Alps Electric Adopts GainSpan Wi-Fi SOC

SAN JOSE, CA /Marketwire/ -- GainSpan Corp., a leader in low-power Wi-Fi semiconductor solutions, announced that Alps Electric, one of the world's largest manufacturers of electronics components and modules, has adopted GainSpan's GS1011 system-on-chip to build an all-in-one Wi-Fi module for sensor networks. The module is one of the smallest of its kind, featuring a trace antenna and offering manufacturers a compact solution and fast time to market for sensor network devices.

Alps Electric's UGFZ1 Wireless LAN all-in-one module is an IP-based solution that features a high level of integration and full functionality in a small 20 by 35 mm package. The UGFZ1 is used to connect a large variety of sensors with Wi-Fi, by using the many analog and digital interfaces available on the GS1011 chip. In addition, this module makes it possible to very easily add Wi-Fi connectivity to devices with a serial interface, using the serial to Wi-Fi software. By leveraging GainSpan's low-power consumption and advanced power management technology, the UGFZ1 is able to operate for years on a single AA battery.

The all-in-one Wi-Fi Module is certified for use in Japan by TELEC.

One of Japan's leading utility companies is first to use the new module to develop a sensor networking product that allows remote monitoring of the meters and eliminates the need of sending personnel to read meters on sites—a tremendous savings in time and labor.

"GainSpan's highly integrated Wi-Fi technology has allowed us to create a very small Wi-Fi module that lets manufacturers add Wi-Fi capability to their designs quickly and easily," said Hideo Izumi, Engineering Department Manager, Alps Electric. "GainSpan's low power consumption and highly integrated solution provided an excellent foundation for the development of our module that is now finding its way into many sensor devices in many markets."

"We are very pleased to be working with Alps Electric, a key player in Japan," said Eric Taborek, Vice President, Worldwide Sales, at GainSpan. "Alps' new Wi-Fi module offers manufacturers a very powerful IP-based solution that has a myriad of applications in utilities, smart grid, building automation, asset tracking, and health monitoring. Unlike proprietary and other non-IP standards-based solutions, that must evolve to support IP, Alps' Wi-Fi-based module supports native IP now and furthermore leverages the very large installed base of Wi-Fi access points, significantly reducing the operation and installation costs of sensor networks."

About Alps Electric
Alps Electric is a leading global manufacturer of electronic devices, supplying over 40,000 different components to about 2000 companies all over the world. You won't often see Alps products, but they play vital roles in many devices you use everyday. Our business domain is "Perfecting the Art of Electronics." Throughout its business domain, Alps Electric creates new values that satisfy stakeholders and are friendly to the earth.

About GainSpan
GainSpan Corp., a spinoff of Intel Corp., is a leader in ultra-low-power Wi-Fi semiconductor solutions. GainSpan provides the "industry's most highly integrated low-power Wi-Fi chip solution for battery-powered or energy-harvesting sensor devices and other embedded systems. Devices using GainSpan's solution can run for up to 10 years on a single AA battery. GainSpan enables its customers to leverage the large installed base of Wi-Fi access points and devices and create new products for building automation, smart home energy, health monitoring, and real-time location system applications, while reducing the overall operation and installation costs of sensor networks.