B&B Rebrands + Announces Connected Intelligence Global Partner Ecosystem

20 January 2015 – B+B SmartWorx, formerly B&B Electronics today announced an acceleration for the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape with its Connected Intelligence Global Partner Ecosystem.   As a manufacturer of network connectivity technologies which serve as the heart or technical glue of IoT end solutions, B+B SmartWorx is launching the ecosystem to enable complementary partner companies to make intelligent connections with each other, combine expertise, and build effective IoT applications for end customers in the demanding, non-consumer IoT space.

Initial Connected Intelligence Ecosystem Partners include IoT technology providers such as Cumulocity, Davra Networks, ILS Technology, ParStream, PLAT.ONE, SeeControl, Skkynet, and ThingWorx, along with MVNO partners such as KORE and Mobius Networks, and a variety of international carriers.

Mike Fahrion, director of IoT and edge intelligence product development at B+B SmartWorx explained that B+B created the ecosystem to combine complementary partners under a virtual roof to facilitate IoT applications. “Finding the right partners to fit a specific application’s requirements enables our customers to achieve better results than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

From assets to analytics starting at the network edge, the ecosystem aims to create intelligent networks that can collect, manage and analyze the data generated by billions of sensors, transforming that data into actionable intelligence that lets companies make predictions and prescribe actions to cut costs, increase productivity or increase revenue.

B+B SmartWorx provides the network connectivity “technical glue” – the hardware and connectivity stack – of the ecosystem. B+B’s IoT Edge Processing Architecture – a combination of its Wzzard wireless intelligent sensing and edge connectivity platform and its cellular edge gateway devices – aggregates data from existing equipment, translates disparate machine protocols into a language IT can understand, transforms that data into useful information and delivers it to applications ready for analysis.

B+B’s CEO, Jerry O’Gorman, added, “We've aligned with companies who are credited with some of the most innovative technologies and solutions in their industries. Together, our focus is on extending the capabilities of our combined technologies to provide broad solutions for customers in areas of strategic importance to the global market.”

Generating Business Insight via Connected Intelligence in the Partner Ecosystem

“We are excited that ThingWorx® technology will be a core aspect of the B+B SmartWorx Connected Intelligence Ecosystem,” said Chris Kuntz, vice president, ecosystem programs, ThingWorx.  “The age of the IoT is upon us and working with forward thinking companies such as B+B SmartWorx enables us to deploy our leading technology so that customers can profit from complete, end-to-end solutions.”

“I applaud B+B SmartWorx bold entry into the IoT Marketplace as a deviceWISE Ready partner.   Our two companies share a common strategy of providing robust solutions with Intelligence at the Edge as well as a proven track record with enterprise customers within the industrial market,” said Fred Yentz, CEO ILS Technology, a Telit Company.  “Our strategic and technical alignment and our global reach will provide customers an enterprise ready, fast time to value IoT experience.”

“The IoT has a huge opportunity to connect non-consumer devices to the cloud to collect and share data making factories, automobiles, buildings and cities more intelligent,” said Stefan Vaillant, CTO of Cumulocity. “B+B SmartWorx complements our portfolio of software system solutions for IoT.”

"IoT is the hottest topic in IT circles as customers look to connect assets they've never connected before and make real time decisions based on data collected from the coalface of their business,” said Paul Glynn, CEO of Davra Networks. “Using B+B SmartWorx Wzzard Sensing Platform gives our customers easy access to information and data that they've never had access to before."

“This ecosystem has the potential to bring industrial process control to a whole new level,” said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet. “Combining the B+B SmartWorx platform with Skkynet's Secure Cloud Service means remote devices in any location can now connect directly and securely to the cloud, enabling real-time monitoring, control, networking, and big data collection at a far lower TCO than previously thought possible.”

For more about partners: http://bb-smartworx.com/our-partners/

Source: B+B SmartWorx

Elisa Launches New IoT Service With ThingWorx Rapid Application Development Platform

19 January 2015 – ThingWorx, a PTC® (Nasdaq: PTC) business and leading Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider, announced today that Elisa, Finnish market leader in mobile and fixed broadband subscriptions, will deploy ThingWorx's platform technology to enable a new Elisa IoT service in Finland and Estonia.

Elisa is a telecommunications, ICT and online service company serving 2.3 million customers, providing environmentally sustainable services for communication and entertainment, and tools for improving operating methods and productivity of organizations. In Finland Elisa is the market leader in mobile subscriptions and fixed broadband subscriptions.

By partnering with ThingWorx, Elisa can now enable its customers to seamlessly connect and interface with their remote devices, people, business systems and things offering the most comprehensive set of IoT services available today. The new Elisa service spans from device management to data analytics to product development, all securely backed up in Elisa-owned data centres.

“Elisa prides itself on being a forward thinking company,” said Timo Katajisto, executive vice president, Corporate Customers, Elisa.  “The ThingWorx platform technology will enable complete, innovative, end-to-end solutions for Elisa customers in addition to providing an easy entry point for companies that want to realize the full value of adding connectivity to their product and service offerings.”

ThingWorx offers an innovative platform for rapidly developing and deploying applications to realize the opportunity and value presented by the Internet of Things economy. The ThingWorx simplified and unified approach to IoT applications enables companies to iteratively innovate business processes significantly faster than conventional methods and tools, thus accelerating time to value, reducing cost and risk, and transforming how products, people, and systems connect and interact.

“We are excited that ThingWorx technology will be a core aspect of the Elisa IoT Service,” said Thomas Svensson, senior vice-president and general manager EMEA, ThingWorx.  “The age of the Internet of Things is upon us and working with forward thinking companies, such as Elisa, enables us to deploy our leading technology so that customers can profit from complete, end-to-end solutions.”

About ThingWorx, a PTC Business
ThingWorx™, a PTC (Nasdaq: PTC) business, provides the first platform designed to efficiently build and run the applications of today’s connected world.  ThingWorx, the centerpiece of PTC’s Internet of Things (IoT) technology portfolio, combines capabilities from Axeda to deliver the world’s first complete IoT Platform, which includes connectivity, device cloud, business logic, big data, analytics and remote service applications. The combination delivers a comprehensive IoT technology stack that enables companies to securely connect assets, quickly create applications, and innovate new ways to capture value. Companies already leveraging this technology to capitalize on the potential of the IoT represent a wide range of markets, including manufacturing, energy, agriculture, transportation, and government. For more information, please visit www.thingworx.com, www.axeda.com, and www.PTC.com.

About Elisa
Elisa is a telecommunications, ICT and online service company serving 2.3 million consumer, corporate and public administration organisation customers. Elisa provides environmentally sustainable services for communication and entertainment, and tools for improving operating methods and productivity of organisations. In Finland Elisa is the market leader in mobile subscriptions and fixed broadband subscriptions. Cooperation with Vodafone and Telenor enables international use of services. Elisa is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Large Cap with over 200 000 shareholders. Elisa’s revenue in 2013 was 1.55 billion euros and it employed 4,200 people. For more information, please visit www.elisa.com.

Source: ThingWorx

Montblanc Enhances Traditional Watch Functionality with e-Strap Wearable

By Abraham Joseph - Ed

3 January 2015 Montblanc announced the TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap, an interchangeable strap, with an integrated digital device that offers an activity tracker, smart notifications, remote control and Find-Me functions. The device connects, via Bluetooth Low Energy to selected Android and iOS smartphones.

The e-Strap device is encapsulated in a stainless steel case and has an inbuilt touch screen display that is readable in daylight. Depending on usage, the device can last up to five days before it needs to be recharged. Charging is via a standard micro-USB cable.

The e-Strap device offers a range of functionality, including:

• Smart notifications provide vibration notification (and enable preview) of e-mails, text messages, incoming calls, social media status updates and appointment reminders
• Activity tracker monitors the wearer´s physical activity over time, keeps track of personal daily goals and prompts the wearer to stay active. The accompanying smartphone application tracks progress weekly and monthly
• Remote control enables the device to control smartphone functions such as taking pictures and playing, pausing, and skipping music
• Find-Me allows the user to search for the watch or phone within a range of 30 meters, either by tapping on the e-Strap to find the smartphone or by using the smartphone application to find the watch.

The e-Strap is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3, Note 4, selected Android Devices running Android 4.3 and upwards as well as Apple iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 plus.

The e-strap is expected to retail at 350 euros when it becomes available in June.

Source: Montblanc

Intel Invests $24.8m in Vuzix to Accellerate Consumer Wearables

By Abraham Joseph - Ed.

2 January 2014 - Vuzix Corporation announced today that Intel Corporation has made a $24.8 million investment in the Company.

Vuzix is a leading supplier of Video Eyewear and Smart Glasses products in the consumer, commercial and entertainment markets. The Company's products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and virtual and augmented reality.

           
Vuzix's wearable display technology is focused on next generation optics and displays that have the potential to fit in fashion-based wearable glasses. Intel's investment will be used for general working capital to accelerate the introduction of Vuzix next generation fashion-based wearable display products into the consumer market.

Vuzix holds 39 patents, 10 additional patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2014 and several wireless technology innovation awards.

Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company, with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK and Tokyo, Japan.

Source: PR Newswire and Vuzix