Sagem Wireless

Sagem Wireless was a French communications corporation focused on the design and manufacture of customized connected devices for mobile-network operators, retailers, and internationally recognized consumer brands. It emerged in January 2009 when SAFRAN divested Sagem's mobile-phone and broadband activities as part of a broader strategic refocusing. Sofinnova Partners became the majority investor, while SAFRAN and Sagem Wireless founders and employees retained minority interests. The business inherited a substantial telecommunications tradition from Sagem. Sagem had entered telecommunications through telex equipment in the 1940s, later developing fax machines, consumer communications equipment, and mobile phones. Its mobile-phone activity was established in 1995 and, under the leadership of Thierry Buffenoir, became one of Europe's leading handset businesses and a market leader in France by 2004. Sagem Wireless therefore began with established engineering, product-development, and operator relationships, but it adopted a different commercial model from a conventional mass-market handset brand. Rather than competing primarily through a large proprietary consumer brand, Sagem Wireless positioned itself as a design and manufacturing partner. It developed operator-branded phones, exclusive devices for fashion and luxury brands, and products incorporating technology from specialist suppliers. This approach allowed partners to use distinctive industrial design, software, imaging, connectivity, entertainment, or biometric features without building a complete handset platform themselves. Its early portfolio included Porsche Design phones, Hello Kitty handsets, the Oxbow and Lulu Castagnette devices, Vodafone-branded models, and a phone developed with PUMA. The Vodafone 533 Crystal, created for Vodafone with CRYSTALLIZED by Swarovski Elements, illustrated the company's emphasis on customized appearance and brand collaboration. At Mobile World Congress 2010, the company presented the PUMA PHONE and CosyPhone. It also developed Binder, a white-label electronic reader announced with FNAC and Telecom Italia as customers. Sagem Wireless worked with technology companies covering mobile software, contactless payments, touchscreen interfaces, mobile television, imaging, batteries, sound processing, augmented reality, stereoscopic 3D, content services, and wireless billing. These relationships supported the company's effort to assemble differentiated products around partner technologies rather than rely solely on internally developed platforms. In spring 2011, Sagem Wireless was renamed Mobiwire SA to emphasize its independence from other Sagem businesses, including Sagemcom and Sagem Défense. The renamed company subsequently entered bankruptcy proceedings. On 22 July, during the recovery process, Sagetel Mobiles invested in equity and acquired part of the assets, relying on some former employees and managers. The successor was named MobiWire SAS. MobiWire continued in the mobile-device sector as an original design manufacturer, designing and delivering phones for other businesses. Sagem Wireless itself is therefore a defunct predecessor brand rather than a current standalone handset company.

Sagem Wireless was the successor to Sagem's mobile-phone business and the predecessor of MobiWire. Its background reached back to Sagem, founded in 1925 by Marcel Môme as the Société d'Applications Générale d'Electricité et de Mécanique. The parent company initially concentrated on mechanical engineering and precision equipment, including equipment for the French navy. It expanded into telecommunications through the Société d'Applications Téléphoniques, which Sagem acquired in 1939 and operated as the Société Anonyme de Télécommunications. Sagem produced telex equipment from the 1940s and later developed fax machines and other communications products. Pierre Faurre became chief executive in 1987 after leading a management buyout in 1985. Sagem introduced its first internally made fax machine during this period and followed it with a newer generation in 1990. The company also marketed the Phonefax consumer fax product in 1996. Sagem established its GSM mobile-phone activity in 1995. International sales were associated with Olivier Demoly, while Philippe Lucas led activity in the French market. From 1995 to 2000, Guy Rouanne drove the mobile-phone business, and Thierry Buffenoir led related radiocommunications activities before becoming chairman and chief executive of Sagem Mobile in 2001. Under Buffenoir, Sagem Mobile grew into a top-five European handset manufacturer and a leading supplier in France by 2004. Following the creation of SAFRAN in 2005, the group reviewed its portfolio and decided to separate its mobile-phone and broadband businesses from its core activities. The mobile-phone operation was divested in 2008 and became Sagem Wireless in January 2009. Sofinnova Partners provided the principal investment, while SAFRAN and members of the management and workforce retained minority interests. Thierry Buffenoir became chief executive. The new company changed its business model. Instead of relying mainly on a single Sagem-branded handset range, it sought contracts to design and manufacture products for mobile operators and global brands. In 2009 it introduced or supported connected lifestyle products associated with Porsche Design and Hello Kitty. It also developed the Vodafone 533 Crystal for Vodafone in cooperation with CRYSTALLIZED by Swarovski Elements. Other products included Vodafone 540 variants, Porsche Design phones, Hello Kitty editions, the Roxyphone, Oxbow and Lulu Castagnette models, and the PUMA PHONE. The PUMA relationship was announced in October 2009. At Mobile World Congress in 2010, Sagem Wireless showed the PUMA PHONE and CosyPhone. Later in 2010, it announced Binder, a white-label e-reader, with FNAC and Telecom Italia among the named customers; CosyPhone became commercially available during the same period. Technology partnerships were central to the company's product strategy. Its listed partners included specialists in contactless chips, mobile operating systems, touch interfaces, mobile television, battery technology, liquid-lens imaging, biometrics, sound processing, augmented reality, three-dimensional display, wireless search, content portals, and mobile billing. This ecosystem enabled Sagem Wireless to combine outside technologies with industrial design and operator or brand requirements. In spring 2011, the company adopted the name Mobiwire SA, intended to signal that it was independent from SAGEMCOM and Sagem Défense. The renamed business later entered bankruptcy or recovery proceedings. On 22 July, Sagetel Mobiles invested in the business and transferred or acquired part of its assets, retaining some employees and managers. The resulting company was called MobiWire SAS and continued to design and supply mobile phones as an original design manufacturer. Sagem Wireless consequently ended as a standalone corporate identity, while parts of its capabilities continued through MobiWire.

• 2011

  Business renamed and reorganized as MobiWire

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Sagem Wireless became Mobiwire SA and, following recovery proceedings and an investment by Sagetel Mobiles, was succeeded by MobiWire SAS.

• 2010

  PUMA PHONE and CosyPhone introduced

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  The company unveiled two new devices at Mobile World Congress 2010.

• 2009

  Sagem Wireless launched

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Sagem Wireless began operations with Sofinnova Partners investment and shifted toward customized devices for third parties.

• 2008

  Mobile-phone business divested

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  SAFRAN divested Sagem's mobile-phone activities as part of a strategic refocusing.

• 2004

  Sagem Mobile reaches leading European position

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Sagem Mobile had become a top-five European handset manufacturer and a market leader in France.

• 2001

  Thierry Buffenoir leads Sagem Mobile

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Thierry Buffenoir became chairman and chief executive of Sagem Mobile.

• 1995

  GSM mobile-phone activity established

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Sagem created its GSM mobile-phone business, later the basis of Sagem Mobile and Sagem Wireless.

• 1940

  Telex production begins

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Sagem entered the telecommunications-equipment market through the production of telex machines.

• 1939

  Sagem expands into telecommunications

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Sagem took over the Société d'Applications Téléphoniques and operated it as the Société Anonyme de Télécommunications.

• 1925

  Sagem founded

  [1]Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Marcel Môme founded Sagem as an engineering company, establishing the corporate background from which the later mobile-phone business developed.

A business-to-business design and manufacturing partner for mobile operators, retailers, and consumer brands seeking customized phones and connected lifestyle devices.

• Operator-branded mobile phone · 2009

  Vodafone 533 Crystal

  A Vodafone-exclusive handset developed by Sagem Wireless in collaboration with CRYSTALLIZED by Swarovski Elements. Its principal distinction was the integration of decorative crystal treatment into an operator-branded mobile product.

• Lifestyle-branded mobile phone · 2010

  PUMA PHONE

  A mobile phone created through Sagem Wireless's licensing and product-development relationship with PUMA. The device was intended to express PUMA's sports and lifestyle identity through its design and feature set.

• Mobile phone · 2010

  CosyPhone

  A Sagem Wireless handset unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2010 and made commercially available later that year. It formed part of the company's effort to offer differentiated, partner-oriented connected lifestyle devices.

• Electronic reader · 2010

  Binder

  A white-label e-reader announced by Sagem Wireless in 2010. FNAC and Telecom Italia were identified as customers, illustrating the company's move beyond conventional mobile phones into customized connected consumer electronics.

• Luxury-branded mobile phone

  Porsche Design 9521 and 9522

  A family of exclusive mobile phones developed for Porsche Design. The products represented Sagem Wireless's role as a design and manufacturing partner for premium brands rather than as a purely mass-market handset label.

• Character-branded mobile phone · 2009

  Hello Kitty mobile phones

  A group of Hello Kitty-branded devices, including Day Edition and Night Edition versions of the Sagem my421z and the Hello Kitty Kawaï model. These products used character licensing and decorative design to target lifestyle and youth-oriented consumers.

• 2009PUMA mobile-phone partnership

  International

  Sagem Wireless announced a licensing agreement with PUMA to create a phone designed around the brand's visual and commercial identity.

  Outcome. The partnership resulted in the PUMA PHONE, unveiled in 2010.

  Source
• 2009Vodafone 533 Crystal

  Vodafone markets

  Sagem Wireless developed an operator-exclusive Vodafone handset with CRYSTALLIZED by Swarovski Elements, combining Vodafone branding with decorative crystal treatment.

  Outcome. The Vodafone 533 Crystal was launched as part of the company's customized operator-device portfolio.

  Source

• 2011

  Rename to Mobiwire SAStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to establish a distinct identity from other Sagem-derived businesses.

  Action taken

  Sagem Wireless was renamed Mobiwire SA.

  Aftermath

  The renamed business later entered recovery proceedings and was reorganized into MobiWire SAS after Sagetel Mobiles invested and acquired part of the assets.

  Source

• 2009

  Shift to third-party device designStrategy

  Background

  Sagem Wireless entered the market with inherited handset expertise but a new ownership structure and a narrower independent identity.

  Action taken

  The company focused on customized connected lifestyle devices designed for mobile operators, retailers, and global consumer brands.

  Aftermath

  Its portfolio expanded into operator-branded, luxury-branded, character-branded, and lifestyle-branded devices.

  Source

• 2008

  Divestment of Sagem's mobile-phone businessM&A

  Background

  After SAFRAN was created, the group refocused on core businesses and separated its mobile-phone and broadband operations.

  Action taken

  The mobile-phone activity was divested and subsequently organized as Sagem Wireless with investment from Sofinnova Partners.

  Aftermath

  The new company pursued customized devices for operators and consumer brands rather than operating solely as a traditional Sagem handset division.

  Source

1. 1Sagem Wirelessen.wikipedia.org