Bosch acquires devices connectivity specialist ProSyst

Bosch Software Innovations GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bosch Group, has agreed to acquire ProSyst, a company that makes software that enables device connectivity over internet of things.

Agreements to this effect were signed on Friday. Bosch, however, did not disclose the purchase price.

ProSyst specialises in the development of gateway software and middleware for the internet of things. These facilitate the interaction between connected devices in the smart home, connected industry, and mobility segments. The company employs some 110 associates in Cologne, Germany, and Sofia, Bulgaria.

The company's customers include leading appliance manufacturers, automakers, and chip vendors, as well as telecommunications and energy service providers.

The acquisition is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities, Bosch said in its press release.
 
ProSyst's solutions are built on the Java programming language and OSGi technology. ''On this basis, the company has been developing successful gateway software and middleware that serves as a link between devices and the cloud for more than ten years. This link is essential for interconnecting buildings, vehicles, and machines,'' said Rainer Kallenbach, president of Bosch Software Innovations.

''In Bosch, we have a strategic partner with a strong global sales network. This alliance means that we can play a bigger role in the growing market for the internet of things and decisively expand our global position,'' said Daniel Schellhoss, the founder and managing director of ProSyst.

Applications for Java and OSGi include the smart home and industrial manufacturing segments. Software that is written in Java and combined with OSGi technology can be automatically installed, updated, and uninstalled remotely without the need to reboot the device each time. This remote access is frequently realized via gateway software, which also ensures that devices can be intelligently controlled.

For example, the software can receive and assess information on electricity prices or weather forecasts, and then pass it on to the central heating system to increase its operating efficiency.

Bosch Software Innovations subsidiary is a provider of one-stop solutions in the area of the internet of things. Its core product is the Bosch IoT Suite. The unit employs around 550 associates around the globe at locations in Germany (Berlin, Immenstaad, Stuttgart), Singapore, China (Shanghai), and the US (Chicago and Palo Alto).