IBM deal lift-off for Ubisense in Korea

A major deal with IBM in Korea is set to strengthen the revenue-generating power in Asia of Cambridge company Ubisense – market leader in precise RTLS (Real-time Location Systems) based on ultra-wideband technology.

The company delivers complete solutions based on a highly scalable and reliable real-time location platform that is being deployed in mission critical applications around the world.

The latest Korean coup will prove significant, enabling the Cambridge company to leverage IBM’s strategy to deliver a Korean-compliant UWB-based RTLS with Ubisense’s technology.

IBM Korea is framing it as a joint investment and is aiming to deliver the solution later in 2008. It believes Ubisense can cash in by spreading its customer base in Korea with similar alliances.

The IBM-Ubisense solution complies with the bandwidth 7.2-10 GHz approved by the Korean government in 2006.

Ubisense’s platform and related system locates people and assets to an achievable accuracy of 15cm in 3D. IBM Korea is pitching into the partnership the radio frequency identification expertise it has built up over the years through its global solution centres.

Comprehensive field testing and monitoring of system development in the new bandwidth roll-out will be a critical part of the offering to Korean customers under the alliance.

Ubisense has already supplied more than 40 customers in Asian countries during the last 18 months and has logged up a number of success stories with clients such as Honda, DHL, Hellmann, Continental, Boeing and others in Asia, Europe and North America.

The joint investment with Ubisense shows IBM Korea is very confident for the future growth of the RTLS market in Korea and Japan – and IBM Korea will deploy the solution through implementation of actual projects with reference customer this year.

H.B. Choi, country manager of Ubisense Korea based in Seoul said: “It is very natural that Ubisense will extend its customer bases in Korea with a successful deployment and this is a great opportunity to build a concrete relationship between Ubisense and IBM’s Solution team through the joint investment.”

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