Avanci recently launched its first marketplace for licensing patented wireless technology to the Internet of Things (IoT). Avanci is bringing together standard-essential wireless patents from industry leaders, making them available with a single license to IoT device manufacturers who are adding connectivity to their products.
This new, open platform accelerates the process of securing technology rights and time to market for IoT devices that are connecting the world. Companies seeking to add connectivity to their new products and companies with a portfolio of standard-essential wireless patents to share can join the new marketplace.
Avanci will initially focus its licensing efforts on 2G, 3G and 4G cellular technologies for connected cars and smart meters with plans to expand to other IoT product areas. The Avanci license for the IoT industry provides access to the entire standard-essential cellular patent portfolio these innovators, including Ericsson, Qualcomm, InterDigital, KPN and ZTE, currently own, as well as any such patents that they may develop or acquire during the term of the license.
With billions of connected devices coming online each year, the Internet of Things is enabling an entirely new economy of products. For the many manufacturers entering the IoT space, it can be cumbersome to determine which patent licenses are needed to enable connectivity and what is a fair price.
Avanci streamlines this process by offering a single license to patents owned by many companies on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Companies can expect a transparent, flat-rate price for each device that will vary based on the value the technology brings to the device.
Products with wireless connectivity require access to thousands of patented inventions, created by many inventors. Avanci is bringing together standard-essential wireless patents that represent the most advanced wireless technology in the world, in an efficient, one-stop marketplace. So, instead of going to each technology owner to request, negotiate and pay for a license, makers of products for the Internet of Things can get the technology they need in one place.
By providing licenses to essential wireless technology at fair rates, Avanci is helping ensure companies who need connectivity for their products can access it easily, and those creating wireless technology can share it as widely as possible, and hence incentivized to never stop innovating.
“Since we began in April, we have received an overwhelmingly positive response from both IoT device manufacturers and patent owners to our streamlined licensing solution, and Avanci will quickly add more of these companies to our marketplace in the months ahead,” said Kasim Alfalahi, founder and CEO of Avanci. “With Avanci, something that would require time and resources to negotiate with many technology holders can now be done in one place, with one license, allowing IoT manufacturing companies access to the most advanced wireless technology in the world while they focus on bringing new products to the market.”
Mobile technology research and development company InterDigital joined Avanci, a marketplace for the licensing of cellular standards-essential technology for the Internet of Things (IoT). The licensing platform brings together some of InterDigital’s peers in standards-essential technology leadership, and makes 2G, 3G and 4G standards-essential patents available to IoT players in specific product segments with one flat-rate license.
The Avanci licensing programs in specific product segments for the IoT industry will provide access to the entire applicable standards-essential wireless patent portfolios held by all of the platform participants, as well as any additions to their portfolios during the term of the license.
InterDigital is pleased to participate in Avanci’s initial licensing program that will include automobiles and smart meters covering 2G, 3G and 4G standards-essential cellular technologies.
“The number of companies incorporating connectivity in their business models is rapidly increasing. By having efficient access to essential wireless technology and leveraging the global network, these companies can reduce time to market and reach scale faster,” said Gustav Brismark, Ericsson’s chief intellectual property officer. “Avanci’s licensing platform enables the adoption of our essential wireless technology among IoT device manufacturers, accelerates the development of the Internet of Things and the global uptake of LTE for IoT.”
“At Qualcomm, we have been expanding our wireless technology beyond mobile into new industries in the world of Internet of Things. Our technology solutions are helping IoT providers across market segments – from homes to cars, cities and wearables – redefine what’s possible,” said Alex Rogers, president of Qualcomm Technology Licensing. “We are pleased to share our cellular patented technology through Avanci to streamline essential patent licensing for certain IoT applications and accelerate growth for the IoT industry.”
