SOCKET MOBILE, INC. - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)

PART I

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements forecasting our future financial condition and results, our future operating activities, market acceptance of our products, expectations for general market growth of handheld computers and other mobile computing devices, growth in demand for our products, expansion of the markets that we serve, expansion of the distribution channels for our products, adoption of our embedded products by third-party manufacturers of electronic devices, and the timing of the introduction and availability of new products, as well as other forecasts discussed under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Words such as "may," "will," "predicts," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and assumptions made by management. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict; therefore, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in any such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially include, but are not limited to: continued weakness in the U.S. and world economy generally and in the markets we serve in particular; the risk of delays in the availability of our products due to technological, market or financial factors including the availability of product components and necessary working capital; our ability to successfully develop, introduce and market future products; our ability to effectively manage and contain our operating costs; the availability of announced third-party handheld computer hardware and software that our products are intended to work with; product delays associated with new model introductions and product changeovers by the makers of products that our products are intended to work with; continued growth in demand for handheld computers; market acceptance of emerging standards such as Bluetooth and wireless LAN and of our related connection, data collection and mobile handheld computer products; the ability of our strategic relationships to benefit our business as expected; our ability to enter into additional distribution relationships; or other factors described in this Form 10-K including "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and recent Form 8-K and Form 10-Q reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update such forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this report, and other information contained in other reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 1. Business

The Company

We are a producer of mobile handheld computers and data collection products serving the business mobility markets. We offer a family of handheld computer products designed for business enterprise use and a wide range of data collection products including two dimensional (2D) and linear (1D) bar code scanners, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, and magnetic stripe readers. We also offer wearable ring scanners, customized versions of our handheld computers, embedded wireless LAN cards and Bluetooth modules as OEM products to third party companies. Our data collection products work with our handheld computers and our cordless hand scanners work with many third-party mobile handheld devices including smartphones, tablet computers, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), notebooks and desktop systems, adding data collection capabilities to these devices. Our products are designed to run or enhance mobile applications that enable the accessing, collection and processing of data by employees while mobile. Our mobile computing products utilize popular Bluetooth and wireless LAN connection technologies using management software we developed for ease of use. See "Products" for more information on the products that we produce.

1

(Table of Contents)

We work closely with software application developers offering or developing vertical software applications for use with our handheld computers and for use with Smartphones, including phones running Apple iOS4, Google Android, RIM BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows operating systems for use with our cordless hand scanners. Healthcare and hospitality are two of the primary areas of focus for software application developers who have developed applications for use on our handheld computers, and a significant portion of our handheld computer sales now come from organizations within these two market segments. Other vertical markets benefiting from mobile solutions include retail merchandising, automotive, government and education. These mobile solutions are designed to improve the productivity of business enterprises and service providers by automating manual tasks, improving the quality of information collected, and enhancing mobile productivity by processing and transferring information from remote locations and mobile devices to the business or medical enterprise, and then if required, back to the remote locations and mobile devices. See "Vertical Market Applications", "Market Dynamics" and "Marketing Strategy" for more information on the markets that we serve and the application developers who have developed applications for the mobile enterprise.

We believe growth in the mobile workforce along with technical advances and cost reductions in mobile devices, Smartphones and networking technologies along with the pervasive use of the Internet are driving broader adoption of mobile computing solutions. Our products are designed to address the growing need for mobile computing by today's mobile workforce by enabling them to run or enhance mobile applications that allow access to business data files, or collect and process data while mobile, thereby enhancing their productivity and allowing them to exploit time sensitive opportunities and improve customer satisfaction. Overall, our hardware products enable mobile third-party applications to become complete mobile data collection and connectivity solutions.

We also make available to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") our wearable ring scanners, customized versions of our handheld computers, component Bluetooth and wireless LAN technologies. We customize these products and components for our use in our own products and leverage that investment through the sale of modified versions or modules and plug-in cards to OEM manufacturers to embed into their products, including driver and device management software that is designed to simplify the ability of mobile employees to get and stay connected with Wi-Fi as well as with Bluetooth.

Total employee headcount on December 31, 2010 was 64 people. We subcontract the manufacturing of all of our products to independent third-party contract manufacturers located in the U.S., China and Taiwan who have the equipment, know-how and capacity to manufacture products to our specifications. Our handheld computers and data collection products are sold through a worldwide network of distributors and resellers, vertical industry partners, and value added resellers (VARs). Our OEM products are sold directly to the original equipment manufacturers. See "Personnel," "Sales and Marketing," and "Manufacturing" for additional information about our personnel, sales and marketing and manufacturing operations.

2

(Table of Contents)

We have financed our operations since inception primarily from the sale of equity capital. In November 2010 we issued $1 million in 18 month convertible notes convertible into common stock at the option of the holder to provide additional working capital. In February 2011 we issued $500,000 in common stock to our primary contract manufacturer in exchange for an equal reduction in our trade payables balance.

We were founded in March 1992 as Socket Communications, Inc. and reincorporated in Delaware in 1995 prior to our initial public offering in June 1995. We began doing business as Socket Mobile, Inc. in January 2007 to better reflect our market focus on the mobile business market and changed our legal name to Socket Mobile, Inc. in April 2008. Our Common Stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "SCKT". Our principal executive offices are located at 39700 Eureka Drive, Newark, CA 94560, and our phone number is (510) 933-3000. Our Internet home page is located at http://www.socketmobile.com; however, the information on, or that can be accessed through, our home page is not part of this Annual Report. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to such reports are available free of charge on or through our Internet home page, as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Products

Our primary products are classified into three broad product families:

• Mobile handheld computer products;
• Data collection products; and
  
• OEM embedded products.

In addition, we continue to carry legacy plug-in connectivity products consisting of Ethernet cards and adapters which represented less than 4% of our revenue in 2010. These revenues in 2009 and 2008 included serial products, modems and other plug-in connectivity products that have been discontinued. Legacy products represented 10% of our revenue in 2009 and 12% of our revenue in 2008.

Our mobile handheld computer products are designed to be durable, lightweight and dependable devices which meet the requirements of the healthcare, hospitality and other markets we serve. Mobile handheld computer products and accessories represented approximately 44 percent, 38 percent and 18 percent of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Our initial model, the SoMo® 650 (SoMo is derived from Socket Mobile), was introduced in June 2007 with initial volume shipments in September 2007, and features the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, Version 6. Windows Mobile is the industry standard OS for mobile applications thereby ensuring that the SoMo is compatible with a large number of business applications and giving workers a familiar computing environment. Our mobile handheld computers are easy to customize for a particular application with peripherals and accessories. The SoMo products are designed with an expected product life cycle of three to five years which meets the needs of our customers who are deploying mobile solutions. In order to extend the life of the current product family, we upgrade SoMo technology components from time to time without impacting form, fit or function. We expect our SoMo650 product to continue to be offered into 2014, approximately seven years from its introduction.

3

(Table of Contents)

The SoMo's features include wireless LAN and Bluetooth, a fast processor, a large, bright screen display enabling its use outdoors, large amounts of SDRAM and flash memory, an extended battery, programmable action buttons to activate peripheral devices, reinforced CompactFlash and SDIO card slots, and a durable case. The SoMo is available with multiple language support. The SoMo 650 was specifically designed without an integrated mobile phone to serve the market for business mobility applications that are not mobile phone centric such as medication dispensing in the healthcare market or tableside ordering in the hospitality market, most of which use Bluetooth or wireless LAN connections for data communications.

In late 2008, we introduced the SoMo 650 Rx Model made with antimicrobial materials added to the case plastics to provide an extra layer of protection to the device to aid against the multiplication and spread of potentially harmful bacteria and microbes found in healthcare environments. We also introduced a SoMo 650 DX Model without Bluetooth or wireless LAN for high security environments. We have also developed accessory products such as a back pack to enable direct connections to mobile phone networks using network phone cards and a durable case to provide additional protection in the event the computer is dropped. In addition, we work with third-party accessory providers, who have qualified to make a number of accessory products that work with the SoMo family of products, including headsets, battery chargers, keyboards, printers and smartcard readers.

Our data collection products are designed to enable the electronic collection of data from barcodes, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or magnetic stripes. The products have been designed as durable devices for commercial use enabling a wide variety of accurate and rapid scans over a full work shift. All of the products come with SocketScan software that allows data to be edited when scanned and provides an easy-to-use interface for developers to build barcode scanning into their applications. Products are available in both standard and antimicrobial cases.

Our data collection products consist of:

• Cordless Hand Scanners: two dimensional (2D) and linear (1D) scanning used primarily with Smartphones and Tablet computers
• Plug-in barcode scanners: 2D and 1D in a CompactFlash form factor used primarily with our SoMo handheld computers
• Plug-in RFID products that read radio frequency identification tags used primarily with our SoMo handheld computers
• Combination plug-in barcode scanner and RFID reader/writer used primarily with our SoMo handheld computers
• Plug-in magnetic stripe reader used primarily with our SoMo handheld computers
• Wearable cordless ring scanner for industrial applications needing two hands

4

(Table of Contents)

Our plug-in barcode scanning products plug into handheld computers and our cordless hand scanners connect wirelessly over Bluetooth to tablet computers, ultra-mobile personal computers, notebook computers and smartphones and turn these devices into portable barcode scanners and RFID readers that can be used in various retail and industrial workplaces; our cordless hand scanner and cordless ring scanner connect using Bluetooth technology.

Our Cordless Hand Scanners use Bluetooth technology as the connection interface. The scanners are available with two dimensional (2D) imagers and laser (1D) linear scanning engines. The scanners are available in standard cases or antimicrobial cases. The Cordless Hand Scanners are lightweight, ergonomically designed for ease of use and rapid repetitive scanning and are durable, lightweight and compact. During 2010, we redesigned our SocketScan software to enable the use of our Cordless Hand Scanners with a wide variety of smartphones, and we intend to add additional smartphone models as they are released by the smartphone manufacturers to provide wide ranging support for this fast emerging category of mobile devices. Currently SocketScan10 supports smartphones that use Windows Mobile, Windows CE, RIM Blackberry, and Google Android operating systems. The Human Interface Device (HID) Bluetooth protocol also allows the use of our Cordless Hand Scanners with HID-enabled devices including the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch using the Apple iOS4 operating system. The HID protocol enters scanned data as if it was entered through the keyboard. During 2011, we intend to extend the benefits of SocketScan 10 software to Apple devices running the iOS operating system.

Our plug-in barcode scanners use the industry standard CompactFlash form factor and are available with two dimensional 2D and laser linear 1D scanning engines. When plugged into a mobile computing device with a CompactFlash slot and SocketScan loaded onto the device, the combination of device and plug-in barcode scanner can be used as a one handed barcode scanner operated from programmable buttons on the mobile computing device.

Our ring scanner is an industrial strength barcode scanner that is worn on the index finger and connects via Bluetooth to mobile or fixed data collection computing devices. The device enables a worker to scan while having two hands available and is designed for applications such as warehousing and pick-and-pack operations.

Our Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) products enable RFID tags to be read. We also offer an RFID/laser barcode scanner combination product that enables RFID tags to be read or written to and linear (1D) barcodes to be scanned with the same device.

Our Magnetic Stripe Reader is a plug-in device in a CompactFlash form factor for use with devices having a CompactFlash slot. The Reader enables magnetic card stripes such as on credit cards to be swiped and read electronically from a mobile location and is ideal for applications such as tableside ordering.

Data collection product revenues represented approximately 35 percent, 32 percent and 35 percent of our revenues for the three years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Our OEM embedded products consist of Bluetooth and wireless LAN plug-in cards used primarily by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of electronic products to build wireless connection functions into their products using the Bluetooth and wireless LAN standards for wireless connectivity. Our Bluetooth products use the Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR standard. Our plug-in cards for connecting wirelessly to local area networks were upgraded in 2009 to use the wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi standard, upgrading our products from the wireless LAN 802.11b/g standard used in 2008. Our wireless LAN products include extensive communications software with Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) designed to make these products easy to use. In 2008 our Bluetooth module sales peaked due to last time buys of older Bluetooth chip technology that was being phased out by the chip manufacturer. Our OEM product sales are primarily based on the acceptance of our designs by OEM customers (referred to as design-wins), and the product transitions described have resulted in last-time buys and reductions in ongoing revenue as new design-wins are pursued. OEM embedded products represented approximately 10 percent, 19 percent and 35 percent of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

5

(Table of Contents)

Our SocketCare services provide extended warranty and accidental breakage coverage for selected products including our handheld computers and our ring and cordless hand scanners. Premium service purchased at the time of product purchase provides coverage for three years. Service revenue was approximately $0.8 million or 6 percent of our revenue in 2010 and approximately $0.3 million or 2 percent of our revenue in 2009. Service revenues were insignificant for 2008.

Vertical Market Applications

Our products provide a mobile platform for use by third-party software developers, value added resellers and end users in a number of vertical markets where workers are mobile and can benefit from the collection, processing and transmittal of data or access to data while mobile. We offer software developer kits to enable the integration of our Bluetooth, wireless LAN and data collection hardware and software programs with vertical market applications and we have an Authorized Reseller Program enabling application developers to offer vertical market solutions using our products. The Authorized Reseller Program includes pricing discounts on our products, an online partner portal, tailored sales resources, and inclusion of resellers in our marketing programs and communications tools including a listing on our website at www.socketmobile.com.

Our product design priorities have focused on the healthcare and hospitality vertical market segments. Other vertical markets using our products in mobile applications include retail merchandising, automotive, government and education. Highlighted below are examples of partner solutions that result in productivity enhancing benefits to the users of the solutions:

Healthcare

Healthcare applications involve the real-time collection of and access to patient data, the updating of patient records, the prevention of medication errors, the management and control of pharmaceuticals prescribed for patients, and the analysis of patient laboratory specimens.

Aranz Medical, Ltd. has selected the SoMo handheld computer to run its Silhouette product suite for advanced wound care. The system provides comprehensive imaging, measurement and documentation capabilities that provide significant advantages for patients, healthcare providers and funding organizations.

6

(Table of Contents)

Epocal has integrated our handheld computer and CF plug-in barcode scanner into its blood diagnostic system.

Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, the largest not-for-profit provider of senior care and services in the United States, is managing and monitoring daily patient care, capturing data at the point of care and providing immediate access to patient records and patient care diagnostic tools.

Hospira is marketing the VeriScan system to prevent medication errors at a patient's hospital bedside.

Resource Systems is using their CareTracker system to improve the quality of care in long term care facilities.

Hospitality

Hospitality applications include tableside order processing, curbside check-in, poolside service, ticket scanning, mobile point of sale, and contact information tracking.

Digital Dining offers tableside ordering capabilities for restaurants with their MenuSoft system using our handheld computer and a magnetic stripe reader;

MiniBar uses our handheld computer and a barcode scanner to service room refreshment centers in hotel rooms;

RedTech, an events management company in the U.K., offers a cashless mobile transaction processing system for events using our handheld computer and a third party smartcard reader.

Retail Merchandising

Cardinal Tracking streamlines inventory management for automotive recyclers, and announced the adoption of their mobile solution by Buddy Automotive Innovations.

First Stop Convenience Stores uses our barcode scanners to streamline inventory processes.

Kelleher Corporation fulfills sales orders for its lumber and molding products more than 600% faster by using our scan card and a handheld computer to track inventory in real-time and dispatch sales orders right from a Home Depot store.

Fujitsu Systems is marketing a mobile point of sale solution with their tablet notebooks.

Automotive

Manheim Auto Auction, the largest wholesale auto auction in the United States, enables dealers to view pricing and other details about vehicles being auctioned while the dealers are mobile.

7

(Table of Contents)

Tiva Software's Pricebook Connect software is used by First Stop Convenience Stores with a handheld computer barcode scanning solution to streamline ordering, pricing, inventory and back office activities.

Government, Education and Other

3M Corporation offers mobile extensions to its library management system to enable the mobile inventory and processing of library materials.

Plasco ID offers a mobile tracking and data retrieval solution for identifying and tracking students and managing and processing real-time student information.

Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center of the U.S. Army efficiently inventories blood supplies in combat zones, reducing blood spoilage and increasing availability.

Zerion Software creates mobile applications for businesses of all sizes on emerging platforms including the iPhone, iPod touch, Android, and iPad. Zerion Software's SAAS based mobile business applications help businesses reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve customer satisfaction. Zerion Software's flagship product, iFormBuilder, is an award-winning, patent-pending mobile platform that is being used across the globe in many different industries. It is currently utilized by 3 of the top 10 hotel brands in the world, the largest hospital in the US, the US Government, top franchises, amusement parks, and hundreds of small/mid-size businesses.

Market Dynamics

Mobile electronic computing devices have evolved over the past several years from simple devices used mainly to hold personal information into small portable units with functionality similar to desktop PCs. These devices include smartphones, handheld computers, tablet computers, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), and notebooks. Many handheld computers, tablets and notebooks, such as those using the Windows or Windows Mobile operating system including our SoMo line of mobile handheld computers, have built-in expansion capabilities in standard form factors such as CompactFlash Input/Output plug-in slots or Bluetooth wireless connection capabilities to allow for transfer of data over Bluetooth, Wireless LAN or plug-in connections. Smartphones and tablet computers use a variety of operating systems from Apple (iOS4), Google (Android), RIM (BlackBerry) and Hewlett-Packard (WebOS). Advances in mobile phone technology have facilitated rapid data transfers and internet access creating a dynamic, rapidly growing smartphone market. Although smartphone applications are focused on consumer applications, smartphones have the capability to support many business applications and our data collection products are designed to work with smartphones from the major smartphone manufacturers where repetitive or robust bar code scanning requirements exceed the limited scanning capabilities of a phone camera (See Products - Data Collection Products - Cordless Hand Scanners).

Advances in mobile network access and transfer speeds enable mobile computing device users to access the Internet, send and receive email including attachments, access corporate data files, and transfer data directly to and from other mobile devices using Bluetooth wireless technology or cables for short distances, wireless local area networks, or broadband cellular networks with increased speed and bandwidth. Our connectivity products and technologies (wireless LAN and Bluetooth) are designed to easily add these technologies to mobile devices. In addition, mobile devices with standard expansion capabilities are effective at collecting data. Our data collection products are designed to facilitate the collection of barcode, RFID, and magnetic stripe information on these devices by plugging into the standard expansion slots of these data collection devices or connecting wirelessly over a Bluetooth connection.

8

(Table of Contents)

Handheld computers have traditionally been classified into consumer and industrial categories. Consumer devices such as those offered by Hewlett-Packard are designed for personal use and fit in a pocket or purse. Industrial devices such as those offered by Motorola and Intermec are designed for rugged environments such as outdoors or in warehouses and are much larger, heavier and more expensive. Businesses have had to choose from these two categories in designing mobile solutions, and we believe neither solution is an ideal fit for many business needs. Consumer units often are not designed with the durability required for the more extensive use required by businesses. Industrial units are designed for warehouse or inclement weather conditions and add unnecessary size, cost and expense for those businesses not needing that level of ruggedness. Our SoMo product line is designed to service this business market between consumer and industrial devices. Our handheld computers are similar in size and weight to consumer units which fit in a pocket or purse, but are designed to be more durable and come with our extensive SocketScan software that works with our barcode scanning, RFID and magnetic stripe reader products, and our Bluetooth and our wireless LAN driver and management software. Our wireless LAN software incorporates features needed by businesses such as seamless roaming to improve worker connectivity and the worker experience in using wireless LAN, easy and reliable Bluetooth connections, and multiple language support. Other features needed by businesses include fast processors, large memory and extended battery life. Included in our mobile handheld computer family of products are handheld computer and barcode scanner models made with antimicrobial materials added to the case plastics to provide an extra layer of protection to the devices to aid against the multiplication and spread of potentially harmful bacteria and microbes found in healthcare environments. Compared to industrial devices, our handheld computers are smaller in size and weight, less rugged, and less expensive. Our entire product line of handheld computers is offered with the expectation that they will be offered for sale for a minimum three to five year time period which reduces the number of times customers must upgrade their systems and test and purchase new devices. We work to extend this life by replacing or upgrading components as they are discontinued by their manufacturers without changing the form, fit or function of the product. We expect to continue to offer the SoMo650 for sale into 2014, approximately seven years from its introduction.

Growth in the mobile workforce and increasing reliance on the Internet and on access to corporate databases and email are increasing the demand for mobile data communications. The capability of a mobile workforce to collect data in the field and to transfer it electronically generally improves the timeliness and accuracy of information such as order entry, process management or transaction reporting. Advances in connection technologies, local area networking and wide area networking are being commercialized to enable handheld computers to interact with nearby computers and with a wide array of electronic appliances, including mobile phones, printers, digital cameras, local area network access points, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, automobile communications systems, barcode scanners, RFID tags, home entertainment and security systems, public kiosks, public Internet access locations and vending machines.

9

(Table of Contents)

Current market dynamics driving the adoption of mobile data communications by enterprises include:

Functionality of today's handheld computing devices is extensive and improving. Most handheld computing devices offer bright outdoor color screens and longer battery life, have software allowing their use as business messaging devices with capacity to store personal information, and have standard expansion capabilities or use Bluetooth or wireless local or wide area network connections to transfer data in and out of the device. Handheld devices also can become lightweight mobile barcode, RFID, and magnetic stripe scanning devices when used with our barcode scanning, RFID, or magnetic stripe reader products, enabling the capture and processing of barcode, RFID, or magnetic stripe information (such as credit or identification cards) in a mobile environment.

The mobile workforce is growing and is increasingly reliant on email and the Internet. The worldwide mobile workforce has been estimated at more than 20 percent of the global workforce. Before advancements in handheld computers through wireless local area network access points, the mobile workforce had been unable to effectively stay connected with email, the Internet or corporate data except through telephone lines. With the growth in the use of the Internet and email for business and personal applications, workers and consumers are increasingly dependent on access to the Internet and email for managing their business and personal lives. Recent improvements in wireless LAN connectivity and deployment of handheld computers by corporations to their mobile workforce are expected to be major factors driving growth in mobile data applications for businesses over the next several years.

Third-party applications for enterprises are becoming available in increasing numbers. Third-party software applications are becoming increasingly available for the collection, processing and transfer of information by a mobile workforce. In healthcare markets, handheld computers are being used for such diverse applications as checking patient medications when administering them in a hospital, capturing lot numbers of drug samples given to a doctor, alerting on-call personnel to needs for their services, collecting community and clinical health data, delivery of healthcare information to practitioners and researchers and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and direct provision of care via mobile telemedicine applications. Other mobile applications include managing the stocking of shelves in retail establishments, or entering sales orders from the field. We have supported the development and deployment of our products in third-party applications through our Authorized Reseller Program. Our Authorized Reseller Program is described more fully under "Vertical Market Applications." The availability of productivity-enhancing application software is a major driver of enterprise deployment of mobile computing devices.

Marketing Strategy

Our marketing strategy has been to be a systems supplier to the Business Mobility markets which today consists of two segments, the handheld computing market and the mobile device centric market. For the handheld computing market segment, we capitalize on our strategic relationships, expand and improve our product offerings including software to enable wireless and wired connections designed to provide an easy-to-use experience, build a strong brand name, and support the development of third-party software applications and integrator solutions. For the mobile device centric market, we expand awareness within the business community of the data collection capabilities of all of the mobile computing platforms that we serve including smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers, expand the number of smartphone platforms that we serve to include smartphones using all popular operating systems, and market the strengths of our wireless driver and management software to other equipment manufacturers of mobile devices. Our cordless data collection products offer commercial-grade rapid and robust barcode scanning capabilities to the large and growing mobile device marketplace.

10

(Table of Contents)

Transition from peripherals supplier to systems supplier to the Business Mobility markets. Our introduction in June 2007 of our handheld computer marked the start of our transition from being a peripherals supplier to being a systems supplier. As a peripherals supplier, we were dependent upon other third-party computer manufacturers for the handheld computers that comprised mobile business solutions. Changes by such third-parties to handheld computer models, operating systems and handheld computer programs forced us to expend significant efforts to make our peripherals work with third party handheld computers following such changes. Customer support was also more complicated in determining whether any reported problems were due to the handheld computer or to our peripherals. Solutions being developed by third-party application providers were also more complicated by the need to integrate their solutions with multiple hardware manufacturers. Although we continue to support third-party handheld computers, since the introduction of our mobile handheld computer we offer a complete hardware solution consisting of a mobile handheld computer and data collection peripherals which allows value added resellers and systems integrators to offer a one-stop solution in combination with vertical software applications for the mobile workforce. We have also expanded and refocused our sales personnel to work closely with third-party application providers, value added resellers, systems integrators and end users for software applications created in-house. Since the introduction of our SoMo family of handheld computers in 2007, we have sold more than 36,000 units around the world (See Products - Mobile Handheld Computer Products).

Capitalize on Strategic Relationships. We support and encourage direct endorsements and referrals for our products from our strategic relationships, including operating system providers, device manufacturers, third-party software developers, vertical industry partners, distributors, and end-user customers. We actively promote third-parties to integrate our products into their solutions through our Authorized Reseller Program. We have employees that manage each strategic relationship, and we provide software developer kits, training and technical support to our software and hardware developers. We coordinate our handheld computer product development efforts with Microsoft on an ongoing basis, with the goal of ensuring that our current and future products are compatible with new releases of Microsoft's operating systems. We spend extensive engineering time and resources to ensure that our data collection products are compatible with a wide variety of computers and smartphones. We adhere to standards of a number of standards setting bodies whose technologies are used in our products such as the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group).

Expand and improve our product offerings. We offer a wide range of products under a modular concept that enables customers to design their mobile systems to meet their specific requirements, and we encourage our distributors to carry the full range of our products. The goal is for customers to view Socket as a primary source for their mobile application needs, instead of having to rely on individual product offerings from a number of different companies. During the past three years, we've upgraded the operating system and management software on our mobile handheld computer including adding many operating system features such as multiple language support, upgrading to later versions of the Windows Mobile operating system while continuing to support earlier versions, and upgrading our Bluetooth and wireless LAN management software. We have expanded our data collection product offerings with 2D imaging technology to add to our 1D linear barcode scanning capabilities. We design our products to comply with the regulations of the many worldwide agencies that regulate the safety, performance and use of electronic products.

11

(Table of Contents)

Build a Strong Brand Name. We are building a brand image of "Business Mobility Now!™" This image closely associates us with business mobility solutions and to reflect this image, we changed our name to Socket Mobile, Inc. in April 2008. We stress with customers the design of our products for the handheld computing markets, emphasizing quality and standards-based connectivity. Mobility requires products that are compact and designed to be handled while mobile, with low power consumption to extend time between charges, and easy to use. We work closely with application developers developing productivity enhancing applications for the mobile workforce. Our overall company brand identity and positioning goal is to become "the leading provider of easy-to-deploy business mobility systems and peripherals to the Business Mobility market."

Support the development of third-party software applications and integrator solutions. We have created software developer kits (SDK's) for many of our products including barcode scanning, RFID, and wireless LAN. In addition, we have employees dedicated to assisting developers and integrators with integrating our products into their solutions. Our Authorized Reseller Program supports companies that offer or are developing software solutions which incorporate Socket products. These solutions primarily involve handheld computing and data collection and address improving the productivity of the mobile workforce in a number of vertical markets including healthcare, hospitality, retail merchandising, automotive, government and education.

Expand awareness within the business community of the data collection capabilities of all of the mobile device platforms that we serve including smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers. Our data collection software SocketScan has been designed to enable our barcode scanning peripherals to work on a number of third-party computing platforms including smartphones (supported operating systems include RIM BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Android from Google, and in 2011, Apple iOS), tablets, UMPCs, and notebook or desktop computers (Windows based). Most of these devices can be used to collect barcode scanned or RFID read information from our Bluetooth enabled or plug-in scanners and readers, however many application providers are not aware of the capabilities of these devices, and increasing such awareness is a key step at increasing the number of mobile data collection applications available on these devices.

Market the strengths of our wireless driver and management software to original equipment manufacturers of mobile devices. To capture embedded connection business from original equipment manufacturers, we have built relationships with certain mobile device manufacturers and work with them to integrate our wireless LAN cards and value-add software into their own product designs. Our value-add is the extensive driver and management software for wireless LAN products that we use in our own products. The majority of these manufacturers are building vertical application devices for special purpose markets and it is often cost effective for them to purchase Bluetooth and wireless LAN software and connection cards rather than developing and maintaining such software themselves. We have employees that manage our OEM products business. We also provide software developer kits to our mobile device manufacturer customers to assist them as needed to integrate our embedded products into their mobile devices.

12

(Table of Contents)

Competition and Competitive Risks

The overall market for handheld computing solutions is both complex and competitive. Our hardware products compete with similar hardware products in all of our markets in the United States, Europe and Asia. However, our longtime focus on creating innovative mobile solutions for the mobile workforce has resulted in good brand name recognition and reputation. We also believe that our brand name identifies our products as durable, dependable, small form factor, low power and easy to use, and the breadth of our product offerings, including the extensive features of our software, will continue to differentiate us relative to our competitors. The addition of a handheld computer since June 2007 has enabled us to better control the handheld computing environment for our peripheral products and allows us to offer one-stop shopping for the hardware portion of mobile business solutions. Our handheld computer is becoming better recognized for its features and capabilities with over 36,000 units shipped since its introduction in June 2007. The competition in each of our product families is discussed in more detail below.

Handheld computers. Our SoMo handheld computers address the price/performance market gap between consumer handheld computers and industrial grade handheld computers. Consumer-oriented handheld computers are less durable and offer fewer features at a lower cost than industrial handheld computers. Industrial grade handheld computers are larger and more difficult to carry throughout the workday and are several times more expensive than consumer-oriented units. Our SoMo mobile handheld computer offers improved features over a consumer-oriented unit beneficial in a business environment including increased durability, improved software features such as wireless LAN roaming (staying connected between wireless LAN access points), and a combination of a fast processor, large memory, CompactFlash plug-in slots to add peripherals directly into the computer and wireless LAN and Bluetooth technologies to enable the transfer of data wirelessly. The SoMo mobile handheld computer is less rugged than an industrial handheld computer but has many of the same features at a significantly reduced price point. The SoMo mobile handheld computers are addressing specific needs of our healthcare customers such as the introduction of units made with an antimicrobial additive in the case plastics to provide an extra layer of protection to the device to aid against the multiplication and spread of potentially harmful bacteria and microbes found in healthcare environments. Consumer grade handheld computers without phones are offered by Hewlett-Packard, currently the largest supplier of this category of device, and others but the trend has been for them to offer more phone integrated units. Hewlett-Packard commencing late in 2010 began to discontinue the availability of their consumer grade handheld computers without phones in selected international locations. Ruggedized industrial grade handheld computers are offered by Motorola, Intermec, Honeywell and others. These companies have offered handheld computers for many years and have an established market presence. Their handheld computers are functional competitive alternatives to our mobile handheld computers, but are priced significantly higher and in most cases are larger in size because of their ruggedized features.

Data Collection Products. Our 2D/1D imager and 1D laser barcode scanning products face competition from ruggedized integrated barcode scanning devices from Motorola, Intermec, Honeywell, Datalogic, LXE, KoamTac, Infinite Peripherals, Wasp Barcode Technologies and others. We purchase laser engines from Motorola and imagers from Intermec for use in our products. We face competition outside of the United States from products similar to our Cordless Hand Scanner from Baracoda and from Code Corporation, and from other competitive laser scanning products from Grabba (Australia) and Opticon (Japan). Motorola's patent position for laser barcode scanning tends to limit the sale of laser scanning barcode products by competitors in the United States, but a number of the Motorola patents will expire over the next several years, and we may face increasing competition from competitors both inside and outside the United States. We produce our laser barcode scanning products under a license from Motorola. Motorola has historically been selective in licensing their technologies to third-parties. The continued availability of our licenses from Motorola and the continued absence of other licensees are dependent upon future licensing decisions by Motorola.

13

(Table of Contents)

In addition, companies such as Intermec have improved imager technology making such technology a viable alternative to laser scanning, and we expect both our laser and our imaging products to face more competition over time from devices deploying imaging technology.

OEM Embedded Products - Wireless Connections. We offer our wireless connection wireless LAN technologies in the form of SDIO plug-in cards. We compete based on our brand name and customer support infrastructure, as well as software enhancements that provide ease-of-use, security features, and monitoring and troubleshooting tools. Our wireless LAN software works well with our hardware, providing us a complete solution for embedding wireless LAN connections into third-party devices.

Manufacturers in Asia selling primarily hardware, such as Alps, Murata, and TaiyoYuden, along with integrators such as Bluesoft, ConnectBlue, Stonestreet One and Summit Data, are able to produce all or part of embedded solutions which may compete with our products and services. In addition, manufacturers of products that are sold in high volume may choose to build and support their own wireless LAN connections.

Our wireless LAN cards face competition in the market today principally from other manufacturers of low power wireless LAN 802.11 cards, including AmbiCom, Mobis, Silex, Spectec and Summit Data for SDIO cards.

Proprietary Technology

We have developed a number of technological building blocks that enhance our ability to design new hardware and software products, to offer products which run on multiple software and hardware platforms, and to manufacture and package products efficiently.

We own and control the design of our handheld computer, enabling us to modify its features or software to meet specific customer requirements.

Another area of intellectual property is our expertise in embedded radio-dependent firmware. Within our Bluetooth cordless products are software and firmware that include a wide variety of functions to enable efficient radio control and overall systems functionality. For cordless barcode scanning and RFID reading, this includes our patented Error Proof Protocol, which is designed to ensure that scanned data is correctly received by the mobile computing device and allow for real-time validation of data and error notification to the user. We have developed a library of software drivers and control modules that allow our products to operate in handheld computers running the Windows Mobile operating systems and in notebooks running Windows 7/Vista/XP operating systems and in smartphones running operating systems from Apple (iOS4 - HID interface only at the end of 2010), Google (Android), Research In Motion (BlackBerry), Microsoft (Windows Mobile) and Hewlett-Packard (WebOS - HID interface only at the end of 2010). We have been awarded twenty-one U.S. Patents and ten design patents covering various inventions that relate to mobile products and to the design of our products. In July 2004 we also acquired from Khyber Technologies a U.S. patent entitled Card Shaped Computer Peripheral Device. The patent is a basic patent covering the design and functioning of plug-in barcode scanners, barcode imagers, and RFID products. We have additional patents covering our proprietary technology pending with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

14

(Table of Contents)

We have developed a number of software programs that provide unique functions and features for our connection and data collection products. For example, our SocketScan software enables all of our barcode scanning products to scan a variety of barcodes and to route the scanned data to many different types of data files. Our Bluetooth software used in conjunction with our Bluetooth hardware provides a completely functional Bluetooth solution enabling connections and data transfers between Bluetooth-enabled devices. Our wireless local area network software called Wi-Fi Companion provides an extensive set of features to help the user get and stay connected. We have also introduced a version incorporating Cisco Compatible Extension protocols called Enhanced Wi-Fi Companion or e-WFC. Either of these software programs used in conjunction with our wireless local area network hardware, provides a completely functional wireless local area network solution, enabling connections and data transfers from mobile computing devices over wireless local area networks. In addition, our Bluetooth and wireless LAN software programs are aligned to insure optimal performance even when both technologies are being utilized at the same time.

We have registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the mark "Socket", our logo, the term "Go-WiFi" associated with our wireless LAN products and "SoMo", the mark associated with our mobile handheld computer.

We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, and confidentiality procedures to protect our proprietary rights. As part of our confidentiality procedures, we generally enter into non-disclosure agreements with our employees, distributors and strategic partners, and limit access to our software, documentation and other proprietary information. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third-party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology without authorization, or to develop similar technology independently. In addition, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries. From time to time we receive communications from third-parties asserting that our products infringe, or may infringe, their proprietary rights. In connection with any such claims, litigation could be brought against us that could result in significant additional expenses or compel us to discontinue or redesign some of our products.

Personnel

Our future success will depend in significant part upon the continued service of certain of our key technical and senior management personnel, and our continuing ability to attract, assimilate and retain highly qualified technical, managerial and sales and marketing personnel. Our total employee headcount as of December 31, 2010 was 64 people. Our employees are not represented by a union, and we consider our employee relationships to be good.

15

(Table of Contents)

Sales and Marketing

We target business customers in selected vertical markets with our products. Most of our products, except our embedded products, are sold through distributors and resellers that service businesses. Our OEM embedded products are sold directly to the manufacturers of products in which our products are embedded. The geographic regions we serve include the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

During the year ended December 31, 2010, 76 percent of our sales were in North America, 20 percent in Europe, and 4 percent in Asia and Pacific Rim countries. In 2009, 58 percent of our sales were in North America, 31 percent in Europe, and 11 percent were in Asia and Pacific Rim countries. In 2008, 64 percent of our sales were in North America, 24 percent in Europe and 8 percent in Asia and Pacific Rim countries. Export sales are subject to the complications of complying with laws of various countries and the risk of import/export restrictions and tariff regulations.

We market our products through a worldwide network of distributors and resellers, as well as through original equipment manufacturers and value added resellers. In addition, we market our products through participants in our Authorized Reseller Program. Participants offer or are developing third-party software applications that utilize our products with their software solutions. Vertical markets addressed by participants include healthcare, hospitality, retail merchandising, automotive, government and education. Applications are designed to enable mobile workers to access data and record information while mobile. See "Vertical Market Applications" for additional information. We support our distributors, resellers, integration and application partners with software developer kits and we provide education, training and customer assistance through our sales, marketing, and technical support staff in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. As of December 31, 2010, we had 21 people in sales, marketing and customer support.

Sales to customers in 2010 representing 10 percent or more of our revenue consisted of distributors Ingram Micro (14 percent), Tech Data Corporation (13 percent) and Blue Star Corporation (11 percent) and our customer Epocal accounted for 10 percent. In 2009, Ingram Micro accounted for 18 percent of our revenue and Tech Data accounted for 17 percent of our revenue. In 2008, Ingram Micro accounted for 16 percent of our revenue and Tech Data accounted for 15 percent of our revenue and our customer Intermec accounted for 14 percent of our revenue.

Consistent with industry practice, we provide our distributors with stock balancing and price protection rights which permit these distributors to return slow-moving products to us for credit, and to receive price adjustments for inventories of our products held by the distributors if we lower the price of those products. The immediate effect of returns and adjustments on our quarterly operating results is limited, since we recognize revenues on products shipped to distributors only at the time the merchandise is sold by the distributor.

We rely significantly on our distributors and resellers for distribution of our products. Our agreements with our distributors and resellers generally are nonexclusive and may be terminated on short notice by either party without cause. Furthermore, our distributors and resellers are not within our control, are not obligated to purchase products from us, and may represent other lines of products, including those of our competitors. If any distributors or resellers reduce or discontinue efforts to sell our products, our revenues and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

16

(Table of Contents)

17

(Table of Contents)

18

(Table of Contents)

22

(Table of Contents)

• some of our competitors have greater financial, marketing, and technical resources than we do;
• we periodically face intense price competition, particularly when our competitors have excess inventories and discount their prices to clear their inventories; and
• certain manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones and handheld computers offer products with built-in functions, such as Bluetooth wireless technology, Wi-Fi, or bar code scanning, that compete with our products.

Increased competition could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced margins, and loss of market share. Our failure to compete successfully against current or future competitors could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

If we do not correctly anticipate demand for our products, our operating results will suffer.

The demand for our products depends on many factors and is difficult to forecast. We expect that it will become more difficult to forecast demand given current economic conditions, as we introduce and support more products, and as competition in the market for our products intensifies. If demand is lower than forecasted levels, we could have excess production resulting in higher inventories of finished products and components, which could lead to write-downs or write-offs of some or all of the excess inventories, and reductions in our cash balances. Lower than forecasted demand could also result in excess manufacturing capacity at our third-party manufacturers and in our failure to meet minimum purchase commitments, each of which may lower our operating results.

If demand increases beyond forecasted levels, we would have to rapidly increase production at our third-party manufacturers. We depend on suppliers to provide additional volumes of components, and suppliers might not be able to increase production rapidly enough to meet unexpected demand. Even if we were able to procure enough components, our third-party manufacturers might not be able to produce enough of our devices to meet our customer demand. In addition, rapid increases in production levels to meet unanticipated demand could result in higher costs for manufacturing and supply of components and other expenses. These higher costs could lower our profit margins. Further, if production is increased rapidly, manufacturing yields could decline, which may also lower operating results.

We rely primarily on distributors, resellers, vertical industry partners, and OEMs to sell our products, and our sales would suffer if any of these third-parties stops selling our products effectively.

Because we sell our products primarily through distributors, resellers, vertical industry partners, and OEMs, we are subject to risks associated with channel distribution, such as risks related to their inventory levels and support for our products. Our distribution channels may build up inventories in anticipation of growth in their sales. If such growth in their sales does not occur as anticipated, the inventory build up could contribute to higher levels of product returns. The lack of sales by any one significant participant in our distribution channels could result in excess inventories and adversely affect our operating results and working capital liquidity.

Our agreements with distributors, resellers, vertical industry partners, and OEMs are generally nonexclusive and may be terminated on short notice by them without cause. Our distributors, resellers, vertical industry partners, and OEMs are not within our control, are not obligated to purchase products from us, and may offer competitive lines of products simultaneously. Sales growth is contingent in part on our ability to enter into additional distribution relationships and expand our sales channels. We cannot predict whether we will be successful in establishing new distribution relationships, expanding our sales channels or maintaining our existing relationships. A failure to enter into new distribution relationships or to expand our sales channels could adversely impact our ability to grow our sales.

23

(Table of Contents)

We allow our distribution channels to return a portion of their inventory to us for full credit against other purchases. In addition, in the event we reduce our prices, we credit our distributors for the difference between the purchase price of products remaining in their inventory and our reduced price for such products. Actual returns and price protection may adversely affect future operating results and working capital liquidity by reducing our accounts receivable and increasing our inventory balances, particularly since we seek to continually introduce new and enhanced products and are likely to face increasing price competition.

We depend on alliances and other business relationships with a small number of third-parties, and a disruption in any one of these relationships would hinder our ability to develop and sell our products.

We depend on strategic alliances and business relationships with leading participants in various segments of the communications and mobile handheld computer markets to help us develop and market our products. Our strategic partners may revoke their commitment to our products or services at any time in the future or may develop their own competitive products or services. Accordingly, our strategic relationships may not result in sustained business alliances, successful product or service offerings, or the generation of significant revenues. Failure of one or more of such alliances could result in delay or termination of product development projects, failure to win new customers, or loss of confidence by current or potential customers.

We have devoted significant research and development resources to design products to work with a number of operating systems used in mobile devices including Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Windows 7/Vista/XP, RIM Blackberry, Apple, Google's Android, and to develop our own family of mobile handheld computers. Such design activities have diverted financial and personnel resources from other development projects. These design activities are not undertaken pursuant to any agreement under which Microsoft, Research In Motion, Apple, or Google is obligated to continue the collaboration or to support the products produced from the collaboration. Consequently, these organizations may terminate their collaborations with us for a variety of reasons, including our failure to meet agreed-upon standards or for reasons beyond our control, such as changing market conditions, increased competition, discontinued product lines, and product obsolescence.

Our intellectual property and proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect our competitive position.

Our business depends on our ability to protect our intellectual property. We rely primarily on patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret laws, and other restrictions on disclosure to protect our proprietary technologies. We cannot be sure that these measures will provide meaningful protection for our proprietary technologies and processes. We cannot be sure that any patent issued to us will be sufficient to protect our technology. The failure of any patents to provide protection to our technology would make it easier for our competitors to offer similar products. In connection with our participation in the development of various industry standards, we may be required to license certain of our patents to other parties, including our competitors, that develop products based upon the adopted standards.

24

(Table of Contents)

We also generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, distributors, and strategic partners, and generally control access to our documentation and other proprietary information. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third-party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products, services, or technology without authorization, develop similar technology independently, or design around our patents.

Effective copyright, trademark, and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries. Furthermore, certain of our customers have entered into agreements with us which provide that the customers have the right to use our proprietary technology in the event we default in our contractual obligations, including product supply obligations, and fail to cure the default within a specified period of time.

We may become subject to claims of intellectual property rights infringement, which could result in substantial liability.

In the course of operating our business, we may receive claims of intellectual property infringement or otherwise become aware of potentially relevant patents or other intellectual property rights held by other parties. Many of our competitors have large intellectual property portfolios, including patents that may cover technologies that are relevant to our business. In addition, many smaller companies, universities, and individuals have obtained or applied for patents in areas of technology that may relate to our business. The industry is moving towards aggressive assertion, licensing, and litigation of patents and other intellectual property rights.

If we are unable to obtain and maintain licenses on favorable terms for intellectual property rights required for the manufacture, sale, and use of our products, particularly those products which must comply with industry standard protocols and specifications to be commercially viable, our results of operations or financial condition could be adversely impacted.

In addition to disputes relating to the validity or alleged infringement of other parties' rights, we may become involved in disputes relating to our assertion of our own intellectual property rights. Whether we are defending the assertion of intellectual property rights against us or asserting our intellectual property rights against others, intellectual property litigation can be complex, costly, protracted, and highly disruptive to business operations by diverting the attention and energies of management and key technical personnel. Plaintiffs in intellectual property cases often seek injunctive relief, and the measures of damages in intellectual property litigation are complex and often subjective or uncertain. Thus, any adverse determinations in this type of litigation could subject us to significant liabilities and costs.

25

(Table of Contents)

New industry standards may require us to redesign our products, which could substantially increase our operating expenses.

Standards for the form and functionality of our products are established by standards committees. These independent committees establish standards, which evolve and change over time, for different categories of our products. We must continue to identify and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards so that our products are interoperable and we remain competitive. Unanticipated changes in industry standards could render our products incompatible with products developed by major hardware manufacturers and software developers. Should any major changes, even if anticipated, occur, we would be required to invest significant time and resources to redesign our products to ensure compliance with relevant standards. If our products are not in compliance with prevailing industry standards for a significant period of time, we would miss opportunities to sell our products for use with new hardware components from mobile computer manufacturers and OEMs, thus affecting our business.

Undetected flaws and defects in our products may disrupt product sales and result in expensive and time-consuming remedial action.

Our hardware and software products may contain undetected flaws, which may not be discovered until customers have used the products. From time to time, we may temporarily suspend or delay shipments or divert development resources from other projects to correct a particular product deficiency. Efforts to identify and correct errors and make design changes may be expensive and time consuming. Failure to discover product deficiencies in the future could delay product introductions or shipments, require us to recall previously shipped products to make design modifications, or cause unfavorable publicity, any of which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

The loss of one or more of our senior personnel could harm our existing business.

A number of our officers and senior managers have been employed for sixteen to nineteen years by us, including our President, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Technical Officer. Our future success will depend upon the continued service of key officers and senior managers. Competition for officers and senior managers is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain our existing senior personnel. The loss of one or more of our officers or key senior managers could adversely affect our ability to compete.

The expensing of options will continue to reduce our operating results and may continue to cause us to incur net losses such that we may find it necessary to change our business practices to attract and retain employees.

Historically, we have used stock options as a key component of our employee compensation packages. We believe that stock options provide an incentive to our employees to maximize long-term stockholder value and, through the use of vesting, encourage valued employees to remain with us. Furthermore, on July 1, 2010, we completed a stockholder approved exchange offer for certain of our outstanding options. As a result, the total remaining unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock options increased by $0.74 million, which is being amortized over the weighted average remaining requisite period of 2.4 years. The expensing of employee stock options adversely affected our net income and earnings per share in each of the quarters in fiscal 2010, 2009, and 2008, will continue to adversely affect future quarters, and will make profitability harder to achieve. In addition, we may decide in response to the effects of expensing stock options on our operating results to reduce the number of stock options granted to employees or to grant options to fewer employees. This could adversely affect our ability to retain existing employees and attract qualified candidates, and also could increase the cash compensation we would have to pay to them.

26

(Table of Contents)

If we are unable to attract and retain highly skilled sales and marketing and product development personnel, our ability to develop and market new products and product enhancements will be adversely affected.

We believe our ability to achieve increased revenues and to develop successful new products and product enhancements will depend in part upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled sales and marketing and product development personnel. Our products involve a number of new and evolving technologies, and we frequently need to apply these technologies to the unique requirements of mobile products. Our personnel must be familiar with both the technologies we support and the unique requirements of the products to which our products connect. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be able to attract and retain such key personnel. In addition, our ability to hire and retain such key personnel will depend upon our ability to raise capital or achieve increased revenue levels to fund the costs associated with such key personnel. Failure to attract and retain such key personnel will adversely affect our ability to develop and market new products and product enhancements.

We may not be able to collect revenues from customers who experience financial difficulties.

Our accounts receivable are derived primarily from distributors and OEMs. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers' financial conditions but generally require no collateral from our customers. Reserves are maintained for potential credit losses, and such losses have historically been within such reserves. However, many of our customers may be thinly capitalized and may be prone to failure in adverse market conditions. Although our collection history has been good, from time to time a customer may not pay us because of financial difficulty, bankruptcy or liquidation. The current global financial crisis may have an impact on our customers' ability to pay us in a timely manner, and consequently, we may experience increased difficulty in collecting our accounts receivable, and we may have to increase our reserves in anticipation of increased uncollectible accounts.

Our operating results could be harmed by economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with export sales.

Export sales (sales to customers outside the United States) accounted for approximately 24%, 42%, and 37% of our revenue in fiscal years 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively. Accordingly, our operating results are subject to the risks inherent in export sales, including:

• longer payment cycles;
• unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, import and export restrictions and tariffs;
• difficulties in managing foreign operations;
• the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws;
• greater difficulty or delay in accounts receivable collection;
• potentially adverse tax consequences; and
• political and economic instability.

27

(Table of Contents)

Our export sales are primarily denominated in United States dollars and in Euros for our sales to European distributors. Accordingly, an increase in the value of the United States dollar relative to foreign currencies could make our products more expensive and therefore potentially less competitive in foreign markets. Declines in the value of the Euro relative to the United States dollar may result in foreign currency losses relating to collection of Euro denominated receivables if left unhedged.

Our operations are vulnerable to interruption by fire, earthquake, power loss, telecommunications failure, and other events beyond our control.

Our corporate headquarters is located near an earthquake fault. The potential impact of a major earthquake on our facilities, infrastructure, and overall business is unknown. Additionally, we may experience electrical power blackouts or natural disasters that could interrupt our business. Should a disaster be widespread, such as a major earthquake, or result in the loss of key personnel, we may not be able to implement our disaster recovery plan in a timely manner. Any losses or damages incurred by us as a result of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Failure to maintain effective internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and stock price.

We have evaluated and will continue to evaluate our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires an annual management assessment of the design and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal controls, particularly those related to revenue recognition, are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to helping prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our stock could drop significantly.

The sale of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock could cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price for our Common Stock. The market price of our Common Stock could also decline if one or more of our significant stockholders decided for any reason to sell substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the public market.

As of March 10, 2011, we had 4,084,476 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Substantially all of these shares are freely tradable in the public market, either without restriction or subject, in some cases, only to S-3 prospectus delivery requirements and, in other cases, only to manner of sale, volume, and notice requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

28

(Table of Contents)

As of March 10, 2011, we had 1,394,673 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options under our stock option plans, and 129,439 shares of Common Stock were available for future issuance under the plans. We have registered the shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options and reserved for issuance under our stock option plans. Accordingly, the shares of Common Stock underlying vested options will be eligible for resale in the public market as soon as the options are exercised.

As of March 10, 2011, we had 86,585 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding warrants issued in our 2009 private placement. We have registered the resale of all shares of Common Stock subject to the warrants. Accordingly, the shares of Common Stock underlying these warrants will be eligible for resale in the public market as soon as the warrants are exercised, subject to S-3 prospectus delivery requirements.

As of March 10, 2011, we had 666,666 shares of Common Stock subject to the conversion of a note issued in our November 2010 senior convertible note financing. The conversion price of this note is subject to one additional conversion price reset one year from date of issuance of the note, and, depending upon the market price of our Common Stock at the time of such reset, can result in an increase in the number of shares we are obligated to issue upon conversion of the note up to an additional 97,732 shares in aggregate. As of March 10, 2011, we had 550,000 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding warrants issued in connection with the convertible note financing in November 2010. The warrants are not exercisable until May 20, 2011. We have registered the resale of all shares of Common Stock subject to the note conversion and warrants. Accordingly, the shares of Common Stock underlying the note and warrants will be eligible for resale in the public market as soon as the note is converted and the warrants are eligible and exercised, subject to S-3 prospectus delivery requirements.

Volatility in the trading price of our Common Stock could negatively impact the price of our Common Stock.

During the period from January 1, 2010 through March 10, 2011, our Common Stock price fluctuated between a high of $5.44 and a low of $1.51. Following a one-for-ten reverse stock split effected on October 23, 2008, which significantly decreased the Company's share float, we have experienced low trading volumes in our stock, and thus relatively small purchases and sales can have a significant effect on our stock price. The trading price of our Common Stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including general economic conditions and the outlook of securities analysts and investors on our industry. In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for high technology stocks in particular, have experienced high volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock.

29

(Table of Contents)

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

We lease a 37,100 square foot office facility in Newark, California under a lease expiring in June 2018. This facility houses our headquarters and manufacturing operations, and is used by all segments of the Company. We believe that our current facilities are sufficient and adequate to meet our needs for the foreseeable future.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are currently not a party to any material legal proceedings.

Item 4. Reserved

30

(Table of Contents)

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Common Stock

The Company's Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "SCKT."

The quarterly high and low sales prices of our Common Stock, as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market through March 10, 2011 and for the last two fiscal years are as shown below:

On March 10, 2011, the closing sales price for our Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $1.77. We had approximately 4,300 beneficial stockholders of record as of February 28, 2011. We have not paid dividends on our Common Stock, and we currrently intend to retain future earnings for use in our business and do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.

The information required by this item regarding equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

31

(Table of Contents)

Performance Graph

The performance graph shown below shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Socket Mobile, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The performance graph below shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total stockholder return, calculated on a dividend reinvestment basis and based on a $100 investment, from December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2010 comparing the return on the Company's Common Stock with the Russell 2000 Index and the NASDAQ Computer & Data Processing Index. No dividends have been declared or paid on the Common Stock during such period. Historical stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

32

(Table of Contents)

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and the financial statements and the notes thereto in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

33

(Table of Contents)

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Critical Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010. The application of these policies requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on a combination of historical experience and reasonable judgment applied to other facts. Actual results may differ from these estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements. In addition, the use of different assumptions or judgments may result in different estimates. We believe our critical accounting policies that are subject to these estimates are: Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable Reserves, Inventory Valuation, Stock Based-Compensation, and Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable Reserves
We defer revenue recognition on products sold to distributors until our distributors sell the products to their customers, because our distributors generally have rights to return products to us for stock rotation, stock reduction, or replacement of defective product. The amount of deferred revenue net of related cost of revenue is classified as deferred income on shipments to distributors on our balance sheet. We use inventory reports received from our distributors at the end of each reporting period to determine the extent of inventory at the distributor, and thus, the amount of income to defer. Stock rotation and stock reduction from our distributors generally results in a balance sheet adjustment to our deferred income and does not impact our revenue or cost of revenue.

We generally recognize revenues on sales to customers other than distributors upon shipment provided that persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the price is fixed and determinable, title has transferred, collection of resulting receivables is reasonably assured, there are no customer acceptance requirements, and there are no remaining significant obligations. Most of our customers other than distributors do not have rights of return except under warranty.

We also earn revenue from an extended warranty service program offered on select products. Revenues from the extended warranty service program are recognized ratably over the life of the extended warranty contract. The amount of unrecognized warranty service revenue is classified as deferred service revenue and presented on our balance sheet in its short and long term components. We also earn revenue from services performed in connection with consulting arrangements. For those contracts that include contract milestones or acceptance criteria we recognize revenue as such milestones are achieved or as such acceptance occurs. In some instances the acceptance criteria in the contract requires acceptance after all services are complete and all other elements have been delivered, in which case revenue recognition is deferred until those requirements are met.

We estimate the amount of uncollectible receivables at the end of each reporting period based on the aging of the receivable balance, historical trends, and communications with our customers. If actual bad debts are significantly different from our estimates our operating results will be affected.

34

(Table of Contents)

Inventory Valuation
Our inventories primarily consist of component parts used to assemble our products after we receive orders from our customers. We purchase or have manufactured the component parts required by our engineering bill of materials. The timing and quantity of our purchases are based on order forecasts, the lead time requirements of our vendors, and on economic order quantities. At the end of each reporting period, we compare our inventory on hand to our forecasted requirements for the next nine-month period, and write off the cost of any inventory that is surplus, less any amounts that we believe we can recover from disposal of goods that we specifically believe will be saleable past a nine-month horizon. Our sales forecasts are based upon historical trends, communications from customers, and marketing data regarding market trends and dynamics, which we discuss in Item 1, Business. Surplus or obsolete inventory can also be created by changes to our engineering bill of materials. Charges for the amounts we record as surplus or obsolete inventory are included in cost of revenue.

Stock-Based Compensation
On January 1, 2006, we began accounting for share-based awards to employees, including grants of employee stock options, in our financial statements based on the fair values of the share-based awards. We use a binomial lattice valuation model to estimate the fair value of stock option grants made on or after January 1, 2006. The binomial lattice model incorporates calculations for expected volatility, risk-free interest rates, employee exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior, and these factors affect the estimate of the fair value of the stock option grants.

Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and between annual tests if indicators of potential impairment exist. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. A two-step test is required to be performed to assess goodwill for impairment. The first step of the goodwill impairment test requires a determination of whether the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed. The second step is performed only if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The second step involves an analysis reflecting the allocation of fair value determined in the first step (as if it was the purchase price in a business combination). This process may result in the determination of a new amount of goodwill. If the calculated fair value of the goodwill resulting from this allocation is lower than the carrying value of the goodwill in the reporting unit, the difference is reflected as a non-cash impairment loss. The purpose of the second step is only to determine the amount of goodwill that should be recorded on the balance sheet. The recorded amounts of other items on the balance sheet are not adjusted. We have determined that we have one reporting unit for purposes of goodwill testing.

We estimate the fair value of our single reporting unit utilizing up to three valuation methods: market capitalization, income approach and market approach. Revenue and expense forecasts used in the evaluation of goodwill are based on trends of historical performance and our estimate of future performance. We assess the impairment of certain long-lived assets, including intangible assets with definite useful lives, at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

35

(Table of Contents)

Revenues

Our revenues have been classified into three primary product families for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008. Additionally, we continue to carry legacy plug-in connectivity products, and up through 2009 carried serial products until the sale of our serial product line in the third quarter of 2009. Our product revenues are presented in the following table:

Our mobile handheld computer product revenues in 2010 increased by 2%, or $155,000 from mobile handheld computer product revenues in 2009. Sales of our mobile handheld computer through the first nine months of 2010 increased by 12% compared to the same period in 2009, due to an increase in the volume of mobile handheld computer sales combined with an increase in related service revenues as a result of an increased percentage of customers opting to purchase our SocketCare extended warranty and accidental breakage coverage in conjunction with their deployments. However, in the fourth quarter 2010, sales of our mobile handheld computer products were reduced as a result of shortages in the availability of LCD touch screens used in the manufacture of our mobile handheld computer. Beginning in late 2010, major tablet and smartphone manufacturers secured a majority of the LCD touch screen manufacturing capacity causing short term supply disruptions as LCD touch screen manufacturers reprioritized their capacity commitments. Our mobile handheld product revenues in the fourth quarter 2010 declined to $1.2 million from $1.9 million in the third quarter 2010 as a consequence of the supply delays and our inability to ship our customer orders scheduled for shipment in the fourth quarter.

Increased revenues in 2009 from our mobile handheld computer products reflect higher sales volumes due to a growing customer base with larger average unit deployments compared to 2008. Although the annual revenues in 2009 indicate growth in our mobile handheld computer revenues, we believe this growth was slowed by the worldwide economic slowdown beginning in late 2008, as our customers took longer to make their deployment decisions. In the second half of 2009 mobile handheld computer revenues declined by 3% compared to the first half of 2009 due to the completion of a year-long roll-out to a key customer in the healthcare market early in the third quarter. Declines in sales to this key customer in the second half of 2009 were partially offset by growth in sales to existing customers in healthcare and other markets, which grew at a rate of 33% in the second half of 2009 compared to the first half.

36

(Table of Contents)

Our data collection product revenues in 2010 decreased by $0.7 million from data collection revenues in 2009. Revenue decreases in 2010 were primarily from declines of $0.6 million in sales of our SDIO In-Hand Scan card due to reduced sales volumes of this product. Remaining declines in 2010 were from reduced sales of our Cordless Hand Scanner and Cordless Ring Scanner. Sales of our CompactFlash In-Hand Scan card were flat in 2010 compared to 2009. Our data collection product revenues continue to be affected by the worldwide economic slowdown as customers defer their deployment decisions. A significant sales volume of our plug-in scan cards are sold in conjunction with our mobile handheld computer. In the fourth quarter 2010 in particular, supply delays in our mobile handheld computer mentioned previously, adversely impacted our mobile handheld computer sales and consequently the companion plug-in scan card revenues as we were forced to defer shipments beyond year end.

In 2009, our data collection product revenues decreased by $3.7 million from data collection revenues in 2008. The decrease was due to a decline of $1.6 million in sales of our CompactFlash In-Hand Scan card product, a decline of $1.1 million in sales of our Cordless Hand Scanner, a decline $0.9 million in sales of our SDIO In-Hand Scan card, and a decline in sales of our Cordless Ring Scanner. Revenue declines in 2009 were due primarily to lower sales volumes of these primary scanning products due to the effects of the worldwide economic slowdown which began in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Service revenues from our SocketCare extended warranty program were $0.8 million or 6 % of our revenue in 2010 and approximately $0.3 million or 2 percent of our revenue in 2009. Service revenues were insignificant for 2008. Increases in SocketCare service revenues are due to an increased percentage of customers opting to purchase our SocketCare extended warranty and accidental breakage coverage in conjunction with their mobile handheld computer and data collection deployments. Revenues related to our SocketCare services have been allocated to the respective mobile handheld computer and data collection revenues for each of the years presented in the table above.

Our OEM embedded product revenues declined in 2010 by $1.9 million from revenues in 2009. Approximately half of the revenue decrease was due to reduced sales of Bluetooth products. Sales of our Bluetooth modules to our OEM customers declined as a result of phasing out older Bluetooth technology and a last-buy purchase program through 2009. Sales of Bluetooth plug-in products declined as a result of last-buys of these products as we completed the phase out of these products in 2010. Remaining declines in the 2010 were from reductions in sales of our wireless LAN plug-in cards.

In 2009, our OEM embedded product revenues declined by $6.0 million from revenues in 2008. Revenue decreases of $5.6 million in 2009 were from reduced sales of our Bluetooth modules to our OEM customers as a result of phasing out older Bluetooth technology and a last-buy purchase program mentioned previously. Our OEM customers made last-buy Bluetooth module purchases beginning in the third quarter of 2008, with the majority of these shipments occurring in the latter half of 2008, followed by the final remaining shipments completed primarily in the first quarter of 2009. Additional declines in 2009 of $0.5 million were from reductions in sales of our wireless LAN plug-in cards. Remaining declines in 2009 were from reduced sales of our Bluetooth plug-in cards, a trend that continued from 2008, reflecting lower overall requirements for these products by our OEM customers and the availability of this wireless technology already built into handheld computers to our non-OEM customers. Partially offsetting these declines in 2009 were increases of $0.2 million in sales of our wireless LAN modules.

37

(Table of Contents)

Our connectivity product revenues for the three years presented in the above table consist of Ethernet plug-in cards, modems, and accessory products including our Mobile Power Pack, adapters and cables. Connectivity product revenues in 2010 decreased by $0.3 million from connectivity product revenues in 2009, and connectivity revenues in 2009 decreased by $0.8 million from connectivity product revenues in 2008. The decrease in 2010 was primarily due to declines in sales of our modem plug-in products with remaining declines from reduced sales of our Ethernet plug-in products. The decrease in 2009 was due primarily to a decline of $0.7 million from reduced sales of our modem plug-in products with remaining declines from reduced sales of our Ethernet plug-in products. Overall connectivity product revenues have declined in the periods presented, reflecting a trend of year-over-year reductions in corporate deployments of these wired connection solutions as most users of mobile computing devices now connect to networks wirelessly.

As a result of the sale of our serial product technology and business on September 30, 2009, there are no revenues from serial interface products recognized beyond fiscal 2009. Our serial interface product revenues declined in 2009 by $0.7 million from revenues in 2008. The decrease in 2009 was primarily from declines of $0.6 million in sales of our standard serial PC card products with additional declines due to lower sales of our Bluetooth serial adapter product, which were due in part to the sale of our serial product line to Quatech, Inc. on September 30, 2009 (see "Note 8 - Sale of Product Line Assets" for more information). Our standard serial PC card products were primarily sold to connect peripheral devices or other electronic equipment to notebook computers. Overall serial product revenues have declined in the periods presented through the date of sale of the product line, continuing a trend reflecting the gradual replacement of serial technology with USB and other newer connection technologies.

Gross Margins

Gross margins for 2010 were 40% of revenues compared to gross margins of 43% in 2009 and 47% in 2008. We generally price our products as a markup from our cost, and we offer discount pricing for higher volume purchases. Declines in overall margins in 2010 compared to 2009 were due to declines in sales of above average margin products combined with fixed overhead costs which comprised a greater portion of the overall cost of goods sold due to lower revenues in 2010 compared to 2009. Partially offsetting these margin declines in 2010 were increases in sales of our mobile handheld computer which comprised a greater portion of our overall revenues combined with improved margins on this particular product in 2010 compared to one year ago. Reductions in overall margins in 2009 compared to 2008 were due primarily to increased sales of our mobile handheld computer which comprised 37% of our revenues in 2009 compared to 18% in 2008. Margins on our mobile handheld computer were below our average product margins, and combined with a greater proportion of our revenues in 2009, resulted in overall margin reductions compared to 2008. Additional margin declines in 2009 were due to our fixed overhead costs, which comprise a greater portion of the overall revenues and cost of goods sold due to lower revenues in 2009 compared to 2008.

38

(Table of Contents)

Research and Development Expense

Research and development expense in 2010 was $2.4 million, a decrease of 16% from research and development expense in 2009 of $2.9 million. Research and development expense in 2009 decreased by 37% from research and development expense in 2008 of $4.5 million. In 2010 we continued the implementation of cost reduction programs in response to the economic climate. Approximately 31% if the reduction in research and development expense in 2010 compared to 2009 was due to lower personnel costs primarily from salary reductions. Remaining reductions in research and development expense in 2010 were primarily from reduced development costs due to a reduction in product development activities, and reduced equipment costs related to the reductions in product development activities. Sixty three percent of the reduction in research and development expense in 2009 was due to reduced personnel costs as the result of a reduction-in-force action initiated in the fourth quarter of 2008, followed by additional reductions in employee compensation and related expense in 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2008 the Company initiated a range of expense reductions across all departments and functional expense categories in response to the worldwide economic slowdown, with additional reductions following in the first and second quarters of 2009, and a continuation of the reduced expense levels throughout the remaining quarters of 2009. Additional reductions in research and development expense in 2009 were from decreases in development fees due to a reduction in product development activities, and decreases in equipment costs related to the reductions in product development activities.

Sales and Marketing Expense

Sales and marketing expense in 2010 was $4.1 million, a decrease of 21% compared to sales and marketing expense in 2009 of $5.2 million. Sales and marketing expense in 2009 decreased by 34% compared to sales and marketing expense in 2008 of $7.8 million. Approximately half of the reduction in sales and marketing expense in 2010 was from reduced personnel costs due to salary reductions and realignment of the sales force to emphasize inside sales personnel located at the Company's Newark, CA headquarters to better serve our customer base. Additional declines in 2010 were primarily from reduced advertising and promotion expense and travel costs. Seventy five percent of the reduction in sales and marketing expense in 2009 was due to reduced personnel costs as a result of the reduction-in-force action initiated in the fourth quarter of 2008 referred to above and further reductions in employee compensation and related expense during 2009. Additional reductions in sales and marketing expense in 2009 were in the categories of advertising and promotion expense, travel, outside services, and equipment costs.

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense in 2010 was $2.5 million, an increase of 14% compared to general and administrative expense of $2.2 million in 2009. General and administrative expense in 2009 decreased 16 % compared to general and administrative expense of $2.7 million in 2008. In the fourth quarter 2010, non-recurring expenses totaling $0.4 million related to the closing of our senior convertible note financing in November 2010, were charged to general and administrative expense. Excluding this fourth quarter non-recurring financing cost, remaining general and administrative expenses in 2010 decreased 10% from comparable expenses in 2009. Reductions in comparable general and administrative expense in 2010 were primarily from salary reductions, reduced occupancy costs and lower consulting and professional fees. Partially offsetting these reductions in 2010 in comparable expenses were increases in fees associated with our bank line of credit (through the date of termination on November 2, 2010) and an increase in stock compensation expense related to the stock option exchange completed on July 1, 2010. In 2009, over half of the reduction in expense was due to decreases in payroll costs primarily from reductions in employee compensation expense for the year. Additional reductions in general and administrative expense in 2009 compared to 2008,were primarily from decreases in consulting and professional fees and reduced investor relations expense.

39

(Table of Contents)

Amortization of Intangibles

In July 2004 we acquired a patent which covers the design and functioning of plug-in bar code scanners, bar code imagers, and radio frequency identification products. The patent was purchased for $600,000 and has been capitalized as an intangible asset. The patent is being amortized on a straight line basis over a ten-year period. Intangible assets of $571,000 remaining from a prior acquisition in 2000 consisted of developed software and technology with estimated lives at the time of acquisition of 8.5 years. Such amount was fully amortized by mid 2009. Total amortization charges in 2010 for all acquired intangibles were $60,000, compared to $77,000 in 2009, and $127,000 in 2008. The lower annual amortization charges are due to components of intangible property becoming fully amortized. Future intangible amortization charges are solely related to the patent acquired in 2004, and will be $15,000 per quarter going forward until fully amortized in June 2014.

Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of September 30th or more frequently when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of our single reporting unit more likely than not exceeds its fair value. We performed the annual goodwill impairment analysis as of September 30, 2010. We used the two-step test as required to assess goodwill for impairment. The first step of the goodwill impairment test consisted of comparing the carrying value of our reporting unit to its fair value. We estimated the fair value of our reporting unit using various methods and compared the fair value to the carrying amount (net book value) to ascertain if potential goodwill impairment existed. We utilized methods that focused on our ability to produce income ("Income Approach") and the estimated consideration we would receive if there were a sale of the Company ("Market Approach"). Key assumptions utilized in the determination of fair value in step one of the test included the following: our market capitalization; market multiples of comparable companies within our industry; revenue and expense forecasts used in the evaluation were based on trends of historical performance and our estimate of future performance; cash flows utilized in the discounted cash flow analysis were estimated using a weighted average cost of capital determined to be appropriate for the Company. The fair value of our reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and as a result, goodwill was considered not impaired as of September 30, 2010, the date of our annual test for impairment. During the fourth quarter of 2010, we also performed an update to the goodwill impairment analysis. We determined goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2010 as a result of our analysis. The factors used in performing a goodwill impairment analysis are highly subjective and may be adversely affected by our future financial results and market conditions, and may result in future impairment write-downs.

In the fourth quarter 2009 indications of impairment existed subsequent to the annual impairment test at September 30, 2009, and as a result we performed additional impairment testing with the assistance of a third party valuation specialist. Based on the impairment analysis at December 31, 2009, we recorded a preliminary estimate of $5,370,946 of goodwill impairment. In the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we finalized the impairment analysis without adjustment to the estimated impairment recorded at December 31, 2009.

40

(Table of Contents)

Interest Income and Other, and Interest Expense

Interest income reflects interest earned on cash balances. Interest income in 2010 and 2009 was immaterial compared to interest income of $22,000 in 2008. Lower interest income in the comparable periods reflects lower average cash balances combined with lower average rates of return.

Interest expense was $246,000 in 2010 compared to $225,000 in 2009, and $71,000 in 2008. Interest expense is primarily related to interest on amounts drawn on our bank lines of credit (through the date of termination of the credit lines in November 2010), and in 2008 and also included interest related to a term loan outstanding which was repaid in full in December 2008 in conjunction with a new credit line agreement at that time. Additional interest expense is related to interest on equipment lease financing obligations in each of the years presented, and beginning in November 2010, interest on our senior convertible note payable and the related amortization of debt discount recognized in interest expense. Higher overall interest expense in 2010 compared to 2009 is due to the portion of debt discount amortized in 2010. Higher interest expense in 2009 compared to 2008 was due to higher average balances outstanding on our bank lines of credit at higher overall interest rates.

If unconverted for the duration of fiscal 2011, the annual interest expense on our senior convertible note will be $100,000, and the annual amortization of the related debt discount to be charged to interest expense will be approximately $678,000 (see "NOTE 2 - Senior Convertible Note Financing" for more information).

Income Taxes

Deferred tax expense of $16,000 in 2010, a deferred tax benefit of $225,000 in 2009, and deferred tax expense of $32,000 in 2008, and the corresponding deferred tax liability shown on our balance sheet, is related entirely to the deferred tax liability on the portion of our goodwill amortized for tax purposes. Due to the indefinite characteristic of this deferred tax liability, it cannot be offset against deferred tax assets. Goodwill impairment charges recorded at December 31, 2009 on that portion of our goodwill being amortized for tax purposes resulted in the reversal of accumulated deferred tax expense in 2009 and the related deferred tax liability, temporarily eliminating the difference between financial and tax reporting at December 31, 2009, and through the first half of 2010. Beginning in the third quarter 2010, differences between financial and tax reporting resulted in deferred tax expense of $16,000 and the corresponding deferred tax liability on our balance sheet at December 31, 2010. We maintain a full valuation allowance for all other components of deferred tax assets. There can be no assurance that the deferred tax assets subject to the valuation allowance will be realized. We have not generated taxable income in any periods in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic.

41

(Table of Contents)

Quarterly Results of Operations

The following table sets forth summary quarterly statements of operations data for each of the quarters in 2009 and 2010. This unaudited quarterly information has been prepared on the same basis as the annual information presented elsewhere herein, and, in our opinion, includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring entries) necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the quarters presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.

We have experienced significant quarterly fluctuations in operating results, and we anticipate such fluctuations to continue in the future. We generally ship orders as received and therefore quarterly revenue and operating results depend on the volume and timing of orders received during the quarter, which are difficult to forecast. Historically, we have recognized a substantial portion of our revenue in the last month of the quarter. Operating results may also fluctuate due to factors such as the demand for our products, the size and timing of customer orders, the introduction of new products and product enhancements by us or our competitors, product mix, timing of software enhancements, manufacturing supply shortages, changes in the level of operating expenses, and competitive conditions in the industry. Because our staffing and other operating expenses are based on anticipated revenue, a substantial portion of which is not typically generated until the end of each quarter, delays in the receipt of orders can cause significant variations in operating results from quarter to quarter.

42

(Table of Contents)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, we incurred net losses of $4.0 million, $7.9 million, $2.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, we have an accumulated deficit of $54.8 million and a working capital deficit of $1.6 million. These are conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. These conditions include continuing operating losses and declines in our working capital balances. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to establish profitable operations and to increase our capital. We have been taking steps intended to reduce operating losses and achieve profitability including the introduction of new products, continued close support of our distributors and of our application partners as they establish their mobile applications in key vertical markets, and management of our costs. We have the ability to reduce expenses further if necessary. We believe that we will be able to improve liquidity and secure additional sources of financing by managing our working capital balances, improving our operating results to cash positive levels, and raising additional capital as needed, including development funding from development partners and through the issuance of additional equity securities. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving any of these steps, and there can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all, and any such terms may be dilutive to existing stockholders. Our inability to secure and maintain the necessary liquidity would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If we are unable to secure the necessary capital for our business, we may need to suspend some or all of our current operations. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we can return to revenue growth and attain profitability, we anticipate requirements for cash will include funding of higher receivable and inventory balances, and increased expenses, including more employees to support our growth and increases in salaries, benefits, and related support costs for employees.

We have a history of operating losses and we may continue to be unprofitable in the foreseeable future. Historically we have financed our operations through the sale of equity securities, equipment financing, and revolving bank lines of credit. Since our inception we have raised approximately $41 million in equity capital to fund our operations.

As reflected in our Statements of Cash Flows, net cash used in operating activities was $0.6 million in 2010 compared to $0.1 million provided from operating activities in 2009, and $2.0 million used in operating activities in 2008. We calculate net cash used in operating activities by reducing our net loss ($4.0 million, $7.9 million, and $2.8 million in 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively) by those expenses that did not require the use of cash, and reversing gains that did not generate cash. These items consist of stock based compensation expense, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, changes in inventory reserves, deferred tax expense, and in 2010 in particular, the issuance of common stock for services and the amortization of debt discount, and in 2009 in particular, a reversal of deferred tax expense. These amounts totaled $1.5 million, $1.2 million, and $1.4 million in 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively. Also, in 2009 our net loss includes a gain of $450,000 from the sale of our serial product line assets in September of 2009 (see "Note 8 - Sale of Product Line Assets" for more information) and goodwill impairment charges of $5.4 million. We adjusted the net loss for 2009 to exclude this gain and the impairment charges. Increases in non-cash charges in 2010 were primarily from increases in deferred tax expense, increases in inventory write-downs, and charges related to our senior convertible note financing including amortization of debt discount and common stock warrants issued for services. Partially offsetting these increases in non-cash charges in 2010 were decreases in depreciation expense due to reductions in the purchasing of equipment and tooling, and decreases in stock-based compensation expense compared to 2009. Reductions in non-cash items in 2009 were primarily from the deferred tax expense reversal related to the impairment charges on the portion of our goodwill being amortized for tax purposes and reductions in amortization expense due to components of our intangible assets becoming fully amortized, partially offset by an increase in inventory write-downs compared to 2008.

43

(Table of Contents)

In addition, we report increases in assets and reductions in liabilities as uses of cash and decreases in assets and increases in liabilities as sources of cash, together referred to as changes in operating assets and liabilities. In 2010, changes in operating assets and liabilities resulted in a net source of cash of $1.9 million and were primarily from increases in accounts payable due to the timing of payments, reductions in inventory levels as a result of planned reductions from year-end levels, reductions in accounts receivable due to lower shipments in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 resulting from a supply shortage in our mobile handheld computer from our contract manufacturer, and increases in deferred rent as a result of four months of rent abatement provided for under the terms of the amendment to our facilities lease completed in August 2010. Partially offsetting these were decreases in accrued payroll and related expenses in 2010 compared to 2009 due to lower personnel costs as a result of salary reductions, and declines in deferred income on shipments to distributors due to lower levels of inventory held by our distributors at year-end as a result of the shipping delays in the fourth quarter 2010 mentioned previously compared the same quarter one year ago. In 2009, changes in operating assets and liabilities resulted in a net source of cash of $2.0 million and were primarily from reductions in inventory due primarily to planned reductions in stocking levels of our mobile handheld computer from year-end inventory levels, reductions in accounts receivable due to lower shipments in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008, and increases in deferred service revenues, partially offset by reductions in accounts payable due to reductions in overall expenses and inventory purchases that create those payables, and reductions in deferred income on shipments to distributors due to lower stocking levels of our products in the distribution channel. Changes in operating assets and liabilities in 2008 were primarily from increased levels of inventories due to stocking higher quantities of our mobile handheld computer and increases in accounts receivable due to shipments concentrated in the last month of the fourth quarter of 2008, partially offset by increases in accounts payable due to the purchases that led to the increased levels of inventories, increases in deferred income on shipments to distributors due to increased stocking levels in the domestic distribution channel, and increases in deferred service revenue.

Cash used in investing activities was $144,000 in 2010, compared to cash provided by investing activities of $164,000 in 2009, and cash used in investing activities of $349,000 in 2008. Reductions in investing activities in 2010 compared to 2009 reflect reductions in equipment and tooling purchases due to fewer projects requiring these expenditures. In 2009, proceeds of $450,000 from the sale of our serial product line assets in September 2009 were partially offset by cash used for equipment and tooling purchases in 2009. Reductions in equipment and tooling purchases in 2009 were due to fewer development projects requiring these expenditures compared to 2008.

Cash provided from financing activities was $13,000 in 2010, compared to cash provided from financing activities of $0.9 million in 2009, and cash used in financing activities of $1.9 million in 2008. Financing activities in 2010 consisted primarily of net amounts paid of $1.0 million on our bank lines of credit through the date of termination in November 2010, offset by the proceeds from the issuance of our senior convertible note. Financing activities in 2009 consisted primarily of net proceeds of $0.9 million from the issuance of common stock and warrants. Financing activities in 2008 consisted primarily of net amounts paid of $1.6 million on our bank lines of credit and repayment of the outstanding balance of $0.4 million on our term loan in December 2008 in conjunction with entering into a new credit line agreement at that time, and payments on capital leases, partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants totaling $0.2 million.

44

(Table of Contents)

Our cash balances at December 31, 2010 were $1,172,000 of which $711,000 was designated as collateral and restricted from our use under the terms of our senior convertible note. Our balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 0.70 to 1.0, and a working capital deficit of $1,617,000 (current assets less current liabilities). In February 2011 we issued $500,000 in Common Stock to our primary contract manufacturer in exchange for an equal reduction in our trade payables balance.

Our contractual obligations at December 31, 2010 are outlined in the table shown below:

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2010, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303 of Regulation S-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 of "Notes to Financial Statements" of this Annual Report for additional information regarding the status of recent accounting pronouncements.

45

(Table of Contents)

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to invested cash and our bank credit line facilities. Our cash is invested in short-term money market investments backed by U.S. Treasury notes and other investments that mature within one year and whose principal is not subject to market rate fluctuations. Accordingly, interest rate declines would adversely affect our interest income but would not affect the carrying value of our cash investments. Based on a sensitivity analysis of our cash investments during the quarter ended December 31, 2010, a decline of 1% in interest rates would not have had a material effect on our quarterly interest income.

On November 2, 2010, we terminated our bank credit line facility in conjunction with the issuance of a senior convertible note in the note financing subsequently closed on November 19, 2010 (see "Note 4 - Bank Financing Arrangements" and "Note 2 - Senior Convertible Note Financing" for more information). There is no interest rate risk from our credit line facility beyond the termination date.

Foreign Currency Risk

A substantial majority of our revenue, expense and purchasing activities are transacted in U.S. dollars. However, we require our European distributors to purchase our products in Euros, we pay the expenses of our European employees in Euros and British pounds, and we may enter into selected future purchase commitments with foreign suppliers that may be paid in the local currency of the supplier. We hedge a significant portion of our European receivables balance denominated in Euros to reduce the foreign currency risk associated with these assets, and we have not been subject to significant losses from material foreign currency fluctuations. Based on a sensitivity analysis of our net foreign currency denominated assets and expenses at the beginning, during and at the end of the quarter ended December 31, 2010, an adverse change of 10% in exchange rates would have resulted in an increase in our net loss for the fourth quarter 2010 of approximately $18,000, if left unprotected. For the fourth quarter of 2010 the total net adjustment for the effects of changes in foreign currency on cash balances, collections, payables, and derivatives was a net gain of $1,000. We will continue to monitor, assess, and mitigate through hedging activities, the risk associated with these exposures.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The supplementary information required by this item is included in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

46

(Table of Contents)

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Socket Mobile, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Socket Mobile, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2010. Socket Mobile, Inc.'s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Socket Mobile, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, certain conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

                                                                                                                                                                /s/ Moss Adams LLP

Santa Clara, California
March 15, 2011

47

(Table of Contents)

See accompanying notes.

48

(Table of Contents)

See accompanying notes.

49

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

See accompanying notes.

50

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See accompanying notes.

51

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Business
Socket Mobile, Inc. (the "Company"), produces mobile handheld computers and data collection products serving the business mobility market. The Company offers a family of handheld computer products designed for business enterprise use and a wide range of data collection products including two dimensional (2D) and linear (1D) bar code scanners, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, and magnetic stripe readers. The Company also offers wearable ring scanners, customized versions of our handheld computers, and embedded Bluetooth and wireless LAN cards and modules as OEM products to third party companies. The Company's data collection products work with the Company's handheld computers and the Company's cordless hand scanners work with many third-party mobile handheld devices including smartphones, tablet computers, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs), notebooks and desktop systems, adding data collection capabilities to these devices. For a complete description of the Company's products see "Products" in "Item 1. Business." The Company works closely with software application developers offering or developing vertical software applications for use with the Company's handheld computers and for use with smartphones, including phones running Apple, Google's Android, RIM BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows operating systems for use with the Company's cordless hand scanners. Healthcare and hospitality are two of the primary areas of focus for software application developers who have developed applications for use on the Company's handheld computers, and a significant portion of the Company's handheld computer sales now come from organizations within these two market segments. Other vertical markets benefiting from mobile solutions include retail merchandising, automotive, government and education. The Company subcontracts the manufacturing of all of its products to independent third-party contract manufacturers who are located in the U.S., China and Taiwan and who have the equipment, know-how and capacity to manufacture products to the Company's specifications. The Company's mobile handheld computers and data collection products are sold through a worldwide network of distributors and resellers, vertical industry partners, and VARs. The Company's OEM products are sold directly to the other equipment manufacturers. The geographic regions served by the Company include the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. The Company's total employee headcount on December 31, 2010 was 64 people.

The Company was founded in March 1992 as Socket Communications, Inc. and reincorporated in Delaware in 1995 prior to the Company's initial public offering in June 1995. The Company began doing business as Socket Mobile, Inc. in January 2007 to better reflect its market focus on the mobile business market, and changed its legal name to Socket Mobile, Inc. in April 2008. The Company's Common Stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "SCKT." The Company's principal executive offices are located at 39700 Eureka Drive, Newark, CA 94560.

Liquidity and Going Concern
The Company's financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, the Company incurred net losses of $4.0 million, $7.9 million, and $2.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, the Company has an accumulated deficit of $54.8 million and a working capital deficit of $1.6 million. The Company's cash balances at December 31, 2010 were $1,172,000 of which $711,000 was designated as restricted collateral under the terms of our senior convertible note. The Company's cash balances at December 31, 2010, reflect net cash used in operating activities in 2010 of $638,000, net payments of $1,002,000 on its bank lines of credit as a result of terminating the lines in November 2010 in conjunction with the issuance of the Company's $1.0 million senior convertible note in the same month. The Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2010 has a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 0.70 to 1.0, and a working capital deficit of $1,617,000 (current assets less current liabilities). These circumstances raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

52

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

The Company took actions beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008 to reduce its expenses, including a reduction of 12% in its worldwide workforce, to align its cost structure with economic conditions in response to the slow-down in business spending resulting from the economic downturn beginning in late 2008. The Company took additional actions during 2009 to reduce expenses, and the Company reduced expenses further in 2010. The Company has the ability to further reduce expenses if necessary. Additional steps by management intended to reduce operating losses and achieve profitability include the introduction of new products, continued close support of the Company's distributors and its application partners as they establish their mobile applications in key vertical markets. In February 2011 the Company issued $500,000 in Common Stock to its primary contract manufacturer in exchange for an equal reduction in the Company's trade payables balance (see "NOTE 15 - Subsequent Event: Common Stock Financing" for more information). Management believes that it will be able to further improve the Company's liquidity and secure additional sources of financing by managing its working capital balances, and raising additional capital as needed including development funding from development partners and the issuance of additional equity securities. If the Company can return to revenue growth and attain profitability, the Company anticipates requirements for cash will include funding of higher receivable and inventory balances, and increased expenses, including an increase of costs relating to new employees to support our growth and increases in salaries, benefits, and related support costs for employees. If the Company cannot attain profitability, the Company will not be able to support its operations from positive cash flows, and the Company would use its existing cash to support operating losses. The Company may also find it necessary to raise additional capital to fund its operations, however, there can be no assurance that additional capital will be available on acceptable terms, if at all, and any such terms may be dilutive to existing stockholders. If the Company is unable to secure the necessary capital for its business, the Company may need to suspend some or all of its current operations.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. These financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from uncertainty related to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

53

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity date of 90 days or less at date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, all of the Company's cash and cash equivalents consisted of amounts held in demand and money market deposits in banks.

Restricted Cash
At December 31, 2010 all of the Company's restricted cash consisted of amounts held in demand deposits in banks under the terms of our senior convertible note issued in November 2010. Under the terms of the note the Company is required at all times to maintain collateralization of the convertible note with an amount equivalent to the unconverted principal plus accrued interest. Collateral consists of qualified accounts receivables of the Company, plus cash to the extent qualified accounts receivables are less than the unconverted principal plus accrued interest (see "NOTE 2 - Senior Convertible Note Financing" for more information).

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt and foreign exchange contracts approximate fair value due to the relatively short period of time to maturity.

Fair Value Measurements
The Company's estimates of fair value for assets and liabilities is based on a framework that establishes a hierarchy of the inputs used in valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect our significant market assumptions. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

There were no significant fair value measurements for the year ended December 31, 2010. The significant fair value measurements for the year ended December 31, 2009 were on a nonrecurring basis and related to the Company's goodwill impairment assessment as described below under "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Review." The Company performed an impairment test of its goodwill as of December 31, 2009 using Level 3 inputs and recorded estimated goodwill impairment charges of $5.4 million as of December 31, 2009.

54

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company's primary objective for holding derivative financial instruments is to manage foreign currency risks. The Company's derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value and are included in other current assets, other assets, other accrued liabilities or long-term debt depending on the contractual maturity and whether the Company has a gain or loss. The Company's accounting policies for these instruments are based on whether they meet the Company's criteria for designation as hedging transactions, either as cash flow or fair value hedges. A hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of an asset or a liability, or of a forecasted transaction, is referred to as a cash flow hedge. A hedge of the exposure to changes in fair value of an asset or a liability, or of an unrecognized firm commitment, is referred to as a fair value hedge. The criteria for designating a derivative as a hedge include the instrument's effectiveness in risk reduction and, in most cases, a one-to-one matching of the derivative instrument to its underlying transaction. Gains and losses on derivatives that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes are recognized currently in earnings. The Company regularly enters into forward foreign currency contracts to reduce exposures related to rate changes in certain foreign currencies. The Company's forward foreign currency contracts are recorded at fair value at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2010, these derivative instruments were not designated as hedges, and accordingly, changes in the fair value of the forward foreign currency contracts were recorded in earnings. At December 31, 2010, contracts with a notional amount of $132,900 to hedge Euros had a fair value of an immaterial amount based on quotations from financial institutions, and had maturity dates in January 2010. At December 31, 2009, contracts with a notional amount of $721,500 to hedge Euros were recorded as an asset with a fair value of $5,175 based on quotations from financial institutions, and had maturity dates in January 2009.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of two components-net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to gains and losses that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles are recorded as an element of stockholders' equity but are excluded from net income. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had no material other comprehensive income (loss).

Accounts Receivable Allowances
The Company estimates the amount of uncollectible accounts receivable at the end of each reporting period based on the aging of the receivable balance, current and historical customer trends, and communications with its customers. Amounts are written off only after considerable collection efforts have been made and the amounts are determined to be uncollectible. The following describes activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008:

55

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

Inventories
Inventories consist principally of raw materials and sub-assemblies stated at the lower of standard cost, which approximates actual costs (first-in, first-out method), or market. Market is defined as replacement cost, but not in excess of estimated net realizable value or less than estimated net realizable value less a normal margin. At the end of each reporting period, the Company compares its inventory on hand to its forecasted requirements for the next nine month period and the Company writes-off the cost of any inventory that is surplus, less any amounts that the Company believes it can recover from the disposal of goods that it specifically believes will be saleable past a nine month horizon. The Company's sales forecasts are based upon historical trends, communications from customers, and marketing data regarding market trends and dynamics. Changes in the amounts recorded for surplus or obsolete inventory are included in cost of revenue. Inventory components at year-end, net of write-downs, are presented in the following table:

Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method, over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from one to five years. Assets under capital leases are amortized in a manner consistent with the Company's normal depreciation policy for owned assets, or the remaining lease term if applicable.

Goodwill
Goodwill is tested for impairment annually at September 30th or more frequently when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the Company's single reporting unit more likely than not exceeds its fair value. Accordingly, the Company also tested goodwill for impairment as of December 31, 2010. No impairment of goodwill was recorded in 2010.

Subsequent to the annual impairment test at September 30, 2009, indicators of impairment existed which resulted in the Company performing additional impairment testing with the assistance of a third party valuation specialist as of December 31, 2010. The Company used the two step test as required to assess goodwill for impairment. The first step of the goodwill impairment test consisted of comparing the carrying value of the reporting unit to its fair value. Management estimated the fair value of the Company using various methods and compared the fair value to the carrying amount (net book value) to ascertain if potential goodwill impairment existed. The Company utilized methods that focused on its ability to produce income ("Income Approach") and the estimated consideration it would receive if there were a sale of the Company ("Market Approach"). Key assumptions utilized in the determination of fair value in step one of the test included the following: the Company's market capitalization; market multiples of comparable companies within its industry; revenue and expense forecasts used in the evaluation were based on trends of historical performance and management's estimate of future performance; cash flows utilized in the discounted cash flow analysis were estimated using a weighted average cost of capital determined to be appropriate for the Company.

56

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

Based on the fair value estimated in step one, the Company determined a step one failure occurred which indicated a goodwill impairment may exist. The Company performed a step two analyses which included estimating the fair value of its assets and liabilities, including previously unrecognized intangible assets. The Income Approach was utilized to value the Company's identified intangible assets, including developed technology, trade name, patents, and internally developed software. As a result of a preliminary step two test, the estimated fair value of the Company's goodwill was $4,427,000 which exceeded the carrying value by $5,370,946. As a result, the Company recorded an estimated $5,370,946 goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2009. In the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company finalized the impairment analysis without adjustment to the estimated impairment recorded at December 31, 2009.

Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company invests its cash in demand and money market deposit accounts in banks. To the extent of the amounts recorded on the balance sheet, cash is concentrated at the Company's bank to the extent needed to comply with the minimum cash balance covenant of the bank line agreement. This exposure from an event of default by the bank is offset in part by amounts drawn against the bank line. To date, the Company has not experienced losses on these investments. The Company's trade accounts receivables are primarily with distributors and OEMs. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers' financial conditions but the Company generally requires no collateral. Reserves are maintained for potential credit losses, and such losses have been within management's expectations. At December 31, 2010, there were five customers with material amounts outstanding totaling 62% of the Company's accounts receivable balances. At December 31, 2009, there were two customers with material amounts outstanding totaling 31% of the Company's accounts receivable balances.

Concentration of Suppliers
Several of the Company's component parts are produced by a sole or limited number of suppliers. Shortages could occur in these essential materials due to an interruption of supply or increased demand in the industry, such as the Company experienced in the fourth quarter 2010 with the delays in availability of LCD touch screens used in the manufacture of the Company's mobile handheld computer. If the Company were unable to procure certain of such materials, it would be required to reduce its operations, which could have a material adverse effect upon its results. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, 32% and 33%, respectively, of the Company's accounts payable balances were concentrated in a single supplier. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, two suppliers accounted for 63% of the inventory purchases in each of these years.

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Income
Revenue on sales to customers other than distributors is recognized upon shipment provided that persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, title has transferred, collection of resulting receivables is reasonably assured, there are no customer acceptance requirements, and there are no remaining significant obligations. Revenue on sales to distributors where a right of return exists is recognized upon "sell-through," when products are shipped from the distributor to the distributor's customer. Revenue related to those products in our distribution channel at the end of each reporting period which has not sold-through is deferred. The amount of deferred revenue net of related cost of revenue is classified as deferred income on shipments to distributors on the Company's balance sheet. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, deferred income on shipments to distributors represented deferred revenues totaling $1,400,155 and $1,805,648, respectively, net of related costs of those revenues of $726,671 and $887,892, respectively.

57

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

The Company also earns revenue from its SocketCare Extended Warranty service program which offers extended warranty coverage of up to three years in duration on select products. Revenues from the SocketCare Extended Warranty service program are recognized ratably over the life of the extended warranty contract. The amount of unrecognized warranty service revenue is classified as deferred service revenue and presented on the Company's balance sheet in its short and long term components. The Company also earns revenue from services performed in connection with consulting arrangements. For those contracts that include contract milestones or acceptance criteria the Company recognizes revenue as such milestones are achieved or as such acceptance occurs. In some instances the acceptance criteria in the contract requires acceptance after all services are complete and all other elements have been delivered. Revenue recognition is deferred until those requirements are met. Revenues related to these services in the years presented were not material.

Research and Development
Research and development expenditures are charged to operations as incurred. The accounting for the costs of computer software to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed, requires the capitalization of certain software development costs subsequent to the establishment of technological feasibility. Based on the Company's product development process, technological feasibility is established upon the completion of a working model. Costs incurred by the Company between the completion of the working model and the point at which the product is ready for general release have been insignificant. Accordingly, the Company has charged all such costs to research and development expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.

Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are charged to sales and marketing as incurred. The Company incurred $188,600, $426,923, and $491,595, in advertising costs during 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.

Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.

Shipping and handling costs
Shipping and handling costs are included in the cost of sales in the statement of operations.

58

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

Net Loss Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share:

For the 2010, 2009, and 2008 periods presented, the diluted net loss per share is equivalent to the basic net loss per share because the Company experienced losses in these years and thus no potential common shares underlying stock options, warrants, or convertible preferred stock have been included in the net loss per share calculation. Options and warrants to purchase 1,829,375 and 1,298,501 shares of Common Stock in 2010 and 2009, respectively, and options to purchase 1,027,504 shares of Common Stock in 2008, have been omitted from the loss per share calculation as their effect is anti-dilutive.

Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation in the financial statements for all share-based awards to employees, including grants of employee stock options, based on their fair values. The Company uses a binomial lattice valuation model to estimate the fair value of stock option grants. The binomial lattice model incorporates calculations for expected volatility, risk-free interest rates, employee exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior, and these factors affect the estimate of the fair value of the Company's stock option grants.

In the year ended December 30, 2010, the Company granted stock options to purchase 858,950 shares of the Company's Common Stock at a weighted average per share fair value estimated at $1.92. A majority of the options granted resulted from an option exchange completed in the third quarter 2010. In June 2010 the Company offered to exchange certain outstanding stock options granted under the Company's equity incentive plans for new options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock under modified vesting terms. On July 1, 2010, the Company completed the exchange offer and cancelled stock options to purchase 703,550 shares and reissued new stock options to purchase an equivalent number of shares. The option exchange was treated as a modification for accounting purposes. The reissued stock options have an exercise price of $3.04 per share, a weighted average per share fair value estimated at $1.92, with a weighted average vesting period of 2.1 years. Incremental expense resulting from the modification was approximately $0.74 million. Total unrecognized compensation costs after completion of the exchange offer was approximately $1.6 million, which is being amortized over the weighted average remaining requisite period of 2.4 years. At December 31, 2010, options held by employees for 1,192,790 shares were outstanding, of which options for 413,847 shares were exercisable.

59

(Table of Contents)

SOCKET MOBILE, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

Weighted average assumptions for options issued and outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 are shown as follows: