GoPro wants to put its camera sensors into third-party devices, and it aims to do that with the help of Jabil, the company which manufactures its cameras and who it just entered into a licensing deal with as part of the process for realizing that goal. There are no publicly confirmed plans for exactly what types of devices the sensors will make their way into, but it is reported that any future devices which utilize GoPro’s camera sensors won’t be ones which can directly compete with GoPro’s own products that it will still be selling.
Nevertheless, GoPro’s official announcement about this new partnership does mention some possibilities by asking the consumer to imagine a world where certain devices like connected self-driving cars, video conferencing devices, and robotics are all fitted with GoPro camera sensors. Though any one of these would be far from the traditional sector GoPro cameras are found in, that’s precisely the point as it means no competition for GoPro in the action camera market and it still allows it to generate revenue and profit through the means of licensing out the technology. Essentially it seems like a win-win for GoPro so long as it can put its sensor technology into the hands of other companies who wish to utilize it.
Full terms of the deal were not disclosed but it appears that Jabil will be the one handling much of the process as it will manufacture the new sensors for use in third-party products and may handle the task of shopping these sensors to third-party companies, though GoPro will have to approve the products that would use the sensors first. It’s also reported that any of the sensors that Jabil manufactures will not carry the GoPro branding, however no alternative name was given at this time. Not all future products using these sensors will be targeted at consumers but there will be some that are meant for the consumer sector, while others could be meant for use in a more commercial setting for businesses, the military, police, and other segments.