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iHuman Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

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BEIJING, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — iHuman Inc. (NYSE: IH) (“iHuman” or the “Company”), a leading provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

Revenues were RMB250.4 million (US$35.3 million), compared with RMB260.7 million in the same period last year.Gross profit was RMB178.2 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB181.0 million in the same period last year.Operating income was RMB21.9 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB39.1 million in the same period last year.Net income was RMB33.3 million (US$4.7 million), compared with RMB35.4 million in the same period last year.Average total MAUs[1] reached a record-high of 25.38 million, a year-over-year increase of 14.2%.

Fiscal Year 2023 Highlights

Revenues were RMB1,018.1 million (US$143.4 million), compared with RMB985.5 million in fiscal year 2022.Gross profit was RMB721.3 million (US$101.6 million), compared with RMB691.2 million in fiscal year 2022.Operating income was RMB159.9 million (US$22.5 million), compared with RMB111.6 million in fiscal year 2022.Net income was RMB180.9 million (US$25.5 million), compared with RMB109.8 million in fiscal year 2022.Average total MAUs were 23.04 million, a year-over-year increase of 16.0%.

[1] “Average total MAUs” refers to the monthly average of the sum of the MAUs of each of the Company’s apps during a specific period, which is counted based on the number of unique mobile devices through which such app is accessed at least once in a given month, and duplicate access to different apps is not eliminated from the total MAUs calculation.
[2] “Paying users” refers to users who paid subscription fees for premium content on any of the Company’s apps during a specific period; a user who makes payments across different apps using the same registered account is counted as one paying user, and a user who makes payments for the same app multiple times in the same period is counted as one paying user.

Dr. Peng Dai, Director and Chief Executive Officer of iHuman, commented, “As we look back on 2023, I am truly inspired by the accomplishments that we have achieved, especially considering the decline in China’s newborn population over the past few years. In response to the challenges posed by the declining birth rate, we have been actively expanding our presence in the international markets, diversifying our product portfolio, and developing products that cover a broader age demographic. These strategic efforts have helped us achieve remarkable progress. For instance, our globally-oriented app, Aha World, delivered impressive performance in 2023. By the end of the year, its YouTube and TikTok accounts collectively attracted over 200 million views. It also earned YouTube’s Silver Creator Award and rose to rank among the top three most popular children’s apps on the U.S. Apple app store in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, our flagship product, iHuman Chinese, has consistently held the No.1 spot in the top-grossing category for children’s apps on the Apple app store in China for iPad users for nearly 4.5 years, according to Appfigures, a reputable American data analytics company. This past year has been marked by revenue growth and sustained profitability, and we once again set a new record for average total MAUs in the fourth quarter which further solidified our position as an industry leader.”

We are also thrilled to announce the acquisition of intellectual property assets related to “Cosmicrew” from Kunpeng, an animation production studio within the Perfect World Group. This strategic acquisition is expected to generate significant synergies with our business. Firstly, “Cosmicrew” is a popular cartoon adventure series that has established a strong presence in the children’s entertainment sector. The light-hearted and delightful nature of this cartoon IP seamlessly compliments our overall product style and aesthetic. With the IP already integrated into some of our products before the acquisition, we now have greater autonomy over our creative content. In addition, we now can expand our product range further by developing additional IP offerings and derivatives, including animations, toys, and more. At the market level, “Cosmicrew” is a popular cartoon with a large audience base, and this acquisition will enable us to further extend our market reach and engage with a broader audience.”

“As we continue to progress on our strategic initiatives, we remain fully dedicated to strengthening our core competencies through ongoing product enhancement. We have been enriching the content and functionality of our app products to elevate the digital experience of our users and have made further strides in integrating our online and offline offerings to create a more immersive and holistic journey for users. For example, we rolled out both multi-leveled physical books and a specially developed smart reading pen that complement our leveled English reading app, iHuman Fantastic Friends. This combination allows kids to explore captivating original English stories tailored to their proficiency level in physical and digital formats, offering them a flexible and simple reading experience while enhancing their understanding and engagement with the content.”

“In 2023, we further strengthened our comprehensive product suite, significantly expanded our international presence, and earned increased market recognition with several prestigious industry accolades. We achieved all these milestones despite a highly volatile and challenging macroeconomic climate, which I believe is a testament to the caliber of our products, the effectiveness of our strategies, and the resilience of our team in overcoming diverse economic challenges. As we enter 2024, I am filled with anticipation for the continued success that lies ahead.”

Ms. Vivien Weiwei Wang, Director and Chief Financial Officer of iHuman, added, “Our fourth quarter results ended 2023 on a positive note despite a turbulent global economic environment. While our fourth quarter results saw a marginal decrease year-over-year, it reflected a normalization from the exceptional fourth quarter performance last year, which was caused by a heightened demand driven by more indoor activities during the pandemic. From a full year perspective in 2023, despite the fact that everybody shifted back to regular routines and spent less time at home after the pandemic, we still achieved satisfactory growth as both revenues and MAUs increased compared to fiscal year 2022. We are also proud to announce our eighth consecutive quarter of profitability, with annual net income reaching RMB180.9 million. This achievement marks our second straight year of profitability since our IPO in 2020 and demonstrates that we have successfully charted a path of healthy and sustainable growth. The momentum we have sustained in our business operations has further solidified our financial position, which not only bolsters our capacity for ongoing growth and innovation, but also enables us to enhance returns to our shareholders through issuing a special cash dividend of US$0.02 per ordinary share, or US$0.10 per ADS. The approval of the special dividend by our board of directors reflects our confidence in our long-term growth potential and strong balance sheet. Moving forward, we will continue to execute on our strategic priorities and maintain a growth-oriented approach to create even greater value for our users and shareholders.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

Revenues

Revenues were RMB250.4 million (US$35.3 million), compared with RMB260.7 million in the same period last year.

Average total MAUs for the quarter were 25.38 million, an increase of 14.2% year-over-year from 22.22 million in the same period last year. The number of paying users[2] was 1.45 million.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB72.2 million (US$10.2 million), a decrease of 9.4% from RMB79.7 million in the same period last year, primarily due to decreased channel costs.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit was RMB178.2 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB181.0 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was 71.2%, compared with 69.4% in the same period last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were RMB156.4 million (US$22.0 million), an increase of 10.2% from RMB141.9 million in the same period last year.

Research and development expenses were RMB66.3 million (US$9.3 million), compared with RMB66.8 million in the same period last year.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB64.5 million (US$9.1 million), an increase of 40.8% from RMB45.8 million in the same period last year, primarily due to increased strategic spending on promotional activities and brand enhancement.

General and administrative expenses were RMB25.5 million (US$3.6 million), a decrease of 12.7% from RMB29.3 million in the same period last year, primarily due to payroll related cost-savings and other decreased expenses as a result of the continued optimization of our operational efficiency.

Operating Income

Operating income was RMB21.9 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB39.1 million in the same period last year.

Net Income

Net income was RMB33.3 million (US$4.7 million), compared with RMB35.4 million in the same period last year.

Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB0.63 (US$0.09) and RMB0.61 (US$0.09), respectively, compared with RMB0.67 and RMB0.66 in the same period last year. Each ADS represents five Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances

Deferred revenue and customer advances were RMB318.6 million (US$44.9 million) as of December 31, 2023, compared with RMB379.1 million as of December 31, 2022.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents were RMB1,213.8 million (US$171.0 million) as of December 31, 2023, compared with RMB1,050.0 million as of December 31, 2022.

Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

Revenues

Revenues were RMB1,018.1 million (US$143.4 million), an increase of 3.3% from RMB985.5 million in fiscal year 2022.

Average total MAUs were 23.04 million, an increase of 16.0% year-over-year from 19.86 million in fiscal year 2022. The number of paying users for the year was 4.27 million.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB296.9 million (US$41.8 million), compared with RMB294.3 million in fiscal year 2022.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit was RMB721.3 million (US$101.6 million), an increase of 4.4% from RMB691.2 million in fiscal year 2022. Gross margin was 70.8%, compared with 70.1% in fiscal year 2022.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were RMB561.4 million (US$79.1 million), a decrease of 3.1% from RMB579.6 million in fiscal year 2022.

Research and development expenses were RMB257.5 million (US$36.3 million), a decrease of 17.8% from RMB313.5 million in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to cost savings in payroll-related expenses and outsourcing expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB199.5 million (US$28.1 million), an increase of 27.1% from RMB156.9 million in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to increased strategic spending on promotional activities and brand enhancement.

General and administrative expenses were RMB104.3 million (US$14.7 million), a decrease of 4.5% from RMB109.2 million in fiscal year 2022.

Operating Income

Operating income was RMB159.9 million (US$22.5 million), compared with RMB111.6 million in fiscal year 2022.

Net Income

Net income was RMB180.9 million (US$25.5 million), compared with RMB109.8 million in fiscal year 2022.

Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB3.43 (US$0.48) and RMB3.30 (US$0.46), respectively, compared with RMB2.06 and RMB2.03 in fiscal year 2022. Each ADS represents five Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

Special Cash Dividend

To deliver return of capital to shareholders, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) approved a special cash dividend of US$0.02 per ordinary share, or US$0.10 per ADS, to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs as of the close of business on March 28, 2024 New York Time, payable in U.S. dollars. The aggregate amount of the special dividend will be approximately US$5.3 million. The payment date is expected to be on or around May 8, 2024 and May 15, 2024 for holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs, respectively.

Acquisition of IP Assets

The Company, through one of its consolidated affiliated entities, entered into an asset transfer agreement (the “Asset Transfer Agreement”) with Kunpeng, an animation production studio within the Perfect World Group (the “Transferors”). Pursuant to the Asset Transfer Agreement, the Company will acquire intellectual property assets related to “Cosmicrew” from Kunpeng, including copyrights and trademarks, among others, for a total consideration of RMB64.0 million. The consideration of the transaction was determined with the assistance of an independent third-party valuation firm. As the Transferors are related parties of the Company, the transaction has been approved by the Board and the audit committee of the Board, and is subject to customary closing conditions.

Exchange Rate Information

The U.S. dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release, except for those transaction amounts that were actually settled in U.S. dollars, are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into US$ in this press release is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of December 29, 2023, which was RMB7.0999 to US$1.00. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on the RMB amounts.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

iHuman considers and uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS, as supplemental metrics in reviewing and assessing its operating performance and formulating its business plan. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). iHuman defines adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS as operating income, net income and diluted net income per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses, respectively. Adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS enable iHuman’s management to assess its operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges. iHuman believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company’s current operating performance and prospects in the same manner as management does, if they so choose.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, which possibly do not reflect all items of expense that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures iHuman uses may differ from the non-GAAP measures used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates”  and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about iHuman’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the description of the management’s quotations in this announcement contains forward-looking statements. iHuman may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: iHuman’s growth strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract and retain users, convert non-paying users into paying users and increase the spending of paying users, the trends in, and size of, the market in which iHuman operates; its expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; its expectations regarding its relationships with business partners; general economic and business conditions; regulatory environment; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in iHuman’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and iHuman does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About iHuman Inc.

iHuman Inc. is a leading provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China that is committed to making the child-upbringing experience easier for parents and transforming intellectual development into a fun journey for children. Benefiting from a deep legacy that combines over two decades of experience in the parenthood industry, superior original content, advanced high-tech innovation DNA and research & development capabilities with cutting-edge technologies, iHuman empowers parents with tools to make the child-upbringing experience more efficient. iHuman’s unique, fun and interactive product offerings stimulate children’s natural curiosity and exploration. The Company’s comprehensive suite of innovative and high-quality products include self-directed apps, interactive content and smart devices that cover a broad variety of areas to develop children’s abilities in speaking, critical thinking, independent reading and creativity, and foster their natural interest in traditional Chinese culture. Leveraging advanced technological capabilities, including 3D engines, AI/AR functionality, and big data analysis on children’s behavior & psychology, iHuman believes it will continue to provide superior experience that is efficient and relieving for parents, and effective and fun for children, in China and all over the world, through its integrated suite of tech-powered, intellectual development products.

For more information about iHuman, please visit https://ir.ihuman.com/

For investor and media enquiries, please contact:

iHuman Inc.
Mr. Justin Zhang
Investor Relations Director
Phone: +86 10 5780-6606
E-mail: ir@ihuman.com 

Christensen

In China
Ms. Alice Li
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: alice.li@christensencomms.com  

In the US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
E-mail: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com 

 

 

 

iHuman Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

2022

2023

2023

RMB

RMB

US$

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

1,049,999

1,213,767

170,956

Accounts receivable, net

79,614

60,832

8,568

Inventories, net

19,127

16,518

2,327

Amounts due from related parties

2,286

1,810

255

Prepayments and other current assets

102,765

89,511

12,607

Total current assets

1,253,791

1,382,438

194,713

Non-current assets

Property and equipment, net

9,205

6,169

869

Intangible assets, net

24,872

23,245

3,274

Operating lease right-of-use assets

12,782

3,648

514

Long-term investment

26,333

26,333

3,709

Other non-current assets

6,416

8,662

1,218

Total non-current assets

79,608

68,057

9,584

Total assets

1,333,399

1,450,495

204,297

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

24,206

22,139

3,118

Deferred revenue and customer advances

379,063

318,587

44,872

Amounts due to related parties

6,944

4,428

624

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

144,717

143,677

20,236

Current operating lease liabilities

6,123

1,927

271

Total current liabilities

561,053

490,758

69,121

Non-current liabilities

Non-current operating lease liabilities

2,894

1,933

272

Total non-current liabilities

2,894

1,933

272

Total liabilities

563,947

492,691

69,393

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Ordinary shares (par value of US$0.0001 per share,
   700,000,000 Class A shares authorized as of
   December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023;
   125,122,382 Class A shares issued and 121,722,467
   outstanding as of December 31, 2022; 125,122,382
   Class A shares issued and
119,704,787 outstanding as
   of December 31, 2023; 200,000,000 Class B shares
   authorized, 144,000,000 Class B ordinary shares
   issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and
   December 31, 2023; 100,000,000 shares
   (undesignated) authorized, nil shares (undesignated)
   issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and
   December 31, 2023)

185

185

26

Additional paid-in capital

1,079,099

1,088,628

153,330

Treasury stock

(7,123)

(16,665)

(2,347)

Statutory reserves

7,967

8,164

1,150

Accumulated other comprehensive income

10,497

17,955

2,529

Accumulated deficit

(321,173)

(140,463)

(19,784)

Total shareholders’ equity

769,452

957,804

134,904

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

1,333,399

1,450,495

204,297

 

 

 

iHuman Inc.

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)

For the three months ended

For the year ended

December 31,

September 30,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

2022

2023

2023

2023

2022

2023

2023

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Revenues

260,704

261,496

250,447

35,275

985,517

1,018,139

143,402

Cost of revenues

(79,707)

(74,871)

(72,201)

(10,169)

(294,343)

(296,868)

(41,813)

Gross profit

180,997

186,625

178,246

25,106

691,174

721,271

101,589

Operating expenses

Research and development expenses

(66,796)

(66,168)

(66,293)

(9,337)

(313,481)

(257,546)

(36,275)

Sales and marketing expenses

(45,811)

(53,994)

(64,511)

(9,086)

(156,916)

(199,504)

(28,100)

General and administrative expenses

(29,253)

(26,070)

(25,547)

(3,598)

(109,195)

(104,334)

(14,695)

Total operating expenses

(141,860)

(146,232)

(156,351)

(22,021)

(579,592)

(561,384)

(79,070)

Operating income

39,137

40,393

21,895

3,085

111,582

159,887

22,519

Other income, net

5,315

19,507

8,965

1,263

21,190

42,686

6,012

Income before income taxes

44,452

59,900

30,860

4,348

132,772

202,573

28,531

Income tax (expenses) / benefits

(9,019)

(7,984)

2,411

340

(22,953)

(21,666)

(3,052)

Net income

35,433

51,916

33,271

4,688

109,819

180,907

25,479

Net income per ADS:

   – Basic

0.67

0.98

0.63

0.09

2.06

3.43

0.48

   – Diluted

0.66

0.95

0.61

0.09

2.03

3.30

0.46

Weighted average number of ADSs:

   – Basic

53,205,925

52,747,426

52,740,067

52,740,067

53,307,044

52,810,587

52,810,587

   – Diluted

54,033,560

54,772,536

54,753,503

54,753,503

54,040,908

54,753,025

54,753,025

Total share-based compensation expenses included in:

Cost of revenues

168

67

64

9

348

299

42

Research and development expenses

2,564

1,160

1,115

157

6,377

4,055

571

Sales and marketing expenses

559

147

122

17

1,599

707

100

General and administrative expenses

1,757

1,105

817

115

4,720

4,374

616

 

 

 

 iHuman Inc.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)

For the three months ended

For the year ended

December 31,

September 30,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

2022

2023

2023

2023

2022

2023

2023

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Operating income

39,137

40,393

21,895

3,085

111,582

159,887

22,519

Share-based compensation expenses

5,048

2,479

2,118

298

13,044

9,435

1,329

Adjusted operating income

44,185

42,872

24,013

3,383

124,626

169,322

23,848

Net income

35,433

51,916

33,271

4,688

109,819

180,907

25,479

Share-based compensation expenses

5,048

2,479

2,118

298

13,044

9,435

1,329

Adjusted net income

40,481

54,395

35,389

4,986

122,863

190,342

26,808

Diluted net income per ADS

0.66

0.95

0.61

0.09

2.03

3.30

0.46

Impact of non-GAAP adjustments

0.09

0.04

0.04

0.00

0.24

0.18

0.03

Adjusted diluted net income per ADS

0.75

0.99

0.65

0.09

2.27

3.48

0.49

Weighted average number of ADSs – diluted

54,033,560

54,772,536

54,753,503

54,753,503

54,040,908

54,753,025

54,753,025

Weighted average number of ADSs – adjusted

54,033,560

54,772,536

54,753,503

54,753,503

54,040,908

54,753,025

54,753,025

 

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FranklinWH Joins Efficiency Maine to Help Homeowners to Earn up to $600 Annually From Home Batteries

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Efficiency Maine Small Battery Program taps residential storage to support grid during peak demand

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH, a leading provider of whole-home energy management and storage systems, announced today it is participating in the Efficiency Maine Small Battery Program, allowing Maine homeowners to earn up to $600 per battery each year by supplying stored energy to the grid during peak demand periods.

The program reflects a growing use of residential energy storage systems as both backup power sources and grid resources that can generate income while helping stabilize electricity supply.

Homeowners who enroll can allow their systems to discharge energy during peak demand events, typically on weekday evenings, in exchange for annual payments.

“I work from home, so losing power really isn’t an option,” said Brian Duggan, a Maine homeowner who has used the system for four months. “There have been several community-wide outages since we installed our system, and we didn’t even notice. Our power stayed on.” Duggan said the system is a maintenance-free alternative to a generator, pairs with electric vehicle charging, and helps protect his home during winter travel.

“This is where the economics of home energy storage are heading,” said Gary Lam, CEO of FranklinWH. “Homeowners are no longer only consumers of electricity; they’re becoming active participants in the energy system. Programs such as this allow them to receive payments while strengthening the grid in their communities.”

Maine’s virtual power plant (VPP) program is administered by Efficiency Maine, which compensates homeowners for the energy their systems send back to the grid during peak events, creating a new revenue stream tied to system participation.

Efficiency Maine may call up to 60 events per year, typically lasting three hours during peak demand windows. Homeowners receive advance notice through the FranklinWH App and can opt out of individual events or unenroll at any time. During events, a reserve level is maintained to ensure power remains available for household needs.

As utilities and policymakers look for new ways to manage rising demand and grid volatility, VPP programs are expected to expand, positioning distributed home energy systems as a critical part of the solution.

About FranklinWH

FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System, a next-generation home energy management and storage solution. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team brings decades of experience across energy system design, manufacturing, sales, and installation. The company is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions and continues to empower homeowners to achieve true energy freedom. Learn more at franklinwh.com.

Media Contact:
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Marelli highlights vehicle dynamics technologies as a competitive advantage, elevating safety, comfort and performance, at Auto China 2026

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The company will introduce new advanced suspension solutions such as the new Active Camber and the Electromechanical Lifter, enabling real-time control of wheel angle and vehicle heightAlso in the spotlight, the Hybrid Electromechanical Suspensions, a new architecture combining full-active actuator technology and best-in-class semi-active dampers to deliver a high-end driving experience while maintaining cost efficiency.

SAITAMA, Japan, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At Auto China 2026 in Beijing (April 24-May 3), Marelli, a global technology partner to the automotive industry, will highlight how vehicle dynamics and advanced suspension technologies are becoming increasingly central to vehicle safety, performance, user experience, comfort and brand differentiation, also supporting the evolution toward Software-Defined Vehicles.
In this perspective, at booth n. W2B08 in Hall W2 in the New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC), as a relevant part of its wider portfolio of solutions for different vehicle domains, the company will showcase its latest suspension and chassis innovations, suchas the new Active Camber, the Electromechanical Lifter and the Hybrid Electromechanical suspensions.

Enabled by software control and advanced electromechanical actuators, active suspension systems play a key role in determining vehicles behavior under different driving conditions, with a direct impact on overall user experience, vehicle agility and safety.

“The importance of vehicle dynamics technology spans all propulsion systems, giving automakers a decisive tool to drive vehicle distinctiveness while offering end users a wide range of personalization options.” stated Piero Monchiero, Advanced Innovation VP of Marelli’s Ride Dynamics business. “This is particularly evident in China, where customer expectations for vehicle dynamics and ride comfort continue to rise.”

Active Camber: optimal tire contact with the road to increase drivability and safety
The first relevant innovation is the Active Camber system, designed to enhance vehicle stability by correcting wheel camber in real time, improving vehicle performance and safety while delivering a more comfortable experience.

Camber is the inward or outward tilt of a wheel when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Proper camber ensures optimal tire contact with the road, improving grip for better stability, braking and acceleration, while also supporting more uniform tire wear.

The new solution presented in Beijing features an electronically controlled smart actuator with integrated sensors that continuously monitor the road surface. An intelligent control unit processes data every millisecond and automatically adjusts wheel angles in real time, adapting to driving conditions. This reduces body movement and increases grip, resulting in more precise handling and safer cornering. The solution provides a smoother experience in different conditions and contributes to extend tire life through a more even wear.

Electromechanical Lifter, smartly adapting vehicle height
Another innovation within Marelli’s suspension showcase in Beijing will be the Electromechanical Lifter, a fully electromechanical device integrated into the shock absorber that adjusts vehicle height in some specific situations. The system uses a smart actuator to deliver automatic leveling functionality, maintaining vehicle balance across varying conditions. The solution is suitable in particular for vehicle segments like sport and performance cars and sporty SUVs, addressing different use cases. Regarding sport and performance cars, it can lift the vehicle to manage garage ramps, speed bumps or snowy roads. On sporty SUVs, this technology can adjust the vehicle setup within a certain level of speed, in order to improve aerodynamics by minimizing drag. The system also facilitates easier vehicle entry and exit. The solution is oil-free, lightweight and ensures easy integration for carmakers.

New active electromechanical suspension solutions to elevate onboard experience
Designed to drive affordable innovation, the new Hybrid Electromechanical Suspension is a new suspension architecture that combines full-active actuator technology and best-in-class semi-active dampers to deliver a high-end driving experience while maintaining cost efficiency. Controlled by an Electronic Control Unit, the system integrates full-active electromechanical actuators applied to the front suspension, which provide optimal damping or self-generate reactive forces to minimize roll, pitch, yaw and vibration. These are paired with semi-active rear shock absorbers and optimize vertical dynamic response. The result is smoother driving, improved stability and enhanced safety in a variety of conditions.

This system draws from the experience of the Fully Active Electromechanical Suspension, which will also be on display at Marelli’s booth in Beijing. This oil-free solution uses four electronically controlled actuators which modulate each wheel’s suspension and damping parameters in real time, actively defining the best behavior of each vehicle’s suspension, for optimal handling and ride comfort balance. Data is processed in milliseconds to determine, through a smart algorithm, the actions required to adapt to road irregularities and driving situations, providing a “magic carpet” experience for vehicle occupants.

By enhancing stability and comfort, these two active electromechanical suspension solutions help reduce motion sickness, especially during activities like reading or using a laptop, which are expected to become more common with the rise of autonomous driving. They are also designed to recover kinetic energy, ensuring up to 80% energy efficiency compared to passive or semi-active systems.

Marelli’s booth at the Beijing Auto Show will be themed “Rooted in innovation, everywhere”, which illustrates the company’s ‘distributed’ model for high-speed innovation, to support customers wherever they need, with localized design, development, sourcing and manufacturing in China and across different regions. This approach combines local expertise and global reach to deliver affordable, scalable solutions at speed, that accelerate customers’ time-to-market. The company showcase will feature innovative solutions in several technology domains, including automotive lighting, electronics, interiors, propulsion, thermal systems, alongside a comprehensive portfolio of advanced suspension innovations.

About Marelli
Marelli is a global mobility technology supplier to the automotive sector. With a strong and established track record in innovation and manufacturing excellence, our mission is to transform the future of mobility through working with customers and partners to create a safer, greener, and better-connected world. With around 40,000 employees worldwide, the Marelli footprint includes over 150 sites globally.

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Oklahoma City Turns to ASAP Service to Speed Emergency Response

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Oklahoma City Police Department 911 Communications announced that it has gone live with ASAP Service, a standards-based solution developed by The Monitoring Association (TMA).

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ —  Oklahoma City Police Department 911 Communications announced that it has gone live with ASAP Service, a standards-based solution developed by The Monitoring Association (TMA). ASAP Service automatically and digitally delivers prioritized alarm notifications to the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems used by emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the country. The expected results of this initiative are faster, better-informed emergency response, fewer communication errors, improved data accuracy, and reduced stress for citizens and 911 telecommunicators.

“Once ASAP Service is integrated with our CAD system, we no longer will need to dedicate a telecommunicator to monitoring the web portal,” said Katherine Underwood, the agency’s management specialist.

The first phase of the initiative deployed the solution through ASAP View, a web-based portal that reduced the city’s implementation timeline by roughly 50 percent. “Once we had the opportunity to review our call volume and processes, the value of having all the information upfront was clear,” said Katherine Underwood, the agency’s management specialist. “We moved forward with View because it was easy to implement and use, and we believe it will reduce call handling times and overall call volume. Ultimately, the benefits outweighed the manual effort, since we would have had to build those calls either way.”

However, to realize the full potential of ASAP Service — for example, address pre-verification — the city plans to integrate ASAP with its CAD system as part of phase two. CentralSquare, the agency’s CAD-system vendor, is developing an application programming interface (API) for this purpose. The API will connect to the GovCloud-hosted version of ASAP, delivering scalability, reliability, and superior data security, as well as compliance with the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) security standards for handling criminal-justice information.

“Once ASAP Service is integrated with our CAD system, we no longer will need to dedicate a telecommunicator to monitoring the web portal,” Underwood said.

The agency’s ECC serves about 702,000 residents and provides 911 call-taking and dispatch services for law-enforcement, fire/rescue and emergency-medical incidents. In 2025, the center received 1.48 million calls for service, plus nearly 40,000 residential and business alarm notifications, the vast majority of which pertained to law-enforcement incidents.

Regarding alarm notifications, multiple voice calls typically are needed between 911 telecommunicators and alarm-monitoring-center personnel to verify the information needed to effectively dispatch emergency response. It is a time-consuming process — industry estimates indicate that it adds from two to eight minutes to response times, an eternity when lives and property are at risk. Because telecommunicators need to type the captured information into their CAD systems, the process also is prone to miscommunications, misinterpretations, and transcription errors.

ASAP Service is architected to resolve these issues. It was developed by TMA in collaboration with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). The solution is built on two TMA-developed standards, the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) and the Alarm Verification Scoring Standard (AVS-01). Both are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Of all the benefits that ASAP Service will provide, the one that resonates most with Underwood is the anticipated dramatic decrease in call volume for the center’s telecommunicators. Fewer calls mean telecommunicators will be free to focus on higher-priority incidents that require their unique skills and experience. They’ll also have more time to decompress between calls. “They’ll have time to breathe, which will reduce their stress,” Underwood said.

Further, Underwood predicted that citizens requiring emergency assistance will encounter fewer instances of being placed in queue and will experience shorter hold times when they are. “Our residents no longer will be competing with alarm companies to talk with one of us,” she said. “There’s nothing more frustrating than dialing 911 and getting the ‘all lines are busy, please hold and don’t hang up’ message when your house is burning down.”

As of go-live, the following alarm-monitoring companies are transmitting alarm notifications via ASAP Service to Oklahoma City Police Departments 911 Communications: Quick Response, CPI, Alert 360, Affiliated Monitoring, JCI, United Central Control, Allstate Security, Security Central, Rapid Response Monitoring, Everon/Protection One, Vector Security, Vivint, Guardian Protection, and Becklar.

Learn more about how TMA’s ASAP Service is saving lives every day nationwide at asap911.org.

About The Monitoring Association

The Monitoring Association (TMA), formerly the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), is an internationally recognized nonprofit trade association that represents professional monitoring companies, security systems integrators, and providers of products and services to the industry. Incorporated in 1950, TMA represents its members before Congress and regulatory agencies on the local, state and federal levels, and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) over the industry. Learn more online at https://tma.us/about-tma/.

About TMA’s ASAP Service

Launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, TMA’s Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) Service enables direct electronic dispatch of emergency calls for service from alarm companies to emergency communications centers. Increasing the accuracy and efficiency of dispatches, ASAP Service utilizes American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited protocols developed cooperatively by TMA and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO).

Media Contact

Julie Howerter, ASAP Service, 1 815-501-5832, rscarpino@pipitone.com, https://asap911.org/

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