The Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with our environment. With IoT, everyday objects and devices are connected to the internet, creating a network of smart devices that can communicate and perform tasks autonomously. In this article, we’ll explore the world of IoT for consumer applications, including its key uses, benefits, challenges, and the exciting future it holds for consumers.

The IoT Revolution in Consumer Applications

IoT technology has made its way into our homes, our cars, and even our wearables, creating a new era of convenience, efficiency, and connectivity. The use of IoT in consumer applications encompasses a wide range of devices and services that aim to simplify and enhance our daily lives.

Key Applications of IoT in Consumer Devices

1. Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices are perhaps the most recognizable application of IoT for consumers. These include smart thermostats, lighting systems, security cameras, and voice-activated assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart home devices allow users to control and automate various aspects of their home environment, from adjusting the temperature to turning on lights with a voice command.

2. Wearable Technology

Wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, are equipped with sensors that monitor health metrics like heart rate, steps taken, and sleep patterns. They connect to smartphone apps to provide users with real-time insights into their well-being and fitness goals.

3. Smart Appliances

IoT is transforming household appliances into smart devices. Smart refrigerators can keep track of food inventory and suggest recipes based on available ingredients. Smart washing machines can be controlled remotely, and they can even reorder detergent when supplies run low.

4. Connected Cars

Connected cars utilize IoT technology to provide a range of features, from real-time navigation and traffic updates to vehicle diagnostics and predictive maintenance. These features enhance the driving experience and improve vehicle safety.

5. Health and Medical Devices

IoT has revolutionized the healthcare industry by enabling remote patient monitoring. Devices like insulin pumps and pacemakers can transmit data to healthcare providers, allowing for timely intervention and better patient care.

6. Personal Assistants

Smart personal assistants, like Amazon’s Echo and Google Home, offer voice-activated services that provide information, control smart home devices, and perform tasks like setting alarms and providing weather updates.

7. Smart Luggage and Travel Gadgets

Smart luggage with built-in IoT features, such as location tracking and digital locks, make travel more convenient and secure. Additionally, IoT-powered travel gadgets can help travelers find local attractions and navigate foreign cities.

8. Smart Gardening

IoT technology can assist in gardening and plant care. Smart gardening devices can monitor soil moisture, sunlight, and temperature to help users maintain healthy plants and gardens.

Benefits of IoT in Consumer Applications

The integration of IoT in consumer devices offers numerous advantages:

1. Convenience

IoT devices simplify daily tasks and enhance convenience. Users can control their environment, receive timely information, and automate routines.

2. Improved Health and Fitness

Wearable technology and health devices empower individuals to monitor their well-being, track fitness goals, and make informed health decisions.

3. Energy Efficiency

Smart home devices and appliances help reduce energy consumption, contributing to both cost savings and environmental sustainability.

4. Enhanced Safety and Security

IoT-based security systems offer real-time monitoring and alerts, while connected cars enhance road safety and provide vehicle security features.

5. Personalization

IoT devices learn user preferences and adapt to individual needs, creating a personalized experience.

6. Time Savings

Automated tasks and voice-activated commands save time and make daily routines more efficient.

7. Greater Connectivity

IoT devices keep users connected to the internet and each other, making it easy to stay in touch and access information.

Challenges and Considerations

While IoT in consumer applications offers numerous benefits, it also poses challenges and considerations:

1. Data Security and Privacy

The collection and transmission of personal data raise concerns about data security and privacy. Users must ensure that their data is protected and used responsibly.

2. Interoperability

IoT devices and systems must be compatible and standardized to ensure seamless data exchange and integration. Common protocols and standards are essential for achieving this.

3. Reliability

The performance and reliability of IoT devices can be a concern. Devices must work consistently to maintain user trust.

4. Cost of Implementation

The initial cost of implementing IoT in consumer applications can be a barrier for some users. An assessment of the return on investment is necessary to justify the expense.

5. Workforce Training

The successful adoption of IoT in consumer applications often requires workforce training and a cultural shift within households and businesses.

The Future of IoT in Consumer Applications

As technology continues to advance, the future of IoT in consumer applications looks promising. Here are some trends and developments to watch for:

1. Enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)

IoT and AI will work hand in hand to analyze vast amounts of data, offering insights and automating routine tasks.

2. Interconnectivity

IoT devices will become more interconnected, with seamless communication between devices and systems, creating a more unified experience.

3. Voice and Gesture Control

IoT devices will be controlled through advanced voice and gesture recognition, making interaction more intuitive and natural.

4. Edge Computing

Edge computing will enable more data processing closer to the source, reducing latency and ensuring real-time responsiveness.

5. Sustainability

IoT devices will continue to contribute to sustainability by optimizing energy consumption, reducing waste, and promoting eco-friendly practices.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things is reshaping the way we live our daily lives, making them more convenient, efficient, and connected. Challenges related to data security, interoperability, and cost must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of IoT in consumer applications are fully realized.

As IoT technology continues to evolve, it will remain a driving force in consumer devices and services, offering a glimpse into a future where daily tasks are automated, environments are more personalized, and access to information and services is seamless and convenient.

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In the current era of radical and accelerated technological advancements, the Internet of Things (IoT) is an undeniably transformative force, notably within the area of consumer electronics. With a value of nearly $1.2 trillion by 2028, according to Statista, this global industry is the pulsing heart of an ongoing technological revolution. IoT plays a pivotal role in this dynamic industry and the changes it creates in human lives and daily experiences.

Examining the Consumer Electronics Landscape

Today’s consumer electronics landscape is vast and diverse, encompassing sectors such as TV, Radio & Multimedia, Telephony, Computing, Gaming Equipment, and Drones. Each is experiencing a dynamic transformation to meet continuously growing and shifting consumer tastes and demands. Thanks to the global surge in smartphone sales, the Telephony segment claims the lion’s share of the market. Interestingly, the smallest segment, Drones, reveals the significant disparity in size across the market’s many segments.

Impacting the Consumer Electronics Market through IoT

At the forefront of the industry’s growth is IoT. This branch of technology has crept into every facet of consumer electronics, becoming an integral part of our daily lives. According to Market Research Future, the consumer electronics segment within the IoT market will balloon to an impressive $172 billion by 2030. This remarkable growth will likely result from increased disposable incomes, a growing demand for luxury and convenience to enhance lifestyles, and the widespread adoption of voice assistants and other smart home technologies.

Revolution Robotics: A Case Study in Democratizing Robotics Education

Among the many applications of IoT in consumer electronics, a case in point is the work of Revolution Robotics, a U.S. tech startup. This forward-thinking enterprise sought to democratize robotics education by creating an affordable yet fully functional programmable robot kit. To actualize their vision, they collaborated with Softeq to create an electronic kit that empowered children to assemble, program, and remotely control robots using a smartphone.

The kit included an open-source hardware design, more than 530 plastic parts, a library of 3D printable parts, and firmware. However, the journey to create this pioneering solution was not without challenges.

Smartphone-Controlled Robots: The Power of IoT and Custom Firmware

The crux of Revolution Robotics’ solution was the smartphone-controlled operation of the robots. This smartphone-driven interface was possible because of innovative firmware solutions that enable smartphones to program the robot’s logic and command its actions. The robot’s construction involves linking the robot’s central processing unit to a smartphone using BLE technology and affixing an array of sensors, motors, and assorted plastic components to the robot’s framework. Users can then program the robot’s logic, executing a preprogrammed algorithm or following commands from the smartphone.

The firmware, developed by Softeq, served as the conduit between the smartphone and the robot. This custom firmware facilitated the integration of intricate sensors and motors, and its design fostered scalability, enabling the on-demand addition and programming of extra features.

Maintaining Affordability While Maximizing Functionality

The goal of affordability was a cornerstone of this project. Maintaining cost-effectiveness was not just a goal; it was a central requirement. Through careful planning and iterative development, Softeq optimized the costs of the various plastic parts and electronics without compromising the robot’s functionality.

This collaboration resulted in a groundbreaking product: an affordable, programmable robot kit with the same functionality as its pricier counterparts. It was a shining testament to the potential of IoT, demonstrating how this technology could transform the educational sector by making learning experiences more engaging and interactive without limiting access through prohibitive pricing.

Harnessing Data and AI in IoT

When it comes to IoT, the significant volume of data generated by connected devices is both a challenge and an opportunity. When harnessed correctly using AI and Machine Learning, this data can yield valuable insights, leading to more informed decision-making and increased innovation. Companies are already leveraging this to fine-tune their product performance, anticipate user needs, and troubleshoot issues even before they occur. Therefore, IoT isn’t just about connectivity; it’s about making intelligent use of the data connectivity generates. For businesses, understanding the relationship between IoT, AI, and data analytics is key to realizing their full potential.

Enhancing Customer Experience through IoT

IoT transforms the consumer electronics landscape by offering a degree of personalization and interactivity that was previously inconceivable. Connected devices now adapt to user behaviors, offering custom experiences that enhance user satisfaction. For instance, smart TVs curate content based on viewing habits, and IoT-enabled thermostats learn from daily routines to optimize home temperature settings. This focus on user-centric design, powered by IoT, significantly enhances customer experience and is an area decision-makers should not overlook while planning IoT integrations.

Market Dynamics and the Future of IoT

Though IoT continues to revolutionize the consumer electronics industry, challenges persist. IoT security concerns, the lack of standardization, and increasing data privacy risks present potential impediments to growth. However, with market opportunities such as government support for IoT research and development, improvements in 5G connectivity, and the inevitable digitalization of numerous consumer applications, the future of IoT in consumer electronics appears promising.

The transformative power of IoT is undeniable. Its potential to create interconnected ecosystems of devices, enabling enhanced convenience and usability for consumers, is driving the industry forward. IoT redefines the consumer electronics landscape with technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and increased connectivity. As the industry continues leveraging IoT for growth and innovation, the future promises opportunities we can scarcely imagine.

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Two weeks left to submit an innovative solution to the M2M Challenge.

Consumer electronics, one of the most profitable technology markets, is not only about having connectivity, but about redefining connectivity, especially with regards to M2M communication.

Today, the most commonly used consumer devices including GSM chips are e-readers and personal navigation devices (PNDs). Amazon offers free WiFi and 3G connectivity, this way Kindle customers can buy and download new books wherever and whenever. Smart watches, activity trackers, and glasses are also part of this trend; after all they are all only as smart as their connection to a smartphone. All big players are announcing and launching new gadgets – and there is no end in sight.

At last year’s M2M Challenge, QGate introduced a wall plug that connects living spaces and electrical devices to the internet. This way, users can monitor and control their electronics at home remotely from their smartphone. It features several sensors to detect changes in lighting, temperature, monitor energy consumption etc.

A totally different approach to M2M comes from Durex. Earlier this year the condom manufacturer announced Fundawear – the name actually says it all. The vibrating underwear connects to a smartphone app which allows users to control the vibration with their phone – or pair the underwear with their partner’s phone who then controls the vibration (and the fun).

Though, is it still M2M communication if underpants communicate with bras? Or does it belong into another sector? The boundaries are definitely blurring more and more. But this is exactly the kind of innovation the M2M Challenge – the world’s biggest M2M competition – is seeking: until November 30, 2013 developers can submit their solution free of charge and demonstrate the huge innovation potential in machine-to-machine communication.

In addition to Consumer Electronics & More the M2M Challenge has the categories Mobility, Healthcare, Security, and Energy. All entries will be evaluated by an international team of experts; the winner will be awarded at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona 2014.

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According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, sales of smart glasses, smart watches and wearable fitness trackers reached 8.3 million units worldwide in 2012, up from 3.1 million devices in the previous year.

Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 50.6 percent, total shipments of wearable technology devices are expected to reach 64.0 million units in 2017. Today wearable fitness and activity trackers constitute the vast majority of the shipments. By the end of the forecast period, smart watches are predicted to incorporate much of the functionality of these and will then be the largest wearable device segment.

Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight, said:

“A perfect storm of innovation within low power wireless connectivity, sensor technology, big data, cloud services, voice user interfaces and mobile computing power is coming together and paves the way for connected wearable technology.”

The first generation of products appeal to specific markets and certain use cases, but refinement in design, technology and connectivity will broaden application areas and speed up market adoption. Initially, the wrist is the most attractive location for wearable devices, which is shown by the success of the Pebble smart watch and the popularity of wristband activity trackers such as the Nike Fuelband and the Fitbit Flex. “However, today’s devices need to evolve into something more than single purpose fitness trackers or external smartphone notification centres in order to be truly successful” continues Mr. Svanberg. Berg Insight predicts that wearable technology will shift from being smartphone accessories into becoming proper stand-alone computing devices. Furthermore, closeness to the body and always aware capabilities will enable them to be more than merely miniaturised smartphones.

Google, Sony and Samsung have already launched products and other major players such as Apple and LG are expected to soon enter the market. Wide market availability of wearable devices also raises privacy concerns. “It is still uncertain where lines should be drawn, but as in the case with most new technology, individual users and solution providers have the responsibility not to misuse the capabilities enabled by wearable tech” concludes Mr. Svanberg.

Download report brochure: Consumer Electronics and Wireless M2M

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According to a new research report from Berg Insight, shipments of consumer M2M devices with cellular connectivity reached 5.3 million worldwide in 2012.

In the next five years, shipments are forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1 percent to reach 13.8 million devices in 2017. This relatively new breed of connected devices – neither classified as handsets, PCs, tablets nor traditional M2M devices – have strong growth potential. Today, e-readers and PNDs are the most common consumer M2M devices already shipping in millions. The consumer device market is changing rapidly and dedicated devices are facing fierce competition from multipurpose devices such as smartphones and tablets. Introducing wireless connectivity is one strategy to meet this threat and new connected products such as the Galaxy camera range from Samsung as well as smaller scale success stories such as the PocketFinder from Location Based Technologies show the market potential for cellular connected consumer devices.

Emerging device categories such as personal tracking, wearable technology and digital cameras are well suited for embedded cellular connectivity and have high growth potential in the coming years. Berg Insight predicts that by 2017, smart watches will be the most sold consumer M2M device category before personal tracking devices, accounting for 23 percent and 17 percent respectively of total annual shipments. An increasing share of all content and services are delivered through the cloud and cellular connectivity gives the freedom of being connected everywhere.

Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst at Berg Insight, says:

“There are already over 15 million consumer M2M devices in use worldwide. Business innovation from device vendors, content service providers and telecom operators is now necessary in order to turn M2M consumer devices into a mainstream success.”

The 3G connected Kindle e-reader from Amazon is the most sold consumer M2M device to date.

Mr Svanberg continues:
“A seamless integrated offering without any complicated subscription models has been key to the success.”

Mobile data plans which let users buy a bucket of data to share across several devices as well as pay-per-use models are other promising business models for consumer M2M devices.

“It is not always possible to hide the cost of data such as in the case of the Kindle, but the relationship between the benefits and costs need to be both clear and fair in order for users to be willing to pay extra for wireless data”, concludes Mr Svanberg.

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Written by Jennifer Kent, Senior Analyst, and Harry Wang, Director, Health and Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates.

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications—essentially “smart” networked devices talking to each other—are undergoing a period of fundamental change and significant growth.

Traditionally, a few enterprise use cases, such as fleet management and asset tracking, dominated M2M deployments. Declining sensor and chipset costs, along with cheaper network access fees, have expanded the viability of M2M communications to new industry applications. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly embedding a wider range of products with wireless connectivity.

Mobile operators and key players in industries as diverse as automotive, oil and gas, and healthcare all have a strong interest in pursuing this growing market. Enterprise solutions will continue to dominate the market for the foreseeable future, but M2M deployments are increasingly reaching consumers directly. New consumer-facing applications and business models are emerging in the consumer electronics, connected home, connected car, and wireless health and fitness industries.

Connected Cars

The enterprise telematics industry laid the groundwork early on for today’s connected car market, which itself came to consumers relatively early. General Motors (GM) has been offering connected vehicle services to its customers through OnStar since 1996.

The core service feature of connected cars (or “consumer telematics”) is connecting passengers to a live agent in an emergency, and some models include collision sensors that will automatically notify agents via the in-vehicle telematics system. Newer offerings allow drivers to remotely control certain vehicle systems (e.g., A/C, door locks), locate their vehicle, and receive directions.

Not every connected service is enabled by an in-vehicle cellular radio. Many OEMs leverage the connectivity the passenger brings into the car via a mobile phone.

There are pros and cons to both approaches, but as this market matures, most OEMs will take a hybrid approach. Embedded cellular radios provide reliable connectivity for the most important use cases such as emergency and roadside assistance, while smartphone-enabled connectivity ensures a steady stream of the latest and greatest consumer apps.

M2M in Connected CE Devices

Multiple device categories, including smartphones, gaming consoles, and tablets, have some form of embedded wireless connectivity. The growing connected consumer device ecosystem presents operators with distinct opportunities to generate new revenues. Yet MNOs (mobile network operators) are already facing a network crunch due to booming mobile data consumption, and they are increasingly dependent on alternative wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi to handle data offload.

Three different models, which leverage cellular-embedded CE devices on market, highlight the opportunities and risks of entering the connected CE space with an M2M solution.

In the first model, MNOs can support connected CE from a B2B2C approach, typical of the M2M market. Rather than selling mobile data plans for CE devices with embedded cellular modems directly to consumers, carriers can instead sell network access to device manufacturers. For device manufacturers, this model can differentiate a product and extend device functionality to include anytime/anywhere connectivity along with connectivity-enabled services. Instead of charging consumers directly for mobile broadband connectivity, CE OEMs can bundle connectivity fees into the price of the device.

Amazon established this model with the success of its Kindle e-readers. Specifically, the 3G Kindle models connect across AT&T’s network so that consumers can download content without worrying about the availability or price of an Internet connection.  But this model has limited applicability to other CE devices.

In the second model, embedded personal navigation devices (PND) provide a variation of the B2B2C approach. Operators sell network access to PND manufacturers in a typical M2M model, but the OEM then charges consumers for the data usage. For operators, this is a traditional M2M play and an opportunity to monetize unused network resources.

In the third model, MNOs monetize mobile data consumption on mobile devices by charging consumers directly. Typically, MNOs offer connected CE device data plans without contracts, using instead a pre-paid offering (Sony PlayStation Vita, Apple iPad) or billing usage rates to an account (Apple iPad, Samsung’s 4G Galaxy Camera).

The Connected Home Space

Consumers’ desire for anytime/anywhere connectivity is spreading to other areas, especially in the connected home space, which will be an important and potentially very valuable segment.  Consumers recognize the appeal of an air conditioner with monitoring capabilities in order to control energy costs. Lights and other household white goods also score high for consumer interest in monitoring capabilities.

In the North American market, operators with fixed-line businesses are leveraging their footprint to offer connected home systems using short-range wireless solutions and IP-connected gateway devices (e.g., Verizon Home Monitoring and Control, AT&T Digital Home). As MNOs look to their future involvement in the connected home, they will experiment with ways to encourage uptake of cellular-embedded connected home devices.

M2M Health Market Drivers and Deployment Strategies

In the healthcare industry, M2M connectivity offers a variety of benefits, from improved care to lower costs to more efficient services. Parks Associates believes that the aging-in-place market and home-based diagnostic & monitoring market represent the two biggest opportunities for carriers in the consumer M2M health space.

Two distinct trends are driving these opportunities:

1. People are living longer but not necessarily healthier. The aging population is a global phenomenon, and incidences of chronic conditions are high in most developed countries and on the rise in major developing nations. The consumer desire to age at home drives demand for intelligent sensor systems that enable at-home self-care.

2. Rising healthcare costs are pushing care delivery to cheaper alternatives that are also patient-centric and convenient to access. Use of telehealth solutions and services will consequently increase and help drive demand for connected medical devices for diagnosis and monitoring.

To drive growth in M2M health services, leading carriers have dedicated sales teams to this sector, targeting hospital CIOs, durable medical equipment (DME) departments of large health organizations, medical device manufacturers, and leaders of health service organizations ranging from hospital ICUs to assisted-living facilities.

Within the healthcare sector, Parks Associates divides M2M applications into two major categories:

1. Patient-centric M2M applications enable devices and services that directly benefit a patient’s health and safety needs

2. Business-centric M2M applications improve business functions for healthcare providers

Most carriers are pursuing opportunities in both categories, but overall they have allocated more sales resources to the patient-centric M2M market. Patient-centric M2M solutions have higher volume potential with better margins from high-value applications than business-centric solutions, but they also pose a higher liability risk and are subject to more regulatory red tape.

While not all solutions will include M2M connectivity, some market segments—like the personal emergency response systems (PERS) market—are leading the way. Most PERS product vendors and service providers currently offer, or will develop in the near future, cellular-connected PERS products. These providers are leveraging cellular capability in PERS base stations to widen the market to households that have ditched landlines. Additionally, integrating cellular modules inside the PERS panic button extends its range from in-home only to anywhere/anytime coverage.

Market Outlook and Growth Areas

The connected car space provides the most compelling areas of M2M growth for mobile carriers.

All major auto manufacturers design vehicles for global markets, and MNOs are in a good position to leverage their established relationships with module manufactures, app developers, and consumers to provide auto OEMs with valuable integration services, thereby generating service revenues on top of network access fees.

For connected CE, these devices tend to consume too much mobile data to be successful on an M2M model. The Kindle success story is unique, and OEMs are more likely to leverage the PND model, where consumers pay the OEM for access to connected services. At the same time, connected CE with embedded cellular connectivity are facing heavy competition from smartphones and tablets, so cellular-connected CE as a top M2M growth area in the near term is unlikely.

Similarly, the connected home for now will continue to be a mix of different technologies, including Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and ZigBee along with a minority of cellular-embedded solutions.

The M2M opportunity in the consumer health market requires patience and focus from mobile operators. The space is in transition, with new players such as CardioNet, Vitality, and IDEAL LIFE challenging established market leaders like Philips, Medtronic, and Linear, but these health business clients value cellular coverage and quality of service. They need a network operator that can cover patients living in rural areas, provide strong connections for timely reporting, and ensure network reliability in life-or-death situations.

Overall the steady growth in the M2M market over the past decade has piqued the interest of mobile network operators. Operators participated in the early development of the M2M market primarily by wholesaling network access to other specialized network providers, but now operators see M2M as a way to diversify their revenues and provide valuable business services to large enterprise clients. Many Tier 1 operators are building out their internal M2M businesses and seeking strategic partnerships with M2M vendors. This increased attention from operators will benefit all M2M players as the market gets a boost from operators’ resources, scale, and marketing power.

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Connectivity Portfolio Expanded to Enable the Internet of Everything with Cost Effective, Low Power, Single Chip Solution.

Qualcomm Incorporated today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., launched a new chip family as part of its portfolio of low-power Wi-Fi solutions designed to connect a multitude of devices that comprise the Internet of Everything.

The QCA4002 and QCA4004 networking platforms include the IP stack and full networking services on the chip to enable customers to add Wi-Fi to virtually any product with minimal development effort or cost. The platforms feature an on-chip processor and memory, which are designed to eliminate the need for a system controller that adds to product cost, complexity and power consumption. Using the QCA4004, customers can now write their own applications on the Qualcomm Atheros platform instead of simply using it for Wi-Fi connectivity.

Target applications for the QCA4002/4004 platforms include major home appliances (such as washing machines, air conditioners, hot water heaters, and so on), consumer electronics, and sensors and smart plugs for home lighting, security and automation systems. The QCA4004 has been incorporated into a washer/dryer combo and an air conditioner unit by Haier, a global leader in home appliances and consumer electronics.

The QCA4002/4004 platforms also feature the AllJoyn software framework, which enables the “Internet of things near me” by providing seamless connectivity and communications among a diverse set of products, applications and services to create compelling, proximal user experiences. The AllJoyn software framework provides basic building blocks for maximum flexibility and includes a set of services that, by design, are very simple and address near-universal requirements for users to interact with nearby things: onboarding, notifications, audio streaming and control.

Haier and Qualcomm Atheros will demonstrate two connected appliances based on the QCA4004 platform during IFA 2013 in Berlin September 6-12: a washer/dryer combo in the Haier exhibit space at IFA, and an air conditioner unit in the Qualcomm exhibit space at the Hotel Concorde Berlin.
Lily Li, general manager of Qingdao Haier Smart Home Technology Limited, said:

“Because of the turnkey nature of Qualcomm Atheros’ low-power Wi-Fi connectivity platform, Haier has been able to quickly develop cutting-edge appliances that are ready for large-scale distribution.”

“We fully expect these connected appliances to be popular among consumers who want the convenience of receiving remote notifications and being able to set commands through their mobile devices.”

“Part of Qualcomm’s vision for the Internet of Everything is to provide low power, efficient connectivity as its enabling foundation. Qualcomm Atheros is making standards-based Wi-Fi feasible for a multitude of new devices in the home and office,” said Jason Zheng, senior vice president, Qualcomm Atheros.

“The QCA4002 and QCA4004 platforms enable lower power usage and elimination of host processors to ensure better usage and simpler implementation with ease of configuration and interoperability, a first in the industry.”

Both the QCA4002 and QCA4004 include a Green TX feature that allows devices to reduce the transmit power by up to one-half when in close proximity of another device or access point. This dynamic power adjustment, along with sleep modes consuming less than 1mW, allows for more efficient communication and longer battery life (in applications such as remote controls, thermostats and sensors). The low power sleep operation is handled through an onboard wake-up manager that enables self-wake and sleep management on the platform which can further reduce sleep power (down to microamps). Additionally, the platforms can wake from suspend four times faster than other products in the category, which reduces the total average power profile and any system latency.

The QCA4002 is available in full production now. The QCA4004 chip is currently sampling and available with an evaluation platform, and will be available in full production during the fourth quarter of this year. Development based on the Qualcomm Atheros Internet of Everything portfolio of solutions is facilitated through an established ecosystem of approved design centers and distributors.

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Blackberry and Google recently announced that the wireless communication protocol, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), will be included in their latest releases in Blackberry 10 and Android platforms respectively.
The idea that BLE could become the dominant protocol for wireless communication particularly for establishing machine-to-machine applications within a home area network (HAN) environment, is extremely attractive to the technology’s patent owners. However, it also has interesting implications for the overall M2M market development.

First, it is the idea that the global pool of consumer smartphones could now become the addressable market on which M2M applications can be developed. This opens up the possibility of innovations in new M2M applications that have direct access to the end users; an eventual aim that every businesses aspire to achieve. Secondly, BLE might spark another round of interest around enabling sensor technologies that might go into the wellbeing vector of an M2M in Healthcare offering. This could be an important event that triggers a turning point for M2M in healthcare in Europe, where consumer wellbeing products become the main catalyst for M2M in healthcare revenues in the region. M2M telcos with a lead in healthcare or connected homes offering can extend their lead even more.

Finally, BLE’s emergence is a positive to the overall M2M market development because a “new” protocol adds to the competitive pressures that in turn lead to innovations. Granted, another protocol also adds complexity to the already heated discussion for which protocol to use particularly in HAN. The continuing debate on which protocol to enable is one of several reasons why we still haven’t seen significant scale in smart appliances in the home. However, competition breeds innovation and this is how we would see as sustainable M2M development.

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Telefónica and Dell collaborate to deliver the broadest pay-as-you-go mobile broadband service for notebooks and tablets across Europe — enabled with a single M2M SIM | Dell NetReady, powered by Telefónica, is an enhanced 3G connectivity solution for laptops and tablets— delivering on-demand high-speed Internet access | The solution allows companies to provide their workforce with fast and reliable connectivity, anytime and anywhere, paying only for what they need

Telefónica Digital and Dell have signed an agreement to provide integrated mobile connectivity for Windows 7 and Windows 8 devices anywhere in Europe through the Dell NetReady solution, a pay-as-you-go connectivity bundle.

Dell’s hardware is provided with mobile connectivity through Telefónica, one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies.

Dell NetReady gives the user immediate access to the Internet on their devices in a fast and reliable way, anytime and anywhere, thanks to an incorporated M2M SIM-card and a simple and intuitive application that allows the customer to choose in real time from a wide range of connectivity bundles that best suit their needs.

A solution aimed at businesses
In an increasingly dynamic, complex and competitive global marketplace, companies are demanding easy-to-use mobile connectivity solutions that allow them to go online at any time in any place.

The new connectivity solution announced today has a number of key business benefits:

• It is activated out of the box and is ready to go.
• Once registered, pay-as-you-go bundles are available at the touch of a button, from 30 minutes up to 1 month.
• Two tariff structures have been created providing cost effective long term access and short term transparent data roaming charges.
• Bundles also move with the user from country to country ensuring transparent and clear pricing at all times.

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IBM and Vodafone today announced a collaboration to combine mobile communications and cloud computing for the remote management of ‘smart home’ appliances.

At the IFA consumer electronics event in Berlin this week, Vodafone and IBM will demonstrate the mobile management of a washing machine and other smart home devices that are connected by Vodafone’s Global M2M Platform running on IBM’s new SmartCloud Service Delivery Platform.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology makes home appliances more intelligent by connecting them wirelessly to the internet. This enables them to feed useful data back to the service provider or manufacturer to achieve a better customer experience through new functionality and enhanced services.

“The smart home market is now a reality and Vodafone is committed to delivering to it,” said Marc Tastayre, Vodafone M2M Global Business Development Manager.

“Security is the first important step for connecting devices to the internet and the collaboration between IBM and Vodafone is putting in place an open, efficient and scalable solution for the consumer electronics industry that will enable it to successfully progress the creation of the ‘Internet of Things’.”

IBM and Vodafone anticipate that this M2M initiative could allow consumers to use their smartphones for a variety of remote activities including viewing their home’s utility consumption; controlling security, heating and lighting systems; and activating home appliances such as washing machines. The initiative will additionally enable manufacturers and service providers to collect data from appliances that can be used to inform product development and maintenance and provide better services to consumers.

“This collaboration is a great example of how cloud computing can be used for business innovation versus solely for IT efficiency purposes,” said IBM Telecommunications Industry General Manager Scott Stainken.

“Cloud will increasingly be used in new ways that will provide enhanced consumer-centric experiences — especially when combined with mobile communications.”

The IBM SmartCloud Service Delivery Platform provides a fully integrated, scalable cloud-based platform to give manufacturers a cost-effective and scalable way to manage appliances and to rapidly introduce related new consumer services. Vodafone’s Global M2M Platform offers appliance manufacturers the ability to easily and rapidly deploy managed and secure wireless connectivity to home gateways. By combining the platforms, the two companies will also provide the consumer electronics industry with an example of a truly global, open-standards based approach for Smarter Home connectivity and solutions.

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New Profiles Extend Capabilities for Real-Time Running and Cycling Data Monitoring, Add Critical Functionality Previously Reserved for Proprietary Solutions

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) today finalized standards that will accelerate the proliferation of Bluetooth® wireless technology sensors that measure speed and cadence for running and cycling activity. Made possible by Bluetooth v4.0 low energy technology, the recently approved standards will enable the next generation of Bluetooth Smart fitness devices. Companies can now quickly implement Bluetooth Smart sensors in sports devices to instantaneously transmit data such as running cadence, stride length, total distance, or cycling speed, distance, and pedal cadence to Bluetooth enabled devices like smart phones, sports watches, and cycling computers.

Bluetooth technology already has significant momentum in the sports and fitness market, making it possible for products like the Nike+ FuelBand, Nike+ Basketball and Training shoes, Polar heart rate monitors, and many more to connect to the Bluetooth ecosystem. The new running and cycling standards will accelerate growth in this space. By allowing manufacturers to use standards-based protocols, the new profiles give companies the opportunity to quickly create innovative products that can connect to the vast array of Bluetooth enabled hub devices.

ABI Research, Inc. forecasts shipments of Bluetooth enabled sports and fitness devices will grow ten-fold from 2011 to 2016, totaling 278 million and representing over 60 percent of the total available market.

According to ABI’s Jonathan Collins, principal analyst in telematics and M2M technologies, this is being driven by the trend to move away from proprietary solutions and toward Bluetooth Smart devices.

Supporting Quotes

Suke Jawanda, chief marketing officer, Bluetooth SIG:
“Historically, sports and fitness sensors capable of tracking speed and cadence relied on proprietary technology, limiting their reach and functionality. The Running S&C and Cycling S&C profiles unlock these sensors, allowing companies to build products that can connect with the tens of millions of Bluetooth Smart Ready devices already in the market, and the hundreds of millions on the way in the coming quarters. As an OEM, if you want your product to connect with billions of products your customers likely already use on a daily basis, then Bluetooth technology is the obvious choice. A rich supplier ecosystem and our organization’s continued dedication to perfecting Bluetooth profiles for the sports and fitness market is one of the many reasons Bluetooth technology is becoming the de facto wireless standard for low power sensor devices. Not only in this market, but in healthcare, home automation, and more.”

Brian Bedrosian, director of deeply embedded wireless connectivity business, Broadcom:
“Bluetooth Smart is playing an important role in augmenting the value of smartphones by enabling consumers to interact with Bluetooth or Bluetooth Smart heart rate and blood pressure monitors, measurement sensors and other sports and fitness devices without significant impact on battery life. Broadcom continues to help drive the proliferation and integration of this exciting technology, which has demonstrated the potential to open up entirely new applications and markets for home health, fitness and diagnostics.”

Paul Williamson, senior product marketing manager for health and fitness, CSR:
“Sports and fitness products are increasingly centered around the smartphone and provide increasing social engagement. With these two new profiles Bluetooth Smart is on the way to providing complete coverage of the sports and fitness market. CSR provides both running and cycling profiles in its latest µEnergy software development kit enabling the rapid development of fitness accessories.”

Sumit Saraogi, product marketing manager, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation:
“We are pleased to see quick adoption of two new Bluetooth profiles for the sports and fitness market. Our PSoC products are well suited for Bluetooth low energy applications in this market, as their programmable analog and digital peripherals can interface with almost any sensor to provide integrated one-chip solutions to our customers.”

Eric Dishman, fellow and general manager of health strategy and solutions, Intel:
“Intel sees the approval of the Running and Cycling Speed and Cadence specifications as an important milestone in the transition of low-power wireless fitness sensors from proprietary to a standards-based solution using Bluetooth 4.0. Intel is proud to have played a part in this effort, which we believe will improve the experience and benefits of using fitness devices equipped with these important health- and fitness-sensing capabilities.”

Geir Langeland, director of sales and marketing, Nordic Semiconductor:
“The sports and fitness market was one of the earliest adopters of ultra low power (ULP) wireless technology – particularly among serious athletes using proprietary sports watches and bike computers, for instance, to collect sensor data. What these new Bluetooth low energy cycling and running profiles will do is further extend the reach of ULP wireless to the maximum number of end users by making it even more easy, fun, and motivational to keep fit using a connected device such as a smartphone or tablet that most people will already own and that will have all the required Bluetooth wireless technology already built-in.”

Marco Suvilaakso, group product director, Polar Electro Oy:
“The new Bluetooth Smart cycling and running profiles are another concrete step in establishing Bluetooth Smart as the clear standard for sports and fitness devices. Cyclists and runners will benefit from the innovative products that will follow.”

Sid Shaw, worldwide business development and marketing manager, wireless connectivity, Texas Instruments:
“Bluetooth low energy is a natural fit for sports and fitness devices, which require long battery life while maintaining a small footprint for space-constrained equipment or wearables. Runners and cyclists of all levels will now be able to better track, analyze and improve their performance by wirelessly sending sensor data to one of the growing number of Bluetooth v4.0-enabled smartphones or tablets on the market. The new profiles are a great step to expanding the Bluetooth low energy market into new applications, equipment and use-cases.”

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According to a recent report by industrial and energy market research publisher SBI Energy, washing machines are leading the consumer charge in smart appliance purchases.

Smart appliances are the next generation of home appliances that have the ability to receive, interpret, and act on a signal received from a utility, then automatically adjust their operation to save energy or perform other functions. The report finds growth and development of smart appliances represents a substantial component of the residential demand response capabilities of the Smart Grid, as well as the installation of home energy management systems.

“The global market for smart appliances will likely reach $7.7 billion in 2012,” estimates SBI analyst Darren Bosik and author of the report.
“Expansion through 2016 is expected to occur at a five-year compounded annual growth rate of nearly 8% to reach $11.3 billion.”

Washing machines are the leading segment for smart appliances, with a steep, consistent and rapid growth curve, according to the report. They will likely prove to have the greatest ROI among all consumer smart products due to their intermittent use and ability to time-defer use during off-peak periods.

“U.S. manufacturers will focus the majority of their product development efforts on washing machines through 2021,” said Bosik.

“Washing machines alone will make up roughly 2.3 million global units, of the 12 million smart appliances expected to be in production by 2021.”

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According to a new research report from Berg Insight, the number of shipped consumer M2M devices with cellular connectivity grew to 7.1 million worldwide in 2011, up from 6.4 million in the previous year.

The consumer electronics market has experienced an incredible growth during the digitalisation era in the last decade. Today, dedicated devices such as PNDs, digital cameras, handheld gaming consoles and PMPs are facing fierce competition from converged multipurpose devices such as smartphones and tablets. Mobility, connectivity and personalisation are three of the most important current trends within consumer electronics. Instant access to information, using social networks and consuming and sharing media are becoming important parts of people’s digital lifestyles. Due to maturing markets and stunted ARPU growth, mobile operators all over the world are showing increasing interest in the consumer electronics market. The growing desire for people to stay connected makes wireless consumer devices an opportunity for the telecom industry to expand their market beyond mobile handsets.

Consumer electronics has emerged as a new major application category for cellular M2M in the past years. Consumer M2M devices are neither classified as handsets, PCs, tablets nor traditional M2M devices.
The product category includes e-readers, portable media players, gaming consoles, digital cameras, digital photo frames, PNDs, traffic information devices, personal tracking devices, wellness & fitness devices and user programmable sensor devices. The reasons for cellular connectivity vary and are often a way to meet the needs for connected features introduced in multipurpose devices. Media and entertainment devices can offer instant distribution of digital content. Imaging devices enable instant media sharing on social networks and seamless usage of cloud storage services. Personal navigation devices and speed camera warning devices can provide users with real time traffic information and other dynamic online content. Personal tracking devices and wellness products enable remote monitoring of sensor statuses such as location, blood pressure and glucose levels. Fitness applications allow for mobility that often is a necessity in these types of products.

The market for consumer M2M devices is still in its early stage. Until now, the most connected device categories are e-readers, PNDs, digital photo frames and handheld gaming consoles such as the recently introduced Sony PlayStation Vita. Berg Insight estimates that total shipments of consumer M2M devices reached 7.1 million devices in 2011. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 39.8 percent, the shipments are expected to reach 37.9 million devices in 2016. Berg Insight estimates that the number of connected M2M consumer devices reached 12.7 million at the end of 2011. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 38.6 percent, the number of network connections from consumer M2M devices are expected to reach 65.0 million in 2016. E-readers, PNDs, digital cameras and handheld gaming consoles will then be the most common consumer M2M devices accounting for 45 percent, 32 percent, 8 percent and 6 percent respectively of the total number of connections.

North America is currently the most important market for consumer M2M devices and accounted for about 5 million of the total device shipments in 2011. The second largest market is Europe with 1.7 million device shipments followed by the rest of world with 0.5 million device shipments.
Berg Insight anticipates that North America will remain the largest region with a market share of 40 percent in 2016. Europe and the rest of world will account for 30 percent each of the connected device shipments in the same year.

Continuously decreasing prices of cellular modules and chipsets are key developments for growth in the connectivity market. The deployments of high-speed cellular networks such as HSPA+ and LTE on most markets are another important driver enabling bandwidth-hungry applications. The exploding sales of connected mobile broadband products such as tablets further illustrates the benefits of cellular connectivity and will increase the demand for other consumer M2M devices as well. The telecom industry is depending on multiple connections per user for growth but to make it attractive for consumers to have multiple devices with cellular connections, a great deal of business model innovation is required. In order for the consumer M2M market to take off, price on mobile data has to decrease and subscription fees for every single connection need to be lowered. Instead, more consumers would be willing to have multiple connections, which will allow for an increased total ARPU. Device vendors and network operators are also advised to focus on bundling compelling services and products that include the price of mobile data instead of marketing actual mobile data subscriptions.

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