This is an update to these previous blogs:
Sony is preparing for the Internet of Things (IoT) world via the acquisition of Altair Semiconductor (“Altair“) which is the leading provider of single-mode LTE (Long Term Evolution) solutions that play a pivotal role in realizing the vision of the Internet of Things (IoT).
- The purchase price is 212 million U.S. dollars (approximately 25 billion yen), and Sony expects to complete the acquisition in early February, 2016.
By offering LTE-only semiconductor solutions, unhampered by the high cost of 3G silicon, bill-of-materials and patent royalties, Altair has created disruption in the ecosystem, and enabled the deployment of millions of 4G-connected consumer devices at price points previously thought impossible.
As the IoT expands beyond consumer devices to include all types of connected “things,” from wearables to smart homes, cities, cars, utilities and more, Altair’s comprehensive portfolio of high performance, ultra-low-power silicon solutions enable these connections.
http://altair-semi.com/about/
The following video presents Company Overview:
Altair develops and sells products focused on LTE technology, and its modem chips stand out for their low power consumption, high performance and competitive cost.
The following video presents Altair Enables a Connected World:
- Learn about how Altair Semiconductor is enabling the proliferation of LTE connected devices.
With the acquisition of Altair, Sony aims to:
- expand Altair’s existing business;
- move forward with research on and development of new sensing technologies by combining Sony’s sensing technologies – such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and image sensors – with Altair’s high-performance, low power consumption and cost-competitive modem chip technology;
- develop a new breed of cellular-connected, sensing component devices;
- for wearable and IoT devices, deliver component devices that feature both sensing and communication capabilities; and
- deliver new LTE solutions that leverage the strengths of these component devices.
The following video presents Altair Broadband LTE:
NEWS RELEASE
January 26, 2016
Sony Acquires Altair Semiconductor, Israeli Innovator of LTE Modem Chip Technology
Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) is announcing that it has reached an agreement with Altair Semiconductor (“Altair”) and its major shareholders to acquire the company. The purchase price is 212 million U.S. dollars (approximately 25 billion yen), and Sony expects to complete the acquisition in early February, 2016.
Altair, an Israel-based company, owns modem chip technology and related software for LTE (Long Term Evolution), a 4G cellular standard for mobile devices. Altair develops and sells products focused on LTE technology, and its modem chips stand out for their low power consumption, high performance and competitive cost.
LTE is already widely used in data communication for mobile phones, and is also expected to play a pivotal role in the interconnection of the Internet of Things (“IoT”). Going forward, more and more “things” are expected to be equipped with cellular chipsets, realizing a connected environment in which “things” can reliably and securely access network services that leverage the power of cloud computing.
With the acquisition of Altair, Sony aims to not only expand Altair’s existing business, but also to move forward with research on and development of new sensing technologies. By combining Sony’s sensing technologies – such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and image sensors – with Altair’s high-performance, low power consumption and cost-competitive modem chip technology, and by further evolving both, Sony will strive to develop a new breed of cellular-connected, sensing component devices.
With the markets for wearable and IoT devices expected to continue to expand, Sony aims to deliver component devices that feature both sensing and communication capabilities, as well as new LTE solutions that leverage the strengths of these component devices.
No material impact is anticipated on Sony’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 as a result of this acquisition.
Overview of Altair Semiconductor
Headquarters: Hod Hasharon, Israel
CEO: Oded Melamed
Employees: Approximately 220
Subsidiaries: Based in the U.S., China, Taiwan
Primary area of business: Development and sale of LTE modem chips
The following video presents #CES2016: Altair talks Cat 1 chipsets for IoT applications:
In this clip, Altair Semiconductor Co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Eran Eshed discusses the company’s Cat 1 chipset, which is market by long battery life, in some cases more than 10 years. Eshed dives into the business case associated with large scale Internet of Things deployments.
