Smith Micro Software
Smith Micro: Three Decades of Best-In-Class Software for Telecommunications and Enterprises

With the insurgence of mobile devices in the workplace, enterprises are realizing that managing these devices is only part of the mobility challenge. Users are accessing valuable corporate information over unsecured, public Wi-Fi networks, and the use of company-issued devices as their own personal hotspots has driven up data costs at an alarming rate. These security and expense issues are a part of an emerging “Bring Your Own Network” (BYON) problem. Amongst the many companies providing device management solutions, very few are addressing BYON, but one such company is Smith Micro Software. Founded in 1982, and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, CA, the company’s solutions help IT managers by enforcing connectivity policies on mobile devices, including secure mobile VPN access to corporate networks, offloading data to secure Wi-Fi, restricting apps that can use 3G/4G data, and more.

Founded by William W. Smith, Jr. the company started with software for fax modems, evolved to 2G tethered network connections, and then to 3G/4G wireless connection management. The firm’s expertise in wireless connectivity has grown to include over-the-air, policy-based management of a variety of devices, from laptops and smartphones to in-vehicle routers and M2M modules. Today the company provides software solutions that help operators and enterprises increase efficiency and capitalize on the growth of connected devices.

The Evolving Internet of Things

Most of the firm’s products are white-label software for wireless service providers, which they brand as their own. For example, Verizon’s Access Manager (known as VZAM) and Sprint’s Connections Optimizer were developed by Smith Micro. From their work with Tier one operators around the world, the company has learned the importance of standards, scalability, and interoperability. “We have taken those lessons and applied them to other industries, including field service, utilities, education, public safety, and now M2M” says Smith.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is a highly fragmented space, so having experience dealing with Tier one operators is a huge advantage. “We understand massive scale, highly complex infrastructure, and low-level device integration,” says Smith. He goes on to say, ”Companies with broad M2M initiatives, like those in retail and transportation, benefit from our management platform because it is standards-based, scalable to millions of devices, and customizable to meet unique security, privacy or compliance needs.”

From Enterprise to Consumer Apps

In addition to their wireless business, for many years the firm has had a consumer business that sells graphics and productivity apps on PC and mobile platforms. Smith Micro also provides smartphone apps, such as Sprint’s visual voicemail app that gets shipped on all of their Android devices. Recently, it has taken the technology from these areas and combined them to create a new, avatar-based messaging app.

Says Smith, “We’re excited about animated messaging as part of our future, but there is still a lot of opportunity in managing wireless connectivity, from connected cars to appliances, and everything else in the connected life. Providing a simple, reliable, and cost-effective way to control all of these devices will keep us busy for many years to come.”

We have taken those lessons and applied them to other industries, including field service, utilities, education, public safety, and now M2M