Industrial Wireless Providers Do Deals

September was a busy month for consolidation in the industrial wireless arena, with two companies in the space announcing acquisitions that broaden their footprints.

2009年10月1日

Sixnet LLC(www.sixnet.com), a Ballston Lake, N.Y.-based supplier of machine-to machine (M2M) data communications products, announced on Sept. 9 that it has reached an agreement to acquire JBM Electronics Co., St. Louis, a provider of networking connectivity solutions.

Then, on Sept. 17,Ruggedcom Inc.(www.RuggedCom.com），加拿大安大略省的Concord，加拿大安大略省的坚固网络解决方案的制造商，用于恶劣环境，宣布将支付900万美元现金以获取所有股票WiNetworks Ltd.(www.winetworks.com），纽约。根据该交易的条款，Ruggedcom表示，它还将假设Winetworks的债务约为500万美元。

WiNetworks is a provider of systems based on WiMAX 802.16e mobile broadband wireless technology (for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). The company’s technology is used by large private networks and service providers to extend mobile broadband connectivity over metropolitan areas. The WiNetworks WiMAX products will form the new RuggedMax product line and augment Ruggedcom’s growing RuggedWireless portfolio, RuggedCom said.

Solidification

说到其JBM的收购，Sixnet表示，该交易巩固了该公司在广泛的移动运营商和地理位置上成为无线网络解决方案的领先提供商的地位。

Sixnet currently markets a line of rugged industrial and commercial products under the BlueTree Wireless brand. JBM is a provider of network connectivity solutions for enterprise- class customers. JBM Electronics provides a total connectivity solution to commercial and industrial enterprises, including embedded protocol conversion solutions; highly secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) and cellular networking solutions; design, project management, configuration and deployment services; and back-end monitoring, managing and maintenance.

“Our acquisition of JBM Electronics further enhances Sixnet’s emergence as a global leader of wireless networking solutions. We are principally focused on solutions that will make our customers more competitive, by removing costs from their business,” said Hilton Nicholson, Sixnet chief executive officer. “JBM’s customers have consistently benefited financially from the innovation in design and the reliability of product in the field.”

Ruggedcom对Winetworks的收购同样乐观。Winetworks由一个无线行业退伍军人组成，他们是WIMAX技术的早期采用者。WiNetworks was the first company in the world to develop a small-form-factor base station based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ IEEE 802.16e standard and have it certified by the WIMAX forum certification wave 2, including MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) functionality, according to the RuggedCom announcement. WiNetworks has 57 employees with more than half of the staff in engineering roles.

“We created a RuggedWireless division earlier this year in order to capitalize on a huge market opportunity for wireless technology in our target markets,” explained Marzio Pozzuoli, president and chief executive officer of Ruggedcom. “Last month, we added a 3G cellular router to our product offering to give our customers a wireless WAN (wide area network) option through the cellular service providers. Many of our customers are looking to deliver that same type of service, but maintain a greater level of control over the performance, reliability and security of the network. WiMAX is the best technology available to extend private IP (Internet Protocol) networks wirelessly in a standards-based way. The WiNetworks product line is ideally suited to mate with our industry-leading hardened networking products and drive automation further into the electric grid,” Pozzuoli continued.

产品阵容

The WiNetworks product offering consists of small-form-factor base station variants with differing power options, and are available in a choice of licensed and unlicensed bands. In addition, WiNetworks has a line of subscriber devices for fixed and mobile applications. WiNetworks offers an open, end-to-end solution by providing full interoperability with several third-party device manufacturers and various ASN (Access Service Network) gateway vendors. WiNetworks has developed an additional mode of products that allows for full operation without the use of an ASN gateway, thereby increasing robustness and reducing costs and complexity—well-suited for private network users.

Ruggedwireless副总裁Elik Jaeger说：“我们对在Ruggedwireless部门中加入Winetworks感到非常兴奋。”“我们相信Winetworks产品组合和工程学才能的结合使我们在WiMax Field中立即处于领先地位，并补充了我们的无线LAN（局域网）开关和蜂窝路由器，从而为我们提供了完整的无线产品组合。”

WiNetworks has shipped thousands of mobile WiMAX systems around the world. RuggedCom is already engaged with RuggedMax in trials and pilots with major electric utilities, the company said.