UK chip maker ARM announced the acquisition of Wicentric, a Bluetooth Smart stack and profile provider, and Sunrise Micro Devices (SMD), a provider of sub-one volt Bluetooth radio intellectual property (IP).
The IP of both companies will be integrated to form the ARM Cordio portfolio available for immediate licensing. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed,
This solution will be part of ARM’s existing processor and physical IP targeting end markets requiring low-power wireless communications such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
Wicentric, founded in 2009 and based in San Diego, USA, focuses on enabling the development of low-power wireless products and was a privately held provider of Bluetooth Smart software solutions.
Their product line includes Bluetooth protocol stack and profiles for creating interoperable smart products and the link layer for silicon integration.
SMD is a privately held provider of radio IP solutions including a pre-qualified, self-contained radio block and related firmware to simplify radio deployment.
Central to all SMD radios is native sub-one volt operation. Operating below one volt enables the radio to run much longer on batteries or harvested energy.
British chip designer ARM teamed up with IBM last February to launch a ‘starter kit’ for developers looking to launch apps and services on the IoT.
