Skylo emerges from stealth with $116 million funding to build affordable satellite network for IoT data

IoT Tech News | January 24, 2020

IoT solutions provider Skylo Technologies has raised $103m in its recently held series B funding round led by SoftBank Group. Prior to this, the California-based firm raised $13m in Series A funding. Now as Skylo has accumulated a total funding of $116m till date, the company will aim to bring instant, affordable, and global IoT connectivity to millions of machines, sensors, and devices, even in the most distant geographies. Skylo also claims to be the world’s first IoT firm to leverage the NB-IoT protocol through a satellite, allowing it to instantly connect billions of sensors on objects and machines in remote areas. Its new satellite connectivity uses existing geostationary satellites to bring reliable connectivity without the requirement of adding new infrastructure in space.

Spotlight

The Internet of Things (IoT), with its ability to connect devices and enable data exchange through embedded sensors, is garnering much interest across industries. TCS Global Trend 1 Study 2015 , highlights some of the major business model changes that are taking place across industries due to the adoption of the IoT. For the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, the IoT offers widespread applicability across the value chain. CPG companies are likely to benefit the most by embedding sensors in products or services that touch end users directly, helping them drive consumer engagement throughout the consumption lifecycle. The IoT will also enable CPG companies to understand consumer needs better, thereby improving product designs or service models, leading to better brand loyalty and top-line growth.

Spotlight

The Internet of Things (IoT), with its ability to connect devices and enable data exchange through embedded sensors, is garnering much interest across industries. TCS Global Trend 1 Study 2015 , highlights some of the major business model changes that are taking place across industries due to the adoption of the IoT. For the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, the IoT offers widespread applicability across the value chain. CPG companies are likely to benefit the most by embedding sensors in products or services that touch end users directly, helping them drive consumer engagement throughout the consumption lifecycle. The IoT will also enable CPG companies to understand consumer needs better, thereby improving product designs or service models, leading to better brand loyalty and top-line growth.

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ENTERPRISE IOT, INFRASTRUCTURE

Trilliant Announces Strategic Partnership with Grupo Saesa

Trilliant | February 08, 2023

On February 7, 2023, Trilliant, a globally recognized solutions provider for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), smart cities, smart grid, and IIoT, announced a long-term strategic partnership with Grupo Saesa, Chile's largest electricity distributor. Grupo Saesa will implement Trilliant's software and RF communication platforms for smart grid, AMI, and IIoT applications, which will assist the company in enhancing the customer experience, delivering secure and dependable energy to customers, and contributing to the company's sustainability goals. Through its distributors, Compañía Eléctrica Osorno S.A., Empresa Eléctrica de Aisén S.A., Sociedad Austral de Electricidad S.A., and Empresa Eléctrica de la Frontera S.A., Groupo Saesa serves over 950,000 customers. It owns and manages over 62,000 kilometers of distribution and transmission lines throughout Chile. Trilliant's global customer base is demonstrated by its recent Smart Water Metering project in Canada, its collaboration in the UK with Manx Utilities to launch smart electricity meters across the Isle of Man, and its partnership with SAMART to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure for the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand. Managing Director for the Americas at Trilliant, Nick Matchett, shared, "We are delighted to have this partnership in place with Grupo Saesa." He added, "There are many synergies between our two companies, including our passions for technology innovation and sustainability. In addition, Grupo Saesa's drive to deliver the highest standards and value for its customers is world class. We look forward to enhancing quality, safety and reliability for their customers through this partnership." (Source – Business Wire) About Trilliant Trilliant Headquartered in Cary (North Carolina), Trilliant equips the global energy industry with its novel device-agnostic communications platform, which enables utilities and cities to deploy any application securely and reliably on one robust network. Its purpose-built portfolio is intended to provide customers with choice, removing the risk of being "locked in" with a single technology provider or meter manufacturer. The company provides mission-critical solutions for Data & Analytics, AMI, Smart Grids, Smart Metering, and Smart Cities. With a unique combination of adaptability, dependability, and sustainability, Trilliant empowers utilities and the communities they serve worldwide.

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ENTERPRISE IOT, INDUSTRIAL IOT, PLATFORMS

SparkFun, InPlay and Bosch Sensortec Launch Two IoT Development Boards

SparkFun Electronics | February 20, 2023

SparkFun recently announced the release of two new IoT development boards, in partnership with InPlay and Bosch Sensortec: the SparkFun NanoBeaconTM Lite Board - IN100 and the SparkFun NanoBeaconTM Board - IN100. The two versions enable prototyping with the 'Lite' version, followed by using the production version in large installations once the design is complete. These boards are excellent options for wireless sensor monitoring, asset tracking, retail beacons, and even for creating a custom beacon tag for real-time location monitoring. The boards feature the Bluetooth® Low Energy-compliant IN100 NanoBeaconTM from InPlay, which transmits at 2.4GHz. Key features include: Programming-free design: Negates the requirement for embedded software programming; an application-specific PC configuration tool is provided for configuring the IN100 device. Low power: Power consumption is less than one microamp, allowing it to send data packets for long periods on a coin cell battery. Designed for Bosch Sensortec sensors: Ready to integrate the BME280 3-in-1 humidity sensor, which measures humidity, air pressure, and ambient temperature, as well as the BMA400 ultra-low power digital accelerometer breakouts. Qwiic® enabled: Developers can use more than 400 products in the Qwiic® rapid prototyping ecosystem with an onboard Qwiic® connector. Extraordinary Range: up to several hundred meters. NanoBeacon BLE Scanner App: direct connection to the latest available mobile app enables users to effortlessly access and employ data provided by nearby BLE peripherals and beacons. Kirk Benell, CTO at SparkFun, explained, "With its NanoBeacon SoC technology, InPlay delivers an innovative, programming-free solution to the IoT that we're excited to bring to market." He added, "Merging this solution with SparkFun's plug-and-play Qwiic ecosystem delivers a frictionless IoT development solution. Pairing this rapid IoT system with Bosch Sensortec's incredible sensors allows the development and deployment of low-power, high-value IoT sensor nodes in minutes." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) AboutSparkFun Electronics SparkFunElectronics, founded in 2003 and based in Boulder, Colorado, provides access to over 2000 open-source components and widgets, in addition to online tutorials that make technology more accessible. The company assists customers in bringing ideas to life, whether they're building an intelligent weather station, exploring machine learning, constructing a school robot, or prototyping their products. Its mission is to promote electronics literacy and sustainability while supporting individuals exploring the edges of technology. The company is committed to making the world of electronics more approachable and providing the tools needed to help customers solve problems and get creative.

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ENTERPRISE IOT, INFRASTRUCTURE

Rubicon Expands Smart Tech for Government Fleets Across 11 Cities

Rubicon | March 06, 2023

Rubicon Technologies, Inc., an online marketplace for waste management and provider of innovative software-based solutions for organizations worldwide, has recently announced the sustained growth and adoption of its RUBICONSmartCity™ technology for government fleets in eleven more US cities, with an emphasis on solid waste collection. New city customers including Rochester (NY), Surprise (AZ), High Point (NC), Newton (MA), Rockville (MD), Galveston (TX), Cleveland Heights (OH), Dubuque (IA), North Platte (NE), and Winchester (VA) are driving this acceleration in adoption. These cities manage essential waste collection operations that serve nearly one million people in the United States urban and suburban core. The innovative technology developed by Rubicon for government fleets enables these cities to: Switch from manual, paper-based operations to entirely digital ones. Minimize missed pickups and unneeded returns. Balance recyclables and waste routes to provide residents with equitable service frequency. Reduce expenses by enhancing operational efficiency and customer service. With newly-created digital routes, each municipality will be equipped to closely monitor path performance, identify areas in which recycling and waste services could be improved, and make data-driven decisions to increase operational efficiency and enhance the experience of their communities. Cities, towns, and other municipalities manage heavy-duty fleets best with RUBICONSmartCityTM. Its proprietary, cloud-based technology suite helps local governments run waste, recycling, and heavy-duty municipal fleet operations faster, smarter, and more efficiently. RUBICONSmartCityTM helps government-owned fleets improve neighborhood streetscapes with less road wear, fewer accidents, and safer communities by tracking vehicle health, enhancing driver behavior, and streamlining the material collection. About Rubicon Rubicon Technologies, Inc. is a New York-based digital marketplace for waste and recycling, offering innovative software-based solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. The company is committed to creating a new industry standard for environmental innovation by using technology to drive sustainability. With over 8 million service locations, Rubicon is dedicated to developing software that provides transparency to the waste and recycling industry. Through data-driven decision-making, Rubicon empowers customers to achieve more efficient and effective operations and sustainable outcomes. The company's solutions help partners realize economic value from their waste streams and confidently execute their sustainability goals.

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