Ozmo Shows WiFi PAN Connectivity Is Not to Be PANned

Event Summary

June 21, 2010 – Ozmo Devices, a provider of low-power WiFi personal area network (WiFi PAN) solutions, announced that it started sampling its OZMO2000 chip to select peripheral manufacturers. This is the first WiFi solution that could overcome the battery life, cost, and compatibility issues that have limited the broad adoption of WiFi for HID (human interface device) applications. The OZMO2000 is currently available for use in WiFi mouse, keyboard, and remote control designs. Furthermore, the solution is compatible with all WiFi-enabled notebooks and desktops that are compatible with Windows 7.

Quick Take

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Positive on Ozmo Devices releasing its OZMO2000 product aimed at WiFi personal area networking (WiFi PAN) applications, because Ozmo positions the OZMO2000 product as a breakthrough WiFi solution that addresses the power consumption, compatibility, and economic challenges that have limited using WiFi for human interface device (HID) technologies such as mouse and keyboard peripherals. The partnerships with mouse maker Primax and keyboard maker NMB, Intel investment backing, and Microsoft and Intel compatibility give Ozmo the channel backing needed to potentially achieve a breakthrough in this area.

• Vendor Importance: Very high to Ozmo Devices, since the company needed to unveil the sampling of its OZMO2000 product and the Primax Electronics and NMB Technologies partnerships to sustain marketing momentum into the last quarter of 2010 as production volumes and retail Windows 7-based notebook products using OZMO2000 WiFi PAN capabilities become available.

• Market Impact: Moderate on the HID networking/PAN solution segment, since the Ozmo OZMO2000 WiFi PAN product can prove a robust alternative to Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz approaches in connecting Windows 7 notebooks to peripherals such as mice and keyboards. Since the OZMO2000 product is the first to leverage Windows 7 SoftAP capabilities and over 200 million notebooks are shipped on an annual basis, this is an area that will attract increased attention and it may compel Bluetooth/2.4 GHz PAN solution vendors to diversify more toward WiFi PAN approaches.

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