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
While you can do IoT without an IoT platform, it certainly aids getting an IoT solution up and running quickly and probably at lower cost than alternative approaches. Middleware is needed to enable communications between the OT (operation technology) domain where data is generated and the business IT (information technology) domain where it is used. That’s the baseline function of an IoT platform. Middleware is also employed to facilitate secure monitoring, control and analysis of device and sensor behaviour in the field. IoT platforms are therefore a key enabling product. Their functionality largely determines the performance and efficiency of IoT solutions.
Given the prognosis for the growth of IoT it is hardly surprising that a plethora of platform vendors have thrown their hat into the arena. Depending on what the term ‘IoT platform’ covers, right now there are upwards of 500 in the market in all shapes and sizes. That means the market is ultra-competitive and it is also confusing because vendors make similar, often overhyped claims for their product. In addition, it is hard to make apples versus apples comparisons since the platforms often address different requirements. A solution that employs over a hundred thousand devices will need a platform that is communications centric. One that requires integration with existing enterprise systems required will require a robust device management capability.
Those are two of five major categories that Beecham Research employs. In addition to device management and connectivity they include security, application development and data management/analytics as well as vertical market-specific platforms, such as Smart City oriented and developer-oriented. Vendors will typically focus on their area of expertise, but platform strengths have to align with solution needs: it’s a make or break issue. Therefore the requisite solution may involve a combination of different platforms covering different layers in the overall IoT stack.
Replacing confusion with clarity
Evaluating the performance of 500 platforms is clearly a difficult, time-consuming process and it becomes an even more significant issue when two or more platforms are required. Users may elect to “play safe” and go with one of the heavy hitters. However – which one? This can also result in a platform that is expensive, over-engineered and not optimised for the particular solution requirement.
Beecham Research recognised the emergence of this issue and created a comprehensive database on the various platforms as well as a matching tool known as IoT Pilot. Users enter their baseline requirements and IoT Pilot is then employed to navigate the database and give the user a list of vendors whose products match the performance criteria.
Performance parameters are analysed and presented in a structured way for all products, which facilitates comparisons. In addition, there is background information on the relevant vendors, bullet points on the key strengths and categories, together with a “heat map”. This is a 5 x 5 matrix (example above) comprising performance indicators mapped against generic platform functionality. These maps allow users to see a platform’s functionality and performance parameters and thereby obtain a holistic, memorable impression.
In a nutshell, the service replaces multiple product confusion with insightful clarity.
Posted by: IoT global network
[Sponsored]
Focusing on the low bandwidth area of IoT, 1NCE have brought to market a SIM card that offers multimode connectivity. Their ground-breaking connectivity platform aggregates LPWA and Narrowband technologies and traditional technologies, such as 2G and 3G with the ability to connect to all of them on one SIM card. (more…)
September 18, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
Xiamen, China June 8, 2018 – Ursalink (www.ursalink.com), a customer-centric IoT/M2M hardware provider, successfully held its annual Chinese Distributors Conference at its headquarters, in the presence of executives and employees of Ursalink, and some 40 distributors from different regions of China.
As a young and innovative brand established in 2017, Ursalink upholds the brand philosophy “Inspire Connections” in the light of the rapidly increasing number of connected devices and systems today that brings both benefits and concerns, as well as the wish to create a corporate culture that is innovative and inspiring.
On the first part of the conference, after presenting excellent distributors of the year with awards, the Marketing Director, Mr. Hank Zheng, gave a speech to thank distributors and show Ursalink’s blueprint to the future connected world.
Next, the Sales Director, Ms. Jessica Yao, gave report on Ursalink’s sales data of the year, current R&D ability and case studies to the distributors and concluded that high-quality product, strong technical support and professional pre/after-sale services are definitely key to maximizing success.
At last, many distributors present commented that the Conference deepened their knowledge of Ursalink’s product quality, manufacturing capability and strategic goals.
Ursalink is very excited to create a long-term plan of building a world-class brand with all of our distribution partners and achieving substantial growth in the next five years.
A BIG hug to all our Chinese distributors and see you next year!
About Ursalink
Ursalink is a professional high-tech enterprise specializing in the design and manufacture of best-in-class industrial-grade M2M/IoT hardware and solutions with superior performance, relentless reliability and unquestioned security for the global market. With a deep, rich suite of IoT and M2M network services, Ursalink offers true global connectivity, with high-quality integration solutions for customers from all industries. For more information, please visit www.ursalink.com.
XIAMEN, CHINA February 5, 2018 – Ursalink (www.ursalink.com), a manufacturer of the M2M/IoT industry’s most reliable, ruggedized, and intelligent industrial cellular router, today has entered into a distribution partnership with Elmark Plus (www.elmarkplus.com.tr), an unmatched sales and service supplier of IIoT products. This relationship will not only enrich Elmark Plus’s M2M hardware offerings, but expands Ursalink’s presence in the interconnected world as well.
“We are excited to team up with Elmark Plus and leave our footprint worldwide together,” said Alan Shen, CEO of Ursalink. “We believe that Elmark Plus, with its skilled sales and services and developed product expertise of UR7X series, will increase the brand exposure and help provide seamless and secure connections for industrial controller.”
“Joining hands with Ursalink is quite thrilling and will pump up our business to some degree.” said Serdar Esmer, General Manager of Elmark Plus. “It’s an excellent choice for us to enlarge customer database with a professional IoT/M2M products manufacturer. With Ursalink’s certified products and our over-a-decade insights, we are confident to deliver remarkable experience to our customers and reach mutual benefits.”
This collaboration will enable Elmark Plus to distribute a full suite of Ursalink’s peerless performance and professional networking platforms including:
UR7X Series Industrial Cellular Router: a fully-featured, highly-reliable, and ultra-efficient networking platform that satisfies customers’ preferences at different level.
About Ursalink
Ursalink is a professional high-tech enterprise specializing in the design and manufacture of best-in-class industrial-grade M2M/IoT hardware and solutions with superior performance, relentless reliability and unquestioned security for the global market. With a deep, rich suite of IoT and M2M network services, Ursalink offers true global connectivity, with high-quality integration solutions for customers from all industries. For more information, please visit www.ursalink.com
About Elmark Plus
Elmark Plus is a leading supplier that shares value and experience in sales and service for over 15 years with its valued customers. It provides a wide array of IIoT products made by giant enterprises such as ABB, SIEMENS, Panasonic, Schneider and etc. The superlative services and business insights help Elmark at the forefront of the competition. www.elmarkplus.com.tr
XIAMEN, CHINA, November 30, 2017 – Ursalink (www.ursalink.com), a customer-centric hardware manufacturer that serves easily remote access connectivity and management for IoT/M2M communications, is proud to announce that it has met all the Microsoft Azure certification requirements and got certified for UR71, UR72, and UR75 industrial wireless router.
The versatile UR71, UR72 and UR75, featuring Gigabit Ethernet, failover, Python SDK, firewall, VPN and more, is poised to satisfy customers with its top-notch performance that offers swift, stable and secure M2M communications.
Integrated with Microsoft Azure, the certified UR71, UR72 and UR75 industrial wireless router favors the ability to transmit remote field data from sensors, PLC and beyond to the Azure IoT Cloud in near-real time and empowers customers to perform further analysis, turn insights into action and take measures accordingly prior to any malfunction or permanent damage may occur.
As an intelligent IoT-based strategy, the convergence of the UR7X Series and the Azure IoT Cloud comes with exciting promises that drive custom-tailored IoT solution, operation efficiency enhancement and downtime expenses reduction.
The UR7X Series is now listed on Azure IoT Device Catalog:
UR71: https://catalog.azureiotsuite.com/details?title=Usalink-Industrial-Cellular-Router-UR71
UR72: https://catalog.azureiotsuite.com/details?title=Usalink-Industrial-Cellular-Router-UR72
UR75: https://catalog.azureiotsuite.com/details?title=Usalink-Industrial-Cellular-Router-UR75
About Microsoft Azure:
Microsoft Azure (formerly Windows Azure) is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft for building, testing, deploying, and managing applications and services through a global network of Microsoft-managed data centers. It provides software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service and infrastructure as a service and supports many different programming languages, tools and frameworks, including both Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems.
About Ursalink:
Ursalink is a professional high-tech enterprise specializing in the design and manufacture of best-in-class industrial-grade M2M/IoT hardware and solutions with superior performance, relentless reliability and unquestioned security for the global market. With a deep, rich suite of IoT and M2M network services, Ursalink offers true global connectivity, with high-quality integration solutions for customers from all industries. For more information, please visit www.ursalink.com.
1NCE have brought a world 1st to market – a ground breaking, multimode sim card that connects to 2G/3G, LTE-M and NB-IoT.
Designed for low bandwidth applications, this future proof solution means your IoT device will connect to whatever technology is available in the field.
Included in the 1NCE package is an innovative Connectivity Management Platform, designed with latest tech to host billions of connections and all the features necessary to manage your devices remotely, analyse data consumption and is embedded with security.
Best of all, it costs just €10 for 10 years. This is IoT Connectivity made simple.
Find out more https://hubs.ly/H0dbjD00
August 3, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
Europe’s first data flat rate for the Internet of Things is now available online. The joint offering by Deutsche Telekom and 1NCE, now available under the name 1NCE Lifetime Fee, is designed especially for business customers. It provides connectivity for devices using low data volumes in the Internet of Things (or IoT). The prepaid rates can now be booked from the 1NCE webshop.
(more…)
August 1, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
Technical innovation centre, Sensor City, is working towards making Liverpool City Region the go-to location for Industry 4.0 technologies with a host of new tenants. (more…)
July 31, 2018
Posted by: Zenobia Hegde
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is set to make a sizeable contribution to the economy by 2023. This is according to a new global study launched by the mobile satellite communications company, (more…)
July 30, 2018
Posted by: Zenobia Hegde