Skyworks Solutions announced on Monday that its connectivity solutions are enabling next generation tracking devices, a new Internet of Things application. Specifically, Skyworks’ high efficiency, front-end systems have been adopted by nearable technology company XY Findables to increase battery life and nearly double the range when compared to other personal item finders.
XY4+ item finders utilize Skyworks’ highly integrated front-end modules designed for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) range extension devices operating in the 2.4 to 2.485 GHz range. Applications include wearables, beacons, sensors, home automation and other IoT platforms.
XY | The Findables Company launched the first generation of its product, the XY Finder, on Kickstarter in 2014. XY Finders are Bluetooth LE-powered units that, when synced to the XY Find It mobile app, allow users to keep tabs on their valuable property. Currently, XY Finders are available online at XYFindIt.com and Amazon.com as well as in brick and mortar stores across the country.
“Advancing Bluetooth wireless performance in premium products like XY4+ demonstrates our commitment to pioneering breakthrough technologies and addressing demand for connectivity across a broad array of IoT applications,” said John O’Neill, vice president of product marketing for Skyworks. “As part of our ambitious vision to connect everyone and everything all the time, we are delighted to partner with innovative companies like XY Findables to offer our system-level expertise and broad product portfolio.”
According to XY, the average person spends approximately five hours a month searching for misplaced items like TV remotes, keys, smartphones, eyewear, wallets and purses. In a recent report from the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency, personal tracking devices are expected to become the fastest growing market within the Location Based Services (LBS) sector with an expected compounded annual growth rate of 18 percent between 2016 and 2025.
“By leveraging Skyworks’ fully integrated solutions, we were able to accelerate the introduction of the most powerful Bluetooth item finder available today,” said Arie Trouw, chief executive officer of XY. “XY4+’s platform radically improves performance and extends battery life up to five years, supporting our goal of providing consumers both peace of mind and assistance when locating their most valuable items.”
