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				 Re: Socket Creates Antibacterial Handheld Computer 
 
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					Originally Posted by Jon Westfall
					
				  Socket's solution looks like it may be a nice addition to a hospital IT department near you. | Every little bit helps I guess in what has become a serious issue in US hospitals.
 
" Infections contracted in hospitals are the fourth largest killer in America. Every year in this country, two million patients' contract infections in hospitals, and an estimated 103,000 die as a result "
http://www.hospitalinfection.org/essentialfacts.shtml 
This is the second new version of SoMo650 Socket has announced. While I'm assuming ( guessing!  :mrgreen: ) this SoMo 650's plastic casing is batched with antibacterial nano-silver plastic granules that sterilizes over 99% of colon bacteria, staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus albus and molds. This unit is directed to the healthcare industry. The SoMo650 ( HS )Socket announced last December ( '07 ) actually took certain elements out instead of adding them!  :idea: 
 
" Socket Communications announced a high-security (HS) version of its SoMo 650 handheld computer without built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio capabilities. Designed specifically for the public sector and other private sector market segments where security takes precedence over real-time data transmission, or a batch-only Windows Mobile device is required, the new configuration of the SoMo 650 offers durability and scalability while maintaining specific non-radio regulatory compliance. "
http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/...38951_univ.xml 
Socket's definitely not going after the consumer market but rather vertical business markets such as...
http://www.socketmobile.com/solutions/vertical-markets/ 
This is the only way Socket can survive ( imo ) considering the depths the standalone PDA market has fallen over the last 5 years!    
" Handheld Devices Sink 53.2% During Fourth Quarter "
 
" The handheld device market, already in the throes of unit decline, failed to post a seasonal sequential increase in shipments during the fourth quarter. According to IDC's Worldwide Handheld QView, vendors shipped a total of 683,004 units in the fourth quarter, marking a 53.2% decrease from the same quarter a year ago and a 6.0% decrease from the previous quarter. For the full year, vendors shipped a total of 3.0 million units worldwide, down 44.3% from the 5.5 million units shipped during all of 2006. "
http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp;jsessi...d=prUS21083408 
Ouch!! :roll: |