Smith Micro Software
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Wireless media |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | William W. Smith, Jr. |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh , United States |
Area served | United States, Europe, Asia |
Key people | William W. Smith, Jr. |
| Products | Digital lifestyle products, security solutions, network connection management tools, family safety software, communications software, smart retail software |
Smith Micro Software, Inc. was established in 1982 by William W. Smith, Jr. The company specializes in creating and distributing software and services tailored for both enterprise clients and individual consumers. Its main headquarters are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with additional offices situated throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Smith Micro primarily concentrates on digital lifestyle products and security solutions within the wireless media sector. Among its key collaborators are leading mobile network operators including Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint (currently integrated into T-Mobile US).
Corporate history
Smith Micro initially concentrated on providing dial-up modem and fax software designed for OEM partners. The firm went public in 1995, listing on NASDAQ under the ticker SMSI, with its shares initially priced near $12.75.
With the rise of broadband technologies such as cable, DSL, and wireless replacing dial-up in the 1990s, the company redirected its focus toward software for wireless and mobile networks. It created network connection management tools utilized by prominent carriers like AT&T, Bell Canada, Orange, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone. The QuickLink Platform emerged as a significant source of income during the early 2000s.
Between 2005 and 2008, Smith Micro broadened its consumer software offerings through acquisitions including Allume Systems (known for StuffIt), PhoTags, e frontier America, and busineSMS.com Software. Despite this diversification, it retained a strong emphasis on wireless and network-related products.
By 2008, the company had incorporated wireless access solutions and mobile services such as push-to-talk applications, visual voicemail systems, and video streaming capabilities. It also investigated WiMAX broadband technology as a candidate for 4G wireless standards.
In 2019, Smith Micro ventured into retail technology by acquiring ISM Connect’s Smart Retail product line. Subsequently, it enhanced its family safety segment by purchasing Circle Media Labs’ operator division in February 2020 and acquiring Avast Software’s Family Safety Mobile Business in April 2021.
Family safety
- SafePath
- SafePath Home
- SafePath IoT
- SafePath Family
- SafePath Drive
Communications
- CommSuite VVM (Visual Voicemail)
- CommSuite VTT (Voice to Text)
- CommSuite Cloud
- CommSuite Caller
Smart Retail
- ViewSpot
- ViewSpot Studio (Retail Display Management)
- ViewSpot Dynamic Pricing Portal
- ViewSpot Retail Analytics
Major acquisitions
| Acquisition date | Company | Business | Country | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-07 | Allume Systems | Software / Data compression | USA | $11 million |
| 2006-04 | PhoTags | Software / Image editing | Israel | $6 million |
| 2007-12 | e frontier America | Digital distribution / Graphic design | USA | -- |
| 2007-02 | Ecutel | Software / Wireless | USA | $8 million |
| 2008-01 | PCTel Wireless | Software / Wireless | USA | $59.7 million |
| 2008-12 | MxPlay | Software / Multimedia | USA | -- |
| 2009-09 | Core Mobility | Software / Wireless | USA | $20.2 million |
| 2016-07 | iMobile Magic | Software | Portugal | $2.2 million |
| 2019-01 | ISM Connect | Software / Multimedia | USA | $9 million |
| 2020-02 | Circle Media Labs | Software / Multimedia | USA | $13.5 million |
| 2021-03 | Avast’s Family Safety Mobile Business | Software | USA | $80 million |