Long-forgotten video game maker Atari is diving into the nascent IoT market. The firm has established a global partnership with Sigfox to develop a new range of connected devices.
In a press release announcing the news, the two companies said that the cooperation will “bring together Atari’s brand and creative power with Sigfox’s unique value proposition: connecting the physical world to the Internet through a simple, reliable, low-cost, energy-efficient solution”.
The collaboration will cover a wide range of new Atari products, from the simple to the sophisticated. The companies say that these devices will provide customers with an easy way to know at any time where the devices are and what their status is.
The initial product line is to include categories such as home, pets, lifestyle and safety. Sigfox says that by connecting to its global network, the products will benefit from a long battery life and a simple solution that does not require local Internet connectivity and pairing. As soon as the battery is inserted in the object, it is immediately connected to the network.
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Sigfox bridges the virtual and physical worlds
“Atari, which has disruption rooted in their DNA, was quick to envision the transformative role that the Internet of Things can play in interactive entertainment,” said Sigfox CEO Ludovic Le Moan.
“Our network bridges the virtual and physical worlds simply, reliably and inexpensively and this collaboration will launch a new dimension to gaming, while supporting features that are limited only by the imagination.”
“Sigfox is transforming the way people are connecting to their objects in a simple and intuitive way. By partnering together and using Sigfox’s dedicated IoT connectivity, we are going to create amazing products with our brand,” said Atari CEO Fred Chesnais. “We look forward to our collaboration with Sigfox and releasing new products to the mass market on a global scale.”
Development of the new product line will begin this year and more details will be shared soon.
Atari is perhaps best known for its 1980s video game consoles and arcade games, along with popular games like Pong, Pacman and Asteroids. The Sigfox IoT network is currently operating in 18 countries, registering over 7 million devices on its network.