IoTComplete

By IOTComplete.com‘s Jimmy Schaeffler

(October 17, 2014: Las Vegas, CA)

A Key 2014 Panel

A year ago last month, IOTComplete.com had its introduction to the annual conference held in Las Vegas by 1,100 or so of the nation’s best wireless (and other) internet service providers, known as WISPAPALOOZA. That was in the form of an October 16, 2013, luncheon keynote address delivered by IoTComplete‘s Jimmy Schaeffler, titled “The Future of Video Distribution: Are You in, Or Out?”

In 2014, also along the same lines of “what’s-in-the-future-for-video-and-other-data-distributors?” IoTComplete’s Jimmy Schaeffler combined with former Technicolor executive, Greg Gudorf, and with Steve Barnes, a key WISP from the company, PCS-WIN, out of Winchester, IN, and a member of the board of the Wireless Internet Service Provider’s Assn (WISPA), to introduce about 100 attendees to a panel titled, “New Vertical Markets, The Internet of Things and Beyond.”

The presentation was able to introduce many of the attendees to some of the intricacies of cloud workings; the opportunities behind the FCC’s new Rural Broadband Experiment; and case studies involving some forward leaning IoT entities, such as Solekai Systems and Monaca, and Sensus Flexnet. Within these topics, the authors talked about issues such as licensed vs. unlicensed spectrum; sensors that measure tanks; and many of the realities behind a government filing.

Indeed, because he had spoken several days before with an FFC Bureau Chief, Jimmy Schaeffler had some interesting updates from basic operations and mechanisms, to policy POVs.

WISP Board Members Speak

Another rather catching set of observations came from several of the top WISPA personnel. Indeed, WISPA vice president, Nathan Stooke, identified the 2014 WISPAPALOOZA speech by current FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, as another true keynote of the 2014 event. Stooke labeled that Pai address was “big time.” Another testament to the importance of ISPs bringing more bandwidth to American, was and the sheer number of WISPA constituents who attended the annual show “Fiber Weekend.” More big vendors, such as China’s huge consumer electronics and telecom concern, Huawei, as well as Ubiquiti Networks, Mimosa, and JAB Broadband, are coming to the WISPA shows, adding breadth and maturity.

In addition, WISPA Board’s Steve Barnes noted his two takeaways from the event: 1) That, as ALL-IOT.NET’s presentations highlighted, the ISP industry is now faced with a lot of opportunities from the Machine-To-Machine (M2M) side of the IoT world, and 2) That “WISPs are getting very competitive when it comes to delivery of Internet to consumers.”

Further summarizing the 2014 WISPAPALOOZA event in Las Vegas, WISPA’s outside counsel, and 2014 WISPA Visionary Award winner, Washington, DC attorney Steve Coran, Esq., of the Washington, DC-based law firm Lerman Senter, left this year’s event noting, “I guess I’m just really proud of what these guys have been able to accomplish.”

Other IoT Presentations

This column will continue to be a source for updates and reports about these presentations, both at the corporate level and at the trade group level, as well. Indeed, there’s an awful lot of pent-up energy supporting the growth of IoT, and judging the response IoTComplete.com has received thus far to its introduction of IoT business services, that growth will increase quickly and incrementally!

IoT is here to stay. IoT is here to thrive. Welcome onto what will be a remarkable travel down and more remarkable road.

IoTComplete.com got an awful lot out of WISPAPALOOZA 2014, probably in great measure because the year-over-year stature of WISP’s is ascending so quickly. This is due in large measure to improving technologies, but also to revised government regulations and policies, and some rather able executives guiding the trade group through some tough times in Washington, DC. Jimmy Schaeffler is honored to have been two times consecutively invited to speak at the WISPA Annual Show in Las Vegas.

 

By IoTComplete’s Jimmy Schaeffler

(November 4, 2014; Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA)

Telematics San Diego 2014 was held October 30-31, 2014, at the San Diego Mission Bay Hilton Hotel. IOTComplete‘s Jimmy Schaeffler attended almost every session at the e-and-iMobility-in-the-vehicle focused Halloween’s Eve event.

Indeed, the clear focus of Telematics San Diego 2014 was on the Internet of Things (IoT) (also referred to at the conference as “The Internet of The Automobile”), and how electronics and interconnectivity in the automobile is making that IoT-In-The-Auto happen. IoTComplete.com estimates overall attendance numbered about 230.

Among The Speakers/Sponsors

Scheduled speakers from some of the world’s largest and most powerful auto companies (e.g., GM, Ford, Audi/VW, Toyota, Nissan, Jaguar/Landrover, and Mercedes) were in attendance, and the group as a whole provided a wonderful view of where telematics in the form of the IoT, and how electronics in the car make that happen.

Other speakers from among the top executives in various vehicle-related fields, such as Baron for weather information, IHS for automobile data, and PubNub for data streaming. Particularly impressive was a session entitled “Beyond The Forecast: Taking Weather Data To The Next Level,” delivered by a threesome including Baron’s CEO, Glen Denny; Baron’s Exec VP and Chief Development Officer, Bob Dreisewerd; and Baron’s in-house meteorologist, and Director of Business Dev, Chris Carr.

Top sponsors of the 2-day event included Aupro!, Inrix, Taoglas, Wejo, Baron, Arynqa, Novatel Wireless, UIE, NPR, and Nuance.

Among The Exhibitors

Meanwhile, the adjoining demonstration floor was populated by the likes of Jaguar/Landrover, Taoglas, Aupeo, AT4, Arynga, Abalta, Baron, and QT. Indeed, unlike similar shows, the authors were impressed with the number of attendees who actually spent time in the exhibition room, as well as the receptivity of the booth representatives toward “IoT Newbees” (of which the majority of folks in the world qualify) and others looking to soak up the latest in what the car of tomorrow is quickly looking like.

Data Galore

Each day of Telematics San Diego 2014 produced lots of fascinating facts, data, and opinions, including these two particular gems: 1) streaming media is now the # 2 entertainment source in today’s vehicles (meaning the Internet is getting a lot more use); and 2) in-vehicle interfaces were deemed almost universally deficient, adding to the continuing problems of a rather flaccid user-in-the-vehicle experience.

For example, the British telematics company (using mobile and satellite infrastructure), Wejo, introduced the idea of collecting consumer/driver data in a unique way: give the consumer/driver rewards for the collection of their data and the creation of a relationship with the vehicle or a part of that vehicle (e.g., the entertainment system).

The Day Two final presentation covered a fascinating look at the legal side of data ownership and privacy, as they relate to choices courts and companies make – a will be making — between automakers vs. consumers. Indeed, one of the fascinating takeaways from this closing session by Gail Gottehrer, Esq., of the law firm Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider, was that the technical and other complexity of cases in the telematics arena is going to become increasingly complex, almost to the point where judges are going to more and more lament the difficulty of coming to the proper decisions.

Part of the service aspect of IotComplete.com is attending, paying lots of attention, meeting lots of people, and learning as much as possible at key events built around the Internet of Things, both in the U.S. and abroad. Throughout 2014 and into future years, Jimmy Schaeffler and his staff intend to not just attend, but participate in as a speaker and panelist, in many of these most important events. He and IoTComplete.com will continue to write about and report these events and lessons to the Users/Readers/Constituents of IotComplete.com.