Renesas To Acquire Sequans for $249 Million
Paris-based IoT company has championed asset tracking
Japan-based Renesas Electronics has agreed to acquire IoT company Sequans SQNS 0.00%↑ for $249 million. The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2024, allows Renesas to integrate Sequans’ cellular connectivity products into its core product lineup of microcontrollers and microprocessors, the company said.
“We have been working closely with Renesas to serve the growing market demand for massive IoT and broadband IoT customers,” said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO and chairman, in a statement.
Renesas, which has worked with Sequans since 2020, said the market for cellular IoT technology is growing rapidly, mainly fueled by demand for smart meters, asset tracking systems, smart homes, smart cities, connected vehicles, fixed wireless access networks and mobile computing devices.
For its part, Paris-based Sequans has championed IoT tracking with cellular and low-power GNSS, particularly to mitigate loss from theft. The company marketed its IoT trackers for such applications as luggage, wallets, bikes, motorcycles, automobiles, industrial pallets, fleets, farm animals and shipping containers, to name a few.
Sequans’ Monarch 2 GM02SP cellular IoT is an example of its tracking technology. It combined LTE-M/NB-IoT technology with Nestwave’s (now part of NextNav NN 0.00%↑) GNSS positioning.
Renesas has been expanding its connectivity product offerings through strategic acquisitions that include Dialog, Celeno and Panthronics. Sequans, founded in 2003 as a WiMAX chip company, almost went under when HTC stopped ordering its radio chips in 2011.
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INRIX Secures $70 Million Financing
Connected vehicle and traffic intelligence company INRIX has secured a $70 million financing round from funds managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The funding will be used to grow the company and refinance debt, INRIX said.
The Kirkland, Wash.-based company, founded in 2004 and led by CEO Bryan Mistele, evolved from a spinoff of Microsoft MSFT 0.00%↑ that sold traffic data. Currently, the company offers software-as-a-service products.
Recently, the company partnered with General Motors GM 0.00%↑ on its Future Roads safety initiative. The first product was a cloud-based data insights tool that the auto giant co-developed with INRIX. The product provides car data insights, including INRIX’s mobility data.
The company also is working with such government entities as the city of Redmond, Wash., to help it assess future spending on traffic safety. The project with Redmond is also part of GM Future Roads.
Contact: Mark Burfeind, INRIX, (425) 284-3825, mark.burfeind@inrix.com, www.inrix.com.
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Digital Matter Offers Worldwide Asset Tracking With New GPS Devices
Digital Matter has announced the expansion of its battery-powered IoT asset tracking portfolio with the addition of 4G Cat 1bis and 2G connectivity to enable worldwide asset visibility.
The Oyster3 and Remora3 Global GPS devices feature ‘deploy once’ battery life and enable asset tracking and management across most of the world’s cellular networks.
“Many of our partners require a truly global connectivity solution. In regions where LTE-M and NB-IoT are not available, 4G Cat 1bis with 2G Fallback has proven an excellent solution to enable asset visibility anywhere in the world with a cell network,” says Ken Everett, Digital Matter CEO and founder.
The company’s Global product range also presents a tracking solution for regions such as Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia—particularly as 2G and 3G network sunsets continue.
“We’re seeing a growing reluctance to deploy 2G-only products as the lifespan of these networks is limited, but in many countries 2G still offers the best coverage. With our new Global range, partners can deploy today on 2G and migrate to 4G Cat 1bis when they are ready,” Everett said.
In addition to GPS, the Remora3 Global features Bluetooth to communicate with nearby Bluetooth tags, sensors and beacons. This enables flexible tagged asset and condition monitoring, including temperature, humidity, impact detection and more, the company said.
Through the deployment of GPS asset tracking in global supply chains, businesses can optimize routes, reduce idle times, and enhance asset recovery security. Additionally, IoT asset tracking technologies enable predictive maintenance, ensure compliance, and support data-driven decision-making, ultimately fostering increased efficiency and sustainability in the global marketplace, the company said.
Featuring a broad range of over-the-air configurable parameters for scalable device management, Digital Matter's asset tracking solutions are simple to integrate and ready for use on any existing platform, the company said.
For more information about the Oyster3 Global, Remora3 Global, and Digital Matter's comprehensive range of battery-powered asset tracking devices, visit www.digitalmatter.com.
Contact: Shay Kettner, Digital Matter, shay@digitalmatter.com, www.digitalmatter.com.
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Driver Technologies Partners With Métrica Móvil, Establishes Footprint in Latin America
Driver Technologies and Métrica Móvil have partnered to offer Driver Enterprise Solutions, which will provide telematics, safety alerts and dash cam video to fleets in Latin America. Mexico-based Métrica Móvil, which digitizes fleets, will offer the products to its customers across Latin America.
“Our partnership with Métrica Móvil represents our first expansion into Latin America,” said Rashid Galadanci, Driver Technologies’ CEO and co-founder.
Through the Driver Enterprise Solution, Driver Technologies partners with fleet management companies worldwide, such as Fleetr and Geotab, to offer a product to small fleet operators and drivers that includes location and trip data, safety alerts and dash cam video.
The Latin American fleet market, coveted by Geotab and others, is expected to grow with a steady CAGR of 7.9 percent in the next few years, according to Report Ocean.
“As the demand for public transportation and economic development increases, so will the use of wireless technology. Due to reduced manufacturing costs, US-based corporations are instituting production facilities in Mexico, which will push the fleet management industry to grow in Latin America,” said Marcus Newbury, Driver Technologies’ COO and co-founder. “Our app currently has users in over 180 countries, but through our partnership with Métrica Móvil, we look forward to expanding our saturation in Mexico.”
Newbury believes his company’s video telematics and safety alerts products are complimentary to Geotab. “We went as far as integrating the two products, so the end user can see the data we collect within the My Geotab portal. That being said, we have also seen an uptick in interest in fleets using the Driver app instead of Geotab for their non-connected vehicles, as the price per month is so competitive and doesn’t require any new hardware,” he said. “These tend to be smaller fleets that do not require an ELD/ROD.”
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Other Location News:
News tip? Send them to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
Top News:
🛰 Russia Launches First GLONASS-K2 Satellite. A Soyuz-2 rocket launched the first GLONASS-K2 spacecraft on Aug. 7.
☹ Long-Overdue GPS Ground Stations Delayed by Pandemic, Chinese Hardware. “The Space Force now says OCX will start operating in 2024.”
🎵 GPS Giant Garmin Acquires JL Audio Brand.
😮 This California Agency Wants To Know What Happens to All That Connected Car Data. “The California Privacy Protection Agency announced plans to review the data privacy practices of automakers that make and sell connected vehicles embedded with all kinds of data-mining features, from cameras and location sharing to web-based entertainment and smartphone integration.”
💰 Bosch, Infineon, Nordic, NXP, Qualcomm Drive Open-Source RISC-V Hardware. “The initial focus will be on the automotive sector, but this will expand to include mobile and IoT, they said.”
😒 Bay Area Tech Firm inDrive, a Choose-Your-Fare Uber Competitor, Lays off Hundreds. They put out a press release last week saying they are expanding…and now this?
Maps:
🙂 A Decade After a Disastrous Launch, Is Apple Maps Finally Good? “[Apple] has spent an inordinate amount of money and time improving maps.”
👍 Waze Gets a New Update on iPhone and CarPlay, There's a Good Reason To Download It. “Despite all Apple Maps improvements released lately, Waze continues to be one of the top navigation apps on iPhone and CarPlay.”
😯 BMW Owners Ditch Waze, Move to Google Maps Due to Android Auto Error. Many BMW owners found out lately the hard way that using Waze directions on the head-up display is impossible due to what looks like a bug on Android Auto. Instead of turn-by-turn information, Waze only shows a "calculating route" message on the display.
🤷♂️ Waze Won't Get an Essential Feature, Maybe You Should Switch to Google Maps or Apple Maps. So the same author from both stories above is now saying to switch from Waze?
🌎 Array Labs Is Scanning Earth From Space To Equip Autonomous Vehicles With 3D Maps. “According to the company, the 3D data will be of such high resolution to be used by driverless vehicle fleets, AR headsets, insurance analytics, and in national security applications.”
🗺 As It Battles Google Maps, MapmyIndia Banks on Patience and Expertise. “MappIs, developed by Indian navigation company MapmyIndia, is topping download charts on application stores. The Google Play Store downloads counter for Mappls ticked past 5 million.
📱 This Google Maps Feature Is Coming to Apple Maps This Fall. “The iOS 17 update will let you use the Apple Maps app offline, as long as you have a compatible iPhone. This much-anticipated feature has been available on Google Maps for years and will finally be available for iPhone users later this year.”
🤔 Google Maps Has Become an Eyesore. 5 Examples of How the App Has Lost Its Way. “Enough with the hotel pins, already.”
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
🚗 Toyota Forms Joint Venture With Pony.ai To Mass Produce Robotaxis In China. Toyota Motor China Investment, GAC Toyota Motor Co. and Pony.ai have announced they will form a joint venture with the purpose of mass producing Level 4-capable autonomous taxis and deploying these robotaxis at a large scale
🚘 Waymo Says Austin, Texas, Will Be Its Next Robotaxi City. “Waymo said that it will kick off the process for a commercial robotaxi service in the city later this year.”
🤞 Michigan Hands-Free Law Prevented 650 Crashes & Two Deaths, Cell Phone Data Shows. “The analysis shows that Michigan drivers spent an average of 1 minute and 47 seconds per hour on the road handling their phones in June, according to Cambridge Mobile Telematics.”
🚕 Cruise Autonomous Taxis Are Coming to Los Angeles. Everywhere Could Be Next. “In L.A., Cruise will begin testing soon and then expand to self-driving ride-hailing. It will be the company’s eighth city of operation, up from one at the start of this year.” And…Cruise Begins Testing Self-Driving Vehicles in Atlanta.
🚙 Sibros Accelerates Software-Defined Vehicle Innovation with iWave Telematics Solutions. “Through the collaboration, Sibros’ over-the-air (OTA) platform will be built into iWave’s Rugged Telematics Device.”
Drones:
🛩 Five Eyes Government Funds DroneShield To Develop GNSS Denial. An undisclosed Five Eyes government (FVEY, referring to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US) has requested that the C-UAS business develop its latest area-specific GNSS denial capability further in a funded research and development (R&D) project.
⚡ Air Force Flight Tests AI Agents With Valkyrie Drone. “The autonomous systems are expected to serve as robotic wingmen for Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jets and other manned aircraft and conduct other missions on their own.”
Financials:
✔ Second Quarter Losses Shrink at Pittsburgh-Based Aurora Innovation. “Self-driving vehicle startup Aurora Innovation AUR 0.00%↑ pumped the brakes on spending during the second quarter, shrinking operating losses by 82% while adding $33 million to the amount raised in a July stock offering.”
📊 Apple-Backed Globalstar's Profits Leap Underlines IoT Chance. “Apple AAPL 0.00%↑ is helping Globalstar fund 17 satellites to replenish its low-Earth orbit fleet, in return for using 85 percent of their capacity for its unexpected emergency messaging requires.”
😐 MiX Telematics: Insider Sell-Off Raises Investor Speculation on Future Prospects. “The recent insider selling activity involving major shareholder Robin Frew has ignited considerable speculation within the investment community regarding MiX Telematics’ current standing and future trajectory.”
📌 A Look Back at Comtech’s First-Ever Investor Day. “For any mobile network operator using network-based location services, Comtech CMTL 0.00%↑ has over 60 percent of the 5G market in North America,” said Tim Jenkins, president of Comtech’s Terrestrial and Wireless Business.
📈 Reporting a Soft Q3, Qualcomm Focuses on AI Opportunity. “Qualcomm QCOM 0.00%↑ down double digits in handsets and IoT; automotive remains a growth driver.”
😕 Ericsson Sued for Withholding Iraq Report. Ericsson ERIC 0.00%↑ shareholders sued the vendor seeking $175 million to $300 million in damages over an investigation into its business practices in Iraq, claiming certain actions taken by the company depressed its share price.
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Location Industry Briefs
Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
Econolite Acquires Western Pacific Signal
Econolite last week acquired its distribution partner, Western Pacific Signal, which integrates and provides intelligent transportation systems, including connected vehicle systems. Financial details were not disclosed. Econolite says the deal will expand the company’s ITS solutions while gaining experienced technical sales and field support technicians. Last year, Econolite and Germany’s PTV Group were merged under the brand Umovity. For more information, visit
Contact: Dana McCombs, Econolite, dmccombs@econolite.com, www.econolite.com.
EMERES Partners With NextNav
EMERES has partnered with NextNav NN 0.00%↑ to offer z-axis location, 3D visualization and integrations to First Responders. EMERES’ Cirrus Public Safety Platform features computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and NG9-1-1 capabilities. Off-the-shelf connection interfaces to NextNav’s services will be available in the new PSAPP Market, a collection of applications and interfaces for Cirrus platform customers, the company said.
Contact: Jarret Winkelman, EMERES, Jarret.Winkelman@emeres.com, www.emeres.com.
C.J. Driscoll & Associates Releases Survey of U.S. Fleet Operator Interest
C.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a multi-client marketing research study covering the market for managing fleet vehicles, drivers, and mobile workers. The 2023-24 Survey of Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services assesses the current market penetration of GPS fleet management systems, video-based driver behavior management systems, and GPS-equipped handset/portable solutions for managing mobile workers. The study also details the principal motivations of fleet operators for deploying MRM solutions and the operational and financial benefits derived from these systems.
Contact: Clem Driscoll, C.J. Driscoll & Associates, (310) 717-7961, clemdriscoll@cjdriscoll.com, www.cjdriscoll.com.
Trimble Announces Flexible API for Ag Cloud
Trimble $TRMB has announced the release of its flexible API for the Trimble Agriculture Cloud, which streamlines farming operations, the company said. The API couples in-field devices and operational workflows for enabling compatibility with both Trimble and third-party agriculture applications, the company said.
API capabilities include farm setup, task records and recommendations, materials, vehicle setup, work orders, harvest and crop zones activities, the company said. The API enables integrators to create value for farmers and their partners, including consultants, agronomists, custom applicators and others, the company said.
Contact: Trimble, www.agriculture.trimble.com.
Halo Uses Oracle NetSuite To Scale Operations
Halo, a GPS wireless dog fence that is used by more than 150,000 dogs, will use Oracle NetSuite to enhance and scale its operations as it expands globally. Launched in 2019, Halo uses GPS tracking and activity monitoring so that pet owners can establish virtual boundaries in the app. By automating its procurement, inventory, and subscription management functions, NetSuite will help Halo increase recurring, predictable revenue generators and improve its gross margin, the company said.
Contact: Halo, www.halocollar.com.
Trackem GPS Introduces Driver App
Trackem GPS has launched the Trackem Driver allows fleet managers to connect with their drivers, gaining insights and enhancing communication within the organization. The app allows drivers to easily assign themselves to vehicles they are using, providing managers with real-time information on the driver and vehicle usage, the company said.
Other features include driver ID, vehicle assignment, in-app messaging, driver clock and driver reports. Trackem says it is constantly updating and improving its GPS software platforms.
Contact: Shaun Gratrix, Solutions Into Motion, (866) 868-7225, info@trackem.com, www.trackem.com.
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Airgain Expands Line of 5G Antennas
Airgain AIRG 0.00%↑ has launched the RECON13 antenna, which expands its line of outdoor 5G antennas designed for fleet and public safety vehicles and assets. The RECON13 5G antenna features a 13-in-1 configuration that supports as many as four LTE/5G cellular elements. The company also rolled out its ULTRAMAX Glass 5G antenna for fleet and public safety vehicles. As an option, both antennas have a GNSS element for GPS location services.
Contact: Marco Ceglie, Airgain, (602) 245 6212, mcegliex@airgain.com.
Kansas 911 Awards RapidDeploy Multi-Year Statewide Contract
RapidDeploy has announced that Lightning, a new mobile app, will be used by Kansas 911 to provide more than 100 call centers and 24,000 first responders with call data and information. The Lightning application is powered by RapidDeploy's primary call-taking map, Radius Mapping. Lightning, which was unveiled at APCO in Nashville this week, features responder location sharing, including Z-axis, providing a view of critical incidents and tracking of first responders. The app supports iOS and Android platforms.
Contact: RapidDeploy, www.rapiddeploy.com.
Sabanto Steward Brings Autonomous Operations to Existing Tractors
Sabanto has announced that its Steward Vehicle Mission Control unit allows users to create, manage, and monitor field operations in real time. The on-board Vehicle Path Finding Module connects to a tractor's steering, power, and hydraulic systems, and works together with the Vehicle Operating System.
Cellular connectivity, GNSS receivers, lidar sensors, and intelligent video cameras can connect with Steward's vPFM, sending and receiving navigational, performance and video data so users can monitor their field operations in real time, the company said.
Contact: Sabanto, https://sabantoag.com.
MARK43 Announces Partnership With Rapidsos
Mark43 has partnered with RapidSOS to provide 911 call centers location information for first responders. The partnership allows Mark43 to share data from the RapidSOS Platform, to include location, health and medical information. RapidSOS technology provides public safety telecommunicators with device-specific location information by accessing the GPS information inside a specific mobile device, the company said.
Contact: Maddie Coe, for RapidSOS, PrforMark43@bospar.com, www.rapidsos.com.
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Digital Matter named Tim Newberg as CEO, North America.
Zonar has appointed Michael Gould as president and CEO. Gould comes to this new role after nearly five years as the company’s COO.
Chris Wheeler, segment manager for new markets at Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division, died on July 19. Wheeler previously worked at Trimble TRMB 0.00%↑.
UAS manufacturer DZYNE Technologies has named Christopher Miller as interim chief revenue officer. Miller, a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer, was the director of the National Counterterrorism Center and the acting U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Sanborn Map Co. has named Richard Butgereit as chief information officer. He previously served as CIO for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Harman International named Paul Heslip as director, customer quality.
Grainne Woods was named senior marketing communications manager at Trimble TRMB 0.00%↑.
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