Item 1. Business
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
We are a leading provider
of intelligent wireless solutions including mobile hotspots, routers, trackers, and other devices. Our designs integrate innovative hardware
and software enabling machine-to-machine (M2M) applications and the Internet of Things (IoT). Our M2M and IoT solutions include embedded
modules, modems and gateways built to deliver reliable always-on connectivity supporting a broad spectrum of applications based on fifth
generation and fourth generation (5G/4G) wireless technology.
We have a majority ownership
position in Franklin Technology Inc. ("FTI"), a research and development company located in Seoul, South Korea. FTI primarily
provides design and development services to us for our wireless products.
Our products are generally
marketed and sold directly to wireless operators, and indirectly through strategic partners and distributors. Our global customer base
extends primarily from North America to the Caribbean and South America and Asia.
OUR STRUCTURE
We incorporated in 1982 in
California and reincorporated in Nevada on January 2, 2008. The reincorporation had no effect on the nature of our business or our management.
Our headquarters office is located in San Diego, California. The office is principally composed of marketing, sales, operations, finance
and administrative support. It is responsible for all customer-related activities, such as marketing communications, product planning,
product management and customer support, along with sales and business development activities on a worldwide basis.
The consolidated financial
statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary with a majority voting interest of 66.3% (33.7% is owned by non-controlling
interests) as of June 30, 2021 and 2020. For the year ended June 30, 2020, the increase in the majority voting interest in percentage
from 64.2% to 66.3% was due to the purchase by the Company of 43,333 shares of the subsidiary for $75,000 ($1.73 per share) from three
non-controlling shareholders. The purchase decreased the non-controlling interests’ ownership percentage from 35.8% to 33.7%.
In the preparation of consolidated financial statements of the Company, intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated and net
earnings are reduced by the portion of the net earnings of the subsidiary applicable to non-controlling interests.
Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting,” requires public companies to report financial and descriptive information about
their reportable operating segments. We identify our operating segments based on how our chief operating decision maker internally evaluates
separate financial information, business activities and management responsibility. We have one reportable segment, consisting
of the sale of wireless access products. We generate revenues from three geographic areas, consisting of North America, the Caribbean
and South America, and Asia. The following enterprise-wide disclosure is prepared on a basis consistent with the preparation of the consolidated
financial statements. The following table contains certain financial information by geographic area:
Fiscal Year Ended June 30,
Net sales:
2021
2020
North America
$ 183,771,146
$ 74,839,778
Caribbean and South America
17,500
–
Asia
326,699
232,520
Totals
$ 184,115,345
$ 75,072,298
Long-lived assets, net (property and equipment and intangible assets):
June 30, 2021
June 30, 2020
United States
$ 1,349,320
$ 1,302,353
Asia
49,040
43,688
Totals
$ 1,398,360
$ 1,346,041
1
OUR PRODUCTS
We are a global leader and
innovator in providing the latest mobile technologies to the mass market, which include 5G/4G Mobile Hotspots, 5G/4G Customer Premises
Equipment, and MDM solutions. We are a leading enabler of the Digital Divide initiative, and our expertise extends to innovation
in Internet of Things (IOT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications.
The following is a sample of the products we offer:
5G/4G Wireless Broadband Products
5G/4G LTE Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot
o
Portable Wi-Fi hotspot routers that provide wireless Internet access with 5G/4G
support for multiple simultaneously connected devices including laptops, tablets, and smart phones. Our Mobile Hotspot products help remote
workers be productive while on the go and help students and educational institutions support remote learning activities.
5G/4G Consumer Home Gateway CPE (Customer-Premises
Equipment)
o
Enhanced routing gateway that can provide support for both wired and wireless
connectivity, offering solutions for consumers looking to replace Cable or DSL service
5G/4G Enterprise Gateway CPE
o
Enhanced routing gateway equipped with enterprise features offering solutions
for enterprise customers looking to replace wired service, or wireless back-up for wired connections in a mission-critical environment
or instant wireless connection in temporal locations.
IoT Tracking Devices and Connected Devices:
Smart IoT tracking device
o
Location service devices based on CAT1 and CAT M technology, allowing consumers
and businesses to track virtually any tangible item, anytime and anywhere.
Connected Car
o
An all-in-one connected car solution that provides easy access to built-in Wi-Fi
Hotspot and extensive added vehicle diagnostics, safety, and security features, as well as location service via OBDII protocol with other
applications.
Home Phone Connect
o
Franklin’s Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) device provides a landline alternative,
connecting instantly and allowing users local and domestic long distance calling through the carrier’s network.
IOT Server Platform and Application
o
“Pintrac,” Franklin’s Cloud based telecom grade server platform,
enables enhanced remote management of device functionality.
o
Pintrac Mobile Device Management (MDM) for LTE hotspots allows schools, government agencies and others to
remotely manage and configure hotspots.
o
Pintrac Pet is a complete pet tracking application, allowing monitoring and tracking household pets and
their activity using Franklin’s Trackers.
o
Pintrac Auto tracks, locates, and manages vehicles for consumers and businesses
using Franklin’s LTE OBD devices.
2
CUSTOMERS
Our global customer base is
comprised of wireless operators, strategic partners and distributors located primarily in North America, the Caribbean and South America,
and Asia.
SALES AND MARKETING
We market and sell our products
primarily to wireless operators located in North America, the Caribbean and South America, and Asia regions mainly through our internal,
direct sales organization and, to a lesser degree, indirectly through strategic partners and distributors. The sales process is supported
with a range of marketing activities, including trade shows, product marketing and public relations.
All of our wireless devices
must pass Federal Communications Commission (FCC) testing in order to be sold in United States markets. Global Certification Forum (“GCF”)
test certifications are required in order to launch any wireless data products with wireless operators in North America. PCS Type Certification
Review Board (“PTCRB”) test certifications also are required for all LTE and HSPA/GSM wireless data products. Other LTE and
5G test certifications, as defined by the 3GPP governing body, are required for LTE and 5G wireless data products. Certifications are
issued as being a qualifier of GCF, PTCRB, IEEE, CE, UL, Wi-Fi alliance certification and 3GPP standards.
PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
For the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2021, the manufacturing of the majority of our products was performed by two independent companies located in Asia.
EMPLOYEES
As of June 30, 2021, we had
74 total employees at Franklin and FTI combined. We also use the services of consultants and contract workers from time to time. Our employees
are not represented by any collective bargaining organization, and we have never experienced a work stoppage.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.