Aeris Partnerships Aim at Easing IoT Adoption
Aeris, a provider of cellular-based IoT communication systems, and electronic components distributor and contract manufacturer Digi-Key Electronics are now working together to provide Digi-Key’s customer base of product developers with an IoT connectivity platform. Through the collaboration, Digi-Key’s customers can add Aeris Neo SIM cards to the components they purchase from Digi-Key, and can also access a self-service portal designed for commissioning the cards to their network. The partnership can greatly accelerate the process of enabling connected products, the companies report, because customers can order components and get them connected to their network in as little as one day. Plus, the connectivity portal stores the usage data and connectivity status of each connected device and provides a place for customers to troubleshoot issues and set alerts.
Last month, Aeris also announced a partnership with Symmetry Electronics, a distributor of wireless and video embedded solutions to enterprise customers large and small. Through the partnership, Symmetry’s customers can purchase hardware bundled with embedded SIM cards and cellular connectivity services provided by Aeris. This is designed to simplify the process of growing networks of connected devices, since end users are saved the extra step of having devices provisioned.
Early this month, Avnet introduced its Agate IoT Solution, a family of integrated kits that include hardware, software and services. The kits come with Aeris SIM cards.
“With Symmetry, Digi-Key and Avnet, we’re aiming to make it as simple and easy as possible to connect devices,” says Janet Jaiswal, Aeris’ VP of enterprise marketing. “By ensuring connectivity is already inside a component, we’re making sure the buyer doesn’t have to worry about it.”
Microsoft Releases Azure IoT Hub, HCL Opens IoT Incubation Center
Microsoft last week announced that its Azure IoT Hub is now generally available. The Azure IoT Hub provides a means for enterprise customers to connect, provision and manage IoT devices. The hub supports two-way communication between devices and cloud services, such as Microsoft’s Azure, over open messaging protocols such as the ISO standard MQTT, HTTPS and the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP). Microsoft designed the hub to enable easy integration with Azure-based data services, including Azure Machine Learning and Azure Stream Analytics. The hub is part of the Azure IoT Suite, which Microsoft announced last fall and which is designed to help customers roll out IoT-based systems quickly by using Azure services. The suite also provides preconfigured solutions that Microsoft’s customers can customize to fit specific use cases.
This week, IT services company HCL Technologies opened an Internet of Things (IoT) Incubation Center in Redmond, Wash. The center is designed to help end users in specific sectors—manufacturing or industrial, and life sciences or health care—to develop IoT solutions or services while leveraging the Azure IoT Suite. At the center, customers can learn about Azure-based solutions for specific applications, such as industrial automation, remote patient monitoring and fleet management, among others.
Consolidated Edison Bringing Smart Meters to 5.2 Million Customers
Utility provider Consolidated Edison has tapped Silver Spring Networks, a provider of wireless networking systems used for advanced utility-metering and smart-city applications, to deploy its connected network and meters to 3.9 million electric and 1.3 million gas customers across New York City’s five boroughs. The deployment will feature Silver Spring’s latest networking capability, its Gen5 communications module, which supports data transmission rates of up to 2.4 megabits per second, with 10 times the processing power of previous generations. The Gen5 also supports simultaneous dual-band mesh communications in both the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands.
The utility is rolling out the smart metering network as part of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) business plan, which includes improving outage detection and reducing the amount of time needed to restore service after an outage. Other objectives include enabling customers to better manage energy consumption by having visibility into usage during their billing cycles, and helping New York State achieve its goal of 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. The smart-meter rollout is scheduled to begin early next year and will take five years to complete, pending regulatory approval.
Mobile Phone Group Issues IoT Guidelines
The GSMA (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association) a telecommunications industry group that represents the interests of nearly 800 mobile operators worldwide, has released new guidelines intended to help its members securely develop and deploy IoT services in the growing Internet of Things market. The document, titled “The GSMA IoT Security Guidelines,” is also aimed at IoT service providers and the wider IoT ecosystem. It offers advice on tackling common cybersecurity threats, as well as data privacy issues associated with IoT services. Security experts, including academics, analysts and members of industry, have vetted the guidelines, according to GMSA. The document is available for download here.
AppCarousel, Mobica Co-Marketing Connected Device Services
AppCarousel, which makes an end-to-end app-management platform for connected devices, and Mobica, a software engineering, testing and development service provider, are coming together to offer their services and products jointly. Their target markets include connected cars, connected vehicle fleets and smart devices. AppCarousel, a subsidiary of AppDirect, a cloud service marketplace and management platform, helps companies deploy apps and manage them throughout their lifecycles. It also provides e-commerce assistance. Mobica provides design, software creation and software services to a range of industries, including automotive. Through the partnership, the two firms are offering turnkey solutions ranging from app building to app deployment, ongoing app management and monetization.