobile data collection in a variety of industries. The data collection capabilities of Socket paired with the tablet and mobile computing expertise of Fujitsu will offer trusted, proven solutions for enhancing customer service by increasing the tools available to mobile workers.

The initial offering from this partnership is a mobile data collection and payment solution for the retail industry that enables workers in a retail environment to scan bar codes, swipe credit cards and finalize sales from anywhere in the store. The combined solution features the Socket CF Mag Stripe Reader Card, which reads and transfers magnetic stripe data into any Windows application running on the Fujitsu LifeBook® P1620 convertible tablet PC, creating a mobile Point of Sale (POS) terminal. When this combined device is used in conjunction with the Socket Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS), which scans and sends bar code data to the terminal via Bluetooth®, it will create a complete, integrated payment solution, enabling sale completion directly from the sales floor.

Streamlining Retail Processes

With the solution in place, retail workers can scan the bar code on the physical product with the CHS, send the information to the tablet PC, swipe the credit card information with the CF Mag Stripe Reader and have the customer sign for and complete the transaction from anywhere in the store. This will enable retailers to greatly streamline the transaction process and enhance worker productivity and customer satisfaction. Offering a level of mobile computing power previously not available in the retail industry, the POS solution will be available to Fujitsu corporate customers and its resellers via the Fujitsu business-to-business e-commerce website.

While the initial focus of the partnership is targeting and meeting the needs of the retail industry, the portability and computing benefits offered by both companies will make future solutions applicable for any industry that requires mobile scanning and data collection capabilities, such as healthcare, automotive or the public sector, supporting mobile workers in a number of different environments.

Empowering Mobile Workers

“Socket shares our commitment to empowering mobile workers by increasing the range of tasks they can accomplish and the efficiency with which they accomplish them,” said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product marketing at Fujitsu Computer Systems. “This partnership will help a variety of industries simplify data collection tasks, streamline operations and mobilize workers who have traditionally been behind the counter—benefits that will directly improve customer satisfaction and retail sales closures.”

The Fujitsu LifeBook P1620 tablet PC has historically been popular among highly mobile workers. It weighs 2.2 pounds, has built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth connectivity, and offers advanced security features like a pre-boot authentication security panel and fingerprint sensor, allowing sales associates to easily and safely carry the tablet while staying connected anywhere in the store. It also runs full Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system, which can help eliminate the need for additional development work and maintenance costs resulting from running multiple environments.

“We look forward to further innovation with Fujitsu and the opportunity to mobilize a countless number of workers,” said Bob Zink, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Socket. “Mobile data collection has grown from a luxury to an absolute necessity and this partnership will help better serve that demand. Workers in the retail industry will be the initial beneficiaries of this solution, but the benefits it offers and the challenges it addresses extend across a variety of sectors.”