The Internet of Things is getting a new player

Jun 25, 2015 12:59 GMT  ·  By

The Internet of Things is big marketplace and we keep hearing about companies like Intel, Dell, and Canonical who are trying to make some headway, but there are other competitors out there that are working just as hard and who are also using Linux as backbone, like Sierra Wireless for example.

Sierra Wireless is a multinational conglomerate, but it's not the kind of company that you usually hear about, at least not as a regular consumer. Their products are usually shipped directly to OEMs, and more of the stuff they do is aimed at enterprise users. In any case, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that they are using the full power of Linux to power their products.

The AirPrime WP Series module comes with an integrated processor and a GNSS receiver, which should drastically reduce the costs for developers. It's a smart wireless module, a Linux-powered platform called Legato. This is actually a distribution based on the regular Linux kernel, but it's not something you can also download and install. It's a proprietary solution that uses open source code.

The Internet of Things is getting even more grip

IoT of the Internet of Things is a new concept that states that more and more devices are connected online every day, some of them for the first time. Many technologies become "smart" overnight, and they need to be governed by operating systems. In this, it's a smart wireless module powered by Legato, but everyone want a piece of the IoT pie.

"With the introduction of the new AirPrime WP Series modules, we have launched a powerfully integrated device-to-cloud architecture to make it easier for our customers to innovate. With an application processor running the open source Legato platform, along with the AirVantage cloud for device and application management, and a new open hardware reference design, the latest WP Series modules enable developers to quickly build connected products using a single module to run all their applications," said Dan Schieler, senior vice president, Embedded Solutions for Sierra Wireless.