Mason

Mason is the fastest way to take smart devices from idea to end user. Whether building a single-use device from scratch or scaling a line of smart products, with Mason it’s 20x faster and 10x less costly to build, deploy and scale. Digital transformation is a modern requirement but operating a hardware-dependent initiative is hard – thousands of hours and millions of dollars are at stake.

The Mason Smart Device Platform is the only fully managed infrastructure for developing and delivering dedicated devices. It offers flexible usage-based pricing for fleets of devices and manages the underlying complexity of all associated backend services, making software delivery on a smart product line:whether it’s a tablet, wearable or new form factor:as simple as delivering software in the cloud. This frees innovators to focus on what matters: application development, feature specification and UX. Granular access to add, remove or lock down capabilities makes it possible for highly customized products to be built as envisioned.

Mason offloads hardware investment risks and logistics, including inventory procurement, warehousing and supply chain management. With options like zero-touch provisioning, devices can work perfectly out of the box without end user intervention. Remote fleet management, troubleshooting and automated software updates by Mason ensure security and positive end user experiences. Organizations of all sizes rely on Mason to bring innovations and hundreds of use cases to market without reinventing the wheel. Smarter from start to finish with Mason.™

AWARDS

* 2023: Best Places to Work & Best Startups to Work For, Built In Seattle

* 2022: Best Places to Work & Best Small Places to Work, Built In Seattle

* 2022: IoT Health & Wellness Innovation of the Year, IoT Breakthrough

* 2022: Bronze Stevie® Award - Emerging Technology, The 2022 American Business Awards®

* 2021: Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, Deloitte

* 2019: Tech Impact Awards, Mobile - Silver, Seattle Business magazine

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High-Level Overview

Mason is a technology company that provides the fastest and most efficient platform for taking smart devices from concept to end user. It offers a fully managed mobile infrastructure platform that enables companies to build, deploy, and scale smart hardware products—such as tablets, wearables, and other connected devices—20 times faster and 10 times less costly than traditional methods. Mason’s platform handles the entire lifecycle including device management, operating systems, international logistics, certifications, and network connectivity, allowing product leaders across industries like healthcare, logistics, and frontline safety to focus on application development and user experience rather than hardware complexities[1][2][3].

Origin Story

Founded in 2015 and based in Seattle, Mason was created by Jim Xiao, who brought experience from Microsoft, venture capital, and wireless industries. The idea emerged from the challenge of digital transformation in hardware-dependent initiatives, which traditionally require extensive time and capital investment. Mason’s founding vision was to democratize smart hardware creation, enabling innovators to build products as easily as software applications. Early traction came from its ability to offload hardware investment risks and logistics, providing zero-touch provisioning and remote fleet management, which helped organizations bring hundreds of use cases to market without reinventing the wheel[3].

Core Differentiators

• Fully Managed Infrastructure: Mason is the only platform offering end-to-end control over device management, operating systems, and global logistics, simplifying the entire smart device lifecycle[1][3].
• Speed and Cost Efficiency: Enables building and scaling smart devices 20x faster and 10x less costly than traditional approaches[3].
• Flexible Usage-Based Pricing: Supports fleets of devices with pricing models that scale with usage, reducing upfront costs[3].
• Custom OS and Device Catalog: Provides a curated catalog of purpose-built devices with customizable operating systems tailored to specific functionalities[1][5].
• Zero-Touch Provisioning and Remote Management: Devices work out of the box with minimal user intervention, and Mason handles automated updates, troubleshooting, and security remotely[3][4].
• Industry Versatility: Trusted across healthcare, logistics, retail, and frontline safety sectors, offering devices with features like GPS, biometric sensors, thermal imaging, and 5G connectivity[1][6].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Mason rides the wave of digital transformation and the growing demand for IoT and smart hardware solutions. The timing is critical as companies seek to innovate rapidly without the traditional hardware development bottlenecks. Market forces such as the proliferation of connected devices, the need for secure and scalable device management, and the complexity of global supply chains favor Mason’s integrated platform approach. By simplifying hardware deployment and management, Mason accelerates innovation cycles and lowers barriers for companies to enter or expand in the smart device market, influencing the broader ecosystem by enabling faster, more secure, and cost-effective hardware solutions[1][3][4].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Mason is positioned to capitalize on the increasing convergence of software and hardware innovation, especially as industries demand more specialized, connected devices. Trends such as edge computing, 5G expansion, and AI integration in hardware will likely shape Mason’s product evolution and market reach. Its influence may grow as it continues to reduce hardware development risks and operational complexity, potentially becoming a foundational platform for smart device creation across diverse sectors. Mason’s mission to make smart hardware development as accessible as software delivery suggests a future where innovation cycles are dramatically shortened, empowering more companies to bring smart devices to market quickly and securely[3][5].