Sigfox has formed an alliance with global electronic components maker Alps Alpine to co-develop IoT sensor devices that will incorporate Sigfox capability for communications.
Alps Alpine claims to be one of foremost manufacturers of sensors, switches and connectivity devices to the automotive, industrial and smartphone industries and they two companies say their alliance will open up huge possibilities to roll out connected devices to the mass market.
According to their press release: “The alliance 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.”
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,” Sigfox says. “These low-cost, low-energy Bubbles make it easy to accurately track the location of anything from luggage to pallets.”
Earlier this year they launched a tracking system for Deutsche Post DHL Group that will see 250,000 roll cages — used for transporting parcels — fitted with smart trackers to provide accurate information about their location and movements.
Alps Alpine was formed in January 2019 by the merger of Alps Electric Co and Alpine Electronics. The new company, with more than 42,000 employees around the world. says it will create its own unique value for the automotive market, mobile devices and consumer electronics and for sectors such as energy, healthcare and industry.
