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…)
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. The first step comes from data management services, which increase operational efficiency by monitoring and maintaining the performance of remote devices and improving business processes by enabling seamless sharing of data across users and devices. (more…)
December 7, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
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…)
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…)
November 19, 2018
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
Interoperability is coming: it’s only a question of when, not if. The IoT is predicated on the creation of a web of platforms that support smart environments in cities, manufacturing, health, energy and so on. Companies that want to work closely with their partners are creating smart ecosystems that comprise different platforms. Therefore an efficient, secure flow of information between platforms is required. It’s required for applications like the value chains of manufacturers and it becomes a critical issue when companies are acquired. Moreover a recent McKinsey report indicates that up to 40 percent of the value of the IoT can only be enabled with interoperability. (more…)
Posted by: IoT global network
Event date: December 4 – 6, 2018
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Digital innovation continues to accelerate across Latin America, and 5G and IoT technology offers further opportunity for fast and effective methods of communication. While this technology promises to be transformational, implementing the technology brings challenges. As the region races towards the 4th Industrial Revolution, GSMA Mobile 360 Series – Latin America 2018 convenes over 800 senior tech leaders to address these challenges and continue the trend towards rapid and progressive innovation.
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October 19, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network
ARM, the British chip designer acquired by Softbank in September 2016 for $32 billion, recently acquired Stream Technologies for an undisclosed sum. Stream is a mobile virtual network, based in Glasgow, UK, that provides companies with a build once, deploy anywhere supply chain where any IoT device can be deployed, find a network, self-authenticate, automatically provision and connect to the lowest cost channel.
ARM is the industry’s leading supplier of microprocessor technology and the company’s marketing focuses on having its processor designs used in the expected hundreds of billions of future IoT devices. In order to realise that objective ARM was created and continuously developed Mbed technology as a way to support device creation and deployment. And in Q3 the company announced a new “device-to-data” IoT platform, known as ARM Pelion.
ARM acquired Stream in order to address connectivity management. Stream provides wireless connectivity across cellular, satellite, and low-power wide area networks. This enabled ARM Pelion to combine its own device management service, known as Mbed Cloud, with the connectivity management functionality of Stream Technologies. This combination provides a single pane of glass visibility of connectivity and device management across all devices regardless of location or network type. It gives organizations an end-to-end IoT platform for managing, connecting, provisioning and updating devices that is flexible and scalable.
This development was subsequently followed by the acquisition of Treasure Data, a company that marketed a cloud-based data management platform which enterprises use to unify data from different sources and provide a single, actionable view. Data management is needed to address the growing issues around IoT data volume, velocity and variety. Adding this capability to the Pelion IoT Platform will enable organizations to quickly, securely and sustainably create actionable insights from IoT, enterprise and third-party data.
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 News) – COLOGNE, 10/2018 – 1NCE, the provider of the world’s first IoT Flat Rate (powered by Deutsche Telekom) has launched a comprehensive Partner Ecosystem to expand its reach within the international IoT market. The partner network comprises renowned IoT companies like Quectel, Codico and many others. It forms the basis for the company’s continuous growth track and enables its partners to better respond to market demands and increase their customer loyalty through constant innovation.
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October 15, 2018
Posted by: IoT global network