In line with Advantech Co. Ltd.’s stated objective of providing better life conditions for individuals, the Company’s subsidiary, Advantech Intelligent Services, co-launched the UbiQ Scenario Master with a local partner, Sigmaline Technologies Sdn. Bhd., on the 23rd of October 2008. This event started at 9.30am with the registration of all participants. The Guest of Honour at this product launch was Mr. Henry Lee, the Vice President from the headquarters of Advantech, whilst Dato Hamid, Chairman of Sigmaline Sdn. Bhd., hosted the event.

Advantech Co. Ltd. is a global leader in Industrial PC & Automation facilities based in Taiwan, The Company was founded in 1983, and is today a globally leading ePlatform services provider of web-based technology, computing platforms and customization services to empower innovations in the connected eWorld. The Company delivers more than a thousand products and platform solutions in five main categories – Industrial & Network Computing, Embedded Computing, Applied Computing, eVideo Solutions and eAutomation. Total staff strength is 2,700, and the Company operates in 18 countries.

Sigmaline Technologies Sdn. Bhd. is a professional Systems Integrator in Safety, Security and Home Automation, and is an Associate Company of Permodalan Nasional Berhad. The Company commenced operations in 2000 and it was originally a division of e-Lock Corporation Sdn. Bhd. Today, the Company prides itself on being a Total Extra Low Wattage Solution Provider, occupying a unique niche position in Malaysia. Besides its’ core activities, the Company is also engaged in providing structural cabling for IT and Telephony infrastructure, with the skills sets to design and implement Network and Voice Solutions.

Tagged as having the capability to “Reshape an Intelligent and Blissful Living Space”, the UbiQ Scenario Master can be integrated with various systems to provide a marvelous ambience, whether in the home or in the office. This highly intelligent system can be controlled locally or remotely via the Internet, the PC or the handphone, making it very easy to utilize. Including audio and visual functions, the system can be used to manage lighting systems, adjustment of shades or the lowering of projection screens. The system can also be utilized in hotels rooms or suites, ballrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, theatres and restaurants, to provide the ubiquitous lifestyle preferred by today’s customers.

The product is already globally well-known, having been installed in Taiwan, India, Dubai, Australia and many other countries. One of the key functionalities of the UbiQ Scenario Master is its’ ability to control lighting through a friendly interface, to provide innumerable choices for the consumer, not to mention energy saving potential.

A sister product of the Scenario Master is the UbiQ-470, which is an “In-wall Touch Panel”. Again, there is a user-friendly interface which can be used to create an ambience of choice for the home user. Additionally, the UbiQ-470 can be integrated with strategically-placed CCTV cameras outside the home, to monitor and relay visitors’ images to points of access control within the home.

The Vice President of Advantech, Mr. Henry Lee gave the rationale as to why these type of products are being developed by Advantech. “We see the thriving market trend in broadband internet access and digital homes, and therefore began full-scale research and development in digital home applications”. The breakthrough into this sector of the industry was made when Advantech made a foray into the biggest property development project at the time in Japan, Roppongi Hills. This project marked the Company’s move into digital building automation and digital home automation design.

With the convergence of communications, intelligent appliances and digital home concepts, intelligent homes and business environments have become the norm in the real estate industry. As a result of this, Mr. Mok Siew Wah, the Executive Director of Sigmaline Technologies Sdn. Bhd. said, “Customers’ needs today have evolved from mere luxury to a desired intelligent environment and convenience”.

Although relatively young in terms of this particular market, Advantech is highly competitive mainly because of the core principles the Company espouses in its’ daily existence. Contributing to the strength of the Company is the inherent quality of the Company’s products, its’ price competitiveness, user affordability and Advantech’s original embedded technology, which allows for the system to be customized exactly to user requirements.

The UbiQ Scenario Master Product Launch was opened by Dato Hamid, the Chairman of Sigmaline Technologies Sdn. Bhd., followed by a short speech from Mr. Henry Lee, Vice President of Advantech Co. Ltd. With the real estate sector being major stakeholders in the industry, the Keynote Speech was delivered by Mr. Ricque Liew Yin Chew, Vice President of the Real Estate & Housing Developers Association (REHDA) of Malaysia. Ricque’s speech was followed by a short lecture on the product and its’ capabilities delivered by Mr. Jess Wu, Senior Product Manager, Advantech Intelligent Services.

A short period for refreshments was followed by a product demonstration. Everyone present was suitably impressed with the functionalities of the UbiQ Scenario Master, and there was an excited buzz at the end of the demonstration from amongst those present.

IA News managed to engage the Vice President of Advantech, Mr. Henry Lee, and Mr. Mak Siew Wah, the Executive Director of Sigmaline, for a short interview before the end of proceedings.

According to Mr. Henry Lee, the UbiQ Scenario Master system can be linked to home security systems via sensors, as can remote monitoring, which is carried out through a LAN interface. The Company is currently working with Google to connect subscribers to Google services. This has not been announced yet, but the two Companies are close to achieving a satisfactory solution. A tie-up with Google will introduce all types of services to home owners, services such as news, films, e-books, etc..

Mr. Mok said that Sigmaline was originally a pure research and development Company. Very soon, however, it graduated into doing design work, and from there it was but a short step to carrying out installations. He emphasized that the Company was not interested in short-term relationships, and gave the example of its’ tie-up with Clipsall as an example. The Company is currently reverting, to a small extent, to its’ original function of being a research and development Company, by developing enhanced “Anti-Phishing” tools, with which to combat identity theft. It has already installed such tools in six Malaysian banks and has ventured into Japan, where Sigmaline supports an e-trade system.

IA News would like to thank all at Advantech and Sigmaline for being gracious hosts, and also would like to wish this partnership between the two Companies all the success it deserves.

Courtesy of Advantech