MediaTek Launches IoT, Wearables Development Facility

Mobile chip manufacturer MediaTek has announced plans to expand its development capabilities with the launch of a new facility focused on wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

MediaTek Labs offers  a range of tools for developers, including software development kits (SDKs), hardware development kits (HDKs), and technical documentation, as well as technical and business support. The SDKs available include a preview release of MediaTek’s new Android SDK, offering features such as multi-SIM capability, secure data exchange, HD audio recording, and imaging enhancements to help developers create powerful new apps.

The program is open to developers of any background or skill level, with the company saying that its ultimate goal is, “to work with you and all our partners to help connect billions of things and people, and captivate the minds of consumers”.

Small but powerful

New devices will be powered by MediaTek’s MT2502 chipset, based on their LinkIt Development platform, which it says is the world’s smallest commercially-available system on a chip (SoC), offering a powerful yet efficient processor.

Developers who had already created code using MediaTek’s Arduino language will be able to quickly and easily move this over, which the company hopes will encourage cross-platform development.

“With the launch of MediaTek Labs we’re opening up a new world of possibilities for everyone — from hobbyists and students through to professional developers and designers — to unleash their creativity and innovation,” said Marc Naddell, vice president of MediaTek Labs.

“We believe that the innovation enabled by MediaTek Labs will drive the next wave of consumer gadgets and apps that will connect billions of things and people around the world.”

MediaTek is best known for its low-cost mobile processors, which recently hit the headlines in powering Google’s Android One smartphones for developing markets.

The company also recently announced it would be teaming up with Opera to incorporate data compression software into its processors, allowing Android smartphone users to consume double the amount of data included in their mobile tariffs.

The company has found it tough to keep up with bigger rivals such as Intel and Qualcomm, which both announced similar projects to the Labs earlier this year, using the Quark SoC and Atheros technology respectively.

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