Integrating advanced wireless connectivity with STM32 microcontrollers, STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm join forces to simplify IoT development.
STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm Technologies International, Limited. have announced a collaboration to enhance advanced industrial and consumer IoT solutions. Qualcomm’s wireless connectivity technologies will be integrated with ST’s STM32 microcontroller ecosystem as part of this partnership.
According to STMicroelectronics, this integration aims to simplify developers’ design processes, allowing for quick, cost-effective development of IoT applications augmented by edge AI. It will also facilitate seamless connectivity software incorporation into STM32 general-purpose microcontrollers, leveraging Qualcomm’s Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
Furthermore, developers will benefit from easy access to software toolkits and broad adoption through ST’s global sales channels.
However, no financial information regarding the deal was disclosed.
Remi El-Ouazzane, President of Microcontrollers, Digital ICs, and RF Products Group at STMicroelectronics, emphasised the importance of wireless connectivity in promoting edge AI across various applications. He highlighted the potential for future products to enhance ST’s multi-protocol portfolio, providing value to over 100,000 STM32 customers worldwide.
Rahul Patel, Group General Manager for Qualcomm Technologies, stated that this collaboration combines ST’s microcontroller strengths with Qualcomm’s connectivity solutions, enhancing developer experiences in the IoT sector.
STMicroelectronics plans to launch self-contained modules using Qualcomm’s SoC portfolio, reducing development time and accelerating time-to-market. Initial products are expected to be available to OEMs in Q1 2025, and future Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo SoCs and potential cellular connectivity for industrial applications are also planned.
Andrew Zignani, Senior Research Director at ABI Research, noted that the collaboration positions both companies to meet the growing demand for connected devices, projected to exceed 80 billion units by 2028.
