Universal Electronics Inc

Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) is an American smart home technology provider[2] and manufacturer of universal remote controls, IoT devices such as voice-enabled smart home hubs,[3] smart thermostats, home sensors; as well as a white label digital assistant platform[4] optimized for smart home applications, and other software and cloud services for device discovery, fingerprinting and interoperability.[5] The company designs, develops, manufactures and ships products both under the "One For All" brand[6] and as an OEM for other companies in the audio video, subscription broadcasting, connected home, tablet and smart phone markets. In 2015, it expanded its product and technology platform to include home automation, intelligent sensing and security.

Universal Electronics Inc
TypePublic
NASDAQ: UEIC
S&P 600 Component
IndustryConsumer Electronics
Founded1986 (1986)[1]
Headquarters
Scottsdale, Arizona
,
USA
ProductsIoT Devices, Smart thermostat, Smart Home, Virtual Assistant, Remote controls
Brands
  • QuickSet
  • QuickSet Cloud
  • One For All
  • Nevo
  • Ecolink
  • RCS
Websiteuei.com

UEI's global headquarters is located in Scottsdale, Arizona with R&D offices in Santa Ana, California, regional offices in Enschede (The Nederlands), Manaus (Brazil), Hong Kong, Bangalore (India), San Mateo and Carlsbad (California), and Twinsburg (Ohio).[1][7]

In 2014 UEI was ranked 80 on Forbes' list of "America's Best Small Companies."[1]

Many of UEI's products use different low power wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Zigbee (or other 802.15.4 communications). UEI is a member of different wireless industry alliances such as ZigBee Alliance, Bluetooth SIG as well as Wi-Fi Alliance.[8] UEI also offer SoCs such as UE878[9] and SDK to enable multi-protocol communication for different smart home devices such as leading Smart TVs.

Products

UEI is one the world's largest manufacturer of remote controls, responsible for an estimated 30% global market share in home entertainment remotes.[10] Under its Ecolink brand, it also makes home security and automation products such as motion and door/window entry sensors for DIY and professional home security markets and OEMs such as Interlogix (UTC), Honeywell and Tyco . Many of the control products are made under contract and then sold under the brand name of larger consumer electronic manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba, Daikin, Mitsubishi, Yamaha, and Sharp, as well as North American cable and satellite TV providers such as Comcast, Rogers, Cox, Shaw, Charter, DIRECTV and DISH.[10][11]

UEI makes numerous products that use ZigBee, Bluetooth[12] or Wi-Fi technology. They are a member of the ZigBee Alliance, Bluetooth SIG[13] and Wi-Fi Alliance.[14]

QuickSet Cloud

QuickSet Cloud[15][16] is Universal Electronics’ software product family including web services and embedded SDK for simplifying discovery and universal control setup and operation in a smart home. QuickSet solution is a widely[17] deployed technology already in over 400 million devices around the world including set-top boxes from Comcast,[18] Dish Network[12] and DirecTV,[19] televisions from Samsung[20][21] and Sony, game consoles such as Xbox One,[22] and many leading smartphones,[23][24] and tablets to enable automatic discovery and control of nearly any connected home device.

QuickSet Cloud, part of QuickSet product family, is actively used by millions of devices every week such as Comcast's X1[25] Platform. This platform is capable of automatically discovering devices through different interfaces such as IP or HDMI based on proprietary fingerprinting algorithms, and controlling these devices through a range of protocols such as IR, IP, HDMI-CEC, ZigBee or Bluetooth

In January 2019, UEI announced[4] a white label digital assistant platform, nevo.ai, in collaboration with Microsoft. This voice assistant is optimized for smart home applications in security and energy management, as well as entertainment control.

Acquisitions

On February 2009, UEI purchased all of Zilog's software & IP assets related to Zilog's universal remote control business, including all ROM code, software, and database of infrared codes.[26] Zilog sold these assets for $31 million cash.

In August 2015, UEI strengthened its position in the smart home market by acquiring Ecolink Intelligent Technology, a wireless home security and automation specialist.[27] In May 2017, UEI further expanded its smart home offering by acquiring RCS Technology, a pioneer in smart thermostats and energy management.[28]

Honors

In 2017, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded UEI a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for its contribution to "Contextual Voice Navigation for Discovering and Interacting with TV Content."[29]


References
  1. "Universal Electronics on Forbes Lists". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  2. "QuickSet Cloud Developer Portal". developer.quicksetcloud.com. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  3. "Universal Electronics Introduces New Product and Cloud Service to Unify Entertainment Control and Home Automation Experiences". Universal Electronics. 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  4. niharikagorur (2019-01-02). "Universal Electronics and Microsoft collaborate on a turnkey digital assistant platform for the Smart Home". QuickSet Cloud. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  5. Technology, Ecolink Intelligent. "Ecolink Intelligent Technology". Ecolink Intelligent Technology. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  6. "About Us - One For All". UEI.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  7. "UEI Contact page". UEI.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  8. "Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI)". The ZigBee Alliance. zigbee.org. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  9. "Universal Electronics' UE878 Dual RF Chip Powers TiVo's New RF4CE Advanced Voice Remote Control Solution". Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  10. "UEI: Global Manufacturing".
  11. "UEI Cable Remotes Support Website". Urcsupport.com. 2010-06-03. Archived from the original on 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  12. "Universal Electronics - Press - Universal Electronics Delivers New Advanced Voice Control Remote for AirTV Player (January 3, 2017)". www.uei.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  13. "Member Directory | Bluetooth Technology Website". www.bluetooth.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  14. "Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) - The ZigBee Alliance". www.zigbee.org. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  15. "QuickSet Cloud Developer Portal". developer.quicksetcloud.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  16. "QuickSet | crunchbase". www.crunchbase.com. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  17. "Universal Electronics - In The News - In The News". www.uei.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  18. "Universal Electronics Announces Comcast is the First to Deploy QuickSet Cloud™ | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  19. "UEI and DirecTV Launch Remote Control QuickSet | Archives | Cablefax". Cablefax. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  20. "Think smart TV is dumb? Samsung aims to change your mind by controlling your gear". CNET. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  21. Fowler, Geoffrey A. (2016-04-20). "Review: Samsung Fixes the TV Remote". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  22. "Universal Electronics - Press - Universal Electronics Releases UEI QuickSet 2.4 Bringing Next Level of Automation to Universal AV Setup and Control for Millions of Connected Devices Worldwide (January 7, 2014)". www.uei.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  23. "Universal Electronics' QuickSet® Powers IR Control in Porsche-Designed Huawei Mate 9 | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  24. "Universal Electronics - Press - Universal Electronics Makes LG Optimus Vu: II "Q Remote" Universal Remote App a Reality (January 14, 2013)". www.uei.com. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  25. "Comcast Deploys Quickset Cloud | Light Reading". Light Reading. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  26. "Zilog Sells Off Two Product Lines (February 19, 2009)".
  27. "Universal Electronics makes smart home bid with Ecolink acquisition". 2015-08-05.
  28. Jacobson, Julie. "Universal Electronics (UEI) Grows Home Automation Biz, Acquires Smart Thermostat Maker RCS". www.cepro.com. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  29. Pedersen, Erik. "Technology & Engineering Emmy Winners Announced". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
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