New services will include smart metering and fleet management, among others
European telecoms operator VimpelCom selected Cisco Japser to enter the Internet of Things (IoT) business.
The Amsterdam-based telco will deploy the vendor’s Control Center platform, which allows enterprises to implement, manage and monetize M2M/IoT services.
VimpelCom said that the new agreement will allow its enterprise customers to access to services including fleet management and smart metering. With Cisco Jasper’s platform. VimpelCom’s customers will be able to manage M2M/IoT devices, set up rules to control SIM activity, reduce data costs, and automate associated business processes.
“VimpelCom is focused on developing its digital strategy and the Group is investing in new and innovative technologies that will enable our customers to fully embrace the digital economy, now and in the future. This partnership will provide our business customers with new technologies such as M2M and IoT, VimpelCom’s Chief Business Officer, Eugène Viskovic, said.
VimpelCom’s Business division is focusing on M2M technologies through network applications and managed services across a number of markets including Russia, Italy, Algeria, Pakistan, Ukraine and Bangladesh.
“Our collaboration with VimpelCom will enable enterprises to pioneer industry transformation, introduce new business models, and create never-before-seen, high-value experiences for their customers,” Kalle Ward, Managing Director EMEAR, IoT Cloud at Cisco Jasper, said.
Cisco Jasper was formed in March this year after Cisco completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of IoT specialist Jasper.
ZTE joins IoT licensing platform Avanci
In related news, Chinese vendor ZTE has joined Avanci, a platform for licensing patented wireless technology to the Internet of Things (IoT). The Chinese company said that the Avanci marketplace allows for faster time to market for IoT companies and will drive the adoption of connectivity around the globe. Avanci offers IoT companies “one-stop” licensing: a single license to standard-essential patents from the joining patent holders on fair and non-discriminatory terms.
Using the Avanci marketplace, IoT companies don’t have to sign a licensing agreement with each patent holder one by one, reducing their internal cost and avoiding potential overlapped licensing.
The vendor also said that Avanci will focus initial licensing efforts on 2G, 3G and 4G cellular technologies for connected cars and smart meters with plans to expand to other IoT product areas in the short term.
“The one-stop licensing model of this platform will significantly increase the cost predictability and transparency of IPR licensing to meet the rapidly growing demand of connection service providers,” said Spencer Shen, CIPO at ZTE. “Avanci will enable IoT manufacturers to conveniently get the world’s most advanced wireless technologies, so they can scale quickly, shift more focus to marketing new IoT products, and, finally to accelerate the development of IoT globally.”
