Atari bringing back devices with Sigfox IoT agreement

By Tim Skinner           Telecoms.com

Retro gaming giant Atari will soon be entering the IoT arena following a partnership with Sigfox, the low power WAN provider. Famed for its trailblazing old-school computers and gaming consoles in the 1980s and 1990s, an announcement from Atari said it will soon be developing and launching consumer IoT services. While tangible details weren’t particularly forthcoming, and won’t be for the time being, Atari did hint at a move back to hardware having been primarily, if not solely, focused on software and gaming for the best part of the last 20 years. Atari said the initial product line will include offerings in areas such as home, pets, lifestyle and safety. By combining with Sigfox, Atari plans on developing a wide range of new products, from the very simple to the highly sophisticated, which users can track at any time. Sigfox says that by connecting to its network, products will benefit from an extended battery life and no need for paring or connectivity configuration. “By partnering together and using SIGFOX’s dedicated IoT connectivity, we are going to create amazing products with our brand,” said Fred Chesnais, Chief Executive Officer, Atari. “We look forward to our collaboration with SIGFOX and releasing new products to the mass market on a global scale.” It’s fair to assume Atari is targeting a move back into hardware and away from gaming, although more information will be released in due course. Atari says development of the new product line will begin in 2016.