Mar 31, 2022Presented here are recent news announcements regarding the following organizations: Semtech, Vutility, Janam Technologies, Viakoo, Powercast, Soracom, Orange Wholesale France and Itron.
Semtech, Vutility Collaborate on LoRaWAN Energy-Monitoring System
Semtech, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and algorithms, has announced a collaboration with Vutility, a provider of real-time energy-monitoring solutions. The partnership is intended to help businesses improve energy consumption and operational efficiencies. Vutility's HotDrop, which can be onboarded via QR code, features Semtech's LoRa devices and utilizes the LoRaWAN standard to provide real-time, circuit-level energy monitoring of a facility, as well as reduce electricity costs.
"A key challenge we faced when developing the 'HotDrop' solution was to identify a wireless IoT [Internet of Things] standard that was able to communicate out from inside an electrical distribution panel, with similar radio-frequency disruptions to a Faraday cage, and through multiple dense walls and floors of buildings," said Micheal Austin, Vutility's chief technology officer, in a prepared statement. "The long-range transmission capability of LoRaWAN was able to meet and even exceed expectations for 'HotDrop' to maintain wireless, real-time transmission signals to the cloud. Leveraging LoRaWAN was ideal for us to scale the 'HotDrop' solution."
According to the company, HotDrop is self-powered, non-intrusive, and battery- and maintenance-free. Once the device is installed, users need not open the panel for service. The solution was designed for quick installation, according to Semtech, without a facility having to de-energize. The implementation of LoRa devices (SX1272) and LoRaWAN serve as the solution's IoT backbone, providing actionable real-time, circuit-level data to end applications via an application programming interface.
"The flexibility of LoRaWAN provides a robust connectivity option that complements other technologies, especially in the utilities market," added Marc Pégulu, the VP of IoT product marketing and strategy for Semtech's Wireless and Sensing Products Group, in the statement. "Vutility's 'HotDrop' solution smartly employs LoRaWAN to produce efficient energy usage, while also meeting sustainability initiatives important to the smart utilities and metering industries."
Janam Technologies Launches Self-Credentialing Kiosk
Janam Technologies, a provider of mobile computers and contactless-access solutions, has introduced the latest addition to its Guardian family of access-management hardware solutions. The GT1 self-credentialing kiosk provides the same power and performance as the company's GT1 mobile entry pedestal, Janam reports, and is available in tabletop and wall-mounted formats. The system is intended for use by hospitals, retail establishments, restaurants, office buildings, hotels, schools, arenas and other organizations looking to verify the credentials of patrons, customers, personnel and guests.
The self-service kiosk allows businesses to interact with individuals. It can read barcodes and QR codes on both paper credentials and smartphone screens, as well as Near Field Communication (NFC) tickets and passes in digital wallets. The system moves users through the identification process, according to the company, and eliminates challenges associated with employee, guest and vendor check-in, as well as healthcare credentials verification, retail loyalty programs, age verification, ticketing, boarding and registration.
Janam says the GT1 system can convert a new or existing XT3 touch computer into a touchless, self-service kiosk, in order to simplify credentialing, reduce administrative burdens, remove operational friction and create safer environments for staff members, vendors and guests. With support for the tap-and-go NFC features of Apple Wallet and Google Pay, the solution provides rapid, reliable and error-free verification of credentials stored in a mobile wallet, Janam adds, while automatic pass selection eliminates the need for users to unlock phones and scroll through digital wallets. Users can tap an iPhone or Android-powered smartphone on the surface of the GT1, and integrated proximity-based NFC technology will select the relevant pass.
The kiosk supports regulated markets such as tobacco, liquor, cannabis and lotteries, enabling businesses to meet requirements for age verification. The system also helps companies comply with state and local COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements, by securely reading both paper and digital health credentials. GT1 supports most digital health passes, including Soter Technologies' VaxScan, FOBI CheckVax, Good Health Pass, SMART Health Card, EU Digital COVID Certificate and other government-compliant digital vaccination verification apps.
"The COVID-19 pandemic forced many organizations to reimagine their business processes to increase productivity, reduce costs and promote safety and privacy," said Harry B. Lerner, Janam Technologies' CEO, in a prepared statement. "As a result, we have seen increased demand for contactless, easy-to-use, self-service solutions. Janam's GT1 is a powerful, intuitive and highly affordable self-credentialing tool that unlocks the benefits of knowing who is in the enterprise and managing their experience via their private credentials."
Viakoo Device Certificate Manager Allows Zero Trust for IoT Networks
Viakoo, a provider of Internet of Things vulnerability remediation solutions, has announced the release of its Device Certificate Manager (DCM) as a part of the Viakoo Action Platform to help organizations extend Zero Trust to IoT networks. DCM can be leveraged to authenticate devices with 802.1x certificates and encrypt traffic with TLS certificates. This, according to the company, ensures that authorized IoT devices maintain consistent and secure network access by automatically managing the IoT certificate process.
Many enterprises secure their networks, Viakoo explains, by manually ensuring every device on a network has valid 802.1x and TLS certificates. The process of installing and maintaining certificates for thousands of IoT devices from multiple vendors and across distinct geographies can be difficult in expanding IoT environments, however. The Viakoo Action Platform with DCM is thus designed to provide centralized, automated, full life-cycle management for 802.1x and TLS certificates at scale, the company indicates.
"As more and more organizations leverage the power of IoT devices, the IoT attack surface simultaneously expands," said Bud Broomhead, Viakoo's CEO and founder, in a prepared statement. "Deploying certificates manually device by device across geographies and vendor systems is not efficient or secure. We're at a point where it's essential to automate IoT security processes to contend with the scale of these environments."
Viakoo says its DCM automation enables organizations to achieve Zero Trust for their IoT infrastructure at scale, while saving them time and money. The Viakoo Action Platform, an automated, agentless and scalable solution for enterprise IoT device remediation and repatriation, manages all firmware updates, Zero Trust certificate provisioning and management, and password enforcement. It remediates IoT device vulnerabilities, the company reports, while enabling the devices to securely rejoin the corporate network.
Powercast Ships 10 Million Wireless RF Powerharvester Chips
Powercast, a provider of radio frequency (RF)-based over-the-air wireless power-over-distance technology, has announced that it has shipped 10 million wireless RF Powerharvester PCC110 chips within the last two years. The company attributes this to an increased demand for wireless power-over-distance solutions designed to free devices from wires, batteries and placement restrictions, such as direct contact with a charging surface, which the Qi wireless charging standard requires.
Powercast's technology is built to let untethered devices be powered remotely, at a distance of up to 80 feet, eliminating or reducing the need for batteries and wires, while increasing functionality and efficiency, and providing device placement freedom. IoT sensor networks, the company reports, can extend into remote locations where wiring and battery replacement are impossible, where consumer devices can charge over the air without touching a charging mat, and where environmentally friendly devices can use either rechargeable batteries or no batteries at all.
Powercast's technology works in the far field and creates a coverage area much like Wi-Fi, which automatically keeps multiple enabled devices charged when in range. An embedded Powerharvester PCC110 chip harvests RF energy in the air from an RF transmitter, an RFID reader or another RF source, then converts that RF to direct current to top off the rechargeable battery, or to power a battery-free device. Millions of users in more than 15 industries utilize the technology, the company reports, including in the automotive, consumer electronics, IoT, entertainment, retail, RFID and sensor sectors.
Powercast reports that its 2022 bookings have already surpassed those from last year. "The uptick in demand spans a wide range of applications, from IoT sensors, digital luggage tags, consumer electronics, logistics and more," said Charles Goetz, the company's CEO, in a prepared statement. "Highly functional untethered devices that cut the wires and reduce battery e-waste resonate across all industries, and Powercast is where companies who are serious about RF wireless power over distance engage for solutions." The company's technology won a 2021 Sustainability Award for reducing battery e-waste.
Soracom, Orange Wholesale France Partner on IoT Connectivity Services
Internet of Things connectivity provider Soracom has announced an agreement with Orange Wholesale France, a mobile network operator (MNO) and IoT connectivity provider, to expand its network worldwide. Soracom is providing IoT connectivity and network-management capabilities, and the partnership enables the company to offer connectivity as an extension of Orange's existing roaming partnerships throughout more than 220 areas and with 700 network operators.
Orange Wholesale France has an international footprint, access to a variety of networks, and a range of connectivity options. These include 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LPWA and radio technologies. Its platform enables more than four million IoT connections around the world, Soracom reports, with redundant coverage layers wherever possible, as well as coverage flexibility through support for eSIM-, iSIM- and UICC-compatible multi-IMSI solutions.
"From the very beginning, Soracom has focused on making advanced IoT connectivity accessible to any IoT innovator, anywhere in the world," said Ken Tamagawa, Soracom's CEO and cofounder, in a prepared statement. "This partnership with Orange Wholesale France allows us to bring the capability of France's largest MNO to Soracom customers around the world, helping them accelerate time to market."
"In the highly competitive European market for IoT connectivity services, providers need to offer more than just a contract for a certain amount of mobile data," added Alexis Susset, Soracom's VP of global product and sales for the European Union, in the statement. "As a technology partner, Soracom is committed to delivering both the value and the technical capability that innovators need to succeed in IoT."
Itron Partners with Spanish City on Smart-City Project
Itron, which works with utilities and cities to manage energy and water, is collaborating with the City of Fuengirola, Spain, to transform the municipality into a smart city. Home to more than 82,000 permanent residents, as well as more than triple that number during the summer months, Fuengirola will deploy Itron's smart-city platform, which includes a city-wide mesh network optimized for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices and Itron's SLV device- and data-management platform.
The project's objective, according to the company, is to accelerate urban innovation, drive the digital transformation of city services and improve the citizen experience for those in southern Spain. Deployment of the solution is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and the IIoT network will be operated by Itron as part of a four-year network-as-a-service (NaaS) agreement. This project is 80 percent co-financed by the European Regional Development Found (ERDF), within the framework of the Pluriregional Program of Spain 2014–2020.
The smart-city solution will enable Fuengirola to deploy a range of applications to improve energy efficiency, lower operational costs and increase quality of life. Initial applications include intelligent street lighting, noise detection and smart traffic monitoring. Beyond energy and operational savings, Itron notes, intelligent street lighting offers safety benefits and will enable the city to plan future investments and services more efficiently.
Itron will manage the network and SLV software on behalf of the city, allowing workers to focus on outcomes. This will include the deployment of the IIoT network, supply of the sensors and controllers for initial use cases, and four years of connectivity for each device. With SLV, the city will have asset management, data visualization, analytics and real-time control capabilities. This, according to the company, will simplify the management of new sensors and controllers, while defining logic between data sets and creating a dashboard of city key performance indicators.
"The City of Fuengirola aims to be a benchmark in urban innovation and to create an environment for our citizens that is more efficient, comfortable and sustainable," said Ana Maria Mula, the municipality's mayor, in a prepared statement. "We are excited to collaborate with Itron, a world leader in smart cities, to achieve this vision. With Itron's smart-city solution, we can improve services to our citizens and meet our sustainability goals. It also gives us the foundation to grow and evolve as a smart city as the needs of our city change."
"Itron is proud to make the City of Fuengirola's smart-city vison a reality by helping them develop a holistic smart city with Itron's streetlight management system," added John Marcolini, the senior VP of Itron's networked solutions, in the statement. "We have extensive experience helping utilities and cities improve the performance of their street lighting and lay the foundation for additional smart city services. By taking advantage of Itron's NaaS and software-as-a-service offering, the City of Fuengirola can focus on realizing the benefits of their smart-city platform, versus investing in IT and field-based resources to manage and maintain the infrastructure."
Exhibitors at RFID Journal LIVE! 2022 will offer tagging and tracking solutions for a wide variety of industries. To learn more, visit the event's website.
