Socket Partners with SPANworks for Mobile Team Software Based on Bluetooth

Software for Windows-based Pocket PCs will help developers build wireless MultiPeer applications

Newark, CA, March 28, 2001 - Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT; PSE: SOK) and SPANworks, Inc., a privately held company, today announced an agreement to create a software developers kit (SDK) that will support the development of Team Computing applications that utilize Socket's Bluetooth wireless technology on Windows Powered Pocket PCs.

The SPANworks® II Bluetooth SDK for Pocket PCs, expected to be available in Q3 2001, will give developers access to the SPANworks MultiPeer connectivity engine so they can build business applications that take advantage of the on-the-fly wireless networking capability of Socket's Bluetooth plug-in cards for Pocket PCs. The SDK will help developers build team applications such as group-wide notes and chat, interactive presentations with real-time annotations, consensus-based decision making, and other "conversational" solutions that emphasize face-to-face productivity among spontaneous groupings of mobile workers.

“SPANworks has taken the lead in developing a new class of software engine that enables developers to harness the enormous potential of the Pocket PC and Bluetoooth wireless technology,” said Kevin Mills, president and chief executive officer of Socket Communications. “The conversational connectivity technology from SPANworks will make the Bluetooth SDK for Pocket PCs a powerful tool for creating mobile applications that promote and facilitate multiuser collaboration.”

“We are excited to be working with Socket to bring our unique, industry-leading development solution to the Pocket PC market,” said Frank N. Capone, president of SPANworks. “Socket's experience with Windows-based Pocket PCs and Bluetooth wireless technology makes them an ideal partner for leveraging the power of the new generation of mobile computers and wireless communications.”

SPANworks, Inc., based in San Ramon, California, is a software marketing and development joint venture company with Toshiba Corporation. SPANworks' solutions are founded upon a patented software technology licensed from Toshiba. The SPANworks 2000 software suite for Windows is marketed by SPANworks and distributed with Toshiba's wireless product lines. SPANworks' "conversational connection" enables multiple wireless notebook users to instantly communicate in any proximity group setting, supporting a variety of MultiPeer "team computing" applications. The next generation of software applications from SPANworks, Inc., based on the SPANworks II SDK, will be available in Q4 of 2001. For more information about SPANworks' products, visit http://www.spanworks.com.

Socket Communications, Inc. develops and sells connection products for handheld computers and other devices. Socket's products include the Battery Friendly® family of plug-in cards for enhancing mobile computers by adding wireless Internet connectivity, local area networking, bar code scanning, and data communication. Socket's products incorporate the company's energy-efficient chip technology, making them ideal for battery-operated mobile computers. Socket is an Associate Member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and is developing products that will add Bluetooth wireless technology to handheld computers, notebooks and other electronic appliances. For information about Socket's complete range of products, visit http://www.socketcom.com/prodinfo.htm.

Socket and Battery Friendly are registered trademarks of Socket Communications, Inc. SPANworks is a registered trademark of SPANworks, Inc.
ImmediaNet, MultiPeer, SPAN, and Team Computing are trademarks of SPANworks, Inc. BLUETOOTH is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used under license to Socket Communications, Inc. and SPANworks, Inc. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. © 2001, Socket Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.