According to a recent announcement, Sigfox, an IoT service provider and 0G network operator, and Alps Alpine, a manufacturer of electronic products, have signed a Global Alliance Partnership Agreement. The agreement is the first of its kind for Sigfox, allowing it to work closely with Alps Alpine to drive forward technical innovation and expand their combined reach.
Alps Alpine is a manufacturer of components including sensors, HMI (human-machine interfaces), switches and connectivity devices for the automotive, industrial and smartphone industries. The Alliance combines Sigfox’s 0G network, which is designed to use very little energy to connect billions of devices, with Alps Alpine’s mass production capabilities.
The Alliance reportedly will speed up the adoption of connected devices by:
- Providing Alps Alpine with early access to Sigfox’s R&D projects, allowing them to co-develop services in the future;
- Encouraging joint investment in innovation, including the development of small, low-cost devices and energy harvesting technologies;
- Developing a joint go-to-market strategy.
“We’re seeing a significant acceleration in demand for connected objects and industrial scale deployments of IoT solutions,” said Glen Robinson, Chief Business Development Officer at Sigfox. “Having a global, simple, low-cost, low-power connectivity solution is a critical success factor, and exactly the challenge that Sigfox is addressing right now. We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Alps Alpine, which is fast-tracking joint development and manufacturing of large volumes of high-quality connected objects. This partnership has unlocked innovation, scale, quality and cost potential that is enabling us to deliver digital and economic benefits for our clients that were once unattainable. By combining resources, we are realizing the future of a mass, mainstream IoT, while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
The two companies have already agreed on the common development of Sigfox’s Bubble Beacon/Tag for luggage and asset tracking. Bubbles are small devices that can be placed anywhere in a matter of seconds. These low-cost, low-energy Bubbles are designed to make it easy to accurately track the location of anything from luggage to pallets.
“Sigfox has already proven to be a trusted partner in delivering accurate, reliable solutions,” said Yasuo Sasao, CTO, Alps Alpine. “We welcome moving onto the next stage, working together to develop more professional, industrial solutions, bringing the value of the IoT to more markets. By combining our mass production and engineering capabilities with Sigfox’s low-powered network, there is no limit to what we can achieve together.”
Ken Briodagh is a storyteller, writer and editor with about two decades of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.Edited by
Ken Briodagh
