Sierra Wireless joins with OriginGPS to provide Small 2G to 4G GNSS offering; aimed at IoT devices

Sierra Wireless and OriginGPS, manufacturer of miniature Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) modules, announced Thursday partnership to deliver small integrated 2G to 4G cellular and GNSS modules solution. It offers a miniaturized footprint that is one third smaller than other solutions and is targeted at the growing IoT devices market.

The reference design, which is available gl9bally for free and was designed by AcalBFi, combines Sierra Wireless AirPrime HL Series embedded wireless modules with the OriginGPS Multi Spider (ORG4572) GNSS module that supports GPS and GLONASS. The design is ideal for applications that require minimal power consumption and ultra-small form factors in markets such as wearables and IoT tracking, while ensuring high performance.

The combined solution provides device manufacturers with the ability to serve different regions, across 2G, 3G and 4G network technologies with a single common footprint design and an easy migration path from GPS to multi-GNSS. To reach the highest integration level and shorten the time to market, GNSS modules are also available with an optional integrated antenna.

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“As the leading supplier of cellular IoT modules, we’re always working to ensure that our embedded solutions portfolio aligns with our customers’ application requirements,” said Dan Schieler, SVP & GM, OEM Solutions, Sierra Wireless. “By partnering with OriginGPS, we’re providing the most compact bundle of cellular and GNSS modules, with a strong time to market advantage in this growing market.”

“The combination of OriginGPS performance and ultra-small size with Sierra Wireless cellular IoT expertise has already resulted in a plug and play solution that will allow developers to bring the smallest, most power-efficient, global solutions to market quickly,” said Gal Jacobi, CEO, OriginGPS. “I’m excited to see the product advancements that will result from this partnership and the new IoT possibilities it will create.”

Sierra Wireless AirPrime HL Series modules are the smallest embedded wireless modules (22 x 23 mm) to be completely interchangeable across 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and future LPWA technologies. The HL Series uses the CF3 form factor from Sierra Wireless, which is footprint compatible across product lines and network technologies and will remain fully interchangeable with future versions of the modules, including those for LPWA networks when they become available.

LTE-M technology is expected to provide a highly efficient cellular LPWA technology option for smart metering and smart grid applications, with lower radio-frequency complexity, significantly reduced power consumption, and better in-building signal penetration.

According to ABI Research, worldwide GPS IC shipments by region will grow with a CAGR of 5.6 percent, reaching 2.3 billion by 2020.

“While handsets and navigation systems represent the largest segments of the GNSS market today, products that provide location-based services, such as asset and people tracking, wearables, action cameras and dash cams, and insurance telematics applications, will drive demand forward,” said Dominique Bonte, Managing Director and VP, ABI Research. “Device manufacturers will increasingly be looking for solutions that enable a global design, reduce power and footprint, and provide high accuracy positioning data which partnerships like the one between Sierra Wireless and OriginGPS will be able to provide.”


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