Sierra Wireless
Encyclopedia
Sierra Wireless is a wireless communications
equipment designer and manufacturer, founded in 1993 and currently headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia
, Canada
.
Sierra Wireless offers industry-leading mobile computing and machine-to-machine (M2M
) communications products and solutions that connect people, devices, and applications over cellular networks. Wireless service providers, equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government organizations around the world depend on Sierra Wireless for reliable wireless technology. Sierra Wireless offers 2G
, 3G
and 4G
mobile broadband
wireless modems, routers and gateways as well as a comprehensive suite of software, tools, and services.
Sierra's products are sold through indirect channels, such as wireless operators (e.g., AT&T Mobility, TELUS
, Sprint
and Verizon Wireless
), resellers, and OEMs
.
On March 6, 2007, Sierra Wireless announced its purchase of Hayward, California
-based AirLink Communications, a privately held developer (and supplier) of wireless data solutions, for $27 million in cash and stock.
On August 5, 2008, Sierra Wireless announced its purchase of Junxion
, producers of the Linux
-based mobile
wireless access point
s and network routers.
In October 2008, Sierra Wireless was named one of BC's Top Employers
by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which was announced by The Vancouver Sun
, The Province
and the Victoria Times-Colonist.
In December 2008, Sierra Wireless made a friendly all-cash bid to acquire Wavecom for $275 million.
Sierra is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association
.
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
equipment designer and manufacturer, founded in 1993 and currently headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Sierra Wireless offers industry-leading mobile computing and machine-to-machine (M2M
M2M
M2M is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:-Computing:* M2M , an implementation of the Object Management Group's QVT standard for model transformation* Many-to-many , as an entity-relationship model...
) communications products and solutions that connect people, devices, and applications over cellular networks. Wireless service providers, equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government organizations around the world depend on Sierra Wireless for reliable wireless technology. Sierra Wireless offers 2G
2G
2G is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Second generation 2G cellular telecom networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard in Finland by Radiolinja in 1991...
, 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
and 4G
4G
In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards. In 2009, the ITU-R organization specified the IMT-Advanced requirements for 4G standards, setting peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Mbit/s...
mobile broadband
Mobile Broadband
Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access through a portable modem, mobile phone or other mobile device.-Description:...
wireless modems, routers and gateways as well as a comprehensive suite of software, tools, and services.
Sierra's products are sold through indirect channels, such as wireless operators (e.g., AT&T Mobility, TELUS
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
, Sprint
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
and Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
), resellers, and OEMs
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
.
On March 6, 2007, Sierra Wireless announced its purchase of Hayward, California
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
-based AirLink Communications, a privately held developer (and supplier) of wireless data solutions, for $27 million in cash and stock.
On August 5, 2008, Sierra Wireless announced its purchase of Junxion
Junxion
Junxion is a company known for its cellular routers in a recognizable lime green color. These network appliance products used embedded distribution of Linux and contained a PCMCIA card slot for supplying the mobile wireless PC card....
, producers of the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
-based mobile
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
wireless access point
Wireless access point
In computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...
s and network routers.
In October 2008, Sierra Wireless was named one of BC's Top Employers
BC's Top Employers
BC's Top Employers is an annual competition that recognizes the best employers in British Columbia to work. First published in October 2005, the special designation recognizes the British Columbia employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work...
by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which was announced by The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
, The Province
The Province
The Province is a daily, tabloid format newspaper published in British Columbia by Postmedia. It has been a daily newspaper since 1898.According to a recent NADbank survey, The Provinces average weekday readership was 520,100, making it British Columbia's most read newspaper...
and the Victoria Times-Colonist.
In December 2008, Sierra Wireless made a friendly all-cash bid to acquire Wavecom for $275 million.
Sierra is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association
British Columbia Technology Industry Association
The British Columbia Technology Industry Association is a not-for-profit member-funded trade association in British Columbia, Canada, which promotes the technology industry in the province...
.
Products
Sierra's core product areas are:- AirPrime wireless modules for mobile computing and M2M
- AirCard Mobile Broadband Devices
- AirLink intelligent wireless gateways and routers
- AirVantage Services Platform and Solutions