Innovators never rest. Smith Micro Software has operated under this truth for three exciting decades. Founded in 1982, Smith Micro’s first product was called Stock Portfolio System, quickly followed by MarketLink, a product to download stock quotes using an analog modem. Soon, the company’s focus turned to remote connectivity software under the brand name QuickLink®. As fax modems became pervasive, so did QuickLink among modem vendors such as IBM, AT&T, Motorola, Hayes and US Robotics. By the early ‘90s, the company had emerged as one of the leading names in fax and modem connectivity, and completed an Initial Public Offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1995.
By the late ‘90s, dial-up internet access was being replaced by cable internet, DSL and wireless broadband technologies, due to the substantially higher speeds and reliability they afforded. This change led Smith Micro to re-apply its network connection expertise to new wireless and mobility applications.
With QuickLink Mobile, Smith Micro evolved its offering for 2G and 3G data networks and launched its first large-scale mobile network deployment with Verizon Wireless in 2001.
Through a series of acquisitions and engineering advances, the company expanded its wireless and mobility software portfolio to include mobile device management, VPN security, mobile media management, network traffic management, video streaming, visual voicemail and other areas. Smith Micro also expanded its consumer business with a line of leading productivity and graphics products for PCs and Macs, including Stuffit®, Anime Studio® and Poser®.
Smith Micro now offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to manage how end users connect to the mobile internet, optimizing network traffic through policy-driven controls, and capitalizing on the power and personalization of smart devices through premium voice, video, and social sharing services.
Smith Micro Milestones
- Founded on November 30, 1982; incorporated December 1, 1983
- First product, Stock Portfolio System, runs on PC-DOS, Apple II, Apple III and Mac computers
- In 1985, company launches QuickLink® product for terminal emulation, followed by QuickLink II for modem and fax communications
- Headquarters moved from Huntington Beach to Aliso Viejo, CA, in 1992
- First company acquisition, Cross Communications in 1993, provides modem sharing over an enterprise LAN
- IPO in 1995; publicly traded under NASDAQ symbol SMSI
- Launch of QuickLink Mobile in 2000 begins transition from analog to digital network connection management; QuickLink sales skyrocket in 2001 with Verizon Wireless launch of 3G EV-DO network
- Company expands connectivity solutions to Enterprise market in 2004
- Acquisition of Allume Systems in 2005 expands consumer product line, including market-leading Stuffit® compression software
- By 2006, QuickLink is deployed globally with leading wireless operators and OEMs, including Cingular Wireless, Kyocera Wireless, Alltel, Nokia, Vodafone, O2, and UT Starcom
- Acquisition of Ecutel and assets from Insignia Solutions in 2007 bring mobile security, seamless roaming and over-the-air management technologies into the wireless portfolio
- Dell selects Smith Micro for Universal Connection Manager in 2008
- In 2009, company releases Poser 8, industry’s top 3D character animation solution for professional graphic artists; announces new premium voice applications, Visual Voicemail and Push-to-Talk, from acquisition of Core Mobility
- New adaptive video delivery solution selected by Terra Networks, largest internet company in Latin America, in 2010; first 4G LTE network support by QuickLink
- SODA™ Innovator program announced in 2011, along with new intelligent client solution for secure, seamless data offload to Wi-Fi
- In 2012, company celebrates 30 years of innovation, including first commercial deployments of:
- NetWise™ intelligent traffic management solution at Sprint
- VIDIO™ adaptive streaming solution in hospitality industry
- QuickLink Zero™ for mobile hotspot devices at T-Mobile USA