January–March 2016
The demand for Bittiumīs R&D services developed positively during the first quarter. The product development project for the Mexican Ministry of Communication and Transportation, started in May 2015, continued according to plans during the first quarter. Bittium develops Android-based mobile devices that use both terrestrial and satellite connection for their MEXSAT system.
Bittium continued the R&D investments in its own products and product platforms aiming for growth especially in the international defense, information security and public safety markets. In February the company presented its Bittium Tough Mobile LTE smartphone and related management and VPN encryption software at the Mobile World Congress 2016 exhibition in Barcelona. Bittium Tough Mobile and related management system and VPN encryption Bittium Secure Suite generated lots of interest in the information security and public safety markets. The pilot deliveries of the product were continued during the first quarter. Bittium has been actively seeking for, and found a few suitable partners and resellers who took Bittium Tough Mobile as part of their own product portfolio and/or solution for their customers. The sale of Bittium Tough Mobile is expected to develop moderately according to the pace of the authorities markets.
In January, Bittium exhibited its secure and easy-to-use Bittium SafeMove remote access solutions for managers working in the healthcare sector at Long-Term Conditions Conference 2016 that was held in QUEII Centre, London. SafeMove VPN encryption software is also been used to secure connections in Bittiumīs IoT (Internet of Things) services and solutions. Bittium presented its IoT solutions and services at Wearable Technology Show 2016 in ExCeL, London in March.
The development of the tactical communication system Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN), used by the Finnish Defence Forces, continued. The product deliveries for the communication system were continued during the first quarter. Bittium received a new order for a new software package for the system. The main objective for the development work of the new software package was to continue enhancing the performance, data transfer capacity and survivability of the software and the related radio platform. The value of the received purchase order was EUR 2.8 million (excl. VAT) and it did not have significant impact on Bittiumīs net sales, operating result or financial standing, or on Bittiumīs financial outlook for the year 2016. The company continued its efforts to bring its defense market targeted product portfolio to the international defense markets, and received the first small order for its TAC WIN system from a customer in Asia.
April–June 2016
Despite of the decrease in the demand for R&D services for the mobile network manufacturers, the demand for Bittiumīs R&D services developed positively during the second quarter of 2016. The product development project for the Mexican Ministry of Communication and Transportation, started in May 2015, continued according to plans. Bittium develops Android-based mobile devices that use both terrestrial and satellite connection for their MEXSAT system.
Bittium continued the R&D investments in its own products and product platforms aiming for growth especially in the international defense, information security and public safety markets. The investments focused mainly in the further development of the Bittium Tough Mobile secure LTE smartphone targeted for the mobile security and public safety markets. The smartphone was presented at the Critical Communications World event in Amsterdam, where Bittium launched a new Bittium Tough Mobile B28 frequency variant, which is targeted for public safety networks requiring this band 28. In addition, Bittium and Air-Lynx demonstrated the first public safety LTE evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Solution (eMBMS) that enables efficient use of the whole LTE radio spectrum, delivering significant amounts of data even in a congested network environment. This is particularly important in public safety, security and other mission-critical communications, which require fast data speeds, low latencies and reliable connections.
The awareness of information security risks grew and the interest towards secure mobile devices increased. Bittium continued pilot deliveries of Bittium Tough Mobile during the second quarter. However, the development of the public safety and information security markets was somewhat slower than expected.
In April, Bittium participated in the Hannover Messe industrial fair in Germany and presented its customized, secure IoT solutions and engineering services. At display were Bittium Smart Watch and IoT gateway reference designs, which can be easily customized according to customer needs and industry specific requirements.
Bittium continued R&D investments also in Bittium SafeMove product family and announced Bittium SafeMove Analytics software as a standalone software product for enterprises for monitoring and analyzing the performance of wireless networks and mobile devices. Organizations that use Analytics will get real-time and historical data on the location of mobile devices and the performance of wireless networks and thus are able to enhance the efficiency and user experience of mobile workers.
In May, Bittium released a new software version of Bittium SafeMove Mobile VPN remote access solution. The new software version enhances the information security of mobile workers by supporting performance-improving encryption methods. Moreover, the new management user interface and support for mobile Android devices make the work of IT departments significantly easier.
In May, Bittium established a partnership with Getac to improve the productivity, security and user experience for field workers in challenging conditions. Bittium offers its SafeMove Mobile VPN and Analytics software to all Getacīs rugged tablets and notebooks as an option across Europe from May 2016 onwards. Bittium exhibited its secure and easy-to-use Bittium SafeMove remote access solutions at Terveydenhuollon ATK-päivät (information technology days for healthcare industry) in Lahti, Finland.
The development of the tactical communication system Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN), used by the Finnish Defence Forces was continued. The product deliveries for the communication system were continued during the second quarter.
In April, Bittium expanded its product portfolio in tactical communications by introducing Bittium Tough VoIP Service (Voice over Internet Protocol) software product. With the product both fixed data network users and wireless tactical data network users can be connected to the same voice service network. This significantly improves the capability to lead troops and maintain situational awareness in the quickly changing conditions of the battlefield.
In June, Bittium participated in the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris targeted for defense markets and presented its tactical communication products and solutions. In addition, Bittium presented together with both Italian company Leonardo and French company Thales how the land forces of different European countries will be able to communicate with each other in joint operations, linking up via a common waveform regardless of the actual radio platforms they use. This waveform has been developed in the European ESSOR program (European Secure Software defined Radio), where Bittium has been part of since it started in 2009.
July–September 2016
Despite the decrease in the demand for R&D services for the mobile network manufacturers, the demand for Bittiumīs R&D services developed positively during the third quarter of 2016. The product development project for the Mexican Ministry of Communication and Transportation, started in May 2015, continued according to plans. Bittium develops Android-based mobile devices that use both terrestrial and satellite connection for their MEXSAT system. Also the demand for R&D services in the IoT markets developed positively.
During the third quarter Bittium continued the R&D investments in its own products and product platforms aiming for growth especially in the international defense, mobile security and public safety markets. The investments focused mainly in the products for the mobile security and public safety markets. The development of the Bittium Tough Mobile secure LTE smartphone was continued as well as the pilot deliveries of the product during the third quarter.
Bittium continued R&D investments also in Bittium SafeMove product family and presented these remote access solutions at a healthcare HETT Show in London.
The development of the tactical communication system Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN), used by the Finnish Defence Forces, continued and the product deliveries for this communication system were also continued during the third quarter. The development of the public safety and mobile security markets has been somewhat slower than expected.
October–December 2016
Despite the decrease in the demand for R&D services for the mobile network manufacturers, the demand for Bittiumīs R&D services developed positively during the fourth quarter. Also the demand for R&D services in the IoT markets developed positively. The product development project for the Mexican Ministry of Communication and Transportation, started in May 2015, continued according to plans. Bittium develops Android-based mobile devices that use both terrestrial and satellite connection for their MEXSAT system.
During the fourth quarter Bittium continued the R&D investments in its own products and product platforms aiming for growth especially in the international mobile security, defense and public safety markets. The investments focused mainly in the products for the mobile security and public safety markets. The development of the public safety and mobile security markets was somewhat slower than expected.
In October, Bittium announced to have received information, according to which, a significant customer cooperation with a global network equipment manufacturer will reduce during 2017. At that time, according to the information received, if the planned actions of the customer will materialize in full, Bittium estimated that these actions might have a negative effect to Bittiumīs net sales and operating result in 2017.
The development of the Bittium Tough Mobile secure LTE smartphone was continued and the product deliveries were carried on during the fourth quarter. In October the company announced to have conducted the first ever Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call with Bittium Tough Mobile on the Public Safety Band 14 LTE Network in the United States.
The development of the tactical communication system Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN), used by the Finnish Defence Forces, continued and the product deliveries for this communication system were continued also during the fourth quarter. Bittium continued efforts to bring its products and services, targeted to defense industry, to the international defense markets. In November, the company announced to have received a purchase order for a tactical communications system and related integration work to be delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces.
In November, Bittium presented its tactical communication products and solutions at the Indo Defence 2016 exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia. In December, the company announced to have demonstrated with Leonardo, Thales and the Finnish Defence Forces the capabilities and functionalities of the High Data Rate Waveform (HDRWF) developed in the European ESSOR programme (European Secure Software defined Radio) n battlefield conditions. The demonstration showcased how the land forces of different European countries can communicate seamlessly with each other in joint operations, linking up via a common waveform regardless of the radio platforms they use.
In November, Bittium announced to have acquired Mega Electronics Ltd and MegaKoto Ltd, companies specialized in healthcare technology and services. Mega Electronics Ltd (now Bittium Biosignals Ltd.), founded in 1983, is a Finnish ISO 13485 certified medical device manufacturing company. The company is specialized in biosignal measuring for cardiology, neurology, rehabilitation, occupational health and sports medicine. MegaKoto Ltd (now Bittium Medanalytics Ltd) provides comprehensive arrhythmia monitoring services for its customers such as primary care centers, private clinics and hospitals.
With this acquisition Bittium got the ownership of Faros product family, focused on remote heart monitoring, NeurOne product focusing on measuring the electrical activity of brain, and BrainStatus, a disposable quick analysis headband used in emergency and intensive primary care to diagnose for example epileptic seizures and brain stroke, and other healthcare technology products. Faros devices are EU medical device directive class CE class IIa and USA FDA 510(k) registered medical devices. Bittium Medanalytics Ltd is a private provider of healthcare services approved by the Finnish National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health having more than 70 health centers and private clinics using its heart monitoring Kardiolog.fi service. This acquisition was part of Bittiumīs strategy announced later in November.
On November 24, Bittium announced its updated strategy and financial targets. According to the updated strategy Bittium established a new product and service area around healthcare technology. By combining healthcare technologies with Bittiumīs long-term experience and knowhow in wireless and security technologies give the company good conditions to serve its customers in healthcare sector by offering them new kinds of products and services. Bittium has now three product and service areas supporting each other: Defense & Security, Connectivity Solutions and Medical Technologies. In addition Bittium also announced investments to strengthen companyīs position in the global markets and to speed up its growth.
In November, Bittium exhibited its latest innovative products and solutions for cardiology and neurology at Medica 2016 exhibition on in Dusseldorf, Germany. The products and solutions exhibited were Faros ECG Event and Faros ECG Mobile software solutions focused on remote heart monitoring, Faros Cardiac Rehab monitoring solution, BrainStatus module and the full Faros ECG product line.
