Chipset major Qualcomm announced design wins for its LTE category M1/NB-1 modem that supports optimized cellular connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The latest design wins for its MDM9206 LTE modem for Internet of Things (IoT) applications are an addition to the more than 100 designs announced last June using MDM9x07 LTE IoT modems.

Qualcomm says MDM9206 modem features a purpose-built design for IoT and offers lower power consumption and longer range connectivity than the Company’s previous LTE generations.

The MDM9206 modem is designed to support LTE category M1 (eMTC), upgradeable to dual category M1/NB-1 mode with an anticipated upcoming software update. This allows IoT products to function in a diverse set of operator deployments worldwide, maximizing the products’ global reach and scalability.

The simpler narrowband LTE categories help the MDM9206 modem to support low-cost, low-power, low-bandwidth and greater coverage for the next-generation of IoT products and services, while also enhancing battery life as compared to previous LTE generations.

Qualcomm said the MDM9206 modem will cost-effectively address cellular connectivity for low data rate IoT applications more efficiently addressed by a narrowband modem. Use cases are smart energy and metering, building security, infrastructure, industrial control and automation, retail point of sale, asset tracking, medical, lighting and aftermarket telematics.

The category M1 and NB-1 LTE modes designed in the MDM9206 modem bring many enhancements and optimizations to LTE that will help reduce IoT device complexity, support, multi-year battery life, and provide deeper coverage than the company’s previous LTE generations.

The new technologies also can use existing LTE infrastructure and spectrum, coexisting with today’s mobile broadband services, while providing a superior solution to proprietary technologies for low-power wide area networks.

Qualcomm Technologies will join AT&T’s pilot of LTE-M network and module technology that will enable a new generation of industries and applications for IoT.

“The Qualcomm MDM9206 modem will help deliver new, intelligent and cost-effective IoT services, and use cases to our industrial, commercial and smart cities customers,” said Chris Penrose, president, Internet of Things, AT&T.

Verizon will be utilizing Qualcomm Technologies’ MDM9206 modem, which is integrated with IoT platforms like Verizon’s Thingspace, to accelerate the delivery of connected services in markets like smart metering for utilities including electric, gas and water.

Module OEMs are expected to launch MDM9206-based Cat M1 capable modules in early 2017. A software upgrade for Cat NB-1 is expected to be available shortly thereafter.