IoT Platforms Aim to Speed Connected Economy’s Evolution

Weave the web of connectivity — with 5G, with all manner of mobile devices — and the Internet of Things takes shape. Add platforms into the mix, and the rise of a truly seamless continuum of services takes shape, with a single point of entry and flow.

The infrastructure, of course, must come first, must be ready, to house and host and, yes, promote a range of activities that span everything from mobile order ahead to voice-activated commerce.

Amazon, of course, that juggernaut of electronic life, has striven mightily to craft the IoT.

To that end, and as announced Tuesday (Jan. 4), IoT carrier 1NCE and Amazon Web Services (AWS) said they would expand their existing joint efforts to extend the 1NCE IoT platform on a global scale.

The collaboration, according to the Tuesday statement, “further aims to strengthen ties between the two companies and to develop the Next Level IoT Software speeding up global deployment of IoT projects.” In terms of mechanics, 1NCE has said that its software running on AWS that enables IoT developers to “quickly integrate” cellular IoT connectivity.

In other signs of Amazon’s broadening reach and intent in powering digital interactions well beyond simply bringing buyers and sellers together, we reported last year that the company has moved closer to completion of Project Kuiper, its effort to provide internet access via satellite. The company acquired a team of more than a dozen Facebook employees based in Los Angeles in April to work on the initiative. The larger backdrop is one where Amazon said in 2019 that it would invest $10 billion investment that will launch 3,236 satellites into a low-earth orbit by 2029.

See also: Amazon Acquires Facebook Satellite Internet Team For Project Kuiper

Focusing on the Sidewalk — Outside the Connected Home

Amazon also, of course, has been building out its Sidewalk offering, which creates a distributed (localized) IoT network. Using bandwidth contributions from Amazon Echo devices, Ring Floodlight Cams and Ring Spotlight Cams to create “smart” neighborhoods.

Read more: Amazon Sidewalk Eyes IoT Beyond The Connected Home

The Amazon efforts shine a light on the platform model that bring a range of technologies together to help firms bring products and services to market to end users more quickly. In another example of how ecosystems can be crafted, across specific segments of life, AT&T said this week it would partner with Smart Meter’s SmartRPM platform to, among other things, leverage devices to monitor patients’ health, remotely. The companies said in their announcement that remote monitoring of blood pressure and other conditions can help manage and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Speed matters, of course, in the quest to keep consumers within a certain ecosystem. They expect a fluid, omnichannel experience as they navigate taps on screens and voice commands. The IoT platforms bring far-flung initiatives together to meet those expectations.