Atmel, SIGFOX Collaborate to Explore Long-Range IoT Scope - Analyst Blog

Touchscreen chipmaker Atmel Corporation (ATML) announced that its ATA8520 device became the first SIGFOX Ready certified system-on-chip (SoC) solution.

Atmel's dedicated SIGFOX-certified integrated circuits (IC), when integrated with SIGFOX's proprietary network, facilitate cost-effective, wide-range, low-power wireless connectivity, which has huge implications for the Internet of Things (IoT) industry. The technology has potential applications in smart meters, environmental sensors, security devices, patient monitors and even street lights.

SIGFOX's high-performance, scalable network and Atmel's new ATA8520 SoC boast ultra-low power consumption for wireless networking applications that operates in the sub-GHz band.

Sigfox is a global ISP (Internet Service Provider) that is designed particularly for long-range, small-message device communication and specializes in the IoT. It operates in several European countries and will commence deployment in the U.S. this year itself. Relative to traditional cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity, the SIGFOX-Atmel collaboration will be significantly more effective with regard to cost efficiency and power consumption.

This will facilitate speedy IoT adoption as it will tackle challenges such as cost barriers and battery life constraints that hinder connected device deployment.

Atmel further fortified its position in the IoT market with the launch of SmartConnect SAM W25 module, a fully-integrated Wi-Fi module having a standalone MCU and hardware security from a single source.

The IoT concept projects billions of connected devices and systems by 2020, with applications ranging from sensors and mobile devices to home appliances and cars.

An increasing number of embedded developers designing IoT applications for smart, secure connected devices are driving demand for solutions that integrate an MCU, hardware security and wireless connectivity solutions into one package. Designers insist on highly flexible, cost-effective modules that give a comprehensive solution from a single vendor, and SmartConnect SAM W25 module satisfies these needs.

These initiatives reinforce Atmel's position as a dominant supplier of wireless solutions for smart energy, connected home and other monitoring and control applications for the nascent IoT industry.

However, in the immediate future, Atmel expects slowing semiconductor industry trends and softening end-market demand to have a negative impact on its growth prospects.

Atmel currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Better-ranked stocks in the semiconductor industry that are worth a look include Ambarella, Inc. (AMBA) and AXT Inc. (AXTI), both holding a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Pericom Semiconductor Corp. (PSEM), carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).