Silicon Labs Expands IoT Portfolio

Rick Merritt, Jan. 23, 2017 – 

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Silicon Labs bought Zentri, a 20-person module and software vendor, as another small step in its journey to build a product portfolio for the Internet of Things. Financial details were not disclosed.

Zentri had "modest revenues," mainly for Wi-Fi modules with device management, mobile app and cloud connectivity riding on it, said Tyson Tuttle, chief executive of Silicon Labs in a brief interview with EE Times. Whether the company will expand Zentri's IoT cloud service is "something we are considering but we have no specific plans," he said.

The deal is the fourth acquisition since 2012 aimed to turn the mixed-signal chip maker into a broader supplier of microcontrollers with integrated wireless and software for IoT. It purchased real-time OS developer Micrium in October 2016 and Wi-Fi module and software designer Bluegiga for $61 million in February 2015.

Modules are "just another package that happens to have a crystal, antenna and certification, so it's easier to integrate," said Tuttle, noting they can help the company reduce tests costs and stay closer to end customers.

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