Symbol makes history.

As a testament to our commitment to innovation, Symbol holds more than 900 patents in all areas of mobile technology, including mobile computing, wireless infrastructure, radio frequency identification (RFID), mobility software, services and advanced data capture — making us a leader in our industry.

Symbol’s timeline

1975

Symbol Technologies is founded
First Symbolmaker generator film masters is produced

1978

LaserChek ^® 2711 bar code verifiers begin shipping

1980

Introduce the LS1000, the first handheld laser bar code scanner

1985

Introduce the industry's first solid state scanner, the LS 8000, marking a milestone in the miniaturization of scanning data capture technology.

1988

Introduce the LS2000, setting the standard for retail scanning

1989

Acquire MSI Data Corp.
Employ 1,800 Associates and generates revenue of 22,346,000.

1990

Introduce the LRT3800, the world's first scanner-integrated mobile computer to operate on SpectrumOne ^® , the first commercially available spread-spectrum wireless LAN.

1991

Introduce the PDF417 two-dimensional (2D) symbology

1992

Introduce the APS 3395, the first wearable, hands-free computer scanning system

1993

Introduce the Portable Shopping System™, the first system to enable shoppers to use a portable scanner for retail store purchases
Introduce the PDT3100, combining scanning, portable computing and RF technologies with adjustable scan head. Working in conjunction with SpectrumOne technology, it provides the first truly wireless solution.

1995

Introduce Spectrum24 ^® , the high-performance 2.4 GHz wireless network designed to comply with the IEEE 802.11 international standard for airwaves communications
Employ 3,000 associates and generate revenue of 55,163,000.

1996

Introduce the WSS1000, the first scanner on a ring, part of the next-generation wearable systems

1997

Introduce the first intranet pager, creating a new category of LAN appliances
Forge an exclusive relationship with 3Com to sell the Palm III with an integrated scan engine and ruggedized housing.

1998

Introduce the SE 9000, a miniaturized scan engine that is 1/5 the size of traditional engines. It becomes the scan engine for all Palm III devices.

1999

Introduce the CS2000 handheld scanner for electronic home shopping applications
Introduce NetVision Data Phone with Spectrum 24, the first wireless voice-over IP phone and data terminal with integrated bar code scanner and thin-client browser

2000

Awarded nation's highest honor for technology innovation: the National Medal of Technology
Introduce Spectrum24 ^® wireless LAN product line operating at 11 Mbps and 2.4 GHz frequency band
New line of Microsoft ^® Windows ^® - powered Pocket PCs is launched, combining wireless local area communications with 1D/2D scanning/data collection and processing capabilities
CSM 150 bar code scanning module is announced for Handspring™ Visor™
Standard & Poor's (S&P) includes Symbol in the S&P 500
Acquire Telxon Corp.
Symbol employs 6,000 associates and generates revenue of ,449,490,000.

2001

Introduce World's first Wi-Fi™ certified 802.11b Compact Flash™ wireless LAN adapter **
** Symbol Technologies, Inc. is an authorized licensee of the CompactFlash™ trademark.

2002

Introduce dual-mode wireless (WWAN/WLAN) client card, adding multiple wireless connectivity and mobility for the enterprise
Announce first IEEE 802.11a-enabled product — Wireless Switch System
Awarded patent enabling telephony in mobile devices over wireless local area networks (WLAN)
Acquire transaction systems company@pos

2003

Launch the MC9000-G ruggedized handheld computer
Introduce the PartnerSelect Channel Partner Program
Acquire retail software company ImageWare

2004

Launch the MC50 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) establishing a new category of mobile computers
Introduce the WS2000 Tri-band Wireless Switch
Acquire Matrics, a leader in EPC (electronic product code)-compliant Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems
Employ over 5,000 associates and generate revenue of .73 billion

2005

Symbol named Microsoft's Partner of the Year in the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) category.
Introduce the MC3000, MC9000-G with RFID multiprotocol reader mobile computer, WS5100 Wireless switch, Mobility Software MSP 2.0, Wireless Intrusion Protection System (IPS)