au HOME launching with Z-Wave in July 2017

FREMONT, Calif., June 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sigma Designs® (NASDAQ:SIGM), a leading provider of intelligent system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for connected smart TV platforms and smart home IoT, is pleased to announced that Japan’s largest telco corporation, KDDI, uses Z-Wave as the wireless mesh technology powering their smart home solution, au HOME, designed specifically for network operators.

KDDI is growing its lifestyle brand for consumers with the expansion of the popular au mobile service beyond communications into home services aimed to capture a piece of the growing smart home market and extend it in Japan. The fully integrated, plug-and-play smart home service, au HOME, will leverage Z-Wave for a broad array of sensors, outlets, locks, and other connected devices essential for the delivery of optimal home security, automation, and smart metering services. Au HOME with Z-Wave will allow au smartphone users with the service to easily monitor their home on-the-go and control home temperatures, lock doors and windows, control lighting, and measure power consumption.

"We are excited to be working with KDDI to bring Z-Wave technology to Japan," said Raoul Wijgergangs, VP of Sigma Designs' Z-Wave Business Unit. "Capitalizing on the smart home market requires thoughtful solutions that address the real challenges faced by both service providers and end consumers. KDDI's system will allow them to easily introduce new smart home technology and allow consumers to expand their smart home functionality without fear of incompatibility. As the market leader and most secure and interoperable smart home protocol, Z-Wave is perfect for powering KDDI's innovative new service."

Z-Wave smart home deployments have been at the forefront of new telco initiatives in the U.S. and Europe for many years. The market in Asia is now rapidly closing the gap with all three major providers in Republic of Korea: SK, KT and LGU+, offering programs capped off with this announcement by industry giant, KDDI, in Japan.   

The au HOME smart home solution with Z-Wave will be available for consumers in Japan at the end of July 2017.

About Sigma Designs
Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM) is a world leader in enabling smart home convergence. The company designs and builds the essential semiconductor technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s leading Connected Smart TV platforms, and Internet of Things (IoT) for smart home devices. For more information about Sigma Designs, please visit www.sigmadesigns.com.

About Z-Wave
Z-Wave technology is an open internationally recognized ITU standard (G.9959). It is the leading wireless home control technology in the market today, with over 1700 certified interoperable products worldwide. Represented by the Z-Wave Alliance, and supported by more than 450 companies around the world, the standard is a key enabler of smart living solutions for home safety and security, energy, hospitality, office and light commercial applications. Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

About KDDI
KDDI is a Japanese telecommunications corporation that provides au.

KDDI views itself as a "Life Design Company," as our goal is to provide various products and services to revolutionize the lives of customers by helping them design their own lifestyles and liberate themselves from inconveniences to obtain greater freedom. Our Business Management Direction is "Transforming into a Business that Provides Customer Experience Value" and brand message is "New Freedom," so we seek to provide "New Freedom" and "provide customer experience value" on a cornerstone of "customer perspective (liberation)" and "innovation (discovery)."

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about consumer adoption, and the anticipated features and benefits of Sigma’s products and solutions with respect to Z-Wave and various Z-Wave offerings. Actual results may vary materially due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, consumer and customer acceptance of Z-Wave , Sigma’s ability to deploy and achieve market acceptance for Sigma’s products in its target markets, including the IoT market, the ability of the Z-Wave development kit, chipsets and modules to compete with other technologies or products in these markets as well as other risks that are detailed from time to time in Sigma’s SEC reports, including its report on Form 10-Q..Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sigma undertakes no obligation to publicly release or otherwise disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made as a result of events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Press Contacts:
Mary Miller
Sigma Designs
+1-510-897-1069
Mary_Miller@sigmadesigns.com

Alexandra Crabb
Caster Communications
+1-401-792-7080
alex@castercomm.com

SOURCE : Sigma Designs, Inc.

--BERNAMA