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Get a Handle on Germs with New Socket Bluetooth® Barcode Scanner™ for Healthcare Industry

Newark, Calif. ?nbsp;3/9/2009 8:00:00 AM  

Socket Mobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT), an innovative provider of mobile productivity solutions, today announced that it has launched new antimicrobial versions of its popular Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) Series 7 for use by mobile workers in healthcare environments.

The new Socket Bluetooth CHS 7NRx and 7XRx plastics are made with similar antimicrobial materials as the Socket SoMo® 650Rx handheld computer, and come in linear 1D and CMOS 2D imager versions, respectively. The antimicrobial coating provides an extra layer of protection to the device against the multiplication and spread of potentially harmful bacteria and microbes. Combined with the long-range Bluetooth capabilities, extended battery life and ruggedized, lightweight design, the antimicrobial versions of the CHS Rx are a cost effective, all-around solution for automated data management in a healthcare setting.

The antimicrobial barcode scanners, designed specifically for healthcare applications and environments, interface with a variety of Bluetooth devices including the SoMo 650Rx handheld computer, laptops, tablet and desktop PCs and mobile / smart phones. The ergonomic design of the CHS Rx ensures the device is easy to carry and comfortable to use over extended periods, and the long battery life enables multi-shift operation on a single charge.

While many hospitals have requirements on processes that keep patient-facing facilities and devices clean and disinfected, many do not always enforce the standard. This results in increased risk to the patients visiting the facilities as they are exposed to bacteria and viruses non-related to their illness. Healthcare providers have struggled to find safe and effective solutions, while maintaining the efficiency of hospital employees. With the antimicrobial Socket CHS 7NRx and 7XRx, facilities can confidently deploy technology devices in healthcare environments without sacrificing patient safety standards.

“Studies done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that healthcare-associated MRSA / Staph. infections are rising in medical facilities due to unfortunate cross-contamination of bacteria from the healthcare providers themselves,” said Bob Zink, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Socket Mobile. “The lab test results for our antimicrobial coating show greater than a 99 percent reduction in Staph. bacteria on the surface of the device over a 24 hour period, and when cleaned with a Sani-Cloth®, the antimicrobial properties are enhanced more than two-fold. Socket remains committed to providing solutions that advance the healthcare industry from both a technology and user safety standpoint.”

Pricing and Availability
The Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner 7NRx is available now with a MSRP starting at $749 and €625. The CMOS 2D imager CHS 7XRx will be available in Q3 2009. The CHS Rx will be displayed and demonstrated in Socket Booth #3674 at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference April 4-8, 2009 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill. For more information contact a Socket sales representative at http://www.socketmobile.com/contact/form /en/

About Socket Mobile, Inc.
Socket makes mobility computing and productivity work. The company is a one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems, offering a handheld mobile computer specifically designed for business mobility use and an extensive portfolio of essential mobile data collection and networking peripherals that enable mobile automation and productivity increases. The company also offers OEM solutions. Socket is headquartered in Newark, Calif. and can be reached at 510-933-3000 or www.socketmobile.com

© 2009, Socket Mobile, Inc. All rights reserved. Socket, SoMo and Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner are trademarks or registered trademarks of Socket Mobile, Inc. The Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. USA and any use by Socket Mobile is under license. All other trademarks and trade names contained herein may be those of their respective owners.