Connectivity management enables data calls to be made to devices. Devices generate data, which is the fuel that powers the IoT, but the value of that data depends on what you do with it and that is determined by the application. Therefore while it is clearly important to develop the optimum applications for specific IoT solutions, that objective of the exercise should be clearly defined and the different ways that it could be realised have to be considered with equal care.
January 17, 2019
Posted by: IoT global network
Zest4 have confirmed their dedication to M2M & IoT solutions by licensing the Emport IoT platform from Arkessa, a leading M2M/IoT connectivity service provider. This association gives Zest4 the ability to deliver IoT MVNO services solutions alongside new communications technology, to maximise the IoT revenue opportunities not only in the UC channel, but to existing IoT suppliers and IoT solutions developers across all verticals.
Zest4 have acquired this capability to ensure their partners can access multiple networks, both in the UK and globally. Enabled by Arkessa’s Emport platform, partners have ultimate control under one management billing platform to manage their entire estate of SIMS irrespective of mobile network operator. Not only this, but they will be able to; track SIM usage individually, by sub estates, or in entirety; monitor data alerts, caps and SIM data allowance usage; produce data usage reports with ease and organise their estates through tags and categories of their choice.
The deal means Zest4 can offer an IoT tariff for any opportunity that a partner uncovers – with their usual competitive pricing and commercial flexibility.
Anton le Saux, Zest4’s Head of IoT said “Arkessa’s Emport is a proven Enterprise MVNO platform which we can now leverage, customise and target at UC channel businesses, verifying our position as a leading provider of IoT.”
Philip McDermott, Arkessa’s COO said “Arkessa is delighted to enable Zest4 with our Emport IoT platform, with such a strong track record of working with strategic partners to deliver UC solutions which are easy to understand and include high quality equipment, competitive prices and proactive support, it is a great fit. The Arkessa Platform-as-a-Service solution gives Zest4 the freedom to pursue their channel-focussed approach to IoT.”
In fact, it’s a hard-hitting reality that most engineers can’t expand their presence easily to remote server room. As a result, placing video surveillance for security improvements and real-time monitoring will be good for enterprises. (more…)
Younes Allaki is chief technology officer of 1NCE and one of the company’s four founders who managed to develop and launch an IoT mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in just under six months earlier this year. The company is bringing a new approach to IoT connectivity with a headline offering of one megabit a month for ten years for €10. (more…)
December 18, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
IAMEN, CHINA–October 31, 2018–Ursalink, an innovative manufacturer of the most reliable and robust M2M/IoT products, has expanded its line of wireless product. (more…)
IoT analytics can be divided into two broad categories: device data analytics and network analytics. A further division can be made into descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics. These are generic terms that predate IoT, but they are just as relevant today. The early analysis of enterprise data, e.g. data generated by mainstream systems like CRM and ERP, was and still is done with a Business Intelligence platform. (more…)
December 7, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
Without managed connectivity there is no IoT. Without device management there is no business case. Layers one and two in the IoT stack are inexorably linked. Connectivity enables data calls to be made to the devices, in turn device performance needs to be managed in order to realise the requisite solution. This process involves authenticating, provisioning, configuring, monitoring and maintaining the functionality of diverse devices. Secure access is a key component, but it is normally provided as an integral part of an end-to-end solution. (more…)
November 19, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
Blockchain networks are secure, redundant and self-healing. When deployed they “build trust, reduce costs and accelerate transactions”. The quote comes from IBM. The company has more than 1,000 staff and $200 million invested in the blockchain-powered IoT. Deployments have been made by Maersk, a cargo shipping giant, and Walmart, the world’s biggest retailer, but small and medium-sized enterprises can obtain similar benefits. Blockchain is a mainstream development that really does break new ground, as did the Internet and voice followed by video over IP. (more…)
Posted by: IoT global network
IoT devices have evolved into smart network endpoints that can perform intelligent actions on their own and the result is an increasing number of complex networks comprising smart products that need to be managed as a unified system. Connectivity management platforms provide the requisite service portfolio, which is employed by communication service providers, solution providers, systems integrators and the business community. (more…)
October 23, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
If you missed the webinar don’t worry!
Catch up with our highlights below and register here to stream the live recording.
Participants: IoT Now, IoT M2M Council, ARM, Beecham Research
Highlights
The Webinar started with two on-line polls of the areas of interest and the challenges of the participants. The first was the role of IoT in the organisation: user, OEM, application developer, solutions vendor, or systems integrator / consultant. About 50% were solution vendors and 50% users of various types, including consultants. This is more or less as expected. The second was the challenges: government regulation; internal conflicts, difficult to establish the right businesses model; lack of funding / skills; interoperability and standards. The business model was seen as the primary challenge, with interoperability also a significant challenge.
The on-line polls were followed by an introduction to IoT platforms and their use in the marketplace. Topics covered included the four key components: the application development layer plus the data, device and connectivity management layers, which are becoming increasingly complex. This was followed by an architectural view of the platform, i.e. the four main components, plus three additional categories – consumer centric, vertical-centric, such as Smart City platforms, and developer centric, plus end-to-end security which affects all categories.
This was followed by a graph showing the accelerating growth in the number of platforms in recent years. It is not slowing down: over 400 in 2016; 450 in 2017; over 500 right now and counting. Consolidation is taking place, but not a lot. Big companies are acquiring smaller companies in order to add more functionality. The wide choice will continue for the foreseeable future, hence the need for a way of helping users match their IoT requirements with the relevant platform or platforms.
That is something Beecham Research and IoT Global Network have been working on and now there is an online platform-matching tool known as IoT Pilot. It is free for adopters and has been designed to help enterprises evaluate and navigate the IoT platform landscape. This tool is not intended to generate a final selection; the aim is to provide an objective short list of candidate platforms.
Usage of the tool starts by entering responses to key questions. IoT Pilot employs the resulting search data to match the user‘s needs with a database of IoT platforms and create a short list that is available online straightaway. The same data is also summarised and analysed by Beecham Research to highlight emerging trends in the market place as well as key user requirements and concerns.
The short list identifies the name of the platform and the vendor, the category, plus a “heat map” of the platform’s strengths and weaknesses. Heat maps are a visual representation of capability of the various components of the platform: they are the results of analysis conducted by Beecham Research. In addition, there is a button on some of the individual platform pages that users can employ to auto-generate an email containing their selection criteria, to start a discussion with selected vendors.
Once users have a short list of platforms to look at – what next? Ideally they will want to approach some vendors with a list of questions to answer, so they can make a final selection and move towards implementing their chosen IoT solution. This is where work on an IoT software RFP, fronted by the IMC and on which Beecham Research also worked, comes into focus. A template RFP covering IoT platforms was created from this work that includes nearly 100 questions to ask platform vendors in order to learn more about their capabilities. This RFP template is available from the IMC (www.iotm2mcouncil.org).
October 19, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network