Austin, TX –December 7, 2021
Ambiq®, a technology platform and solutions provider recognized in ultra-low power microcontrollers (MCU), System-on-Chips (SoC), and Real-time Clocks (RTC), today announced its ongoing partnerships with Excelpoint, a leading regional electronics components distributor providing quality components, engineering design services; iWOW, a Singapore-based company that specializes in the development and supply of IoT solutions to supply the TraceTogether™ token; and EDBI, a Singapore-based global investor. EDBI led Ambiq’s Series E fundraising in 2018, and has been a solid pillar of support to the company’s regional market expansion plans, in particular the building up of its APAC base in Singapore.
Singapore developed the TraceTogether Programme to combat COVID-19 through community contact tracing. As the country continues to combat the pandemic, aggressive contact tracing has been identified to be a key contributor, alongside expanded and faster testing and vaccination, to keeping COVID-19 under control. Powered by the Ambiq Apollo3 Blue microcontroller (MCU), the token is a physical device using Bluetooth® signals to trace others nearby. Besides being accurate, secured, safe, and in a small form factor, the Apollo3 Blue delivers the necessary performance without sacrificing battery life. The token is expected to last 4 to 6 months without a recharge.
The fruitful partnership with Excelpoint in delivering the TraceTogether token is also a significant milestone for Ambiq as the company established its 5th Center of Excellence in Singapore last year with immense support from EDBI, and continues to expand its regional team. Singapore is uniquely positioned to play a critical role in driving continuous growth in the ASEAN region. As Ambiq diversifies and expands its businesses worldwide, its commitment and investment in Singapore are crucial in ensuring future success.
“As the global pandemic continues to present uncertain, ever-changing situations, we need to stay vigilant while the vaccines are being rolled out,” said Fumihide Esaka, Chairman and CEO of Ambiq. “We are privileged to have the collaboration with EDBI, Excelpoint, and iWOW, and are proud of the results we see in the Singapore TraceTogether token.”
Free of charge to all Singapore residents, the token captures proximity data via Bluetooth technology stored only on the device itself. The token will automatically delete its stored data after 25 days and not capture GPS / geolocation data.
In the event that you or those you have been in close contact with test positive for COVID-19, the Ministry of Health will approach you to upload your data for contact tracing. For more information, visit support.tracetogether.gov.sg/hc/en-sg
“EDBI’s deep and longstanding collaboration with Ambiq has led to the company providing critical support to Singapore’s TraceTogether token project, which has become synonymous with Singapore’s successful efforts to combat COVID-19. We are proud to be a close partner of the company as they accelerate their expansion across the region through their Center of Excellence and APAC base here,” said Ms Chu Swee Yeok, CEO and President of EDBI.
Mr. Albert Phuay Yong Hen, Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Excelpoint, commented, “Excelpoint is proud to be partnering with Ambiq to join the fight against the spread of COVID-19 by supporting and distributing the Ambiq Apollo3 Blue MCU in Singapore’s TraceTogether Token. Being a total solutions provider with an extensive sales network comprising both public and private sector players, this partnership highlights Excelpoint’s strengths in demand generation alongside our technical expertise. Given Ambiq’s cutting-edge technology, we see many opportunities ahead. We are excited to further strengthen our relationship with Ambiq as an ecosystem partner in our PlanetSpark Innovation Centre1. Such collaborations will be key amidst this period for us to deepen our reach into different markets.”
Mr. Jer Yaw CHEN, Senior VP IoT, commented, “iWOW, in consortium with SIIX Singapore Pte Ltd, is privileged to develop, manufacture and distribute the TraceTogether Token incorporating Ambiq’s Apollo3 Blue MCU as supported by Excelpoint. Together, we were able to bring a solution with demanding targets in the areas of power consumption, RF performance, security, and high volume market delivery. This project allowed iWOW to bring its deep wireless product development experience and expertise to contribute to Singapore’s COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. We value the support given by Ambiq and Excelpoint, and recognize the success brought about by this partnership. We are confident of deeper collaborations in time to come.
Investing since 1991, EDBI is a Singapore-based global investor in select high growth technology sectors ranging from Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Emerging Technology (ET), Healthcare (HC), and promising Singapore SMEs in strategic industries. As a value creating investor, EDBI assists companies achieve their ambitious goals by leveraging its broad network, resources, and expertise. With its growth capital, EDBI supports companies seeking to expand in Asia and globally through Singapore. For more information, visit www.edbi.com.
Excelpoint Technology Ltd. and its subsidiaries are a leading regional business-to-business platform providing quality electronic components, engineering design services, and supply chain management to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), original design manufacturers (“ODMs”), and electronics manufacturing services (“EMS”) in the Asia Pacific region. EBN, a premier online community for global supply chain professionals, recognized Excelpoint Technology Ltd. as one of its Top 25 Global Electronics Distributors in 2017.
Excelpoint works closely with its principals to create innovative solutions to complement its customers’ products and solutions. Aimed at improving its customers’ operational efficiency and cost competitiveness, the Group has set up research and development centers in Singapore and China that are helmed by its dedicated team of professional engineers.
Established in 1987 and headquartered in Singapore, Excelpoint’s business presence spans more than 10 countries across Asia Pacific with a workforce of more than 650 people from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. For more information about Excelpoint, visit www.excelpoint.com
iWOW Technology Pte Ltd is a leading wireless technologies product developer and end-to-end IoT systems provider offering innovative solutions to its customers since 1999. Conversant is a broad spectrum of wireless technologies (Cellular WAN, LPWAN, BT, NFC etc), iWOW’s solutions are offered as-a-service with focus in the areas of smart city, public health, aging society, and sustainability.
Ambiq was founded in 2010 with the mission to put intelligence everywhere by creating the most energy-efficient technology platforms and solutions for battery-powered IoT endpoint devices. Ambiq’s patented Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT™) platform is proven to significantly reduce devices’ overall power consumption without compromising their battery life or performance. As a result, the company has helped many leading global manufacturers develop products that can operate for days – sometimes years – either by battery or energy harvest.
Enabling intelligence on mobile and portable devices would be almost impossible without Ambiq’s advanced ultra-low-power microcontroller (MCU) and System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions. With over 100 million units shipped in 2020, Ambiq is poised to unleash intelligence on more than 100 billion IoT endpoint devices in the very near future. For more information, visit www.ambiq.com.
Charlene Wan
VP of Marketing Communications & Branding
cwan@ambiq.com
+1.512.879.2850
Clarissa Chiang
Manager, Value Creation & Communications
clarissa_chiang@edbi.com
+65 6972 0255
Song Shin Miin
Manager, Corporate Communications
shinmiin.song@excelpoint.com.sg
+65 6741 8966 (ext 680)
Jer Yaw Chen
Senior VP, Internet of Things
jy_chen@iwow.com.sg
+65.6748.8123
1PlanetSpark Pte Ltd (“PlanetSpark”) is the entrepreneurial and investment arm of Excelpoint Technology Ltd. (“Excelpoint”). On 12 Jan 2021, PlanetSpark launched the PlanetSpark Innovation Centre, the first hardware-targeted accelerator for Artificial Intelligence of Things (“AIoT”) innovations, dedicated to supporting Singapore tech startups speed up market deployment.
Ambiq has been on a singular mission since 2010 to put intelligence everywhere by creating the most energy-efficient semiconductor solutions for battery-powered IoT endpoint devices. Ambiq has helped leading manufacturers worldwide develop products that can operate for days, months, and sometimes years on a battery and even do away with the battery entirely by harvesting energy. Ambiq’s patented Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT™) platform has revolutionized IoT endpoint devices by enabling a massive increase in compute power at unprecedented energy levels. Our goal is to bring Artificial Intelligence (AI) where it has never gone before in mobile and portable devices using Ambiq’s advanced ultra-low power microcontroller (MCU) and System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions. With more than 100 million units shipped by the end of 2020, we are focused now on enabling 100 billion IoT endpoint devices in the near future. For more information, visit www.ambiq.com.