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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
______________
 
FORM 10-Q
______________
 
(Mark One)
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012
 
or
 
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from________ to ________
 
Commission File Number 0-53722
 
———————
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
———————

Delaware
 
04-2621506
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
207 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts
 
02111
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (617) 423-1072
 
_________________________________________________________________________
(Former Name, Former Address, Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  YES þ NO ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer  
o
Accelerated filer  
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller Reporting Company
þ
(do not check if a smaller reporting company)
     
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO þ
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value, as of June 30, 2012, was 6,973,704 shares.
 


 
 

 
 
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
INDEX
 
 
 
 
Page
 
Part I. - Financial Information
         
Item 1.    
Financial Statements
    3  
           
 
Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (Unaudited)
    3  
           
 
Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months and six months ended
        June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)
    4  
           
 
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)
    5  
           
 
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
    6  
           
Item 2.    
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
    10  
           
Item 3.    
Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
    16  
           
Item 4.    
Controls and Procedures
    16  
           
Part II. Other Information
           
Item 1A.  
Risk Factors
    17  
           
Item 6.    
Exhibits
    17  
           
Signatures     18  
         
Exhibit Index     19  
 
 
2

 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 
ASSETS
 
June 30,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
 
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
63,361
   
$
644,365
 
Marketable securities
   
83,200
     
82,280
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $818,303 at June 30, 2012 and $624,481 at December 31, 2011
   
1,896,871
     
1,399,046
 
Inventories
   
2,820,516
     
2,722,783
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
161,518
     
185,348
 
Total current assets
   
5,025,466
     
5,033,822
 
                 
Equipment, net
   
28,344
     
20,168
 
Total assets
 
$
5,053,810
   
$
5,053,990
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Bank debt
 
$
526,000
   
$
––
 
Accounts payable
   
868,202
     
1,058,942
 
Accrued expenses
   
330,430
     
373,394
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,724,632
     
1,432,336
 
                 
Total liabilities
   
 1,724,632
     
1,432,336
 
                 
Stockholders' equity
               
Common stock, $0.01 par value:
               
Authorized - 25,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 6,973,704 shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011
   
69,737
     
69,737
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
33,891,519
     
33,864,793
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(30,763,574
)
   
(30,438,446
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
131,496
     
125,570
 
Total stockholders' equity
   
3,329,178
     
3,621,654
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
5,053,810
   
$
5,053,990
 

See accompanying notes.
 
 
3

 
 
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
Condensed Statement of Operations and
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
                         
Net sales
 
$
3,831,222
   
$
3,165,890
   
$
7,808,722
   
$
5,974,152
 
Cost of goods sold
   
2,911,176
     
2,417,445
     
5,899,715
     
4,417,528
 
Gross profit
   
920,046
     
748,445
     
1,909,007
     
1,556,624
 
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Selling
   
500,837
     
582,157
     
1,027,023
     
1,119,076
 
General and administrative
   
299,095
     
290,175
     
613,747
     
607,073
 
Research and development
   
321,595
     
273,805
     
582,005
     
511,363
 
     
1,121,527
     
1,146,137
     
2,222,775
     
2,237,512
 
                                 
Operating profit (loss)
   
(201,481
)
   
(397,692
)
   
(313,768
)
   
(680,888
)
                                 
Other:
                               
Interest income
   
41
     
107
     
81
     
435
 
Other, net
   
(8,803
)
   
72,258
 
   
(9,584
)
   
70,688
 
Total other income (expense), net
   
(8,762
)
   
72,365
 
   
(9,503
)
   
71,123
 
                                 
Income (loss) before income taxes
   
(210,243
)
   
(325,327
)
   
(323,271
)
   
(609,765
)
                                 
Income taxes (benefit)
   
617
     
742
     
1,857
     
906
 
                                 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(210,860
)
 
$
(326,069
)
 
$
(325,128
)
 
$
(610,671
)
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
         Foreign currency translation adjustments
   
(1,540
)
   
(2,893
)
   
5,006
     
5,813
 
         Unrealized gain (loss) for the period
   
(7,200
)
   
(58,274
)
   
920
     
(135,632
)
                                 
         Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(219,600
)
 
$
(387,236
)
 
$
(319,202
)
 
$
(740,490
)
                                 
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(0.11
)
                                 
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares:
                               
Basic and diluted
   
6,973,704
     
5,450,622
     
6,973,704
     
5,450,622
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
4

 
 
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
2012
   
2011
 
Operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
 
$
(325,128
)
 
$
(610,671
)
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
6,245
     
15,743
 
Stock based compensation
   
26,726
     
54,763
 
(Reversal of) provision for accounts receivable allowances
   
193,821
     
(31,059
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
   
(689,031
   
(282,438
)
Inventories
   
(96,894
)
   
(239,243
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
24,311
     
(42,716
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
(232,755
)
   
1,037,074
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
   
(1,092,705
)
   
(98,547
)
                 
Investing activities:
               
                 
Proceeds from sale of Unity investment
   
––
     
16,144
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
   
(14,421
)
   
(2,749
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(14,421
)
   
13,395
 
                 
Financing activities:
               
     Proceeds from bank loan
   
526,000
     
––
 
                    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
526,000
     
––
 
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
   
122
     
(453
                 
Net change in cash
   
(581,004
)
   
(85,605
)
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
644,365
     
1,009,996
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
63,361
   
$
924,391
 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
                 
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
 
$
7,278
   
$
––
 
Income taxes
 
$
1,857
   
$
906
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
5

 
 
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
On January 28, 2009, Zoom Technologies, Inc. entered into a Share Exchange Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Tianjin Tong Guang Group Digital Communication Co., Ltd (“TCB Digital”), TCB Digital’s majority shareholder, Gold Lion Holding Limited (“Gold Lion”) and Lei Gu (“Gu”), a shareholder of Gold Lion. On May 12, 2009, the parties amended the Agreement to, among other actions, add Songtao Du (“Du”), a shareholder of Gold Lion, as a party to the Agreement. On September 22, 2009, pursuant to the Agreement, Zoom Technologies acquired all the outstanding shares of Gold Lion. In addition, as part of the transaction, Zoom Technologies spun off its then-current business, which consisted of its ownership of Zoom Telephonics, to its stockholders, by distributing and transferring its assets and liabilities to Zoom Telephonics and issuing a dividend of the Zoom Telephonics’ shares to its stockholders.  Upon completion of the spin-off, Zoom Telephonics became a separate publicly traded company.
 
As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” mean Zoom Telephonics, Inc. (unless the context indicates a different meaning).

The Company has had recurring net losses and continues to experience negative cash flows from operations. To conserve cash and manage liquidity, the Company has implemented cost cutting initiatives including the reduction of employee headcount and overhead costs.  Furthermore, management does not believe the Company has sufficient resources to fund its normal operations over the next 12 months unless sales or gross margin improves significantly or the Company raises capital. Additional financing may not be available on terms favorable to the Company, or at all.  If these funds are not available, the Company may not be able to execute its business plan or take advantage of business opportunities.  The ability of the Company to obtain such additional financing and to achieve its operating goals is uncertain.  In the event that the Company does not obtain additional capital or is not able to increase cash flow through the increase of sales, there is substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

The condensed financial statements of the Company presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2011 included in the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
The accompanying financial statements are unaudited. However, the condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments, normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation.
 
The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year. The Company has evaluated subsequent events from June 30, 2012 through the date of this filing and determined that there are no such events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 
6

 
 
 (2) Liquidity
 
Zoom’s cash balance on June 30, 2012 was $63 thousand, down $581 thousand from December 31, 2011. Zoom’s $0.5 million increase in accounts receivable and $0.3 million loss for the first half of 2012 decreased cash.  Zoom’s $0.5 million increase in bank debt increased cash allowing Zoom to significantly lower early-pay discounts and thereby reduce the cash associated with early payment of receivables.
 
On June 30, 2012 the Company had working capital of $3.3 million including $63 thousand in cash and cash equivalents.  On December 31, 2011 we had working capital of $3.6 million including $644 thousand in cash and cash equivalents. Our current ratio at June 30, 2012 was 2.9 compared to 3.5 at December 31, 2011. The primary reasons for the lower current ratio were Zoom’s loss of $0.3 million for the first half of 2012 and the increase in bank debt of $526 thousand which was primarily used to fund the $497 thousand increase in net accounts receivable in order for the Company to reduce the need for fast-pay discounts and give the Company more operating flexibility.
 
To conserve cash and manage our liquidity, we have implemented cost-cutting initiatives including the reduction of employee headcount and overhead costs. On June 30, 2012 we had a headcount of 32, including 30 employees and 2 contractors compared to 37 as of June 30, 2011. We plan to continue to assess our cost structure as it relates to our revenues and cash position, and we may make further reductions if the actions are deemed necessary.

The Company is continuing to develop new products and to take other measures to increase sales.  Increasing sales typically results in increased inventory and higher accounts receivable, both of which reduce cash.  Zoom has two significant accounts who buy from Zoom on a consignment basis.  Consigned inventory tends to result in slow payment to Zoom, since Zoom is only paid after the consigned inventory is sold by Zoom’s customer.

The Company has in the past increased its cash by offering fast-pay discounts to certain accounts.  In April 2012 we established an asset-based bank line of credit of up to $1 million to reduce the need for fast-pay discounts and to give Zoom more operating flexibility. The amount actually available under the line of credit is contingent on Zoom meeting certain financial metrics and covenants.

The Company has had recurring net losses and continues to experience negative cash flows from operations. To conserve cash and manage liquidity, the Company has implemented cost cutting initiatives.  However, management does not believe the Company has sufficient resources to fund its normal operations over the next 12 months unless sales or gross margin improves significantly or the Company raises capital. Additional financing may not be available on terms favorable to the Company, or at all.  If these funds are not available, the Company may not be able to execute its business plan or take advantage of business opportunities.  The ability of the Company to obtain such additional financing and to achieve its operating goals is uncertain.  In the event that the Company does not obtain additional capital or is not able to increase cash flow through the increase of sales, there is substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 
7

 
 
 (3) Inventories
 
Inventories consist of :
 
June 30,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
 
Raw materials
 
$
1,094,730
   
$
815,357
 
Work in process
   
97,289
     
25,641
 
Finished goods (including $649,000 and $822,000 held by customers at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)
   
1,628,497
     
1,881,785
 
Total inventories
 
$
2,820,516
   
$
2,722,783
 
 
(4) Contingencies
 
The Company is not currently party to any lawsuit, but lawsuits may occur in the ordinary course of business. The Company evaluates such lawsuits and proceedings on a case-by-case basis, and its policy is to vigorously contest any such claims that it believes are without merit.
 
(5) Segment and Geographic Information
 
The Company’s operations are classified as one reportable segment. The Company’s net sales by geographic region follow:
 
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2012
   
% of
Total
   
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2011
   
% of
Total
   
Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2012
   
% of
Total
   
Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2011
   
% of
Total
 
North America
  $ 3,413,951       89 %   $ 2,849,980       90 %   $ 7,097,682       91 %   $ 5,353,330       90 %
UK
    137,488       4 %     188,751       6 %     266,809       3 %     361,178       6 %
All Other
    279,783       7 %     127,159       4 %     444,231       6 %     259,644       4 %
Total
  $ 3,831,222       100 %   $ 3,165,890       100 %   $ 7,808,722       100 %   $ 5,974,152       100 %

 
8

 
 
(6) Customer Concentrations
 
The Company sells its products primarily through high-volume retailers and distributors, Internet service providers, value-added resellers, PC system integrators, and original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"). The Company supports its major accounts in their efforts to discern strategic directions in the market, to maintain appropriate inventory levels, and to offer a balanced selection of attractive products.
 
Relatively few customers have accounted for a substantial portion of the Company’s revenues.  In the second quarter of 2012, three customers accounted for 62% of the Company’s total net sales. In the second quarter of 2011, three customers accounted for 46% of the Company’s total net sales. In the first six months of 2012 the Company's net sales to its top three customers accounted for 66% of its total net sales. In the first six months of 2011 the Company’s net sales to its top three customers accounted for 51% of its total net sales.
 
The Company’s customers generally do not enter into long-term agreements obligating them to purchase products. The Company may not continue to receive significant revenues from any of these or from other large customers. A reduction or delay in orders from any of the Company’s significant customers, or a delay or default in payment by any significant customer could materially harm the Company’s business and prospects. Because of the Company’s significant customer concentration, its net sales and operating income (loss) could fluctuate significantly due to changes in political or economic conditions, or the loss, reduction of business, or less favorable terms for any of the Company's significant customers.

(7) Investments
 
During the quarter ended September 30, 2007 the Company purchased all the Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Shares) of Unity Business Networks, LLC (Unity) for cash of $1.2 million, including transaction costs. The Series A Shares were convertible at any time at the Company’s option into 15% of Unity’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis. In addition, the Company had an option to purchase all the outstanding common stock of Unity based on a specified multiple of Unity’s 2008 revenues, as defined.
 
On September 30, 2009 the Company received a cash payment of $766,950 in connection with Telesphere Networks’ purchase of the VoIP services business of Unity, including Zoom’s preferred stock investment described above. The transaction called for additional periodic payments totaling $43,050 over 24 months beginning in October 2009 and a final payment of $150,000 on September 30, 2011, or $960,000 in total. As of December 31, 2011, all payments had been received with regard to this transaction. 
 
(8) Valuation of Marketable Securities
 
In October 2010, Zoom Telephonics, Inc. entered into an agreement with Zoom Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZOOM) in which Zoom Telephonics transferred its rights to the zoom.com domain name and certain trademark rights in exchange for 80,000 shares of Zoom Technologies common stock. The Company did not sell any Zoom Technologies shares during Q2 2012.  The closing price of Zoom Technologies common stock increased from $1.03 on December 31, 2011 to $1.04 on June 30, 2012.
 
(9)  Bank Credit Line

On April 10, 2012 Zoom Telephonics, Inc. entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (the “Loan Agreement”). This Loan Agreement was filed with the SEC in an 8-K dated April 13, 2012. The Loan Agreement provides for up to $1 million of revolving credit, subject to a borrowing base formula and other terms and conditions as specified in the Loan Agreement.  The  Company’s most recent charge for the month of June was an annualized interest rate of 9%, but this may increase depending on Zoom’s balance sheet as specified in the Loan Agreement.  Our outstanding bank debt at June 30, 2012 was $526,000.  The Loan Agreement has a one year term which expires April 9, 2013. Borrowings are secured by all of Zoom’s assets including Zoom’s intellectual property. The Loan Agreement contains several covenants, including a requirement that Zoom maintain a tangible net worth of at least $3.0 million.
 
 
9

 
 
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the safe harbor statement and the risk factors contained in Item IA of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012 and in our other filings with the SEC. Readers should also be cautioned that results of any reported period are often not indicative of results for any future period.
 
Overview 
 
We derive our net sales primarily from sales of Internet-related communication products, principally fixed and mobile broadband modems and modem/routers, dial-up modems, WiFi® compatible and Bluetooth® wireless products, and other communication-related products.  We sell these products primarily to retailers, distributors, Internet Service Providers and Original Equipment Manufacturers. We sell our products through a direct sales force and through independent sales agents. Our employees are primarily located at our headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and in our sales office in the United Kingdom.  We are experienced in electronics hardware, firmware, and software design and test, regulatory approvals, product documentation, and packaging; and we use that experience in developing each product in-house or in partnership with suppliers who are typically based in Asia. Electronic assembly and testing of the Company’s products in accordance with our specifications is typically done in China or Taiwan.
 
For many years we performed most of the final assembly, test, packaging, warehousing and distribution at a production and warehouse facility on Summer Street in Boston, Massachusetts, which had also engaged in firmware programming for some products. On June 30, 2006 we announced our plans to move most of our Summer Street operations to a dedicated facility in Tijuana, Mexico commencing approximately September 1, 2006, and we have since implemented that plan. In August 2006 we signed a lease for a 35,575 square foot manufacturing and warehousing facility in Tijuana, Mexico with an initial lease term from October 2006 to May 2007, with five two-year options thereafter.  In February, 2007 we renegotiated the first renewal term and signed a one-year extension starting in May 2007, with five two-year options thereafter. We signed a one-year extension starting in May 2008.  In March 2009 we signed a one-year lease with one one-year option for a smaller facility for lower cost.  In March 2011 we signed a one-year lease extension starting May 1, 2011, with three one-year renewal options thereafter. In April 2012 we exercised the first lease renewal, so now two one-year renewal options remain.
 
Since 1983 our headquarters has been near South Station in downtown Boston. Zoom historically owned two adjacent buildings which connect on most floors, and which house our entire Boston staff. In December 2006 we sold our headquarters buildings to a third party, with a two-year lease-back of approximately 25,000 square feet of the 62,000 square foot facility. Our net sale proceeds were approximately $7.7 million of which approximately $3.6 million was repaid to our mortgage holder, eliminating the mortgage debt from our balance sheet. In January 1, 2009 we reduced our leased Boston space from 25,000 square feet to 14,400 square feet with an increase in rent per square foot, resulting in a savings in 2009 of $54,000.  In May 2010 we signed a second lease amendment extending the term of the lease to April 30, 2016 with a six month termination option starting December 1, 2011.  In December 2011 we signed a third lease amendment reducing our leased space by 3,800 square feet effective June 1, 2012, with an associated decrease in lease expense.
 
For many years we derived a majority of our net sales from the retail after-market sale of dial-up modems to customers seeking to add or upgrade a modem for their personal computers. In recent years the size of this market and our sales to this market have declined, as personal computer manufacturers have incorporated a modem as a built-in component in most consumer personal computers and as increasing numbers of consumers world-wide have switched to broadband Internet access. The consensus of communications industry analysts is that after-market sales of dial-up modems will probably continue to decline. There is also consensus among industry analysts that the installed base for broadband Internet connection devices, such as cable modems and DSL modems and mobile broadband modems, will grow rapidly during the decade. In response to increased and forecasted worldwide demand for faster connection speeds and increased modem functionality, we have invested and continue to invest resources to advance our product line of broadband modems, which consists of DSL modems and cable modems.
 
 
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We continually seek to improve our product designs and manufacturing approach in order to improve product performance and reduce our costs. We pursue a strategy of outsourcing rather than internally developing our product chipsets, which are application-specific integrated circuits that form the technology base for our modems and some other products. By outsourcing the chipset technology, we are able to concentrate our research and development resources on performance and system features, leverage the extensive research and development capabilities of our chipset suppliers, and reduce our development time and associated costs and risks. This approach has allowed us to quickly develop new products while maintaining a relatively low level of research and development expense as a percentage of net sales. Our approach to ZoomGuard is different and more engineering intensive though, since our ZoomGuard hardware designs employ a microprocessor that uses Zoom-developed firmware and that relies on Web-centric software for setup, monitoring, and control.
 
We also outsource aspects of our manufacturing to contract manufacturers and original design manufacturers as a means of reducing our costs of production, and to provide us with greater flexibility in our production capacity.
 
Generally our gross margin for a given product depends on a number of factors including the type of customer to whom we are selling. The gross margin for retailers tends to be higher than for some of our other customers; but the sales, support, returns, and overhead costs associated with retailers also tend to be higher. Zoom’s sales to certain countries are currently handled by a single master distributor for each country who handles the support and marketing costs within the country. Gross margin for sales to these master distributors tends to be low, since lower pricing to these distributors helps them to cover the support and marketing costs for their country.
 
Over the past several years our net sales declined primarily because our dial-up modem sales declined faster than growth in sales of our other products.  In recent quarters our sales have increased, but in most of those quarters we have continued to experience losses. In response to continued losses and in an effort to achieve profitability, we have cut costs by reducing staffing and some overhead costs. Our total headcount was reduced from 37 on June 30, 2011 to 32 on June 30, 2012.  As of July 24, 2012, Zoom had 30 employees and 2 contractors. Of the 32 included in our headcount on July 24, 2012, 8 were engaged in research and development and quality control, 5 were involved in manufacturing oversight, purchasing, assembly, packaging and shipping, 12 were engaged in sales, marketing and customer support, and the remaining 7 performed accounting, administrative, management information systems, and executive functions. Zoom has implemented cost cutting measures including reducing our headcount and reducing the number of days that certain employees work. As a result, Zoom currently has 27 full-time employees and 3 employees working less than 5 days per week. Our dedicated manufacturing personnel in Mexico are employees of our Mexican manufacturing service provider and not included in our headcount.
 
Zoom’s cash balance on June 30, 2012 was $63 thousand, down $581 thousand from December 31, 2011. Zoom’s $0.5 million increase in accounts receivable and $0.3 million loss for the first half of 2012 decreased cash.  Zoom’s $0.5 million increase in bank debt increased cash as Zoom moved to minimize fast-pay discounts and thereby increased the time to collect receivables.
 
On June 30, 2012 the Company had working capital of $3.3 million including $63 thousand in cash and cash equivalents.  On December 31, 2011 we had working capital of $3.6 million including $644 thousand in cash and cash equivalents. Our current ratio at June 30, 2012 was 2.9 compared to 3.5 at December 31, 2011. The primary reasons for the lower current ratio were Zoom’s loss of $0.3 million for the first half of 2012 and the increase in bank debt of $526 thousand which was primarily used to fund a $497 thousand increase in net accounts receivable.
 
 
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
Following is a discussion of what we view as our more significant accounting policies and estimates. As described below, management judgments and estimates must be made and used in connection with the preparation of our financial statements. We have identified areas where material differences could result in the amount and timing of our net sales, costs, and expenses for any period if we had made different judgments or used different estimates.
 
Revenue (Net Sales) Recognition. We primarily sell hardware products to our customers. The hardware products include dial-up modems, DSL modems, cable modems, voice over IP products, and wireless and wired networking equipment. We earn a small amount of royalty revenue that is included in our net sales, primarily from internet service providers. We generally do not sell software. We began selling services in 2004. We introduced our Global Village VoIP service in late 2004, but sales of those services to date have not been material.
 
We derive our net sales primarily from the sales of hardware products to four types of customers:
 
 
computer peripherals retailers,
 
 
computer product distributors,
 
 
Internet service providers, and
 
 
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
 
We recognize hardware net sales for our customers at the point when the customers take legal ownership of the delivered products. Legal ownership passes from Zoom to the customer based on the contractual FOB point specified in signed contracts and purchase orders, which are both used extensively. Many of our customer contracts or purchase orders specify FOB destination. We verify the delivery date on all significant FOB destination shipments made during the last 10 business days of each quarter.
 
Our net sales of hardware include reductions resulting from certain events which are characteristic of the sales of hardware to retailers of computer peripherals. These events are product returns, certain sales and marketing incentives, price protection refunds, and consumer mail-in and in-store rebates. Each of these is accounted for as a reduction of net sales based on detailed management estimates, which are reconciled to actual customer or end-consumer credits on a monthly or quarterly basis.
 
Product Returns. Products are returned by retail stores and distributors for inventory balancing, contractual stock rotation privileges, and warranty repair or replacements. We estimate the sales and cost value of expected future product returns of previously sold products. Our estimates for product returns are based on recent historical trends plus estimates for returns prompted by, among other things, announced stock rotations and announced customer store closings. Management reviews historical returns, current economic trends, and changes in customer demand and acceptance of our products when estimating sales return allowances. The estimate for future returns is recorded as a reserve against accounts receivable, a reduction in our net sales, and the corresponding change to inventory reserves and cost of sales. Product returns as a percentage of total shipments were 13.3% and 8.7% for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
 
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Price Protection Refunds. We have a policy of offering price protection to certain of our retailer and distributor customers for some or all of their inventory. Under the price protection policies, when we reduce our prices for a product, the customer receives a credit for the difference between the original purchase price and our reduced price for their unsold inventory of that product. Our estimates for price protection refunds are based on a detailed understanding and tracking by customer and by sales program. Estimated price protection refunds are recorded in the same period as the announcement of a pricing change. Information from customer inventory-on-hand reports or from direct communications with the customers is used to estimate the refund, which is recorded as a reduction of net sales and a reserve against accounts receivable. Reductions in our net sales due to price protection were negligible in the second quarter of 2012 and $40 thousand in the second quarter of 2011.
 
Sales and Marketing Incentives. Many of our retailer customers require sales and marketing support funding, usually set as a percentage of our sales in their stores. The incentives were reported as reductions in our net sales and were $65 thousand in the second quarter of 2012 and $69 thousand in the second quarter of 2011.
 
Consumer Mail-In and In-Store Rebates. Our estimates for consumer mail-in and in-store rebates are based on a detailed understanding and tracking by customer and sales program, supported by actual rebate claims processed by the rebate redemption centers plus an accrual for an estimated lag in processing at the redemption centers. The estimate for mail-in and in-store rebates is recorded as a reserve against accounts receivable and a reduction of net sales in the same period that the rebate obligation was triggered. Reductions in our net sales due to the consumer rebates were negligible in both the second quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2011.
 
To ensure that the sales, discounts, and marketing incentives are recorded in the proper period, we perform extensive tracking and documenting by customer, by period, and by type of marketing event. This tracking includes reconciliation to the accounts receivable records for deductions taken by our customers for these discounts and incentives.
 
Accounts Receivable Valuation. We establish accounts receivable valuation allowances equal to the above-discussed net sales adjustments for estimates of product returns, price protection refunds, consumer rebates, and general bad debt reserves. These allowances are reduced as actual credits are issued to the customer's accounts. Our bad-debt write-offs were negligible in both the second quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2011.
 
Inventory Valuation and Cost of Goods Sold. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market. We review inventories for obsolete slow moving products each quarter and make provisions based on our estimate of the probability that the material will not be consumed or that it will be sold below cost. Additional charges to inventory reserves related to obsolete and slow-moving products were negligible in both the second quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2011.
 
Valuation and Impairment of Deferred Tax Assets. As part of the process of preparing our financial statements we estimate our income tax expense and deferred income tax position. This process involves the estimation of our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our balance sheet. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. To the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Changes in the valuation allowance are reflected in the statement of operations.
 
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and any valuation allowances. We have recorded a 100% valuation allowance against our deferred income tax assets. It is management's estimate that, after considering all of the available objective evidence, historical and prospective, with greater weight given to historical evidence, it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized. If we establish a record of continuing profitability, at some point we will be required to reduce the valuation allowance and recognize an equal income tax benefit which will increase net income in that period(s).
 
As of December 31, 2011 the Company had federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $47,017,000 which are available to offset future taxable income. They are due to expire in varying amounts from 2018 to 2031. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had Massachusetts state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $15,797,000 which are available to offset future taxable income. They are due to expire in varying amounts from 2012 through 2032.
 
 
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Valuation of Investments. In October 2010, Zoom Telephonics, Inc. entered into an agreement with Zoom Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZOOM) in which Zoom Telephonics transferred its rights to the zoom.com domain name and certain trademark rights in exchange for 80,000 shares of Zoom Technologies common stock. The Company did not sell any Zoom Technologies shares during the first quarter of 2012.  The closing price of Zoom Technologies common stock increased from $1.03 on December 31, 2011 to $1.13 on March 30, 2012.
 
Results of Operations
 
Summary. Net sales were $3.8 million for our second quarter ended June 30, 2012 (“Q2 2012”), up 21.0% from $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2011 (“Q2 2011”). Zoom reported a net loss of $211 thousand or $0.03 per share for Q2 2012, compared to Zoom’s net loss of $326 thousand or $0.06 per share for Q2 2011. Net sales were $7.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, up 30.7% from $6.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. We had a net loss of $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to a net loss of $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  Loss per diluted share was $0.05 in the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $0.11 for the six months ended June 30, 2011.
 
Net Sales. Our total net sales for the second quarter of 2012 increased $0.7 million or 21.0% from the second quarter of 2011, primarily because increased cable modem and cable modem/router sales made up for continued sales declines of dial-up modems and lower sales of mobile broadband products.  The increase in cable modem sales was primarily due to an increase in sales of Zoom’s DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems in the United States.  Dial-up modem sales declined due to the trend toward broadband modems for Internet access.  Mobile broadband sales declined primarily due to weak sell-through at retailers.
 
Our total net sales for the first half of 2012 increased $1.8 million or 30.7% from the first half of 2011, primarily due to increased sales of cable modems and cable modem/routers offset by decreases in dial-up modems and mobile broadband products for the reasons discussed above.
 
Geographically, our North American sales continued their dominant share of our overall sales, going from 90% of our net sales in Q2 2011 to 89% in Q2 2012.  Our second largest market, the UK, experienced a decline from 6% of our net sales in Q2 2011 to 4% in Q2 2012.  International sales outside the UK grew from 4% of our net sales in Q2 2011 to 7% of our net sales in Q2 2012, primarily due to growth in Latin America.
 
In the quarter ended June 30, 2012 three customers accounted for 62% of total net sales. In the first six months of 2012 the Company's top three customers accounted for 66% of total net sales. Because of our significant customer concentration, our net sales and operating income have fluctuated and could in the future fluctuate significantly due to changes in political or economic conditions or the loss, reduction of business, or less favorable terms for any of our significant customers.
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit was $920 thousand or 24.0% of net sales in Q2 2012, up from $749 thousand or 23.6% of net sales in Q2 2011.  The increase in gross profit was primarily due to higher sales.
 
Gross profit was $1.91 million for the first 6 months of 2012, up $352 thousand from gross profit of $1.56 million for the first 6 months of 2011. Our gross margin for the first 6 months of 2012 was 24.4%, down slightly from our gross margin of 26.1% for the first 6 months of 2011, due primarily to a shift in sales mix toward lower-margin products.
 
Selling Expense. Selling expense was $501 thousand or 13.1% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012, down from $582 thousand or 18.4% of net sales in the second quarter of 2011.  The decrease was primarily due to lower freight costs and lower search-related advertising costs.
 
General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $299 thousand or 7.8% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012, up from $290 thousand or 9.2% of net sales in the second quarter of 2011. General and administrative expense was $614 thousand or 7.9% for the first half of 2012, up slightly from $607 thousand or 10.2 % for the first half of 2011.
 
 
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Research and Development Expense. Research and development expense was $322 thousand or 8.4% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012 and $274 thousand or 8.6% of net sales in the second quarter of 2011.  R&D expenses increased due primarily to higher costs for cable modem certification and new product engineering. Research and development expense was $582 thousand or 7.5% of net sales in the first half of 2012, up 13.8% from $511 thousand or 8.6% of net sales in the first half of 2011, also due to higher costs for cable modem certification and new product engineering.
 
Other Income (Expense). Other expense was $9 thousand in the second quarter of 2012 and other income was $72 thousand in the second quarter of 2011. Other expense in the second quarter of 2012 is primarily interest expense related to our bank credit line. The other income in the second quarter of 2011 was due to a one-time settlement on a Hayes AT&T receivable claim from several years ago.
 
Net Loss. The net loss was $211 thousand for the second quarter of 2012, compared to the net loss of $326 thousand for the second quarter of 2011.  The decrease in net loss was primarily due to increased sales in the second quarter of 2012.  The net loss was $325 thousand for the first half of 2012, compared to the net loss of $611 thousand for the first half of 2011.  The decrease in net loss was due to higher sales in the first half of 2012.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Zoom’s cash balance on June 30, 2012 was $63 thousand, down $581 thousand from December 31, 2011. Zoom’s $0.5 million increase in accounts receivable and $0.3 million loss for the first half of 2012 decreased cash.  Zoom’s $0.5 million increase in bank debt increased cash, allowing Zoom to significantly lower early-pay discounts and thereby reduce the cash associated with early payment of  receivables.
 
On June 30, 2012 the Company had working capital of $3.3 million including $63 thousand in cash and cash equivalents.  On December 31, 2011 we had working capital of $3.6 million including $644 thousand in cash and cash equivalents. Our current ratio at June 30, 2012 was 2.9 compared to 3.5 at December 31, 2011. The primary reasons for the lower current ratio were Zoom’s loss of $0.3 million for the first half of 2012 and the increase in bank debt of $526 thousand which was primarily used to fund a $497 thousand increase in net accounts receivable in order for the Company to reduce the need for fast-pay discounts and give the Company more operating flexibility.
 
To conserve cash and manage our liquidity, we have implemented cost-cutting initiatives including the reduction of employee headcount and overhead costs. On June 30, 2012 we had a headcount of 32, including 30 employees and 2 contractors compared to 37 as of June 30, 2011. We plan to continue to assess our cost structure as it relates to our revenues and cash position, and we may make further reductions if the actions are deemed necessary.

The Company is continuing to develop new products and to take other measures to increase sales.  Increasing sales typically results in increased inventory and higher accounts receivable, both of which reduce cash.  Zoom has two significant accounts who buy from Zoom on a consignment basis.  Consigned inventory tends to result in slow payment to Zoom, since Zoom is only paid after the consigned inventory is sold by Zoom’s customer.

The Company has in the past increased its cash by offering fast-pay discounts to certain accounts.  To reduce the need for fast-pay discounts and to give Zoom more operating flexibility, in April 2012 we established an asset-based bank line of credit of up to $1 million.  The amount actually available under the line of credit is contingent on Zoom meeting certain financial metrics and covenants.

The Company has had recurring net losses and continues to experience negative cash flows from operations. To conserve cash and manage liquidity, the Company has implemented cost cutting initiatives.  However, management does not believe the Company has sufficient resources to fund its normal operations over the next 12 months unless sales or gross margin improves significantly or the Company raises capital. Additional financing may not be available on terms favorable to the Company, or at all.  If these funds are not available, the Company may not be able to execute its business plan or take advantage of business opportunities.  The ability of the Company to obtain such additional financing and to achieve its operating goals is uncertain.  In the event that the Company does not obtain additional capital or is not able to increase cash flow through the increase of sales or gross margin, there is substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
 
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Commitments
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2012, there were no material changes to our capital commitments and contractual obligations from those disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 with the exception of the Loan Agreement signed April 10, 2012 as reported in Footnote 9.
 
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
Some of the statements contained in this report are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our or our industry's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding: Zoom's plans, expectations and intentions, including statements relating to Zoom's prospects and plans relating to sales of and markets for its products and Zoom's financial condition or results of operations.
 
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will, " "should," "could," "would," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "predicts," "potential" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this report to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any of our forward-looking statements are based. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences in our future financial results include those discussed in the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of Part II below as well as those discussed elsewhere in this report, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012 and in our other filings with the SEC.
 
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Not Required.
 
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer who is also our Acting Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as ours are designed to do, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
 
As of June 30, 2012 we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management including our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in enabling us to record, process, summarize and report information required to be included in our periodic SEC filings within the required time period.
 
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
 
This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our objectives, expectations and intentions. The cautionary statements made in this report are applicable to all forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this report. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the risk factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012, as well as those discussed in this report and in our other filings with the SEC.
 
We may require additional funding, which may be difficult to obtain on favorable terms, if at all.
 
Over the next twelve months we may require additional funding if, for instance, we experience losses. We currently have a bank line of credit of up to $1 million from which we can borrow, and this line is subject to covenants that must be met.  It is not certain whether all or part of this line of credit will be available to us in the future; and other sources of financing may not be available to us on a timely basis if at all, or on terms acceptable to us. If we fail to obtain acceptable additional financing when needed, we may not have sufficient resources to fund our normal operations and this would have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
Our auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
 
The audit report issued by our independent registered public accounting firm for our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 states that the auditing firm has substantial doubt in our ability to continue as a going concern due to the risk that we may not have sufficient cash and liquid assets at December 31, 2011 to cover our operating and capital requirements for the next twelve-month period; and if in that case sufficient cash cannot be obtained, we would have to substantially alter, or possibly even discontinue, operations.  The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
 
 Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
     
10.1
 
Loan and Security Agreement, dated April 10, 2012, between Zoom Telephonics, Inc. and Silicon Valley Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K dated April 13, 2012).
     
10.2
 
Intellectual Property Security Agreement, dated April 10, 2012, between Zoom Telephonics, Inc. and Silicon Valley Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K dated April 13, 2012).
     
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
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ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
(Registrant)
 
       
Date: August 14, 2012
By:
/s/ Frank B. Manning
 
   
Frank B. Manning, President, Chief Executive Officer
and Acting Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
     
10.1
 
Loan and Security Agreement, dated April 10, 2012, between Zoom Telephonics, Inc. and Silicon Valley Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K dated April 13, 2012).
     
10.2
 
Intellectual Property Security Agreement, dated April 10, 2012, between Zoom Telephonics, Inc. and Silicon Valley Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K dated April 13, 2012).
     
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
 
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
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