Withings picks Sequans module for connected health

  • January 19, 2021
  • Steve Rogerson

French connected health firm Withings has selected Sequans’ Monarch 2 LTE-M and NB-IoT technology as the basis for its upcoming IoT connected health devices.

Withings builds a wide range of health monitoring devices, including activity trackers, body weight and cardio monitors, blood pressure monitors, and sleep analysers.

“We have selected Monarch 2 as the basis for our next generation of connected health because we believe Monarch 2 is the most advanced cellular LTE-M and NB-IoT connectivity technology available today,” said Xavier Debreuil, product director at Withings. “Monarch 2 provides everything we were looking for – LTE-M cellular connectivity with unmatched low power consumption, advanced integrated features, and a very small form factor. We are especially pleased with Monarch 2’s exceptionally low power consumption that enables extended battery life even using simple batteries, which makes these devices easier to manage and encourages regular usage.”

Withings is using Sequans’ recently announced Monarch 2 GM02S module that delivers low power consumption with a 60 per cent improvement over the first generation Monarch. Also, it is a cellular IoT module supporting a certifiable EAL5+ secure enclave for integrated SIM (ieUICC) capability that is compliant with GSMA standards.

The module also supports a single rail power supply starting at 2.2V, said to be the lowest level in the industry, allowing for better efficiency of the internal power management unit, further reducing power consumption and lowering battery and BoM cost.

“Withings is dedicated to transforming the relationship between people and healthcare professionals and we are proud to provide the connectivity for their truly innovative ehealth devices,” said Didier Dutronc, executive vice president at Sequans. “Monarch 2 was developed with companies like Withings in mind, companies who are dedicated to providing powerful IoT services in the most advanced and efficient way possible.”

Withings, formerly Nokia Health, has built products across the health spectrum including activity trackers, connected scales, wireless blood pressure monitor and sleep systems. Every piece of collected data comes to life in the free Health Mate app where users can find coaching, motivation and insights to shape key aspects of their health.

Sequans Communications is a developer and provider of 5G and 4G chips and modules for massive, broadband and critical IoT. Founded in 2003, Sequans is based in Paris, France, with offices in the USA, UK, Finland, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and China.