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Vancouver-based eSIM Company Otono Networks Acquired by Digital Labs group at Idemia
Wednesday, January 24, 2018Company Profile | Follow Company
Vancouver, BC, January 24, 2018--(T-Net)--Vancouver-based eSIM company Otono Networks announced today that it has been acquired by Idemia.
Terms of the acquisition have not been released.
Idemia, formerly OT-Morpho, is a global leader in trusted identities. They have pioneered the concept of Augmented Identity, which allows people to use and manage their identities in new and secure ways as they commute, travel, bank, and use mobile devices every day.
Otono's vision was to be a global leader in connectivity, networking the billions of devices coming online. The Otono Platform is purpose-built for eSIM solutions, and helping both mobile operators and device manufacturers prepare their networks for the next generation of connected devices.
But with ubiquitous connectivity there is a strong need for security and trust, according to the company. People need to trust that their devices and identities are secure from tampering or forgery.
This is why Otono reported that it thinks Idemia is a perfect match, and choosing them is the next logical step in their journey.
Otono will be joining the Idemia Digital Labs group, which is focused on 3 main technologies: digital payments, digital identity, and connected objects.
The Otono Platform will be bundled with Idemia's M-Connect platform to provide a complete eSIM Lifecycle Management solution for mobile operators and OEMs today; however, they believe that with the resources and support of Idemia they will make significant advancements not only in the adoption of eSIM but also innovate in ways that will merge together connectivity, payments, and secure identity to offer new and exciting solutions.
"The industry is at a point of massive change where new technologies are emerging and the impact they will have is just starting to be understood. The Internet of Things, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles - the list goes on" stated the company in a brief announcement.
"We strongly believe that the eSIM, and more importantly ubiquitous cellular connectivity, is a critical element for this vision. Otono and Idemia both share this vision and that is why we have come together - to build the future" said the company.
About Otono Networks
Otono is a leader in eSIM enablement and orchestration solutions for any device or mobile operator worldwide. Otono has been working with eSIM since 2014, and has established its presence in the eSIM space with a successful eSIM-based consumer product.
The comprehensive cloud-based Otono Platform is the leading platform for anyone deploying eSIM-based devices to their network. It is able to seamlessly integrate with any existing mobile architecture to remove the complexities of eSIM implementation. Otono can provide the necessary middleware to complete integration and launch eSIM-enabled devices with significantly reduced risk, time to market, and without major changes to existing networks.
Contact:
Emir Aboulhosn
CEO and Founder, Otono Networks
Email: hello@otono.com
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Editor's Note: The full original text news release from Idemia regarding their acquisition of Otono Networks is listed down below.
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IDEMIA announces acquisition of Otono Networks and its eSIM orchestration solution
IDEMIA, a global leader in Augmented Identity for an increasingly digital world, today announced the acquisition of Otono Networks and its industry-leading eSIM orchestration technology.
Together, IDEMIA and Otono will offer a comprehensive eSIM lifecycle management solution to simplify the adoption of eSIM for both mobile operators (MNOs) and device manufacturers (OEMs).
This acquisition marks the first external expansion by the IDEMIA group, formed in 2017 when OT (Oberthur Technologies) and Safran Identity & Security (Morpho) joined forces, and illustrates IDEMIA's strategic vision facing the future of connected devices.
By 2020, connected objects in use worldwide could reach 20.4 billion (source: www.gartner.com). Faced with the increasing number of new eSIM devices (smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, PCs, etc.) and IoT applications, MNOs and OEMs must confront several challenges, the most critical of which is navigating the complex architecture required to launch eSIM.
New use cases create new challenges of implementation due to the strain on existing infrastructure. Teams must employ complex interfaces, manage different integrations between ecosystem elements, all while minimizing risk to existing B/OSS - which can lead to lengthy and costly integrations.
Otono's cloud-based orchestration solution was designed specifically to handle eSIM and address all of these challenges. It provides a centralized hub that synchronizes eSIM activation and provisioning workflows with each element in the ecosystem. The integration of Otono's orchestration hub into IDEMIA means customers can now have an end-to-end solution to manage the entire eSIM lifecycle while addressing the needs of all players including MNOs, OEMs, and end-users.
"In 2014, we began working with a major OEM on a market-first eSIM solution and found ourselves solving complex problems in the pursuit of our goal which was to maximize the potential of eSIM. During that time, we had the opportunity to work with some of the leading eSIM vendors, and our experience with IDEMIA made it clear that we had found the perfect partner to help carry forward our vision and together with a combined solution accelerate the adoption of eSIM worldwide", said Emir Aboulhosn, Founder of Otono Networks.
Together, IDEMIA and Otono now have a GSMA-compliant solution that helps MNOs and OEMs rapidly support new devices onboarding eSIM, keeping pace with the industry's growing appetite for always-connected devices. This single-vendor, single-integration solution was designed exclusively for eSIM and incorporates all the necessary elements for complete eSIM lifecycle management.
Components of the IDEMIA eSIM Lifecycle Management Platform:
With a single integration, IDEMIA provides a comprehensive, future-proof solution that supports both Consumer and M2M GSMA RSP specifications including the ES2+ interface. It also eliminates the need for integration by customers, with no changes required to existing B/OSS, allowing for faster time to market and a lower cost of ownership.
"The acquisition of Otono delivers our customers a unique value proposition for eSIM management in the global market. Our comprehensive eSIM Lifecycle Management Platform is the best choice for both MNOs and OEMs looking to invest in eSIM. By launching the industry's first truly infrastructure-agnostic solution, we are committed to providing operators with a way to bring eSIM devices to market faster, while offering long-term insurance in a fast-changing industry" said Marek Juda, EVP Digital Labs IDEMIA.
By combining its existing core digital solutions, ranging from digitalization of customer registration to connectivity management, together with Otono's orchestration hub, IDEMIA hopes to become a unique market player offering an innovative, simple, end-to-end eSIM solution enabling a customer's entire digital journey.