Universal Electronics
{{Infobox company
| name = Universal Electronics Inc
| logo = File:UEI logo.png
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ|UEIC}}
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1986}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/universal-electronics/ |title=Universal Electronics on Forbes Lists |work=Forbes.com |access-date=2016-12-08}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| fate =
| hq_location_city = Scottsdale, Arizona
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served =
| key_people =
| industry = Consumer electronics
| products = IoT devices, smart thermostat, smart home, virtual assistant, remote controls
| brands = {{hlist|QuickSet|QuickSet Cloud|One For All|Nevo|Ecolink|RCS}}
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = [http://www.uei.com/ uei.com]
}}
Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) is an American smart home technology provider{{cite web|url=https://developer.quicksetcloud.com/|title=QuickSet Cloud Developer Portal|website=developer.quicksetcloud.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-03}} and manufacturer of universal remote controls, IoT devices such as voice-enabled smart home hubs,{{cite web|url=https://www.uei.com/press/2019/01/02/universal-electronics-introduces-new-product-and-cloud-service-to-unify-entertainment-control-and-home-automation-experiences/|title=Universal Electronics Introduces New Product and Cloud Service to Unify Entertainment Control and Home Automation Experiences|date=2019-01-02|website=Universal Electronics|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-08}} smart thermostats, home sensors; as well as a white label digital assistant platform{{cite web|url=https://quicksetcloud.com/2019/01/02/universal-electronics-and-microsoft-collaborate-on-a-turnkey-digital-assistant-platform-for-the-smart-home/|title=Universal Electronics and Microsoft collaborate on a turnkey digital assistant platform for the Smart Home|last=niharikagorur|date=2019-01-02|website=QuickSet Cloud|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-08}} optimized for smart home applications, and other software and cloud services for device discovery, fingerprinting and interoperability.{{cite web|url=http://www.discoverecolink.com/|title=Ecolink Intelligent Technology|last=Technology|first=Ecolink Intelligent|website=Ecolink Intelligent Technology|language=en-us|access-date=2017-02-03}} The company designs, develops, manufactures and ships products both under the "One For All" brand{{cite web|url=http://www.oneforall.com/about |title=About Us - One For All|publisher=UEI.com |access-date=2016-12-08}} and as an OEM for other companies in the audio video, subscription broadcasting, connected home, tablet and smart phone markets. In 2015, it expanded its product and technology platform to include home automation, intelligent sensing and security.
UEI's global headquarters is located in Scottsdale, Arizona with R&D offices in Santa Ana, California, regional offices in Enschede (The Nederlands), Manaus (Brazil), Hong Kong, Bangalore (India), San Mateo and Carlsbad (California), and Twinsburg (Ohio).{{cite web|url=http://www.uei.com/contact |title=UEI Contact page |publisher=UEI.com |access-date=2016-12-08}}
In 2014 UEI was ranked 80 on Forbes' list of "America's Best Small Companies."
Many of UEI's products use different low power wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Zigbee (or other 802.15.4 communications). UEI is a member of different wireless industry alliances such as Zigbee Alliance, Bluetooth SIG as well as Wi-Fi Alliance.{{cite web|url=http://www.zigbee.org/portfolio/universal-electronics-inc/
|title=Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) | work=The ZigBee Alliance |date=10 November 2013 |publisher=zigbee.org |access-date=2016-12-08}} UEI also offer SoCs such as UE878{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180109005844/en/Universal-Electronics%E2%80%99-UE878-Dual-RF-Chip-Powers|title=Universal Electronics' UE878 Dual RF Chip Powers TiVo's New RF4CE Advanced Voice Remote Control Solution|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}} and SDK to enable multi-protocol communication for different smart home devices such as leading Smart TVs.
Products
UEI is one of the world's largest manufacturers of remote controls, responsible for an estimated 30% global market share in home entertainment remotes.{{cite web
| url = http://www.uei.com/services/manufacturing
| title = UEI: Global Manufacturing}}
Under its Ecolink brand, it also makes home security and automation products such as motion and door/window entry sensors for DIY and professional home security markets and OEMs.
UEI makes numerous products that use Zigbee, Bluetooth{{cite web|url=http://www.uei.com/about/press/2017/01/03/universal-electronics-delivers-new-advanced-voice-control-remote-for-airtv-player|title=Universal Electronics - Press - Universal Electronics Delivers New Advanced Voice Control Remote for AirTV Player (January 3, 2017)|website=www.uei.com|access-date=2017-01-09}} or Wi-Fi technology. They are a member of the ZigBee Alliance, Bluetooth SIG{{cite web|url=https://www.bluetooth.com/membership-working-groups/member-directory/|title=Member Directory {{!}} Bluetooth Technology Website|website=www.bluetooth.com|access-date=2017-01-09}} and Wi-Fi Alliance.{{cite web|url=http://www.zigbee.org/portfolio/universal-electronics-inc/ |title=Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) - The ZigBee Alliance |work=Zigbee Alliance |publisher=www.zigbee.org |date= 10 November 2013|access-date=2016-10-04}}
= QuickSet Cloud =
QuickSet Cloud{{cite web|url=https://developer.quicksetcloud.com/what-is-quickset-cloud|title=QuickSet Cloud Developer Portal|website=developer.quicksetcloud.com|access-date=2017-01-10}} is Universal Electronics’ software product family including web services and embedded SDK for simplifying discovery and universal control setup and operation in a smart home.
Acquisitions
In February 2009, UEI purchased all of Zilog's software & IP assets related to Zilog's universal remote control business, including all ROM code, software, and database of infrared codes.{{cite web|url=http://www.microcontroller.com/news/Zilog_Sells_Crimzon_Zatara.asp|title=Zilog Sells Off Two Product Lines (February 19, 2009)}} Zilog sold these assets for $31 million cash.
In August 2015, UEI acquired Ecolink Intelligent Technology, a wireless home security and automation specialist.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedmagazine.com/news/2015/08/universal-electronics-makes-smart-home-bid-ecolink-acquisition|title=Universal Electronics makes smart home bid with Ecolink acquisition|date=2015-08-05}} In May 2017, UEI further expanded by acquiring RCS Technology, a pioneer in smart thermostats and energy management.{{cite web|url=http://www.cepro.com/article/uei_grows_home_automation_business_acquires_smart_thermostat_maker_rcs_tech|title=Universal Electronics (UEI) Grows Home Automation Biz, Acquires Smart Thermostat Maker RCS|last=Jacobson|first=Julie|website=www.cepro.com|date=4 May 2017 |access-date=2017-05-04}}
Honors
In 2017, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded UEI a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for its contribution to "Contextual Voice Navigation for Discovering and Interacting with TV Content."{{cite web|last1=Pedersen|first1=Erik|title=Technology & Engineering Emmy Winners Announced|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/technology-engineering-emmy-winners-list-national-academy-of-television-arts-sciences-1202157817/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=29 August 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017}}
Uyghur Labor
In 2021, Reuters reported that UEI had made a deal with officials in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to transport some 400 Uyghur workers to one of its plants.{{Cite news |last=Cadell |first=Cate |date=October 7, 2021 |title=EXCLUSIVE US electronics firm struck deal to transport and hire Uyghur workers |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/exclusive-us-electronics-firm-struck-deal-transport-hire-uyghur-workers-2021-10-07/ |access-date=June 22, 2024 |work=Reuters}}{{Cite news |last=Rouhandeh |first=Alex |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Remote-Control Maker is First U.S. Company Involved In Uyghur Worker Transfer Program |url=https://www.newsweek.com/remote-control-maker-first-us-company-involved-uyghur-worker-transfer-program-1636692 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |work=Newsweek}} Reuters then reported that UEI terminated its relationship with a staffing agency that hired the workers.{{Cite news |date=October 20, 2021 |title=Universal Electronics