Verizon, Qualcomm aim next level of growth in Internet of Things

verizon-technology-for-data-plans-in-usAmerican telecom giant Verizon and semiconductor Qualcomm aim for next level of growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) business.

Verizon has unveiled ThingSpace-ready modules, which will be available in early 2017, from Quectel and Telit using Qualcomm’s MDM9206 Category M1 (Cat-M1) LTE modem.

Verizon will also be launching a development kit in early 2017 to facilitate the creation of IoT solutions using Verizon’s ThingSpace platform on Qualcomm’s MDM9206 LTE modem.

“Paired with our rollout of the LTE Cat-M1 network, which will reach nationwide coverage by the end of 1Q 2017, the launch of a pre-integrated ThingSpace platform means developers can bring IoT products to market quicker and easier,” said Mark Bartolomeo, vice president of connected solutions, Verizon.

Verizon’s ThingSpace client — pre-integrated and tested on MDM9206 LTE modem — is designed to allow manufacturers to develop and manage IoT devices for commercialization. OEMs can use the integrated application processor in the MDM9206 LTE modem to develop cost-effective and small-footprint devices and incorporate the benefits of LTE connectivity into IoT applications.

Verizon’s pre-integrated ThingSpace software provides a one-stop solution for both wireless data and cloud service management for IoT devices. The combination of the LTE Cat-M1 capabilities of the MDM9206 modem with Verizon’s 4G LTE network and ThingSpace platform offers a simplified approach for building, deploying and managing IoT applications.

“We see opportunities for new and creative IoT applications benefiting from the implementation of ThingSpace software and Qualcomm Technologies’ MDM9206 LTE modem technology in Quectel’s BG96 module enabling performance and cost optimized products,” said Patrick Qian, chief executive officer, Quectel.

Verizon and Qualcomm will showcase at CES 2017 how pre-integration of ThingSpace client within the MDM9206 Cat-M1 LTE modem supports use cases for industrial IoT segments such as asset management and tracking using the live over-the-air 4G LTE Cat-M1 network.

Qualcomm Technologies’ MDM9206 modem is engineered to support low-power, low-bandwidth and cost efficient IoT applications and services, and brings many enhancements and optimizations to LTE that can help reduce IoT device complexity.