SectorQube bets on Android beyond smartphones to churn out smarter electronic devices

Kochi-based startup SectorQube Technolabs Pvt Ltd is betting big on utilising the capabilities of Android beyond smartphones. The company, selected for the incubation programme of Startup Village, Kochi, has already come up with a technology to make every-day household devices smarter and interactive by integrating them with Android OS.

"We are working on the concept of Android beyond Apps," said Sabarish Prakash. "We create devices that combine Android with the best of electronics existing in the market today. It would be equivalent to fitting a brain in each household appliance."

Set up in October 2011 by B Tech students of  TocH Institute of Science and Technology, Sabarish Prakash, Nibu Alias, Ani Abraham Joy, Arjun S, Midhun Skaria, Biniyas VL and Ashwin Saju, SectorQube recently released its first product, bagged a big client and started generating revenues, all within a short time span.

SectorQube's flagship product MAID (microwave Android integrated device) has grabbed a client and is in talks with many more, claims Prakash. "MAID is a device that can be connected to internet, download recipes and cook on its own. All you need to do is provide the ingredients it asks. It is a 'know-every-recipe' microwave with autocooking ability and features a voice assist to help even a novice cook with illustrations for ingredients, automatic time setting, touch controls etc," explained Prakash.

It has partnered with consumer durables firm Godrej to integrate MAID with its electronic devices. "This technology will soon be extended to other home appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, TVs, music systems, home security systems, etc."

"Smart homes occupy a premium market in India. Considering the market size of microwave ovens – around 200,000 premium ovens sell in India every year, we assume that we can capture 5 per cent market share and hope to sell around 10,000 ovens. A licensing fee of 10 per cent on the ex-factory price of one oven would amount to about Rs 1,500. Thus we can get an amount of about Rs 15,000,000 on the ovens alone every year."

SectorQube has an early-bird advantage in this space, claimed Prakash. "India has not seen major innovations in the smart home space. So the competition is pretty dull. Also, since MAID is a patent-pending technology, we have the IP advantage as well."

SectorQube is currently working on a crime investigation assistance device (CIAD) and a GPS tracking system for fleet management. "CIAD consists of a central server and handheld mobile devices for investigative agencies that can record FIRs, sync details with the server and update remotely whenever required. The device also features a high-encrypted chat platform to enable communication between personnel and send audio/video files. A breath analyser and a printer are connected wirelessly to mobile devices."

CIAD aims to replace the pen-and-paper method of preparing FIRs and enables encrypted messaging, traffic crime reporting, traffic ticket printing, etc.

The other product, GPS tracking system, has a device attached to vehicles and a central administration server. The device not only tracks stolen vehicles, but can remotely turn off engine and broadcast GPS coordinates of the vehicle. It can also transmit the vehicle's status to the central server, Prakash said.

"Currently, we are not thinking of any other OS since Android has all the capabilities we require. However, we are ever ready to adapt to other operating systems in future," Prakash noted.

The company claimed that it has so far generated Rs 12 lakh in revenues, a major share of which came in the last couple of months. "In the next fiscal, we hope to clock Rs 3 crore in revenue and Rs 10 crore in market value."

The cost of research and inadequate research facilities in India are two key problems SectorQube is facing, said Prakash.

With 13 staff on board, the firm is planning to set up offices in Delhi or Bangalore by the end of this year. It is currently focusing only on enterprises to sell its products.

(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)