Acer's BYOC for wearables and Internet of Things to use MediaTek's LinkIt platform

MediaTek announced its LinkIt platform for wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) devices at Computex just this week, and Acer has already announced that it will use LinkIt in its Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) platform to help clients developing wearables and Internet of Things applications. Acer chairman Stan Shih made this announcement at the cloud computing and IoT conference at Computex. LinkIt makes use of MediaTek’s Aster SoC, which is the smallest SoC currently on the market, in a package size of 5.4 x 4.2 mm. The Aster SoC is a development platform which enables developers to create various form factors, functionality and internet connected services. MediaTek CEO Ming-Kai hinted at co-operating with Acer in areas such as smart home and smart end devices segment. Also Acer will be one of MediaTek's wearable solution clients. [caption id="attachment_225317" align="aligncenter" width="640"] MediaTek Chairman and CEO Tsai Ming-kai (left), and Acer Chairman Stan Shih (right). (Image courtesy: Focus Taiwan)[/caption] Acer will integrate its aspect oriented programming agent on the MediaTek LinkIt platform. This will enable Acer to provide cloud-based computing services using end-devices based on MediaTek's solutions. Acer's BYOC platform business model revolves around making users' PC their own data centres, such that you do not have to rely on public cloud platforms. In the enterprise segment, BYOC platform helps enterprises reduce the costs to develop their own cloud computing platforms, along with getting enterprise-level security and data protection, said Shih. Towards the end of May, Acer detailed how BYOC will allow users to operate home appliances or automobiles, for example, using smartphones. Shih had then said, without elaborating, that he would help Acer find partners for BYOC initiatives. MediaTek is already on board now. Putting to rest rumours about Acer's exit from the PC industry, Shih said that BYOC platforms existence depended on PCs and therefore Acer will be more aggressive in improving the penetration rate of its PCs, tablets and smartphones.