10 Hottest Internet Of Things Products Unleashed In February

Race Of The Semiconductor Giants

In February, companies including Intel, Qualcomm and Altair Semiconductors made their mark on the Internet of Things market with new products, including modems, Wi-Fi chips and modules.

Dell and Cisco's Jasper unit also unveiled new IoT devices, including gateways targeted at small-scale IoT deployments and wearables that promote safety for elderly users. Solution providers can use these new products to develop innovative IoT applications in vertical markets.

From new data analytics tools to "plug-and-play" cellular modules, here are the 10 biggest Internet of Things products launched in February.

Cisco And Jupl's New Wearable

Cisco's Jasper IoT unit partnered with health-care company Jupl to create a Personal Emergency Response System wearable. This wearable, which is intended for elderly users, is managed through Jasper's Control Center IoT platform and uses Jupl's connected health software. The two companies are using Samsung's Gear S3 smartwatch as the hardware aspect of the wearable. The smartwatch features emergency services notifications, biometrics monitoring and location tracking.

Altair Semiconductor's ALT1250 Chipset

Altair Semiconductor lifted the curtain on its ALT1250 chipset, which the company said would "redefine the cellular IoT connectivity space."

Altair Semiconductor said its chipset features global band support and location capabilities beyond those of existing chipsets.

The ALT1250 module, which is about the size of a shift button, features support for the narrowband CAT-M1 and narrowband IoT standards, includes an integrated GPS receiver, a hardware-based security framework and an industrial application MCU subsystem.

Greenwave Systems' Axon Predict

Greenwave Systems launched its analytics product – Axon Predict – at this year's Mobile World Congress.

The data analytics tool, which is a result of the company's recent acquisition of Predixion Software, performs analytics capabilities at the edge – enabling machines and smart sensors to collect data at every step of production and deliver real-time action. The company’s real-time visual edge analytics software and data management platform enable enterprises and OEMs to manage critical data at the edge of a network in real time, as opposed to waiting for it to be uploaded and processed in the cloud.

Dell Gateway 3000

Dell is adding a new product to its Internet of Things gateway portfolio as the company tries to engage more with its partner base at the vertical market level.

The new Gateway 3000, which is targeted at fixed and mobile use cases requiring smaller sensor networks, tight spaces and simpler analytics, is a "balance between the maker spectrum and industrial-grade folks," according to Jason Shepherd, director of IoT strategy and partnerships at Dell.

Dell's new gateway, which is available for purchase in summer 2017, comes in three models, targeting general-purpose automation, transportation and logistics, and digital signage and retail.

Intel XMM 7560 Modem

Intel took the wraps off its first Gigabit LTE modem, the XMM 7560, at Mobile World Congress. This modem, manufactured on Intel's 14nm technology, is designed to handle 5G Internet of Things applications, including smart cities, as well as intelligent homes and buildings.

The modem includes support for speeds up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 225 Mbps. The XMM 7560 is also suitable for devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Gemalto's Cinterion Connect Shield Roadmap

Security company Gemalto at Mobile World Congress introduced a "rapid prototyping tool" that the company said will speed and simplify the creation of new IoT applications.

The tool, called the Cinterion Connect Shield development board, uses an Arduino design and features an intelligent modem chipset that is optimized for low-power IoT devices. This tool also enables users to rapidly migrate to the latest narrowband IoT standard – which is targeted at applications that prioritize long battery life and reliable connectivity. This tool is available immediately with LTE Cat 1 wireless connectivity.

Intel LIQD Program

In addition to a new modem, Intel unveiled its LTE IoT Quick Deployment (LIQD) program. This program enables partners to tap into faster and more scalable IoT deployments and business results. The program is designed for LTE network operators to help their enterprise customers rapidly deploy IoT platforms, services and devices at scale.

This program, which Intel showcased at Mobile World Congress, will be available in the second half of 2017, according to an Intel representative.

Qualcomm Releases Wi-Fi Chips For IoT

Qualcomm raised the IoT bar in February with the release of two SoC (system on chips) for IoT. These chips, the QCA4020 and QCA4024, support Bluetooth Low Energy 5, Wi-Fi, Zigbee and Thread. They also include support for Apple's Homekit, Microsoft's Azure IoT devices software development kit, and Amazon Web Services' IoT software development kit.

The two new chips are sampling with select OEMs and are expected to be commercially available in the second half of 2017.

Raspberry Pi Zero W

Raspberry Pi Zero W, the new variant of Raspberry Pi Zero, was released in February. This new model features wireless LAN and Bluetooth, and is priced at only $10.

Raspberry Pi said it is bringing more functionality into its core product, which uses the same Cypress CYW43438 wireless chip as the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B to provide 802.11n wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. The Raspberry Pi Zero W is currently available through distributors.

Sierra Wireless' 'Plug-And-Play' Cellular Modules

Sierra Wireless introduced new "plug-and-play" cellular modules and routers with pre-integrated global connectivity, operation management and security capabilities at Mobile World Congress.

The company said its new technology will help reduce the time to launch IoT solutions, streamline operations and enable business model flexibility. The company's new technology will be available for "large-scale" deployments in the second half of 2017 in select embedded module and router products.