OREANDA-NEWS. February 17, 2015. Bosch Software Innovations GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bosch Group, intends to acquire the company ProSyst. Agreements to this effect were signed on February 13, 2015. ProSyst employs some 110 associates in Cologne, Germany, and Sofia, Bulgaria. The company specializes 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’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. It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be disclosed.

Device management for the internet of things
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, the 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.

Uniform networking for central heating systems, household appliances, and security cameras
The ProSyst software also assumes a kind of “translator” role. If things such as central heating systems, household appliances, and security cameras are to be interlinked in a smart home, they must all “speak the same language.” This is especially difficult when the products are from different manufacturers, use different communication protocols, or are not web-enabled.

“In combination with the Bosch IoT Suite from Bosch Software Innovations and the Bosch Group’s expertise as a leading producer of sensors and appliances, the ProSyst software will enable our customers to launch new applications on the internet of things more quickly and be one of the first to tap into new areas of business,” Kallenbach said. “The ProSyst software is highly compatible with the Bosch IoT Suite, our platform for the internet of things. Above all, it complements our device management component by supporting a large number of different device protocols. This will allow us to achieve an even better market position than before.”

The Bosch Software Innovations subsidiary is a provider of one-stop solutions in the area of the internet of things. Service activities round out the company’s offerings. Its core product is the Bosch IoT Suite. Bosch Software Innovations employs around 550 associates around the globe at locations in Germany (Berlin, Immenstaad, Stuttgart), Singapore, China (Shanghai), and the U.S. (Chicago and Palo Alto).