Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) is to launch the second generation of its ZenWatch and six smart home devices this quarter in a bid to expand the company’s reach in the Internet of Things (IoT) area, the company said yesterday.
“The global IoT market in still in its early stages, but Asustek sees great business potential in this area,” company spokesman Nick Wu (吳長榮) said by telephone.
Wu said the company had sold “a few hundred thousand” units of its first generation of ZenWatch since it was launched in December last year, while another production line, the VivoWatch, also shipped “a few hundred thousands” units since it hit the shelves in May.
ZenWatch targets business clients, while VivoWatch offer more health-monitoring functions, Asustek said.
Wu said the second-generation ZenWatch will have two versions of different display sizes, and the two models have been certified by the National Communications Commission (NCC).
After launching an IP camera and an event data recorder last quarter, Asus Cloud Corp (華碩雲端), Asustek’s subsidiary, also plans to introduce six smart home devices this quarter, a company executive said.
“The company plans to launch a series of IoT products to boost the number of registered users using Asus’ cloud-computing storage,” Asus Cloud chief executive officer Peter Wu (吳漢章) told the Taipei-Shanghai forum in Shanghai on Tuesday.
There are nearly 10,000 registered users of Asus’ Internet-connected surveillance products, he said, adding that by increasing the number of registered users, the company could gradually expand the ecosystem of its IoT products.
He said that apart from the six smart home devices, such as a smart door lock and smart temperature sensor, Asus Cloud plans to introduce IoT devices that focus on audio and video entertainment later this year.
Asus Cloud also tapped into remote heathcare services, Wu said, adding that the company secured a bid from the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the end of last quarter to offer remote healthcare services to 12 cities and counties in Taiwan.
Wu said the ministry allocated an annual budget of NT$10 million (US$306,109) to the firm, adding that it is jointly working with Taipei Show Chwan Hospital (秀傳醫院) and Taiwan Secom Co (中興保全) on the project.
Asustek shares yesterday dropped 0.55 percent to NT$273.5 in Taipei trading, outperforming the TAIEX, which lost 1.9 percent.
SEMICONDUCTORS: The firm has already completed one fab, which is to begin mass producing 2-nanomater chips next year, while two others are under construction Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, plans to begin construction of its fourth and fifth wafer fabs in Kaohsiung next year, targeting the development of high-end processes. The two facilities — P4 and P5 — are part of TSMC’s production expansion program, which aims to build five fabs in Kaohsiung. TSMC facility division vice president Arthur Chuang (莊子壽) on Thursday said that the five facilities are expected to create 8,000 jobs. To respond to the fast-changing global semiconductor industry and escalating international competition, TSMC said it has to keep growing by expanding its production footprints. The P4 and P5
DOWNFALL: The Singapore-based oil magnate Lim Oon Kuin was accused of hiding US$800 million in losses and leaving 20 banks with substantial liabilities Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin (林恩強) has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire. The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd (興隆貿易) and his children Lim Huey Ching (林慧清) and Lim Chee Meng (林志朋) were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on Dec. 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were directors at the company. Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Advisory Pte Ltd are the trustees, according to the gazette. At its peak, Hin Leong traded a range of oil products, made lubricants and operated loading
The growing popularity of Chinese sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks has shaken up Mexico’s luxury car market, hitting sales of traditionally dominant brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Mexicans are increasingly switching from traditionally dominant sedans to Chinese vehicles due to a combination of comfort, technology and price, industry experts say. It is no small feat in a country home to factories of foreign brands such as Audi and BMW, and where until a few years ago imported Chinese cars were stigmatized, as in other parts of the world. The high-end segment of the market registered a sales drop
Citigroup Inc and Bank of America Corp said they are leaving a global climate-banking group, becoming the latest Wall Street lenders to exit the coalition in the past month. In a statement, Citigroup said while it remains committed to achieving net zero emissions, it is exiting the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). Bank of America said separately on Tuesday that it is also leaving NZBA, adding that it would continue to work with clients on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The banks’ departure from NZBA follows Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Wells Fargo & Co. The largest US financial institutions are under increasing pressure
RSS