GERMANY: Continuing its membership momentum into 2013, the Open Standard for Public Transport (OSPT) Alliance announced that IntelCav of Brazil, MaskTech of Germany, and Smarting of Spain have joined the OSPT Alliance as Members. All three companies provide innovative technology to the transit market with products ranging from smartcards to custom embedded systems and software.
“We are delighted to welcome these three organizations to the OSPT Alliance,” said Laurent Cremer, executive director of the OSPT Alliance. “Each has a demonstrated track record of innovation in its respective country and market. Their endorsement of the CIPURSE™ open security standard is highly valued, and we look forward to working together to shape future transit and ticketing solutions for automatic fare collection (AFC).”
IntelCav is the eighth-largest bankcard manufacturer in the world, with one billion cards produced in 10 years. The company has pioneered card manufacturing and accelerated adoption of EMV migration. In addition to providing transit solutions, IntelCav also provides solutions for the authentication, identification, and telecom markets.
“Collection media is changing and we enable our customers to keep pace with change,” said Fernando Castejón, CEO of IntelCav. “The CIPURSE open standard offers transit agencies great flexibility in developing offerings that are convenient and easy to use for passengers.”
Germany’s MaskTech provides high security embedded operating systems/SoC designs for the identification and smart card market. Their embedded products are used in more than 45 countries’ eID, travel documents, public transport and micropayment systems. MaskTech is an independent supplier of chip operating systems with Common Criteria certifications on a unique variety of different semiconductors.
“We recently extended our open standards-based embedded product portfolio for public transport systems and are delighted to participate in defining the direction of transit and ticketing solutions with OSPT,” said Matthias Duensser, MD of MaskTech. “With the CIPURSE open standard, we gain new impetus for innovation and more options for meeting our customers’ needs.”
System integration is the focus of Smarting. The company has extensive experience in systems engineering for public transit. An experienced team provides outstanding solutions and services to customers in Madrid, Barcelona, and other major Spanish metropolitan areas.
“The CIPURSE open standard specification will open the door to many new opportunities for our customers,” said Dani Fernández, executive chairman of Smarting. “We expect to help customers deploy CIPURSE-based solutions that enhance security and flexibility with no compromise to interoperability. We are delighted to join the OSPT Alliance.”
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
GPS fitness watch market to grow 50 percent in 2013 regardless of Apple rumors
ENGLAND: Whether the Apple smart watch rumor is true or not, the GPS fitness watch market is set to reach $1.07 billion in 2013, according to ABI Research’s latest quarterly “GPS & GNSS” Market Data, which forecasts fitness watches split by price tier.
Senior analyst Patrick Connolly said: “Low cost watches rapidly emerged in 2012, and are forecast to take a significant chunk of the market in 2013. From a competitive point of view, projected GPS IC shipment estimates indicate leading watch, fitness apparel, and electronics vendors are planning to release new products in this space in 2013. In 2012, Motorola’s MOTOACTV watch was a great example of how a new entrant can instantly win market share with a strong feature set and good price point.”
But it’s not just the established names that are getting involved. At CES, there was a lot of activity around health/fitness watches from start-ups such as Leikr, Pebble, Basis and others. I’m Here and Bia Sport could shake up the GPS fitness device market in 2013 with cellular-connected GPS fitness watches.
There is also a huge opportunity for smaller players to work with major application developers like Runkeeper, as a distribution channel. Device manufacturers need to accept that users now have a familiarity and bank of data with certain applications. The ability to tie in data from a device rather than migrating to a whole new analytics package will be enticing for many.
Dominique Bonte added: “There have already been unfounded rumors around Apple in 2013, so let’s wait and see. If an Apple watch did feature integrated GPS, it would no doubt significantly boost shipment forecasts in 2013.”
Senior analyst Patrick Connolly said: “Low cost watches rapidly emerged in 2012, and are forecast to take a significant chunk of the market in 2013. From a competitive point of view, projected GPS IC shipment estimates indicate leading watch, fitness apparel, and electronics vendors are planning to release new products in this space in 2013. In 2012, Motorola’s MOTOACTV watch was a great example of how a new entrant can instantly win market share with a strong feature set and good price point.”
But it’s not just the established names that are getting involved. At CES, there was a lot of activity around health/fitness watches from start-ups such as Leikr, Pebble, Basis and others. I’m Here and Bia Sport could shake up the GPS fitness device market in 2013 with cellular-connected GPS fitness watches.
There is also a huge opportunity for smaller players to work with major application developers like Runkeeper, as a distribution channel. Device manufacturers need to accept that users now have a familiarity and bank of data with certain applications. The ability to tie in data from a device rather than migrating to a whole new analytics package will be enticing for many.
Dominique Bonte added: “There have already been unfounded rumors around Apple in 2013, so let’s wait and see. If an Apple watch did feature integrated GPS, it would no doubt significantly boost shipment forecasts in 2013.”
Sophos extends UTM to the enterprise
USA: Sophos has strengthened its network security offerings with two enhanced high-end Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances, Sophos UTM 525 and 625, and the new Sophos RED 50 (Remote Ethernet Device), the first security solution to offer complete and centrally managed Unified Threat Management for medium-sized branch offices.
With these updates and additions, Sophos extends UTM, Next Generation Firewall, and branch office security to the enterprise by improving throughput speeds and performance as well as offering additional flexible deployment options.
To accommodate the needs of larger organizations, Sophos has included significant performance and flexibility enhancements in its new enterprise appliances. The new appliances can see a 300 percent increase in firewall throughput speeds to 40 Gbps, as well as the option of field-replaceable LAN (local access network) modules, which extend the UTM appliances allowing organizations to configure the Sophos UTM devices and Next Generation Firewall features to scale their deployments for use in any size organization - even where multiple 10Gbps-Ethernet connections are required.
The company has also released a larger RED model, which improves upon its revolutionary branch office security technology. The new model offers increased performance, enhanced connectivity capabilities and new operational functions. The Sophos RED 50 appliance has throughput speeds of more than 300 Mbps, ten-times faster than RED 10 devices – ideal for organizations that need to send larger files, run daily data backups or protect large branch office networks.
Sophos RED 50 also comes with a 4-port gigabit switch and two gigabit wide area network interfaces. These ports can be connected to two Internet connections at once, allowing for the bandwidth load balancing or failover capabilities many larger branch offices require.
“IT departments at larger organizations are beginning to recognize the benefit of protecting their networks with Unified Threat Management and Next Generation Firewall solutions. However, enterprises require a higher level of performance than SMBs, due to network size,” said Martin Becker, product manager, network security, Sophos. “Our new hardware models make it possible for enterprises to reap the benefits of protecting a network with a UTM device without sacrificing performance and security.”
NI collaborates with USAID’s PEER Science Program to support scientists in developing countries
USA: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement Research (PEER) Science program and National Instruments announced a unique public-private partnership.
The organizations are partnering to bring cutting-edge scientific equipment, training and support to approximately 100 research projects with commercial promise and demonstrated long-term development impact in more than 80 countries over the next five years. This partnership is the first step in USAID’s effort to leverage the private sector in support of scientists in developing countries.
At the signing of the partnership agreement, Dr. Alex Dehgan, science and technology adviser to USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, said, “The lack of access to scientific equipment is a major impediment to research in the developing world. This partnership will help give scientists all over the developing world access to the tools that can help them unlock their potential to solve the great development challenges of our time.”
The USAID PEER Science program supports collaborative research by funding scientists in developing countries on a wide range of development-related topics, including food security, climate change, water, biodiversity, disaster mitigation, renewable energy and health. Working with National Science Foundation funded U.S. researchers, PEER plans to invest up to $100 million to accelerate science and technology research over the next several years.
NI designs, develops, manufactures, sells and supports system design software and modular hardware that engineers and scientists use in measurement, control and design applications in nearly every industry, from testing smartphones to launching spaceships. The partnership with USAID is possible through the company’s Planet NI program, which empowers engineers and scientists in emerging countries to achieve sustainable prosperity by providing increased access to the company’s technology.
“National Instruments is committed to nurturing local innovation and entrepreneurship by making engineering and scientific tools affordable, accessible and relevant to those focused on improving the socioeconomic development of their communities,” said Victor Mieres, NI vice president of sales and marketing, emerging markets, and chairman of the Planet NI advisory board. “This partnership expands the reach of Planet NI and increases the impact we can have on researchers in emerging markets.”
The organizations are partnering to bring cutting-edge scientific equipment, training and support to approximately 100 research projects with commercial promise and demonstrated long-term development impact in more than 80 countries over the next five years. This partnership is the first step in USAID’s effort to leverage the private sector in support of scientists in developing countries.
At the signing of the partnership agreement, Dr. Alex Dehgan, science and technology adviser to USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, said, “The lack of access to scientific equipment is a major impediment to research in the developing world. This partnership will help give scientists all over the developing world access to the tools that can help them unlock their potential to solve the great development challenges of our time.”
The USAID PEER Science program supports collaborative research by funding scientists in developing countries on a wide range of development-related topics, including food security, climate change, water, biodiversity, disaster mitigation, renewable energy and health. Working with National Science Foundation funded U.S. researchers, PEER plans to invest up to $100 million to accelerate science and technology research over the next several years.
NI designs, develops, manufactures, sells and supports system design software and modular hardware that engineers and scientists use in measurement, control and design applications in nearly every industry, from testing smartphones to launching spaceships. The partnership with USAID is possible through the company’s Planet NI program, which empowers engineers and scientists in emerging countries to achieve sustainable prosperity by providing increased access to the company’s technology.
“National Instruments is committed to nurturing local innovation and entrepreneurship by making engineering and scientific tools affordable, accessible and relevant to those focused on improving the socioeconomic development of their communities,” said Victor Mieres, NI vice president of sales and marketing, emerging markets, and chairman of the Planet NI advisory board. “This partnership expands the reach of Planet NI and increases the impact we can have on researchers in emerging markets.”
NI and CertTech LLC offer NI TestStand qualification toolkit for functional safety verification
USA: National Instruments announced the Tool Qualification Kit for NI TestStand to help meet functional safety standards, such as RTCA DO-178B/C, IEC 62304 and ISO 26262, in numerous industries that need qualified tools to verify safety requirements for electronic systems.
The kit, developed by CertTech LLC, an NI Alliance Partner, defines the functional requirements NI TestStand meets, creates a set of tests to demonstrate compliance with the requirements and provides extensive documentation to show compliance in accordance with functional safety standards.
An FAA representative formally reviewed the kit to verify compliance with the DO-178B/C guidelines and concluded: “Findings in the FAA Designated Engineering Representative’s (DER) report confirmed that all objectives of DO-178B Section 12.2, FAA Order 8110.49 Section 9, and DO-330 Annex A have been successfully achieved and in many cases exceeded.”
Rather than developing and maintaining a custom test executive, engineers can use NI TestStand, a ready-to-run COTS test management software solution, to quickly develop automated test and validation systems.
The Tool Qualification Kit for NI TestStand, available on the LabVIEW Tools Network, drastically reduces the time it takes to certify each project by introducing a testing methodology that allows engineers to use qualified COTS tools instead of performing a manual qualification on custom tools.
The kit, developed by CertTech LLC, an NI Alliance Partner, defines the functional requirements NI TestStand meets, creates a set of tests to demonstrate compliance with the requirements and provides extensive documentation to show compliance in accordance with functional safety standards.
An FAA representative formally reviewed the kit to verify compliance with the DO-178B/C guidelines and concluded: “Findings in the FAA Designated Engineering Representative’s (DER) report confirmed that all objectives of DO-178B Section 12.2, FAA Order 8110.49 Section 9, and DO-330 Annex A have been successfully achieved and in many cases exceeded.”
Rather than developing and maintaining a custom test executive, engineers can use NI TestStand, a ready-to-run COTS test management software solution, to quickly develop automated test and validation systems.
The Tool Qualification Kit for NI TestStand, available on the LabVIEW Tools Network, drastically reduces the time it takes to certify each project by introducing a testing methodology that allows engineers to use qualified COTS tools instead of performing a manual qualification on custom tools.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Electronics contract manufacturing business set for 4-5 percent growth this year
USA: Despite lingering weakness in the global economy and continuing uncertainty in technology markets, the outsourced manufacturing industry is expected to post moderate revenue growth this year as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) increase their outsourcing activities to capitalize on opportunities for expansion across multiple industries including consumer electronics, industrial electronics and automotive electronics.
Revenue in 2013 for the worldwide outsourced manufacturing industry is forecast to reach $404.5 billion, up 4.5 percent from $387.0 billion last year, according to the IHS Outsourced Manufacturing Intelligence Service.
While this year’s growth is slightly down from the estimated 5.0 percent rise that the industry enjoyed in 2012, the next few years ahead appear on track for solidly reliable—if unspectacular—rates of increase provided the global economy cooperates. By 2016, revenue will amount to $451.9 billion, following the industry’s recovery from the declines seen in 2008-09.
“Outsourced manufacturing is giving OEMs across multiple industries the capability to expand into new, fast-growing markets, including smartphones, tablets and industrial electronics,” said Thomas J. Dinges, CFA, senior principal analyst for the IHS Outsourced Manufacturing Intelligence Service.
“Because of this, the OEMs will continue to take advantage of the flexibility provided by outsourced manufacturing. However, the largest risk at this point is the potential for a major economic dislocation, which could easily derail market growth this year.” Potential economic troubles that could undermine market growth include the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the US response to realigning its long-term spending trajectory.
Suppliers and customers driving toward two potentially opposing forces
This year will also see the industry attempt to balance two key trends, each likely to pull in the opposite direction: OEM customers wishing to lower their costs on one hand, versus outsourced manufacturing suppliers hoping to see improved cash flow on the other.
From their end, customers will want to know what price is considered fair to pay an outsourced supplier in order to make their product—forming part of the client’s effort to reduce overall manufacturing costs. For suppliers, on the other hand, concerns will revolve around how to reduce inventory in order to achieve a stronger balance sheet; how to do more with less, especially in the area of capital expenditures; and how to bring down operating costs as a whole.
In essence, how both themes play out—an intricate interplay between hard-nosed customer wanting lower prices but faster supply chain responsiveness and cash-generation focused manufacturing partner—will prove of great interest this year to observers and participants alike, IHS believes.
Is the next big player waiting in the wings?
One issue of paramount interest to the entire industry revolves on which entity will become the next big player to drive the space. However, that answer is unknown at the moment, even in an industry where perceptible trends and key movers have left their mark.
In the past decade, for instance, particular customers or end markets fueled growth, only to be superseded by other actors and variables. First came growth via the consolidation of assets spun out of original equipment manufacturers. This was followed by a massive asset shift to China as it became the hub of outsourced manufacturing. Ultimately, this led to the rise of consumer electronic products such as smartphones and tablets, which served as palpable tickets to success for both clients and their manufacturing partners alike.
The industry has shifted somewhat the past few years as it then turned its attention to industrial and higher mix customers as a means to drive growth, with consumer-focused companies becoming the somewhat less favored entities afterward.
Now the bet is being made on an alliance of sorts between those last two forces. Growth remains with consumer-oriented companies that make the gadgets desired by the purchasing public everywhere, but those companies in turn are spurring enterprises to help companies capitalize on new ways to grow.
These new highways to growth include consumer traffic, commerce and data—avenues that can be exploited by devices like smartphones, tablets, and other interactive “smart” devices. All these devices, for their part, are well within the purview of brands and their choice of outsourced manufacturers to build.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Revenue in 2013 for the worldwide outsourced manufacturing industry is forecast to reach $404.5 billion, up 4.5 percent from $387.0 billion last year, according to the IHS Outsourced Manufacturing Intelligence Service.
While this year’s growth is slightly down from the estimated 5.0 percent rise that the industry enjoyed in 2012, the next few years ahead appear on track for solidly reliable—if unspectacular—rates of increase provided the global economy cooperates. By 2016, revenue will amount to $451.9 billion, following the industry’s recovery from the declines seen in 2008-09.
“Outsourced manufacturing is giving OEMs across multiple industries the capability to expand into new, fast-growing markets, including smartphones, tablets and industrial electronics,” said Thomas J. Dinges, CFA, senior principal analyst for the IHS Outsourced Manufacturing Intelligence Service.
“Because of this, the OEMs will continue to take advantage of the flexibility provided by outsourced manufacturing. However, the largest risk at this point is the potential for a major economic dislocation, which could easily derail market growth this year.” Potential economic troubles that could undermine market growth include the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the US response to realigning its long-term spending trajectory.
This year will also see the industry attempt to balance two key trends, each likely to pull in the opposite direction: OEM customers wishing to lower their costs on one hand, versus outsourced manufacturing suppliers hoping to see improved cash flow on the other.
From their end, customers will want to know what price is considered fair to pay an outsourced supplier in order to make their product—forming part of the client’s effort to reduce overall manufacturing costs. For suppliers, on the other hand, concerns will revolve around how to reduce inventory in order to achieve a stronger balance sheet; how to do more with less, especially in the area of capital expenditures; and how to bring down operating costs as a whole.
In essence, how both themes play out—an intricate interplay between hard-nosed customer wanting lower prices but faster supply chain responsiveness and cash-generation focused manufacturing partner—will prove of great interest this year to observers and participants alike, IHS believes.
Is the next big player waiting in the wings?
One issue of paramount interest to the entire industry revolves on which entity will become the next big player to drive the space. However, that answer is unknown at the moment, even in an industry where perceptible trends and key movers have left their mark.
In the past decade, for instance, particular customers or end markets fueled growth, only to be superseded by other actors and variables. First came growth via the consolidation of assets spun out of original equipment manufacturers. This was followed by a massive asset shift to China as it became the hub of outsourced manufacturing. Ultimately, this led to the rise of consumer electronic products such as smartphones and tablets, which served as palpable tickets to success for both clients and their manufacturing partners alike.
The industry has shifted somewhat the past few years as it then turned its attention to industrial and higher mix customers as a means to drive growth, with consumer-focused companies becoming the somewhat less favored entities afterward.
Now the bet is being made on an alliance of sorts between those last two forces. Growth remains with consumer-oriented companies that make the gadgets desired by the purchasing public everywhere, but those companies in turn are spurring enterprises to help companies capitalize on new ways to grow.
These new highways to growth include consumer traffic, commerce and data—avenues that can be exploited by devices like smartphones, tablets, and other interactive “smart” devices. All these devices, for their part, are well within the purview of brands and their choice of outsourced manufacturers to build.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
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