Sybase opens wireless R&D center in S'pore

SINGAPORE--Sybase has established a new wireless technology research and development (R&D) center in Singapore, its third facility in the island-state over the past decade.

Located in Alexandra TechnoPark, the new facility is Sybase's first Wireless Development Center outside of North America.

The new lab is co-located with Sybase's Wireless Solution Center and Asia Development Center, which were opened in 2005 and 1998, respectively, said Willie Jow, vice president of business operations, corporate marketing and communications, Sybase, at a media briefing here.

Built at a cost of about US$1.5 million, the new research facility will focus on several areas including mobile middleware, Bluetooth, and RFID (radio frequency identification), said Jow.

"The solution center focuses on today's technology, [and] how it's being used, [while] the development center focuses on next-generation RFID that needs to be developed to make it better," said John Chen, chairman, CEO and president of Sybase, on the difference between the new Wireless Development Center and the existing Wireless Solution Center established in 2005.

Jow said the initial plan is to recruit about 50 people for the "operationally ready" new lab. Recruitment cost is estimated to range between US$2.5 million and US$3 million at minimum, he said.

Chen added that the company's investment cost in the republic--which covers over 200 staff and the three facilities--currently amounts to US$10 million and US$15 million a year, and that number will only go up" as Sybase is looking to recruit more talent.