Eurotech and Arkessa Partner for Global IoT Solutions

 27 August  2015 – Arkessa, a leading provider of global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) managed services, today announced a partnership with Eurotech, a leading provider of smart devices and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technologies for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Arkessa and Eurotech are technology leaders in their respective domains. Andrew Orrock, CEO, Arkessa (above) commented, "Eurotech share our passion to make it easy for customers to deliver IoT solutions. This landmark agreement allows both Eurotech and Arkessa to significantly extend our abilities and offer customers the most complete M2M and IoT solutions by combining and integrating core elements of our respective offerings.”

This partnership will allow Eurotech to add managed connectivity services to its devices and M2M gateways via Arkessa’s multi-network cellular and satellite service which covers all regions of the world. Arkessa’s connectivity solutions can be used across a range of Eurotech hardware offerings.  This powerful combination enables Eurotech to extend its differentiated end-to-end approach to include M2M global connectivity.

Similarly, Arkessa can leverage Eurotech's expertise across a broad range of technologies including devices and embedded application management.

The integration between Eurotech's Everyware Cloud, Eurotech’s Data & Device Management Platform, and Arkessa’s Connectivity Management Platform gives customers a single point of management for their connected assets, simplifying the implementation of IoT projects to an exceptional level.

The areas in which this partnership will add the highest value have been identified as those which incorporate solid and secure device and data management alongside business-critical connectivity.

Robert Andres, CMO, Eurotech (left) said of the partnership, “This will enable our Customers to further reduce the complexity of their M2M/IoT projects, increasing efficiency whilst satisfying both business targets and legislative requirements. We are more and more becoming the one stop shop for Industrial IoT solutions.”

About Arkessa
Arkessa is a leading M2M (Machine to Machine) and IoT (Internet of Things) managed services provider with offices in Bishop's Stortford, UK and Bochum, Germany.  Arkessa Delivers global connectivity services and solutions through unrivalled multi-network connectivity in all regions of the World and true pole-to-pole coverage.

Arkessa enables organisations of all sizes to monitor, manage and control remote devices through M2M & IoT technology to enable business to derive valuable information and intelligence from both new and existing IoT devices.

About Eurotech
Eurotech (ETH:IM) is a global company that designs, creates and delivers full Internet of Things solutions,   including   services,   software   and   hardware   to   leading   systems   integrators   and enterprises large and small. With Eurotech solutions in place, clients have access to the latest open source and standardised   software   stacks, flexible and rugged   multi-service gateways and sophisticated sensors to bring actionable data from the field into business operations.

Working with world-class ecosystem partners, Eurotech delivers on the promise of the Internet of Things either from end to end, or with best-in-class   building   blocks,  including device and data management, a connectivity and communication platform, intelligent edge devices and smart objects, following business models that fit today’s business world.

Source: Arkessa

Augury Raises $7M Series A Round for Shazam-like IOT Machine Diagnostics

27 August 2015 – Augury, the predictive machine diagnostics company, today announced a $7 million Series A funding round led by Formation 8 Hardware Fund and joined by Pritzker Group Venture Capital. Existing investors First Round Capital and Lerer Hippeau Ventures also participated in the funding. The capital will be used to accelerate product development, expand Augury’s sales and marketing and support the company’s ongoing growth.

Augury is redefining the predictive maintenance market, one that has remained inaccessible and expensive for decades. Augury is bringing its proprietary algorithms, smart sensing device and mobile diagnostics tool to new markets, starting with diagnosing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems within commercial buildings.

The company’s technology has the potential to save billions of dollars in maintenance and energy costs. In doing so, Augury is helping to create a much larger market for predictive maintenance and will eventually expand its reach to diagnosing the IoT (Internet of Things).

“Augury is ‘Shazam’ for machines," says Augury CEO Saar Yoskovitz (above). "Using smartphone technology, it has made IoT accessible and affordable for legacy systems and large industries.  Formation 8 recognizes Augury as a future market leader in the Industrial IoT space, with the potential to capture a multi-billion dollar market opportunity. Formation 8 Hardware Fund is a leading investor at the intersection of hardware and software and we are thrilled to work with the team and our other partners to take advantage of the real strategic value they bring to the table."

Augury has already made significant headway in its efforts to capture market share, winning a strategic partnership with a Fortune 100 building services company that has adopted its predictive maintenance tool, the Auguscope. Augury continues to secure deals by utilizing its mobile solution to enable businesses to solve maintenance issues faster and at a significantly lower price than current market offerings.

“Formation 8 seeks out entrepreneurs and companies that have the capacity to create new markets and transform existing ones – and Augury does both,” says Lior Susan, leader of Formation 8 Hardware Fund. “With our Hardware Fund, we are focused on the connected world and we see Augury’s predictive maintenance technology as a prime example of the commercial application of IoT technology. We look forward to working with Saar and the entire talented Augury team to reimagine the industrial IoT space.”

About Augury
Augury is a New York and Israel-based company that is bringing predictive maintenance technology to new markets. Built on the idea that each machine has a unique acoustic fingerprint, Augury has developed technology that listens to the machine, analyzes the data and catches malfunctions early. The Augury solution can be applied to HVAC in industrial factories as well as commercial facilities. Augury is building the mechanical diagnostics platform for the Internet of Things. To learn more about Augury, please visit www.augury.com.

Vodafone M2M Chosen by Skypatrol for Tracking Service

11 August 2015 – Vodafone today announced it is working with Skypatrol, a leading supplier of integrated GPS tracking solutions, to bring reliable and efficient connectivity to their electronic-tracking services across nearly 1 million different devices installed in vehicles, construction equipment, and oil and mining operations worldwide. Skypatrol aims to use Vodafone’s global network to address customer demand in the US and in more than a dozen countries throughout Latin America including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Peru. Skypatrol plans to activate more than 10,000 new M2M SIMS per month.

Skypatrol provides turnkey risk mitigation and tracking solutions for the vehicle finance market, new car dealers, rental car companies and fleet managers globally. Skypatrol also provides GPS hardware bundled with Vodafone’s Global M2M SIM to telematics service providers around the world through an easily configurable Application Program Interface (API) that allows the service providers to quickly deploy any Skypatrol device.

For example:

• Companies that already have their own fleet or GPS tracking solution can use Skypatrol hardware pre-configured with a Vodafone Global M2M SIM that reduces both data consumption requirements and costs. Using a simple API interface, customers can quickly integrate and deploy GPS devices on their own platforms in a matter of days, allowing them to activate their solutions in new markets faster than ever before.
• Skypatrol provides solutions for motorcycle dealerships and new car lots in the Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) space in addition to serving the vehicle finance market often referred to as “Buy Here Pay Here” (BHPH). These turnkey solutions can now be launched rapidly in any country supported by Vodafone’s Global M2M SIM.
• For companies managing fleets of any size, Skypatrol’s Fleet Command moves beyond traditional GPS tracking to fleet automation with data analytics.  Other award winning solutions like Defender 2.0 and PROTEKGPS allow companies to make informed decisions that improve fleet utilization and the bottom line.

Vodafone’s global network and the Vodafone Global M2M SIM means Skypatrol can provide these services around the world with confidence without being distracted with the task of country-by-country IT integration. Skypatrol can focus on its core business and on providing the best products and services to its customers.

Skypatrol’s CEO, Robert Rubin said, “Our goal is to provide our clients peace of mind with reliable products and services whether it is tracking a vehicle or valued cargo, or assuring the safety of a person by accurately knowing their location. Vodafone allows us to continue to provide these location-based services to our customers and supports our continued growth inside and outside of the United States.”

Vodafone Group’s Head of Machine-to-Machine for the Americas Andrew Morawski (above) said, “Our M2M technology supports all of Skypatrol US and international solutions, helping to provide reliable connectivity for their customers. The global nature of our SIM and our ability to provide a global M2M approach across a diverse range of products is what makes Skypatrol able to confidently communicate with their devices worldwide.”

About Vodafone Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
Vodafone Machine-to-Machine (M2M) connects previously isolated machines or devices to the internet, delivering new functionality and enhanced services without the need for human intervention. Supported by more than 1,300 dedicated employees, Vodafone’s global M2M platform makes it easy for global businesses to manage centrally M2M deployments across multiple territories, with greater control and at a lower cost than previously possible.

In 2014 Vodafone was named global M2M leader by Machina Research, for the third year in a row. For more information, please visit  https://m2m.vodafone.com/home/.

About Vodafone
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies and provides a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed communications. Vodafone has mobile operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 55 more, and fixed broadband operations in 17 markets. As of 30 June 2015, Vodafone had 449 million mobile customers and 12 million fixed broadband customers. For more information, please visit: www.vodafone.com.

About Skypatrol
Skypatrol builds innovative software tools combined with proprietary GPS hardware and firmware to help businesses monitor, protect and optimize mobile assets. Skypatrol serves many markets including vehicle finance, fleet management, mobile asset tracking, automobile dealerships, outdoor sports and motor sports. Skypatrol is a global leader in integrated GPS tracking solutions on a wide variety of platforms including GSM and CDMA cellular networks and Iridium satellites. Skypatrol serves customers in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.skypatrol.com.

Source: Vodafone

INSIDE Secure Launches World’s Smallest Security Solution for Internet of Things (IoT) Devices

3 August  2015 – INSIDE Secure, a leader in embedded security solutions for mobile and connected devices, today announced the availability of MatrixSSL Tiny, the world’s smallest Transport Layer Security (TLS) software implementation, to allow companies to secure IoT devices with stringent memory requirements. MatrixSSL Tiny has been deployed on IoT devices with less than 10 kilobytes of flash and 600 bytes of RAM. Moreover, with MatrixSSL Tiny, device manufacturers can reduce their overall design costs by retrofitting a secure connection to existing hardware as well as reduce bill of materials (BOM) costs.

“INSIDE Secure continues to be on the leading edge of meeting market requirements to secure the most critical applications, networks and devices,” said Martin Bergenwall, Executive Vice President of the Mobile Security Business Division, INSIDE Secure (above). “As the recent cyberattack on a Jeep® Cherokee communicated by wired.com shows, security for IoT devices is critical.”

First released in 2004, MatrixSSL is a secure Transport Layer Security (TLS) solution delivered in portable C source code. MatrixSSL Tiny is designed to secure small IoT devices with extremely limited memory that use remote connections, yet demand robust security to prevent eavesdropping and tampering on network traffic. MatrixSSL Tiny performs real time operations, zeroing the memory when finished.

“For a secure Internet of Things, it will be essential that the full range of connected devices with embedded intelligence – even down to the smallest sensor – has effective communications security embedded in it,” said Robin Duke-Woolley, CEO of specialist IoT analyst firm Beecham Research. “For devices using small micro-processors, there may be very limited memory and processing capability, yet even these require sufficiently sophisticated security features to cater to the increasingly threatening landscape. This is an exciting development from Inside Secure to help enable this demanding need. It helps to open up the growth potential of the IoT market.”

To learn more about MatrixSSL Tiny please visit: http://www.insidesecure.com/Products-Technologies/Protocol-Security-Toolkits/MatrixSSL-Tiny-Edition

About INSIDE Secure
INSIDE Secure (Euronext Paris FR0010291245 – INSD) provides comprehensive embedded security solutions. World-leading companies rely on INSIDE Secure’s mobile security and secure transaction offerings to protect critical assets including connected devices, content, services, identity and transactions. Unmatched security expertise combined with a comprehensive range of IP, semiconductors, software and associated services gives INSIDE Secure customers a single source for advanced solutions and superior investment protection.

Source: INSIDE Secure

Onstream to Receive $2m from Traynor Family Enterprise

3 August 2015 — Onstream, a device intelligence framework provider, is receiving $2 million in funding from Traynor Family Enterprise, a Nevada-based holding company that has backed various technology and industrial ventures, including HawsTEC, Brita® Hydration Stations®, and Cirrus Systems.

Onstream’s device intelligence framework is designed for OEMs and solution providers who want to drive intelligence, responsive behavior, and new product features to networks of smart devices. Onstream’s system activates the brain of each device, creating intelligence close to the device. The framework drives device behavior through a bi-directional communication loop that is completely customizable by the OEM or solution provider.

For companies wanting to do more than just stream data to some distant database, Onstream closes the loop on device intelligence, instantly automating and optimizing device behavior.

“The vast economic promise of device intelligence is still just unrealized potential for many of the companies best positioned to benefit from the Internet of Things (IoT),” said Craig Macy, chief executive officer of Onstream (above). “Onstream is an easily deployable, flexible framework that can solve IoT technology challenges for companies, and create immediate value from streaming data as soon as it leaves the device."

The funding from Traynor Family Enterprise will accelerate the development and optimization of Onstream’s full line of device intelligence products, including Onstream’s proprietary Redirect Service, which allows device owners to conditionally pre-process and stream connected device data to multiple destinations, and to completely control where data is stored and what types of data are instantly processed.

“Onstream’s unique technology, strong market position and experienced team immediately make it a powerful player in the fast-growing world of device intelligence and IoT ,” said Tom White, CEO of Traynor Family Enterprise. “We’re excited to partner with Onstream on a device intelligence framework that has obvious applications for companies seeking to wring more value out of their device data.”

Select clients have already tested and deployed Onstream. Cirrus Systems, a mining solutions provider, uses Onstream as the intelligence backbone for their traffic control and monitoring system that prioritizes, automates and monitors mining traffic to increase efficiency and safety, while reducing vehicle wear.

Onstream has applications in development across numerous industries, including mining, fitness, and wine. Competitive advantages include out-of-the-box device intelligence, flexible deployment, and low latency.

About Onstream
Onstream enables OEMs and solution providers to enrich their products into differentiated, feature-rich, configurable intelligent devices. Onstream provides seamless user interface to control the behavior of devices by setting conditions and intelligent actions. Onstream streams data through a bi-directional loop that interacts equally well with the cloud, fog or local networks. Learn more at http://www.onstream.io.

Source: Onstream

SmartThings Joins ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors

3 August 2015 – The ZigBee Alliance, a non-profit association of organizations creating open, global standards that define the Internet of Things for use in consumer, commercial and industrial applications, today announced that SmartThings is the newest member of the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors, joining the Alliance at the 'Promoter' level.

SmartThings is a well-known, Internet of Things company owned by Samsung, another ZigBee Alliance Participant member. It offers the easiest way to build a smart home with a central Hub and mobile app to control all connected devices through one interface. SmartThings implements ZigBee Certified products as their own core products, and their service supports the many interoperable ZigBee products found worldwide.

"The ZigBee Alliance has been a longtime trusted partner of ours and we've always been closely aligned on our vision to build an open ecosystem for the Internet of Things," said Dan Lieberman, Head of Research and Standards at SmartThings. "Joining the Board of Directors will open up even more opportunities for collaboration as we look to deliver the best smart home experience possible to consumers for enhanced peace of mind, security and convenience in their everyday lives."

SmartThings joins Comcast Cable, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Itron Inc., The Kroger Co., Landis+Gyr, Legrand Group, NXP, Philips, Schneider Electric, Silicon Labs, Texas Instruments, and Wulian on the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors.

"The board joins me in welcoming SmartThings as a Promoter member of the Alliance. They are a leading IoT company owned by Samsung, a global powerhouse, and we believe that their leadership in the industry will greatly benefit our members and further accelerate benefits to the consumer," said John E. Osborne II, Chairman of the Board (above).

"SmartThings joining the Alliance Board of Directors is another step toward a more consumer-friendly ZigBee Alliance. We are expanding our consumer presence to help our members not only develop and certify interoperable connected devices, but also to prepare an open and thriving market for those devices," said Tobin Richardson, President and CEO of the ZigBee Alliance. "We look forward to having SmartThings on our board, joining us in promoting connected product interoperability with open, global, established IoT standards."

For more information about the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors, visit http://www.zigbee.org/zigbeealliance/board-and-officers/.

About SmartThings
SmartThings is an easy way to turn a home into a smart home, bringing users peace of mind, savings, and convenience. As an open platform with a thriving ecosystem, SmartThings also brings users freedom of choice in devices and limitless possibilities. SmartThings is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and operates independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. To purchase SmartThings, visit Shop.SmartThings.com or amazon.com.

ZigBee: Control your world
The ZigBee Alliance offers the open, global wireless standards that enable everyday objects to work together and help you control your world. ZigBee standards are one of the leading standards for monitoring and control used in consumer, commercial and industrial markets around the world. The Alliance is an open, non-profit ecosystem of over 400 organizations developing and promoting standards defining the Internet of Things for use in homes and businesses. For more information, visit www.ZigBee.org.

Source:  ZigBee Alliance