Some retro fans may be excited to hear that iconic video game company Atari will be making some new hardware. Sadly, we're not going to see a modern console version of the 2600; instead, the company has announced it is joining the growing number of firms entering the Internet of Things market.
Precisely what Atari's new products will be is still unclear. The exact details are due to be released at a later date, but we do know that the connected devices will be for homes, lifestyle, safety, and, surprisingly, pets.
While the jump into the IoT sector may seem a little strange, Atari isn't going at it alone. The company is developing the products in partnership with French startup Sigfox, which specializes in building wireless networks that connect to low-energy IoT devices.
Sigfox's network, which currently operates or is being deployed in 18 countries and has over 7 million registered devices, infrequently sends out two-way transmissions of small quantities of data, making it suitable for low-power IoT devices.
"SIGFOX is transforming the way people are connecting to their objects in a simple and intuitive way. By partnering together and using SIGFOX's dedicated IoT connectivity, we are going to create amazing products with our brand," said Fred Chesnais, Atari's Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to our collaboration with SIGFOX and releasing new products to the mass market on a global scale."
While Sigfox's network covers a number of European countries, it's still being rolled out in other regions, including the US. It'll be interesting to see what connected devices Atari produce, and if sporting the legendary brand name makes them more appealing to consumers.
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