MicroEJ and Rtone join forces to speed-up IoT device development in global chip shortages

Rtone, Business Unit of the international ABMI group, has been recognised since 2007 for its expertise in product design and development. With a team of 80 engineers, Rtone carries out all the design, electronics, radio, mechanics, the development of all embedded, mobile and cloud software, as well as maintenance.

This partnership aims to unite MicroEJ’s technology and its optimised software container with Rtone’s skills in electronics, mechatronics, design and software. This synergy generates better solutions to crucial industry challenges such as a simplified and accelerated development process, optimised costs, and faster time-to-market.

This collaboration provides an unprecedented solution to strengthen the resilience of the electronics supply chain. It facilitates the implementation of multi-sourcing strategies that considerably reduces the risk of supply chain disruptions.

Swapping out a processor is limited to adapting the PCB board as most software functions will operate identically on the hardware without any modification. The solution thus saves several months of development compared to the technologies without software containers that are traditionally used.

MICROEJ VEE is designed for low-cost and low-power processors.

The solution allows to:

Accelerate development using virtual devices

MicroEJ radically simplifies the design of new products by integrating simulation for prototyping, development, and testing on virtual devices. Simulation allows for faster product specifications, without having to wait for the first electronic prototypes.

Improve supply chain resilience:

MICROEJ VEE software containers separate the software and hardware layers, which makes it possible to quickly swap out processors without modifying the product software functions. Manufacturers can thus quickly react to hardware shortages or electronic component obsolescence to ensure business continuity in the face of uncertainty due to widespread supply issues.

Capitalise on software assets:

MICROEJ VEE promotes software assets reuse through modular programming, which supports incremental innovation in the design of new products.

“MicroEJ’s goal is to integrate the industrial value chain by democratising software container technology – already widely used in the industries of computing and smartphones – to the embedded world”. Said Fred Rivard, MicroEJ’s CEO. “This achievement is further strengthened through solid partnerships with significant players such as Rtone, who shares the same objective, i.e. the optimisation of our customers’ costs and budgets, while guaranteeing the design of robust, profitable, and low power IoT devices.”

“Our collaboration with MicroEJ allows us to increase our ability to meet our customers’ needs by offering a turnkey solution for the design and software development of their product.” Said Adrien Desportes, Rtone’s General Manager. “Thanks to MICROEJ VEE, we are greatly accelerating the design of new, feature-rich, and scalable IoT products.”

After the launch of several joint projects in the home automation and industrial automation markets, Rtone’s joins MicroEJ’s ‘Certified Partner’ programme. This programme is intended to increase sales forces tenfold to provide manufacturers access to experts with extensive knowledge in MicroEJ’s technology.

Visit Rtone’s booth #E-225 at SIDO, which is taking place on September 14–15 2022 at the Cite Internationale in Lyon. It is an opportunity to meet with MicroEJ and Rtone experts to discuss your future projects and challenges.