Worldsensing turns Moscow into the smartest city in the world
With this project, Worldsensing is becoming one of the foremost European companies deploying pioneering State-of-the-Art and wireless technology.
The technological company Worldsensing, based in London and Barcelona, along with the Russian company ITS, is deploying the largest intelligent parking project in the world in Moscow.
According to The Moscow Times, the Russian capital is the most congested city in the world, followed by Istanbul, Warsaw and Marseille. As an answer to this problem, the City Government decided upon the intelligent parking system Fastprk, designed by Worldsensing. The pioneering solution allows the drivers to know the exact position of the nearest parking space, via a mobile app or through street panels, reducing the time spent looking and, thereby, significantly reducing congestion.
The technology was initially trialled during the Russian winter of 2011/12, when 1,000 sensors were installed. The results were outstanding: the system not only proved its value, but also worked reliably in the extreme conditions of the Russian winter. The second phase was completed in May 2013, when an additional 2,000 sensors were deployed. The project is now on its third stage, with the installation of 11,000 additional sensors taking place during November and December 2013.
The plan, for the coming years, is to continue to grow the number of sensors, providing continuity to this project, which is driving the city forward.
Fastprk- the technology with benefits for the whole city
Fastprk is a solution based on wireless sensors installed in each on-street parking bay allowing users to know where to find a parking spot, via a mobile app or through electronic street panels.
The solution is also beneficial for the local government, as it allows them to manage their urban parking areas optimally. Fastprk enables them to know, for instance, which the most frequented areas are and during which times of day.
The system is ready to be connected to any paying platform. This allows dynamic pricing to be established in order to promote certain areas or times of day, thereby significantly reducing congestion within the city centres.
Fastprk also allows the authorities to optimize enforcement of traffic laws within the payment areas, as it allows the controllers to know exactly where infringing vehicles are, via an app.
Fastprk is a useful tool for cities that need to control free but limited-time parking areas as well. Also exclusive-use parking bays (disabled, residents…) can benefit from the system, as the sensors are ready to identify the parked vehicle.
There are several benefits of the Fastprk system: by reducing the time for parking, the traffic density is reduced and the user saves fuel and time, and by reducing CO2 emissions the city becomes greener and a more pleasant place to live.
About Worldsensing
Worldsensing is a technology company, created in 2008 in Barcelona, which designs and develops pioneering wireless technological solutions based on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.
After the first stage of the Fastprk deployment in Moscow, in November 2012, Worldsensing became one of the 17 companies that, according to Pike Research, shape the Smart City ecosystem. Since then, the company has grown exponentially, selling its solutions in countries such as USA, Middle East, and China.
Fastprk also won the Stockholm Smart City Living Labs Global Award 2011 and the IBM Smart Camp 2010 London Award.
Today, the company employs 30 engineers and executives based in its London and Barcelona offices.
For further information, visit www.worldsensing.com
The post Worldsensing turns Moscow into the smartest city in the world appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
World’s Smallest CSP MEMS Oscillator from SiTime Paired with Mini GPS Receiver from Telit to Enable New Wave of Ultra-Miniature Tracking and Navigation Devices
SiTime’s SiT15xx family of 32 kHz oscillators to extend Telit’s Jupiter SE880 GPS receiver hibernation periods at 15µA while maintaining snap start to less than a second.
Telit Wireless Solutions, a global provider of high-quality machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, products and services and Sunnyvale, California based SiTime Corporation, an analog semiconductor company that is revolutionizing the timing market, today announced that together – Telit’s Jupiter SE880 and SiTime’s SiT15xx oscillators – have enabled the world’s smallest and lowest power GPS receiver with extended hibernation periods at 15µA while maintaining Snap Start to less than one second. SiTime’s SiT15xx family of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) silicon oscillators overcomes the limitations of crystal quartz-based devices in several ways. SiTime’s devices offer area savings of 85%, cut power by 50% and are 15 times more reliable, all of which enable smaller, lower power and longer lasting tracking and navigation devices together with Telit’s Jupiter SE880 miniature GPS receiver.
Battery powered electronic devices like trackers and personal navigation systems use hibernation techniques to extend battery life which entail shutting down the functional blocks with the highest current drain and switching them to the lowest power suspend/sleep state whenever possible. However, during the low-power state, the system’s always-ON 32 kHz Lo-clock continues to draw battery power. The low 750 nA core current and unique power saving features of the 32 kHz SiT15xx family, such as programmable output frequency and output drive swing level, can dramatically lower system power consumption compared to traditional crystal clocks. Additionally, crystal clocks drift over time and over temperature requiring systems to wake up more frequently to correct system clocks and maintain systems in hot start conditions. With ± 100 PPM over the entire industrial temperature range, SiT15xx devices are 2 to 3 times more stable than crystal devices. This reduces the need for systems to wake up and further lowers power consumption. The SiT15xx family operates from 1.2V to 3.63V for regulated power supplies or from 2.7 to 4.5V for unregulated Li-Ion batteries. SiT15xx oscillators offer the smallest footprint in 1.5
Smith Micro and ClearConnex Provide Over-The-Air Firmware Updates for Machine-to-Machine Environments
NetWise FOTA client enables secure updates to M2M devices to reduce costs, save time and improve reliability.
Smith MicroSoftware, Inc., a leading provider of wireless and mobility solutions, today announced a partnership with ClearConnex, Inc. to provide device management solutions for machine-to-machine (M2M) environments. Through this partnership, ClearConnex, a specialist in customizable M2M platforms and engineering services, will use Smith Micro’s NetWise® FOTA (Firmware Over The Air) solution to enable simple, secure software and firmware updates to M2M wireless devices.
ClearConnex’s M2M solutions are used across a wide variety of industries, including utilities, telematics, and environmental controls, where embedded device software can require frequent updates to enhance and optimize services in the field. ClearConnex selected the patented NetWise FOTA solution to address the needs of M2M environments by offering high-performance differencing technology, which transmits only the bytes that changed to minimize device memory requirements and reduce bandwidth costs. NetWise can use standard protocols, such as OMA-DM from the Open Mobile Alliance, for delivering firmware and software updates, providing carrier-grade security and management consistency to reduce support costs and accelerate time to market.
Although the M2M market is characterized by fragmentation, Smith Micro’s standards-based NetWise platform addresses a broad range of device controls across multiple vertical industries. For example, NetWise not only supports software and firmware updates for wireless devices, it also provides controls for managing wireless connections based on cost, network quality, and other criteria, as well as detailed analytics that allow customers to understand and improve M2M performance. The NetWise platform is easily extensible, allowing ClearConnex to build solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of each customer.
“Smith Micro has delivered standards-based, carrier-grade wireless solutions for decades, and their proven device management platform fills a critical need in the M2M market,” said Ryan Rangel, president, ClearConnex.
“Our focus on helping customers finish ahead of their competition is largely dependent on selecting the right partners. Smith Micro’s high-performance NetWise components will be an integral part of our innovative M2M solutions.”
“Our long-time expertise in connectivity, device management and security is helping to mature the M2M market, which is still considered the ‘wild west’ in wireless,” said Sunil Marolia, vice president of product management at Smith Micro.
“ClearConnex has a very pragmatic technology and business approach in building M2M solutions on top of proven platforms, and we’re excited to have NetWise included as part of their line of building block capabilities.”
For more information please visit NetWise FOTA and the NetWise Platform.
The post Smith Micro and ClearConnex Provide Over-The-Air Firmware Updates for Machine-to-Machine Environments appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
PLDT launches suite of mobile M2M solutions
MANILA, Philippines :
Leading telecoms company PLDT, through its corporate wireless enterprise arm Smart Enterprise, is introducing a set of M2M (machine-to-machine) solutions that aims to benefit credit, sales, and mobile payment operations for local businesses.
SMART Enterprise recently launched Smart M2M Credit, M2M Sales, and M2M Pay in an effort to expand its M2M offerings in the mobile platform, digitizing operations for credit investigations, sales monitoring, and wireless card payments.
PLDT EVP and Head for Enterprise, International and Carrier Business Eric Alberto, said:
“As the SMART Enterprise mission is to be the preferred M2M service provider for enterprise customers, we believe that we have ably achieved this not just by being the first to market with these revolutionary solutions, but by also adding our network reliability and reach as well as our swelling ranks of ICT experts into the mix.”
“Companies now need to maximize crucial operations with efficient solutions that do not pack on the cost. M2M technology has been a viable solution in digitizing manual processes that’s why PLDT is constantly investing in technology and upgrading our core network to prepare for the anticipated trend for these kinds of innovations,” said PLDT FVP and Smart Enterprise Sales and Marketing Head Jovy Hernandez.
Smart M2M Credit
The Smart M2M Credit solution is a mobile Credit Investigation App with tracking features needed by credit investigators, completely bundled with the latest devices and reliable data connectivity.
Meeting challenges of banking and financial institutions, Credit Investigators are provided useful features that enable them to maximize their time on the field with several feature including auto-dispatch and status updates. Inputting of data also gives user the flexibility to incorporate data needed by credit institutions to handle approvals including an image capture with geo-tagging features.
The app’s customized reporting also gives heads the allowance to define reporting guidelines and set access to data according to user, enabling them to measure productivity of each user on the field.
“The Smart M2M Credit gives credit institutions the benefits of digitizing manual processes allowing for faster approvals for loan applications,” said Smart Enterprise Product Marketing Head Chet Alviz. “With a mobile app, it lessens the time that field assets need to submit reports to their headquarters as they are now able to send their reports right after confirming needed information.”
The bundle is fully customizable and can define specific information requirements depending on the type of loan or customer value. The app is also designed based on industry best-practices with maximum security features.
Smart M2M Sales
The Smart M2M Sales solution is a mobile customer relationship management tool that provides field personnel with relevant information and automates sales processes to enhance customer experience.
Its mobility features include Sales Call tracking, Progress Updates, Performance Monitoring, and inventory monitoring. Enterprises are assured of top-quality services through PLDT’s subsidiary IP-Converge’s largest after-sales deployment resources.
“Our M2M Sales app comes powered with the certified resources of salesforce.com, and gives full and relevant features for sales teams to maximize their mobility in meeting the needs of their clients. The app also allows for a single view for each of their customer’s profile to easily access and get information of their clients,” said Alviz.
Smart M2M Pay
Merchants and other businesses can maximize their sales with the M2M Pay solution as this app expands their card payment modes with the bundled card swiper dongle, iOS and Android devices, and connectivity.
The bundled Smart M2M Pay allows for credit card payments to mobile devices through a detachable card swiper maximizing opportunities for purchases of customers without the need for cash.
“This solution is an affordable alternative for businesses, particularly independent merchants, to accept card payments from their customers, compared to purchasing expensive POS machines,” added Alviz. “The device also has the flexibility to function if connectivity becomes momentarily unavailable assuring businesses that payments go through.”
The post PLDT launches suite of mobile M2M solutions appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
Berg Insight says shipments of cellular M2M devices in industrial automation reached 0.76 million in 2013
According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the shipments of cellular M2M devices in industrial automation reached 760,000 worldwide in 2013.
Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5 percent, shipments are expected to reach 2.1 million in 2018. The market is served by a multitude of players with varying backgrounds. Eaton, Phoenix Contact, Advantech and Kontron are major providers of industrial automation equipment and are also important vendors of products and solutions featuring embedded cellular connectivity. Industrial network equipment specialists such as Moxa, Westermo, B&B Electronics are also major vendors of cellular solutions. Other significant vendors include M2M specialists such as Digi International, Calamp, Maestro Wireless and Viola Systems. Netmodule and eWon are examples of companies with highly specialised offerings targeting the industrial automation industry.
Backbone network communication and remote monitoring are the two largest applications for cellular M2M connectivity within industrial automation. Remote service maintenance and diagnostics of machinery and industrial robots is a major application within factory automation and real-time monitoring of remote facilities and equipment are one of the most common applications within process automation. High capacity LTE networks will further increase cellular adoption in industrial automation, even in control applications. However, connectivity requirements vary depending on the application and cellular is part of a mix together with other technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, WirelessHART and ISA100.
“Increasing automation levels and rising wages in emerging markets are changing the global manufacturing landscape. To stay competitive, companies in developed regions need to find strategies beyond moving production to low-wage countries.” said Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight. Flexible and lean production lines will be key in manufacturing going forward.
Mr. Svanberg concluded:
“Wireless M2M solutions can play an instrumental role in connecting resources, equipment and systems which can provide the actionable data required to efficiently manage complex product mixes and highly volatile production volumes.”
Download report brochure: Industrial Automation and Wireless M2M
The post Berg Insight says shipments of cellular M2M devices in industrial automation reached 0.76 million in 2013 appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
SkyWave Long Life Battery-Powered M2M Solution Adopted for Operation in Intense Maritime Environments
Falcon Mega Solutions adopts IDP-800 satellite terminals for reliable, flexible and robust management of maritime vessels anytime, anywhere around the globe.
Remote monitoring, tracking, controlling and communication with trailers, containers, vehicles and vessels can be a very difficult task when supporting applications that lack flexibility. To meet the needs of Falcon Mega Solutions’ customers, the company turned to its partner, SkyWave Mobile Communications, a global provider of wireless data communications for the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) market.
A solution was devised by incorporating the new IDP-800 satellite terminal with an enclosed battery compartment. This works particularly well in intense situations including extremely low and high temperatures, direct and intense sunlight, excessive humidity and winds carrying salty water and sea water sprays. The low profile, rugged terminals use the two-way IsatData Pro satellite service to complement land, mobile and maritime applications that poll and query in both real-time and scheduled data exchanges. For Falcon Mega Solutions’ customers, the design of the terminal and battery case easily fits on vessels, and it can be hidden with an optional remote antenna on the vessel’s exterior. The terminal supports a flexible Lua programming environment that allows for the development of customized on-board applications. The terminals are ideal for embedded GPS, multiple input/outputs, a serial interface, and a typical latency of 100 bytes in under 15 seconds.
“We were among the first to take part in the beta testing of IDP-800 and we found it a perfect unit for M2M Solutions,” said F. Sher, CEO & Managing Director at Falcon Mega Solutions.
“In tests at our workshop and onboard various vessels in intense marine environments, we found IDP-800 to be a highly reliable, robust and flexible device that meets any M2M solution, especially Vessel Remote Monitoring (VRM). The hardware and Lua programming software of IDP-800 is second to none.”
End-users have the option to power the terminals with non-rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries or vehicle power. The terminals are designed to use AA batteries to supply either the main power source or as backup. To prolong the life of the battery, a magnetic switch can turn off the terminal.
“SkyWave’s new IDP-800 terminal provides reliable and cost-effective management of a business’ assets anytime, anywhere on a global scale,” adds Sher.
“This is the only global trailer tracking terminal using a satellite constellation with a life beyond 2020. Combined with the flexible battery options, this solution offers exceptional ROI over the long-term.”
The post SkyWave Long Life Battery-Powered M2M Solution Adopted for Operation in Intense Maritime Environments appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
Tech Leaders Join Forces to Secure Mobile Apps Across the Internet of Things
New ‘Mobile App Security’ Working Group Includes Mocana, McAfee, Wind River, FireEye and SAP.
Mocana, the device security leader, today announced the formation of the Mobile App Security Working Group (MAS), a non-profit association of mobility, security and enterprise stakeholders who are seeking to simplify and accelerate the deployment of secure mobile apps in all kinds of environments, on all kinds of devices – from the enterprise to the emergency room, from the power plant to the automobile.
The announcement was made at the Amphion Forum security conference taking place today and tomorrow in San Francisco.
The charter members of the MAS Working Group are among the most recognized names in the technology industry. They include Mocana, SAP, FireEye, McAfee and Wind River. Statements of support for the new initiative from these charter members follow:
“The MAS working group hopes to fill a gaping void in the IoT ecosystem. As an industry, we need to be able to deliver easier, more cost-effective end-to-end security for apps and devices on a truly massive scale.”
“No one can really do that today. And we need more open information exchange about the security posture of device and apps, information that crosses traditional corporate or national boundaries, in order for the Internet of Things to realize its potential,” said James Blaisdell, chief technology officer at Mocana. “We look forward to contributing our security expertise and working with the other members on these important tasks.”
The MAS working group aims to help its members create solutions that are dramatically easier for users to install, set up and deploy, while automating end-to-end security at scale and cryptographically binding mobile users, apps and devices to enterprise systems at a fraction of the cost of current approaches.
“Mobility is a critical driving force behind innovations and emergent technologies,” said Chenxi Wang, PhD, vice president of market intelligence for McAfee.
“Therefore it is absolutely necessary for the industry to come together and establish a strong common foundation for mobile app security. We look forward to playing a strong role in driving forward the goals of MAS, and helping advance the state-of-the-art in this market.”
“Enterprise, government and end users all need better security options for their mobile apps,” said Manish Gupta, senior vice president of products at FireEye.
“There is a need for an open, impartial and thought-leading association of organizations to promote security and to assume a role not unlike that of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and publish the equivalent of their crashworthiness ratings for mobile apps. That’s why FireEye has joined the MAS working group.”
“Mocana is excited to be a part of MAS,” said Allen Brenner, chief product officer at Mocana. “Mocana believes this collaboration will provide a stronger foundation for the rapid growth of trusted apps across the Internet of Things by building cross-industry relationships, fostering awareness, driving public policy, sharing best-practices and generally advancing the state of the art.”
“SAP is excited to be a part of the MAS Working Group and sharing our expertise with the other members to help improve mobile app security for everyone,” said Anthony Reynolds, COO of Global Solutions for SAP. “We look forward to participating with MAS in the study and publication of vendor-neutral best-practices for app security, with an eye towards unifying security approaches across all kind of devices across the Internet of things, from smartphones to smart grids and beyond.”
“The challenges of securing mobile apps continue to evolve every day, and as an integral player in the security ecosystem, it is Wind River’s responsibility to help inform and educate our customers and the market on the importance of mobile security,” said AJ Shipley, chief security architect at Wind River.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with industry leaders through initiatives like MAS to share and promote the use of security best practices in today’s IoT landscape.”
“The members of MAS all agree that collaboration is the best way to advance cross-platform app security and grow the market faster,” said Kurt Stammberger, CISSP and Amphion Forum Chair. “A lot of it is really about creating the tools and datasets that business buyers need to take more responsibility for their own app security. By hosting the first meetings of the MAS working group, the Amphion Forum hopes to increase awareness of mobile app security issues and accelerate the proliferation of sophisticated security technology throughout the mobile and embedded ecosystem to promote a more secure Internet of Things.”
One of the first things the alliance hopes to accomplish is the establishment of common metrics that enterprise users and IT administrators can employ to compare the security postures of different mobile apps, independent of platform, developer or security vendor. Vendors and volunteers interested in joining MAS can inquire at mas@amphionforum.com.
The post Tech Leaders Join Forces to Secure Mobile Apps Across the Internet of Things appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
Mexico-based Tritavia to Deliver Savings and Efficiency to One of World’s Largest Beverage Distributors with Telit Technology
Tritavia Fleet Management System Uses Telit’s GE865-QUAD GSM/GPRS Module in Fast-growing fleet of Soft-drink Delivery Trucks.
Telit Wireless Solutions, a global provider of high-quality machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, products and services and Guadalajara-based Tritavia SA de CV (Tritavia), a provider of systems, consulting and technology for the implementation and improvement of industrial and business processes, today announced that SIAF (Sistema Integral de Administración de Flotillas), Tritavia’s cellular-connected fleet management system uses Telit’s GE865-QUAD GSM/GPRS cellular module for wireless data communications. The company’s fleet management system meets the operating requirements and integrates the business processes for a leading Mexico-based soft-drink distributor and of the world’s largest. Tritavia uses a Web portal to allow delivery coordinators to continually improve productivity and track the movement of the company’s soft-drink delivery truck-fleet.
At the conclusion of a three-month field trial in the Valle de Mexico region with SIAF collecting information regarding the company’s legacy process, solid and revealing data convinced the bottler to start restructuring its distribution process management systems.
During the trial and feasibility study Tritavia collected data on six process elements: stops, driving practices, vehicle performance, unauthorized stops, refueling and frauds linked to refueling. Analysis of the data was later reported highlighting annual operating costs wasted in idle time from longer stops during deliveries exceeding agreed standards; potential savings from reduced number of trucks in the field and lower requirements for fleet renewal; potential reduction in the distribution cost for each route; fuel savings from reduction in engine idle per truck; reduction in emissions; reduction in recurring speeding events; observed fuel economy by truck brand and specific vehicle; mileage tracking for efficient preventive maintenance planning; operating cost reduction from curtailing unauthorized stops – “nap” stops; and refueling stop frequency optimization with fraud detection.
Telit’s GE865-QUAD used in the SIAF is ideal for size sensitive and high-volume applications. Valuable features, including on-board Python interpreter and Over-The-Air firmware update, make this product an efficient solution for most M2M market segments. The BGA packaged module is well suited for embedded cellular applications where small size and energy efficiency are crucialin mobile and fixed application areas such as security and surveillance, vending, point-of-sale (POS), tracking,smart metering, and telematics.
“Tritaviais a great example of how M2M solutions can deliver real savings and a fast ROI,” said Mike Ueland, senior vice president and general manager of Telit Wireless Solutions North America. “This application also highlights jamming detection, a critical and high-value feature any time fraud-detection is an essential part of a customer’s solution.”
Fernando Corona,General Mgr. of Tritavia said:
“The results from this pilot demonstrated, with hard data, just how much savings are possible from the detection of bad practices in the field, fraud, risk reduction, availability and errors in process planning.”
“Thanks to the reliability of the Telit-enabled trackers and the success of the trial, we have an open invitation to present these results to all distribution centers at their annual forums, with the intent of implementing the tool in as many delivery vehicles as possible, turning it into a fundamental part of their distribution process.”
The post Mexico-based Tritavia to Deliver Savings and Efficiency to One of World’s Largest Beverage Distributors with Telit Technology appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
Silicon Labs Targets Internet of Things with Lowest Power and Smallest Form Factor Wireless MCUs
Highly Integrated Sub-GHz Si106x/8x Family Ideal for Power-Sensitive, Battery-Powered Systems with RF Connectivity
Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today announced that it has expanded its family of 8-bit Si10xx wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) with two new options optimized for both cost-sensitive and performance-intensive designs.
By combining its ultra-low-power MCU technology with its sub-GHz EZRadio® and EZRadioPRO® transceivers in a single-chip solution, Silicon Labs has created new energy-friendly wireless MCUs that achieve industry-leading RF performance with the lowest overall power consumption in their class. Supporting worldwide frequency bands from 142 to 1050 MHz with low-power sleep and active modes for extended battery life, the Si106x and Si108x wireless MCUs address the low energy and RF connectivity requirements of home automation, security and access control, sensor networks, asset tracking and long-range control applications for the Internet of Things.
The highest performance and smallest wireless MCU solutions on the market, the Si106x and Si108x devices integrate an energy-efficient 8051 MCU and a sub-GHz RF transceiver into a 5 mm x 6 mm QFN package. This compact footprint makes the Si106x/8x wireless MCUs an ideal fit for space-constrained applications that require wireless connectivity as well as ultra-low power for long battery life. The exceptional single-chip integration and small package help reduce system cost, design complexity, board size and component count. The devices also feature a priority crossbar decoder that gives designers complete control over a variety of functions including a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), dual comparators, four 16-bit timers as well as UART, SPI and 12C serial interfaces. This flexible crossbar configurability eliminates the tradeoffs that often must be made with small packages.
Si106x/8x wireless MCUs based on the EZRadio transceiver provide a cost-effective, high-value solution for the majority of embedded wireless designs. Other more demanding connected device applications can benefit from the higher wireless performance offered by the Si106x/8x devices containing the EZRadioPRO transceiver, which offers greater sensitivity (-126 dBm) and higher output power (+20 dBm) for longer-range applications. The EZRadioPRO transceiver’s resulting 146 dB link budget maximizes wireless range, and its 60 dB adjacent channel selectivity with 12.5 kHz channel spacing ensures robust operation in harsh RF conditions. The EZRadioPRO transceiver is designed to comply with the industry’s most stringent wireless standards including FCC, ETSI and ARIB, while offering frequency coverage in all major bands up to 1050 MHz and supporting data rates from 100 bps to 1 Mbps.
The Si106x/8x family is the most energy-efficient sub-GHz wireless MCU offering available. Both wireless MCU family options feature ultra-low power consumption when the radio is active, 18 mA when transmitting at +10 dBm and 10.7 mA in low-power receive mode. Low power modes enable dramatically reduced power consumption when the radio is idle or off: 30 nA shutdown, 50 nA standby and 600 nA in sleep mode. Built-in dc-dc boost support allows operation down to 0.9 V for single-cell battery operation, which reduces system cost while extending the life of battery-powered products.
“Offering an unparalleled combination of extreme energy efficiency, industry-leading RF performance and link budget, and the smallest package size in its class, the Si106x/8x wireless MCU family provides an ideal sub-GHz connectivity solution for space-constrained, power-sensitive wireless applications,” said Geir Førre, senior vice president and general manager of Silicon Labs’ Microcontroller products.
“The new wireless MCU family also gives developers the flexibility of choosing cost-effective and high-performance options, backed by a wireless development suite that brings unprecedented simplicity and ease of use to wireless design.”
The Si106x/8x wireless MCU family supports a range of device configurations including a choice of cost-effective EZRadio and high-performance EZRadioPRO transceivers, flash memory scaling from 8 to 64 kB, and 768 bytes to 4 kB of RAM. Additionally, wireless MCU devices are available with +13 dBm or +20 dBm maximum output power.
Simplified Wireless Development Support
Silicon Labs offers a rich set of hardware and software tools to accelerate the development of applications based on the Si106x/8x wireless MCUs. Designed to support RF evaluation, range testing and application code development, the kits include two wireless motherboards, two Si106x pico-boards, and all necessary antennas, cables and batteries.
Silicon Labs’ Wireless Development Suite (WDS) greatly simplifies radio configuration for the entire Si106x/8x wireless MCU family. WDS software provides an intuitive interface that makes it easy to select design RF parameters and automatically generate the commands needed to configure the wireless MCU with the desired settings. The software also eases RF evaluation and range testing while providing code examples that accelerate application development.
Pricing and Availability
Samples and production quantities of the Si106x/8x wireless MCUs are available now in a 36-pin 5 mm x 6 mm QFN package. Si106x/8x product pricing starts at $2.25 (USD) in 10,000-unit quantities. Six wireless MCU development kits, spanning the 434 to 915 MHz frequency range, are available now for $299 each (USD MSRP). For additional Si106x/8x product information and to purchase samples and development tools, visit www.silabs.com/wirelessmcu.
The post Silicon Labs Targets Internet of Things with Lowest Power and Smallest Form Factor Wireless MCUs appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
u-blox introduces SARA-U, the world’s smallest 3G module series
UMTS/HSPA module family perfect for global M2M, automotive and consumer devices.
Swiss-based u-blox, a global leader in wireless and positioning modules and integrated circuits for the industrial, automotive and consumer markets, has expanded its popular SARA cellular module family with 3G variants, the SARA-U series. The new modules are the industry’s smallest surface mount UMTS/HSPA cellular modems, ideal for a wide range of industrial M2M, vehicle and consumer applications. The new SARA product line is available either as a 3G only version, or with 2G fall-back capability.
Applications include connected navigation systems, mobile-internet devices, security and surveillance systems, eCall, fleet management, metering, anti-theft and usage-based insurance systems, and battery driven handheld applications.
Thomas Nigg, vice president of product marketing at u‑blox, said:
“SARA-U is the smallest 3G module on the market, allowing the creation of ultra-compact 3G solutions at price points unthinkable before.”
“The 2G fall-back option makes it the ideal choice for systems that must deliver maximum coverage. With this announcement, u‑blox now provides the industry’s most comprehensive, cross-compatible selection of cellular modems supporting all mobile standards.”
SARA-U UMTS/HSPA modules provide efficient and cost-effective high-speed mobile connectivity in an ultra-small 16 x 26 mm LGA form factor. Two of the four variants, the SARA-U260 and SARA-U270, provide GSM/GPRS fallback while SARA-U280 and SARA-U290 are cost-efficient 3G-only variants. The modules are pin-compatible with SARA-G3 GSM/GPRS modules, as well as layout compatible with LISA-C2 CDMA and TOBY-L1 LTE modules to support future-proof 4G designs.
All SARA modules share the exact same form-factor and footprint, and are designed to support u-blox’ “Nested Design” philosophy which enables modems to be “hot-swapped” across the entire range of u‑blox 2G, 3G and 4G cellular modems.
SARA provides a perfect solution to a wide range of M2M applications requiring UMTS/HSPA, GSM/GPRS, voice and/or data, plus optional Internet suite (embedded TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTTP and FTP). In-band modem support for eCall and ERA GLONASS vehicle emergency call applications is also provided. Extremely low power consumption makes SARA perfect for battery powered communication applications.
The SARA Land Grid Array (LGA) form factor enables extremely compact designs and supports A-GPS for accelerated positioning used in telematics devices. It also supports u-blox’ unique CellLocate® hybrid positioning technology to facilitate advanced location-aware systems requiring indoor positioning.
RIL software for Android and Embedded Windows is available free of charge.
SARA-U UMTS/HSPA module prototypes are available in February 2014; samples are available in April 2014.
The post u-blox introduces SARA-U, the world’s smallest 3G module series appeared first on M2M World News | Machine to Machine News.
