Novatel Wireless Secures Certification for MiFi Powered M2M Device on North American Carriers and in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Novatel Wireless Inc. today announced that the SA 2100, an advanced MiFi® Powered™ M2M device, has received certification for Verizon Wireless’ network as well as certifications from Conformité Européenne (CE), the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PTCRB to operate in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Highlights:

The SA 2100 brings the power and stability of the MiFi platform, N4A™ Device Manager and N4A Communications and Management Software (CMS) to provide gateway solutions for numerous deployments including aftermarket telematics, connected car, digital signage, security and other high bandwidth applications.
MiFi Powered SA 2100: The SA 2100 is a programmable M2M gateway solution for commercial and consumer telematics as well as fixed telemetry markets. Designed for high-bandwidth M2M applications, the SA 2100 enables Internet connectivity via 4G LTE or DC-HSPA+ for Ethernet, USB and Wi-Fi enabled solutions in vertical markets such as telemetry, fleet management, connected car, digital signage, remote monitoring and control.
N4A Device Manager: Novatel Wireless’ robust M2M software offerings quickly build connectivity from Internet Protocol-enabled remote assets to existing enterprise applications, accelerating customer application integration. The N4A Device Manager is a robust environment for the management, configuration, self-care and support of Novatel Wireless M2M devices.

Rob Hadley, Chief Marketing Officer, Novatel Wireless, said:
“By expanding our certification on the Verizon Network and for overseas carriers, we expand the portfolio offering in both the US and abroad for the SA 2100. The SA 2100 is a powerful and flexible product that addresses customer needs in both telemetry and aftermarket telematics markets.”
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KORE Wireless partners with Robustel to deliver M2M solutions

Robustel Technologies, specialists in providing robust, reliable and secure connectivity for the Machine to Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (loT) markets, has partnered with KORE Wireless, the world’s largest dedicated M2M wireless network provider, to include optional device connectivity for a range of products.
KORE Wireless and Robustel will be unveiling their M2M Starter Kit at loT Asia 2014, taking place in Singapore across 21 – 22 April, 2014 – www.internetofthingsasia.com
The starter kit provides everything customers need to connect, develop, deploy and use M2M applications within Asia-Pacific.
It includes:

Robustel GoRugged R3000 Industrial 3G Cellular VPN Router.
RobustLink Centralized M2M Management – A web based portal, allowing users to monitor, configure and manage their devices.
KORE Wireless SIM with 30MB of Data and 20 SMS to be used over 90 days.
KORE Wireless PRiSMProTM M2M Business Management Platform – Allowing for remote provisioning, management and monitoring of KORE Services.

Vice President and General Manager of KORE Wireless Asia Pacific, Shane Murphy said he hopes that this kit will reduce the usual time to market associated with developing an M2M solution from the ground up.
“The Robustel starter kit is like a one stop shop for customers – it provides the ability to immediately develop, connect and deploy devices within Asia Pacific.”
CTO of Robustel Technologies, Chen Xiaojun said the products were designed to deliver robust, reliable and secure solutions for a range of target markets.
“The Starter Kit incorporates Robustel’s state-of-the-art mobile connectivity, cellular network support, dual SIM capacity and the ability to allow users to monitor, configure and manage large numbers of remote devices on private networks via the web.”
“We are constantly adapting to changes in the market and want to be able to provide to all customers in the M2M industry. Whether it’s across energy and utilities, security, building or industrial automation, retail, healthcare or transportation, Robustel has products to suit any customer’s requirements.”
The partnership allows users to develop fully connected, industrial M2M applications that work consistently and effectively regardless of location, without the hassle of trying to source connectivity.
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ACKme Networks Releases First Product in Family of Complete Wireless Connectivity Solutions

Built on Broadcom’s WICED™ platform, intelligent Wi-Fi module is the ideal solution to command the “Internet of Things”.
ACKme Networks, a provider of intelligent wireless products and embedded modules, with offices in Silicon Valley and Sydney, Australia has released its first product, the AMW004 “Wallaby” cloud-connected Wi-Fi module for seamless connection of devices to the “Internet of Things” (IoT).
ACKme Networks’ first product, a fully certified and intelligent 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi module, is built on Broadcom’s WICED™ (Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices) platform. Wallaby is a feature-packed embedded wireless solution that runs WiConnect, a firmware application that significantly extends the capabilities of WICED while simultaneously reducing the effort required to integrate wireless connectivity by several orders of magnitude. Simply put, the ACKme solution vastly reduces time to market and eliminates expensive development costs and delays.
WiConnect, an intelligent embedded software application, provides seamless Internet connectivity with a reliable and easy-to-use serial interface perfectly suited for use by machines and humans alike. WiConnect includes an on-board TCP/IP networking stack and feature-rich libraries offering advanced secure network services together with cloud connectivity that simplifies the linking of devices to the Internet at the end-user application level.
Mike Conrad, CEO of ACKme and previously founder of Roving Networks explained:
“Consumers want to be connected to their products, but designers are faced with the complexities of RF hardware, software layers, security complexities, Internet protocols and cloud services. ACKme is focused on simplifying and optimizing the entire end-to-end connectivity solution.”
Brian Bedrosian, Sr. Director of Broadcom’s Embedded Wireless business says:
“The ACKme team has a proven track record of enabling the design of wireless solutions to quickly and efficiently create internet connected devices.”
“We are excited to work with such a capable and nimble team.”
The Wallaby module is a fully-certified, low-power 802.11 b/g/n solution that includes ACKme’s WiConnect intelligent internet connectivity software. The module, which can be connected via UART or SPI to even the simplest of microcontrollers, includes timers, sensor peripherals, various low power modes for battery powered devices and even a file system for data caching and on-module storage.
The AMW004 Wallaby module is available through the ACKme store (www.ack.me) and its distribution channels, including Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com). Pricing for the Wallaby development environment is $82 USD; modules are priced based on volume.
Further information can be found on ACKme Networks’ website: http://www.ack.me.
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Novatel Wireless Taps Simple Solutions to Serve as Technical Competence Center for EMEA

Novatel Wireless Inc., a leading provider of intelligent wireless solutions, today announced that Simple Solutions (Electronics) Ltd., a technical supplier of M2M cellular products for the fleet, asset and industrial markets, will be expanding its role as a technical competence center in the UK region.
Highlights:

Celebrating 10 years of joint collaboration, Simple Solutions is one of Novatel Wireless’ longest-serving technical distributors, and will now be providing additional services and support for Novatel Wireless customers within European, Middle Eastern and African markets.
Simple Solutions will serve as a technical competence center for Novatel Wireless supporting product evaluations for a broader range of customers throughout key geographies.
Simple Solutions will support Novatel Wireless’ integrated modules for all segments.

Joe Peterson, vice president of M2M sales, Novatel Wireless, said:
“Novatel Wireless is thrilled to partner with Simple Solutions to provide our global customers with expanded industry leading technical support and service. By pairing Novatel Wireless’ robust M2M solutions and Simple Solutions’ technical support, accessories and services, we are better equipped to meet our customers’ needs.”
Colin Halligan, managing director, Simple Solutions, said:
“Simple Solutions is proud and excited to be an integral part of the extended Novatel Wireless offering, expanding our role within EMEA and Worldwide in terms of the additional services and support we can now extend to their customers alongside our existing customer base. With the industry leading, flexible and market-ready products that Novatel Wireless has in its portfolio, we believe that the combination of Simple Solutions’ industry leading technical support, accessories and service plus the Novatel Wireless products can meet the diverse market demands of any customer that is looking to integrate M2M cellular based products.”
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Brazilian Company Launches Tracking Device for Lost Luggage

Recominte’s revolutionary solution uses Telit modules to locate baggage even when dispatched on airplanes.
Recominte, a leader in the aeronautic industry, announced today that Telit Wireless Solutions, a leading global vendor of high-quality machine-to-machine (M2M) modules, value-added services and solutions, is the M2M module supplier for the Tracer Tag, a high-tech portable tracking device. Recominte’s revolutionary solution is capable of tracking luggage both on the ground and in transit.
The Tracer Tag addresses a growing issue for airlines and their passengers. Last year, according to a report by SITA, the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers was 6.96 — or 21.8 million mishandled bags worldwide in 2013. Delayed and lost luggage cost the industry more than US$2 billion last year alone. Despite several improvements, passengers with at least one connection are the most likely to arrive without their bag. Almost half of all delayed or lost bags come from transfer flights.
Until now, the use of tracking devices to tackle this problem has been tricky due to strict airplane legislation and regulation for electronic and wireless communication devices. Recominte’s solution was designed to address these concerns by automatically shutting itself off when flying and turning itself back on when on the ground. Tracer Tag incorporates the Telit’s GL865-QUAD and JN3 modules to provide its best-in-class tracking solution.
The Telit GL865-QUAD is a GSM/GPRS module that comes with 4 GSM bands for global applications. With its ultra-compact design and extended temperature range, the Telit GL865-QUAD product is the perfect platform for high-volume m2m applications and mobile data devices. Additional features such as integrated TCP/IP protocol stack and serial multiplexer extend functionality of the application at no additional cost. The Telit JN3 is a GPS module that can be easily bundled with other Telit modules to provide a cost–effective, complete tracking solution. The combination of GPS with cellular connectivity supports a solution capable of tracking with maximum sensitivity even in challenging environments like indoors, garages and urban canyons — making it ideal for use inside a bag transported by car, train, bus or plane.
Tracer Tag is small and portable, with a battery life lasting up to 100 hours under good GPS reception conditions. The solution is also extremely robust and passed through nine resistance tests (MIL-STD-810G Standard), proving it can endure vibration, shock, extended temperature range, high humidity and low atmospheric pressure. Tracer Tag can also record any sudden falls and ambient temperature, important factors to determine where a possible damage to the baggage or cargo may have occurred, and essential when sensitive goods are involved such as electronic devices or perishable medicines.
“Telit offers the broadest range of modules on the market today,” said Paulo Schiphorst, CTO of the Tracer Tag project. “Their technology made Tracer Tag possible.”
According to Ricardo Buranello, director for Telit Latin America:
“The solution provided by Recominte is a fine example of demand meeting ingenuity. Tracer Tag is a game changer and has the potential to achieve global success.”
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Kone chooses Vodafone to take maintenance to the next level

KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has chosen Vodafone’s innovative machine to machine (M2M) remote monitoring technology to create a new diagnostics service to schedule proactive maintenance tasks.
The new service will help ensure the smooth running of the many thousands of lifts KONE maintains around the world, while keeping down-time to an absolute minimum.
As a legacy of its operations across multiple countries, KONE had acquired contracts with telecoms companies around the world which the company wanted to replace with a single global provider agreement. Regulations stipulate that a lift cannot be used unless it has a working phone in case of an emergency; however, KONE was experiencing delays in installation with fixed line operators, especially in new builds, and decided instead to opt for mobile communications technologies from Vodafone.
A Vodafone M2M SIM card is embedded into each KONE lift, enabling operational data to be sent and received wirelessly over the Vodafone network, including daily update logs with data such as the number of journeys and reports from microprocessors monitoring key components. That data is then compared with historical logs, enabling KONE to monitor trends and anticipate potential issues before they arise, in turn helping the company plan maintenance schedules more effectively and improve service quality.
Thomas Hietto, KONE’s senior vice president, maintenance services business, said:
“We want to be the best maintenance partner for our customers and provide the highest quality level possible. Vodafone’s solution helps us to meet that aim. Being able to analyse data means we can also adopt an even more proactive approach to maintenance – and, because this is machine talking to machine, improve overall efficiency.”
Director Machine-to-Machine, Vodafone, Erik Brenneis, added:
“Our global platform means that KONE can create a single repeatable technology operated across multiple countries through a partnership with just one provider rather than trying to manage a series of individual country contracts through numerous providers.”
“We are delighted to help KONE achieve their goal of greater operational efficiency and a more seamless experience for their customers.”
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Option secures € 12 million in funding

Option (EURONEXT Brussels: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY), the company connecting Things to the Cloud, today announces that it has successfully concluded a private placement.
The company intended to raise an amount ranging between € 8 to 12 million and is pleased to report that it has effectively secured the maximum amount of € 12 million via the issue of a convertible bond.
The funding is subscribed to by Quaeroq CVBA for € 4 million, Alychlo NV, holding company of Marc Coucke, for € 2,7 million, Vermec NV for € 1,5 million, Jan Callewaert for € 0,5 million, Frank Deschuytere, CEO of Option, for € 0,2 million and a number of private investors and companies for € 3,1 million.
This financing round was a success following the investors’ firm belief in the market opportunity of the Internet of Things and in the unique position Option has and the solutions it brings to this market. The new funds will be used to support the expansion of the sales channels, sales & sales support teams, to expand the product portfolio with technology & applications and to further develop the CloudGate partner-ecosystem.
The 5-year convertible bond matures in April 2019 and has an annual interest rate of 9% with an initial conversion price of € 0.295, which is the average price of the Option share 30 days prior to the issuing of the convertible bond. The interest shall be capitalized with the outstanding principal amount of the bonds on a half-yearly basis.
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The installed base of wireless M2M devices in the oil and gas industry reached 423,000 in 2013

According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of devices with cellular or satellite connectivity deployed in oil & gas applications worldwide was 423,000 at the end of 2013.
Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4 percent, this number is expected to reach 1.12 million by 2018. The split between cellular and satellite based M2M devices at the end of the forecast period will be 871,000 units and 244,000 units respectively. The oil & gas industry is characterized by remote and inaccessible facilities where wireless communication in many cases is the only viable option for transferring M2M data.
North America is the most advanced market for M2M applications in the oil & gas sector. The region is also the home of a majority of the players specialising in the oil & gas industry. Pason Systems, Zedi and Critical Control are North American based companies which are major vendors of field instrumentation, equipment, services and M2M solutions for the of the oil & gas industry. A majority of the companies headquartered in major oil & gas producing regions such as North America and UAE are focused on providing solutions for upstream and midstream activities. Oil and gas M2M specialists in Europe such as ISA, Powelectrics, Sensile Technologies and Silentsoft are typically more focused on downstream activities such as tank monitoring. Sierra Wireless, Digi International and Calamp are major M2M players that deliver solutions to a wide range of industries, including oil & gas. Other important players are global technology and automation companies. General Electric, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric are three such companies which have made substantial investments in SCADA and wireless M2M solutions aimed at the in oil & gas market in recent years. Vodafone, Numerex and Orbcomm are examples of communication providers which through in-house resources and acquisitions have developed end-to-end oil & gas M2M applications.
The main drivers for adopting M2M apps in the oil & gas industry are safety and environmental concerns, regulation compliance and demand for improved operational efficiency. Machine-to-machine solutions can be found in applications such as monitoring and control of drills, wells and pipelines.
Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight, said:
“Booming production volumes of shale gas and tight oil in North America has increased the use of wireless M2M solutions in the upstream segment.”
Real-time pipeline monitoring is driving the adoption in the midstream segment. Wireless M2M solutions are retrofitted to existing infrastructure as well as incorporated in new pipeline projects across the world. He adds that:
“In the downstream segment, cellular telemetry solutions have proven to be a great fit for remote monitoring of storage tanks”.
Download report brochure: M2M Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry
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To Speed Services Deployment for the Internet of Things, Freescale Demonstrates an IoT Gateway Platform for a One Box Solution

Working with Oracle and ARM, Freescale defines a scalable, standards-based platform to support the secure delivery of IoT services.
Continuing its commitment to establish a secure and open infrastructure for the delivery of Internet of Things (IoT) services, Freescale Semiconductor today demonstrated the hardware platform that forms the foundation of the one box concept at the 2014 Freescale Technology Forum.
Featured prominently in today’s opening session at the 2014 Freescale Technology Forum, the IoT gateway is a flexible hardware platform to be equipped with multi-party software, and engineered to support the secure delivery of IoT services to end-users in a home, business or other location; thereby supporting the rapid deployment of a vast array of innovative IoT services.
The platform’s demonstration represents a significant milestone in Freescale’s one box initiative. Working with Oracle and ARM, Freescale developed this initiative to focus on the creation of a secure, standardized and open infrastructure model for the delivery of IoT services. The concept combines standards-based, end-to-end software with a converged IoT gateway design to establish a common, open framework for secured IoT service delivery and management. A “box” (or service gateway) built on the platform can consolidate boxes from multiple IoT service providers into a single, unified appliance that can support multiple service providers.
“Simplifying the deployment of secure services is critical to fueling widespread adoption of the Internet of Things,” said Geoff Lees, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Microcontroller business.
“We are pushing the industry forward with an innovative enabling product platform that will help overcome some of the biggest barriers facing our customers.”
Freescale plans to offer the new platform in Q4 2014 with a software suite that integrates and pre-validates security and connectivity components, allowing developers to add value through application software development and connectivity of new edge node products.
Powered by a Freescale i.MX 6 applications processor built on the ARM Cortex®-A9 core, the platform runs Oracle Java SE Embedded and is suitable for basic networking and sensor connectivity. The solution supports the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® low energy and 802.15.4 wireless interfaces. The initial Freescale IoT gateway platform also includes Oracle Event Processing for Oracle Java Embedded to facilitate quick reactions at the gateway level, as well as ARM Sensinode™ NanoServices software and Freescale-based processing.
Key features of the first product platform to be released:

Fan-less gateway based on the low power i.MX 6 series processor measuring just 5.3″W x 3.9″D x 0.8″T
Supports 802.11b/g/n out of the box with Bluetooth low energy and 802.15.4 (including ZigBee protocol) accessories and software available
System can be configured as a Continua® Healthcare Compliant gateway for interoperability with home health products
Pre-integrated Oracle software including Oracle Java SE Embedded as an application development framework, and Oracle Event Processing for Oracle Java Embedded, for building embedded applications to filter, correlate and process events in real-time
ARM Sensinode’s NanoServices, providing end-to-end web services optimized for resource-constrained edge nodes

Pricing and availability
The dual-core i.MX 6 processor-based hardware platform is priced at $159 (USD) for the base model, and is available for order in September 2014. A version of the IoT gateway platform built on QorIQ LS series processors will be available in Q4 2014. This gateway platform will offer gigabit line rate Ethernet and PCIe connectivity, as well as additional wireless connectivity options including 4G/LTE and 802.11ac for edge nodes requiring high-speed data transport and efficient packet routing.
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Schindler Elevators Ltd gains absolute transparency with M2M from Swisscom

Schindler elevators move a billion people every day all over the globe. The company’s maintenance and emergency call management in Switzerland now uses the latest machine-to-machine (M2M) technology from Swisscom.
Martin Huonder, Head of Product Management Modernisation, at Schindler Elevators Ltd. says:
“With M2M we can monitor emergency calls as well as data traffic in real time, and offer customers a one-stop solution for everything from commissioning to elevator maintenance.”
Switzerland has the highest number of elevators per capita anywhere in the world, making it the ultimate “land of the elevator”. Schindler Elevators Ltd does its utmost to provide its customers with the highest safety standards and most comprehensive services. The company has consequently introduced a new emergency call and telemonitoring system in Switzerland that is based on Swisscom M2M technology. SIM cards fitted to elevator systems are the core element of the system. They transmit status information to a central connectivity management platform at regular intervals, as well as being able to send data on demand. Thanks to M2M technology and its associated platform, Schindler always has total transparency in monitoring elevator emergencies, as well as being able to identify faults in real time and take appropriate action.
One-stop solution – a boost to service and safety
Emergency calls and telemonitoring were previously linked by a fixed-line connection. However, that usually entailed high costs for installing retrofits and upgrades. This is no longer the case thanks to the new M2M solution: information now travels over Swisscom’s GSM mobile network, which also meets the highest availability and security requirements. Whereas building owners previously needed to order a fixed-line connection for the elevator emergency call device, elevators equipped with M2M are ready for service immediately after installation. This not only provides Schindler with a status overview of every elevator system, but also enables it to monitor and plan for communication costs. In this way the company is able to offer its customers a one-stop solution starting with manufacture and delivery, through assembly and maintenance, to managing emergency calls. In this way, Schindler is setting new standards in both quality of service and safety.
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