Hyderabad to Host Medtronic’s Largest Global R&D Center Outside the U.S. with INR 1200 Crore Investment

 Medtronic plc, the global leader in medical technology, has decided to invest INR 1200 crores in scaling up and expanding the current R&D center into a state-of-the-art engineering and innovation center in Hyderabad. Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) will be the largest global R&D center outside of the United States for Medtronic. This investment planned over 5 years will provide a boost to Telangana’s MedTech plans and cement Hyderabad’s position as the Medical Devices hub in India.

The Government of Telangana and Medtronic have been in discussion for the last two years regarding the modalities of investment. During his visit to the United States in 2016, Hon’ble Minister for Industries & IT Shri. KT Rama Rao and his team of officials from Government of Telangana had a meeting with Mr. Omar Ishrak, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, Medtronic. The partnership was finally announced today via a virtual meeting with Mr. Omar Ishrak, Mr. Geoff Martha, Medtronic CEO, Mr. Bob White, EVP and President, Minimally Invasive Therapies Group (MITG), Madan Krishnan, Vice President Indian Subcontinent and MITG APAC, Mani Prakash, Vice President R&D, MITG, Subu Mangipudi Vice President RGI Quality & MEIC and Divya Prakash Joshi, Sr Engineering Director & Site Leader, MEIC Hyderabad. Among others with the Minister included Principal Secretary Shri. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS and Director for Life Sciences Shri. Shakthi Nagappan from Govt. of Telangana.

Making the announcement Mr. Omar Ishrak, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, Medtronic said, “Research and Development leads to innovation and innovation is crucial to our growth strategy. Medtronic’s investment in India is a testament to our commitment to the region and we are proud to be collaborating with the Government of Telangana on this major investment in the country. The expansion of MEIC will help us serve the Medtronic Mission to use medical technology to alleviate pain, restore health and extend life for patients around the world, which is also aligned with the government’s vision to improve access to healthcare for patients in India.”

During the virtual meeting, Mr. KT Rama Rao briefed the Medtronic leadership team on various initiatives taken by the Telangana Government to promote Medical Devices sector and the developments over the last few years. While recalling memories of his meeting with Mr. Omar Ishrak in the U.S., he congratulated him for taking over as the Executive Chairman of Medtronic and Chairman of the Board of Intel and congratulated Mr. Geoff Martha on his appointment as the new CEO of Medtronic.

Mr. KT Rama Rao said, “We are delighted that Medtronic has chosen Hyderabad as its largest R&D base outside the U.S. and intends to create about 1000 jobs in the next few years. It is indeed a great honour for the city to host this center and it is a testimony to Hyderabad’s growing prowess in the medical devices sector. Government of Telangana is committed to the growth of med-tech in the state and we see this partnership with Medtronic as a pivotal one. We will work with them to ensure this center will continue to contribute to their remarkable efforts to improve healthcare globally.”

During the conversation, Mr. KT Rama Rao alluded to how the story on India for India and India for the world is getting stronger with recent turn of global events and assured them of all support from the State Government for the company’s growth plans and aspirations in India.

Commenting on the announcement, Madan Krishnan, Vice President Indian Subcontinent and Minimally Invasive Therapies Group APAC concluded saying, “At Medtronic, invention and innovation are vital so that we can help enhance therapy outcomes for people with chronic diseases. MEIC conducts advanced engineering R&D and product development in the areas of design, analysis, advanced hardware- software development and testing. The futuristic vision of Govt. of Telangana and access to great infrastructure has enabled us to make this investment in Hyderabad. I’m confident that this major investment would create many job opportunities in healthcare and help energize the medical devices innovation ecosystem in India.”

Syska Group Ventures into Smart Wearables, Launches Sleek & Cool SW100 Smart Watch in India

Key Highlights:

1.  The new Smartwatch from the Syska stable will help in keeping track of one’s health & fitness routine at home

2.  With this move, Syska aim to meet the evolving needs of today’s young fitness enthusiasts

3.  Syska has collaborated with e-commerce giant Flipkart to sell this smart watch

Syska Group, the leading FMEG brand in India today announced its venture into the Smart Wearable segment with the introduction of the sleek and cool SW100 Smart Watch. The launch of this latest product from the Syska stable is a momentous one, given that the company now brings its innovation and technology prowess to an all-new industry segment. In the new normal COVID-19 scenario, maintaining good health is crucial for one’s physical and mental well-being. The new Syska Smart Watch will enable users to prioritize their health and allow them to track their fitness regimen while working out at home.

There is an increasing demand for fitness related devices in Indian market, with the smart wearable category seeing rapid growth. India's wearables market continues to see strong growth, registering 168.3% on-year growth in 2019 shipping a total of 14.9 million units of wearable devices. Smartwatches continued to lead the watch category with 61.1% share in 2019 and grew 53.6% from the previous year. The demand for wearable technology will further rise in the coming years owing to the increasing inclination toward fitness and healthcare. Syska has always been at the forefront of launching new and innovative products that cater to the evolving customer needs. The company has entered the smart wearable category at the most opportune time when individuals are looking to boost their immunity through workouts and yoga sessions at home.

Interesting features of the Syska SW100 Smart Watch –

1. Battery Life upto 15 Days – One of the main USPs of the Syska Smart Watch SW100 is that it comes with a steady battery life which lasts upto 15 days.

2. Smart Health Monitoring – Syska’s Smart watch tracks your fitness and monitors your health by providing features to monitor sleep, track step count, monitor the calories intake, track heart rate, etc. This feature is the most essential which will help you to maintain data of your fitness during such times

3. IP68 Water Resistant upto 1.5mtrs – Syska’s Smart Watch is water resistant, so you can workout seamlessly without the fear of the smart watch becoming wet due to sweat while working out at home.

4. Custom watch faces – Syska’s innovative custom watch faces allows you to customize the dial of your smart watch as per your mood and attire.

5. Yoga Monitoring – Syska Smart Watch is equipped to also monitor the yoga sessions. Consumers can keep a track their virtual yoga regimen.

6. Elliptical Workouts – Syska’s Smart watch allows you to keep a track of your elliptical workout sessions thereby accurately tracking your exercise and workouts, distance, calories burned etc.

7. Multi-Sport Mode – Syska’s Smart watch is compatible with multi-sport mode which allows you to choose your sporting activity - cycling, weight lifting, running and more.

8. Smart Notifications – Once you connect your watch to your smartphone, you can get all the notifications on your watch. This feature enables you to access your social media, calendar, important emails, etc. right on your wrist acting like a mini smart watch on your wrist, without you having to touch your phone unnecessarily.

Syska aims to disrupt the smart wearable market which is fast catching up with consumers jumping onto the fitness bandwagon. Syska’s smart watch has been designed for consumers who are looking for a device that can help them track their entire fitness journey right from tracking their sleep to monitoring their steps, heart rate, track their calorie intake etc on the go in this new normal owing to COVID-19 pandemic. The Syska SW100 Smart Watch comes along with a USB charging cable and a user manual. The product with the MRP of INR 3,999 is launched exclusively on Flipkart and will be available at an attractive offer of INR 2,499 from 30th July.

TECNO Bolsters its Entry-Level Portfolio with SPARK 6 Air Smartphone and TWS Minipod M1

Technology Devices

* Brings segment first gigantic 7” Dot Notch display, massive 6000 mAh battery & 13MP AI Triple rear camera that will change smartphone experience for category consumers in under 8K segment

* SPARK 6 Air priced @ Rs. 7999 & Minipod M1 wireless earphone @ Rs. 799 will be available on Amazon Prime day starting 6th August 2020 and across offline retail outlets

TECNO, the global smartphone brand, extends its connected device ecosystem by launching today two unique products from its arsenal - SPARK 6 Air smartphone and Minipod M1 single-ear wireless earphone – effectively ramping up its portfolio in the entry level consumer segment. With SPARK 6 Air, TECNO is also back to doing what it does best – break the mould with segment first features that will enable the company to consolidate its position among top smartphone players in the sub-10k segment.

Commenting on the simultaneous launches, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “With work from home becoming the ‘Neo Normal’, our aim is to extend TECNO’s connected device ecosystem to our category consumers by introducing Minipod & Hipods that will make work and play seamless and enjoyable for them. We, at TECNO, currently have a clear goal in mind of bringing exceptional devices in the sub-Rs. 10,000 segment which empower our customers with premium smartphone experience sans the premium pricing. TECNO SPARK series of smartphones is a validation of the same. Our latest offering TECNO SPARK 6 Air will play a key role in the budget segment as it becomes the first and only smartphone with 7” HD+ Dot display and a 6000 mAh battery. This device will set the trend of bigger display and best battery smartphones in the category.”

Nishant Sardana, Category Leader – Mobile Phones, Amazon India said “Since their launch in India, TECNO has consistently brought quality products for value seeking customers. With the launch of SPARK 6 Air smartphone and TWS Minipod M1, we continue to build a strong portfolio in the mobile phones & accessories category providing customers with vast selection, unmatched value, fast & reliable delivery and a great shopping experience.”

SPARK 6 AIR

SPARK 6 Air is launched with two segment first features – a gigantic 7” HD+ dot notch display with more than 90% screen-to-body ratio for immersive viewing experience and a massive 6000 mAh battery with the ability to power TECNO SPARK 6 Air to provide whopping standby time of 743 hours (31 days), 31 hours calling, 21 hours’ internet and wifi, 159 hours music playback, 14 hours game playing and 19 hours video playback.

The new smartphone houses a triple camera set-up with a 13 MP Primary Sensor Supported with an aperture of F1.8, AI Lens, 2 MP Depth Sensor and Quad Flash, enables one to capture clearer pictures even in a low light. The Bokeh Mode, Auto Scene Detection, AI Beauty Mode and AI HDR Mode, enhances the photography experience. The SPARK 6 Air has an 8 MP AI Selfie camera with F2.0 aperture and dual front flash.

The SPARK 6 Air is armed with a fast and secure 0.15 second Smart Fingerprint Sensor and Face Unlock 2.0, enabling one to keep their data safe and secure. The Smart fingerprint sensor enables one to perform functions like receiving and recording calls, taking photos and dismissing alarms. The Face Unlock 2.0 tightens the security on your smartphone by preventing the smartphone from getting unlocked with eyes closed.

SPARK 6 Air is also equipped with a unique audio sharing feature that allows consumers to connect two Bluetooth earphones or three Bluetooth speakers simultaneously to the phone and spruce up family time with music and entertainment – a perfect solution for a much-needed family time in times of self-isolation.

Spark 6 Air will be available in three color variants: Comet Black & Ocean Blue

Minipod M1

The power-packed Minipod M1 houses a 50 mAh battery in the earpod and provides 6 hours of music playback in single charge, and together with the 110 mAh charging case, it provides for more than 18 hours of music to be enjoyed. Encrypted with the latest Bluetooth v5.0, Minipod M1 ensures a stable connection and smooth audio transmission. The hands-free Minipod M1 is also equipped with Environment Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology that blocks ambient sounds to provide an immersive listening and clear voice calling experience. Smart Touch Controls allows for accepting or rejecting calls, changing tracks or activating voice assistant with a single tap of the finger. It also comes with IPX4 protection to provide protection from water and sweat. TECNO Minipod M1 will be available in white and comes accompanied with multi-colored silicone protective cases and snap hook.

About TECNO Mobile

TECNO Mobile is a premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION Holdings. Upholding the brand essence of “Expect More”, TECNO is committed to giving the masses access to latest technology at accessible prices, allowing the consumers to reach beyond their current limitations and uncover a world of possibilities. TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations across a product portfolio featuring smartphones, tablets, and feature phones. TECNO is a major global player with presence in around 60 emerging markets across the world. It is also the global Official Tablet and Handset Partner of Manchester City Football Club. 

TECNO Forays into the True Wireless Space with Hipods H2, Aims to Create a TECNO Connected Device Ecosystem

Wireless Space

* Hipods H2 offers a true wireless audio experience with stereo sound effect, environment noise cancelling technology, smart touch controls and 24 hours of non-stop music

* Priced aggressively at Rs. 1,999, Hipods H2 will be available for sale on Amazon from July 27 (12 noon) and at TECNO’s offline retail network of 35,000+ outlets across PAN India

TECNO, the global premium smartphone brand, expands its footprint into the truly wireless and innovative audio devices space with the launch of its next-gen Hipods H2 Bluetooth earbuds. The brand, which is synonymous with ‘industry-first’ smartphone devices in the affordable segment, promises to offer a true wireless consumer experience with its new audio device that, priced aggressively at Rs 1,999, will also supplement the smartphone experience for its category consumers.

The Hipods H2 offers stereo sound effect augmented by Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) technology to provide a wholesome listening experience. H2 can run for 6 hours on single charge, and up to 24 hours when used with its portable charging case. With a mere 15-minute of charging, H2 can play for 2 hours. The earbuds are also equipped with Environment Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology that can effectively reduce ambient sound to provide crisper audio and allows clear voice calling. The device is also equipped with smart touch controls, IPX4 water protection, smart pop-up interface for instant pairing and comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.0.

Commenting on the venture, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “We are excited to announce the launch of TECNO Hipods H2 which also marks our foray into the TWS category. The India TWS market has been growing consistently and the industry is expected to further grow in 2020 with COVID-19 setting off a trend where people working from home and connecting through voice and video calls become more appreciative of the convenience and reliability of TWS devices. The increasing audio consumption, portability and smart assists are making TWS extremely popular among smartphone users and driving demand. With Hipods H2, we, at TECNO, endeavour to build our own connected device ecosystem of TECNO smartphones and extend the best audio experience at an affordable price.”

With Hipods H2, TECNO reinforces its commitment to its ‘ahead of the curve’ approach that aims to provide future-ready, innovative products to its customers. TECNO will be coming out with another TWS & smartphone offerings soon to further strengthen its position in the entry level and affordable segments. The new products are expected to play a strong role in revolutionizing the affordable connected device ecosystem in India.

Available in two color variants – Black and White; The USP of the Hipods H2 include:

* Real Stereo sound with AAC: To enhance the listening experience, the Hipods H2 are equipped with an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) technology. The earbuds have undergone Acoustic measurements and testing to provide a natural and deep bass.

* 24 hours of non-stop music: In-built with a 45 mAh battery in each earbud, the Hipods H2, provides music playback for up to 6 hours on a single charge, enabling users with a long lasting, seamless audio listening experience. When used with its portable charging case, the playback time can be extended up to 24 hours. Also just a 15-minute charge gives an additional 2 hours of playback.

* IPX4 water resistant: The IPX4 level protects the device from rain or sweat, making it the most suitable device for fitness lovers or people doing outdoor activities, who don’t have to worry about interruptions or spoilage of the device during their activities.

* Noise Cancellation (ENC): The environmental noise cancellation, deep bass and loud treble, altogether intensifies the listening experience. The high performance, dual microphones are induced with noise reduction technology, reduces environmental noise and offers clear phone calls in a noisy environment.

* Smart touch controls: Control calls, music, volume, and activate the phone’s voice assistant with Smart Touch Controls, by just a tap on the earbuds.

* 120ms super low latency: The Hipod H2, provides the perfect sync between audio and video while playing games or watching videos, by reducing the latency to 120 ms.

* Latest BT 5.0: The wireless earbuds encrypted with Bluetooth v5.0, provides a fast and stable connection with both the earbuds for instant synchronization, with the transmission speed being 2 times faster and the capacity being 8 times larger, altogether enhancing the audio listening experience.

* Smart Pop-Up Interface: The Hipods H2 Bluetooth Earbuds features a Smart Pop-Up interface for Instant Pairing that supports an automatic pop-up connection interface on recent Tecno smartphones, as soon as the charging case is opened and Hipods H2 can be easily connected in one click.

TECNO Hipods H2 will be available for sale on Amazon from July 27 (12 noon) and at TECNO’s offline retail network of 35,000 outlets.

About TECNO Mobile

TECNO Mobile is a premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION Holdings. Upholding the brand essence of “Expect More”, TECNO is committed to giving the masses access to latest technology at accessible prices, allowing the consumers to reach beyond their current limitations and uncover a world of possibilities. TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations across a product portfolio featuring smartphones, tablets, and feature phones. TECNO is a major global player with presence in around 60 emerging markets across the world. It is also the global Official Tablet and Handset Partner of Manchester City Football Club. 

Novel Technology Extends Battery Life, Increases Upload Speed, and Reduces Data Corruption

Memory devices come in many forms. From USB sticks, to external hard-drives, to chips implanted directly into smartphones. What makes one better than another is usually a combination of new, groundbreaking materials and the novel device structure. The better the materials, and the way those materials are creatively designed to build the ultimate structure, the better the memory device is. Now, researchers have published a piece in Nature Electronics about their creation of a memory device with improved material and structure and which promises to increase data upload speed, extend smartphone battery life, and reduce data corruption.

Han Wang, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, along with postdoctoral scholar Jiangbin Wu, PhD students Hung-Yu Chen and Xiaodong Yan, have achieved this through a concept called the ferroelectric tunneling junction (FTJ).

This new memory device is part of a family known as non-volatile memory devices, meaning they can be unplugged and still retain their data, much like cell phone memory and USB flash drives. Unlike current FTJ devices, this device is comprised of asymmetric metal and semi-metallic graphene materials. By taking these materials and building them into a novel structure, they were  able to exceed the performance of all previously demonstrated FTJs while offering promising prospects for integration with silicon electronics.

Furthermore, the unique ability of these materials to approach atomic-scale thickness can eventually lead to even faster and more energy-efficient FTJ memory down the line. “These materials allow us to build devices that can potentially be scaled to atomic-scale thickness,” Wang said. “This means the voltage required to read, write, and erase data can be drastically reduced which in turn can make the memory electronics much more energy efficient.”

Wang and his fellow researchers hope that with time, their device can be scaled up and may become a replacement not just for the non-volatile memory that we see in cell phones and USB sticks, but also volatile memory like D-RAM storage devices commonly found in computers. In addition, the device may also be engineered to hold multi-bit data states within a single cell, and with its robust endurance and retention, it has promising potential for applications in in-memory computing and other computing hardware.

About the USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Engineering began at the University of Southern California in 1905. Nearly a century later, in 2004, the school was named the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, honoring alumnus Andrew J. Viterbi, inventor of the Viterbi algorithm, a key to cell phone technology and numerous data applications. The school is consistently ranked among the top engineering programs in the world. It enrolls more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students, taught by 188 tenured and tenure-track faculty, with more than 90 endowed chairs and professorships. The school offers comprehensive programs in all major areas of engineering, from aerospace and astronautical engineering, to biomedical, chemical, civil and environmental engineering, to computer science and materials science, and to electrical engineering, industrial and systems engineering and mechanical engineering. With annual research expenditures exceeding $207M, the school is home to the Information Science Institute and more than 45 other research centers. Its more than 50,000 alumni span the globe. USC Viterbi is also home to the pioneering distance learning program DEN@Viterbi, ranked as the top such program in the nation the last two years. USC Viterbi is the only engineering school in the nation with three top-10 USNWR rankings: Best Graduate Schools, Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs, and Best Online Information Technology Programs. 

Swasthvayu - India's Indigenous Ventilator Soon to Start Human Clinical Trails at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru

The invention of ventilators has saved the lives of numerous patients, suffering from respiratory failure-a medical emergency characterized by low oxygen and high carbon-dioxide levels in the body due to the inability to breathe appropriately as compared to a normal healthy person.

‘SwasthVayu’ is the first “Made in India” non-invasive ventilator being developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru in scientific and medical knowledge collaboration with Dr Satyanarayana Mysore HOD, Pulmonology Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Lung Transplant Physician at Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru and Dr Anurag Agarwal, Director of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB).

At the beginning of the pandemic, foreseeing the large outbreak of COVID 19 cases in India, there was a clarion call by the Honorable Prime Minister to all the entrepreneurs and scientists, to innovate and ramp up health care systems, including increasing the number of ventilators. The number of people who would require such ventilators was expected to be high and this was not going to be met with the existing numbers in India, nor would it be met through imports. Hence there was a compelling need for indigenous ventilators to mitigate the acute shortage of ventilators. Apart from COVID patients, these ventilators could also benefit and support patients suffering from other respiratory disorders like complex sleep-disordered breathing such as the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA) and heart failure (HF).

The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), a constituent of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, swung into action and took the challenge to develop SwasthVayu - an indigenous, non-invasive, portable ventilator with clinical inputs from well-known pulmonologist Dr. Satyanarayana and Dr. Anurag Agarwal. SwasthVayu is equipped with advanced features like Bi-level mode (BiPAP), Continuous Positive Airway Mode (CPAP), Spontaneous modes and 3D printed HEPA-T filter adapter connected directly to the non-ventilated mask. “This is of paramount importance in minimizing the risk of virus spread. The device also has a special provision to connect to the oxygen concentrator externally”, added Dr. Satyanarayana.

Dr. C.M. Ananda, Chief scientist and Head Electronics Division of NAL said that the device has been subjected to trials on artificial lung models and has successfully passed stringent electrical safety, performance, calibration, bio-compatibility tests at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratory. The device is registered with the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) regulatory authorities. The device is ideal to treat patients with respiratory failure in both COVID and non-COVID situations, either in the ICU or non-intensive medical conditions. Further, this provides an opportunity for scarce ICU beds not to be overburdened and to be used for severely affected patients.

Dr Satyanarayana further added, “Considering the nation’s endeavor of attaining self-reliance, indigenous production of this device, which for long had always been imported, is itself a mile stone.

The Ethics Committee, and the scientific committee at Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru has scrutinized and approved the device for clinical trials under Dr Satyanarayana, Head of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine as the Principal Investigator. Dr. Satyanarayana further added that “the device will also be a bonanza post-pandemic for treating sleep-disordered breathing including Obstructive Sleep Apnea and other sleep apnea. The clinical trials will begin shortly and for now, the focus will be limited to the successful completion of the trials only.”

Industry 4.0 and 4 Ways to Leverage and Connect Industrial IoT

The fourth wave of the industrial revolution, known as Industry 4.0, connects industrial devices and permits organizations to use arranged information from IoT gadgets and PC controlled frameworks. Applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to this information makes fully automated smart factories, smart cities and more.

Industry 4.0 is all about being digitally enabled and data driven, bringing together new technologies and compute services across edge and cloud assets to drive productivity, create new business models, and innovate faster. These technologies include everything from advanced analytics and AI to augmented reality, digital twins, and industrial IoT platforms, and, together serve the core needs of the manufacturing sector.

IoT and Industrial IoT power mission-critical applications that require high reliability and unwavering quality. An excellent arrangement joined with a top-notch programming process for these gadgets during assembling is fundamental to the general execution of the application.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) seeks to drive operational efficiencies in industrial settings through automation, analytics, and connectivity. Utilizing a network of sensors and communications technologies, all parts of an industrial process can be interconnected and managed from a single platform. It analyses the data captured by the sensors and organizes it into actionable information. The goal of IIoT is for manufacturers to achieve unrivalled perceivability into production stages and processes, recognise any tricky holes or torment focuses, and fix them before they develop into critical or complex issues. The outcome is a progressively effective modern procedure with more uptime and higher production quality.

Regardless of whether it's a mechanical arm in a manufacturing plant or a drone monitoring agricultural fields, these machines work under altogether different conditions, and will require the right connectivity solution to optimally handle the deluge of data they will produce, process, and devour.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows its span and limit with regards to operational efficiency, increasingly industrial facilities are seeing the advantages of IoT connectivity for industrial applications. Industry 4.0, the IIOT is one of the quickest developing segments of IoT. Accenture report estimates that IIoT could add $14.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

While the conversations encompassing IIoT focus on what is conceivable when everything is connected, some companies still are at a loss when it comes to utilizing connectivity to take data-driven action. A study by McKinsey found that, of the companies who have deployed an enterprise-level IoT solution, more than half have used only 10% or less of the information they collect. As the future of manufacturing is likely to be dominated by those who appropriately leverage Industry 4.0, companies that would like to remain significant must look to the current chiefs in IIoT advancement and decide how their techniques can be applied to improve operations.

Below are three examples of commercial companies where cutting-edge IIoT solutions are driving the industry forward. Through their innovative approaches to IIoT deployment, manufacturers and other industry leaders have a roadmap to help them stay ahead of the curve.

Paragon footwear advanced their operational productivity with IoT Solutions

India’s leading footwear brand Paragon deployed an integrated IoT solution and managed services from Aeris in partnership with Sify.

Paragon faced challenges like unexpected delays due to vehicle breakdown or wrong routes taken which led them to the search for an IoT-based solution to remotely track and monitor Paragon’s fleet in real-time in order to prevent vehicle misuse, idle time in the logistics chain and even driver behaviour.

Since footwear is a distributor-retailer led business, all of these were critical to ensure that supplies reach the market on time, every time. Paragon decided to use technology to manage their nationwide fleet. As a first step towards digitizing their supply chain, Paragon decided to implement the Aeris IoT solution across its nation-wide fleet, thus making them a single connected entity. To address the growing need of data management arising from the accelerated growth projection of IoT in India, Aeris collaborated with Sify Technologies, to develop niche IoT offerings with managed services for the Indian enterprises. At the core of Sify’s Digital Transformation model is the cloud iteration of IoT services.

How BSNL provides bandwidth for IoT solutions

IoT is the next wave of growth in telecom sector. State owned telecom player BSNL, entered into a landmark strategic alliance with Aeris to take IoT solutions to the masses, in India. Together the companies are offering packaged IoT solutions and services to enterprises, small and medium businesses and public sector undertakings among other segments in India. This partnership has opened the doors for wider propagation of IoT projects across the country as part of India’s digital transformation drive.

BSNL is the only service provider making efforts and planned initiatives to bridge the rural-urban digital divide in the ICT sector in India. Through its wide and unmatched network, BSNL will enable IoT projects through solutions designed to meet various end uses such as improving supply chain efficiency, enhancing customer experience, tracking and monitoring assets, improving logistics and empowering smart cities through a bouquet of solutions.

How Omnicomm helps fuel monitoring across various segments of logistics

Fleet Industry of India is undergoing a lot of difficulties ranging from lack of data for fleet utilization and management, to lack of vehicle safety and most importantly, the fuel theft. Fleet operators of all scale are facing difficulties in preventing fuel thefts. Siphoning and high consumption of fuel due to overspeed are compelling issues in the transportation industry in India. Finding reliable ways to monitor actual fuel consumption requires automation without human intervention.

Aeris added fuel monitoring feature from Omnicomm in its portfolio of packaged IoT solutions to address fuel pilferage across segments like logistics & transportation, construction equipment, locomotives, etc.

Altizon delivers Industrial Internet of Things Solutions for the Manufacturing Sector in India

With a global footprint of more than 100 enterprise users, Altizon is a leading Industrial IoT platform provider and its proven technology helps enterprises accelerate their Smart Manufacturing initiatives, modernize Asset Performance Management services and launch new business models for service delivery, among other processes. To provide end-to-end connected  technology and smart solutions for the  manufacturing sector,  Aeris and Altizon have integrated Altizon’s machine learning and IoT Edge technologies with Aeris’ IoT Services platform. Altizon’s proven technology is successfully being used in a number of industries, including the automotive, tire, steel, chemical, energy and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) markets.

Utilize the Complete IIoT Ecosystem with Aeris

Aeris provides IIoT solutions that allow businesses to set up customized and automated processes within factories, warehouses, and in the field, leading to more efficient and cost-effective processes and procedures. Our purpose-built infrastructure provides real-time business data regarding operational inefficiencies and monitors machinery to see exactly what would happen if an accident or hold up on the line occurred.

Apple,Palm battle it for the smartphone market

Palm Inc has fired another volley at Apple Inc in their smartphone war, as the two rivals tussle over whether iTunes should be compatible with Palm's new Pre smartphone.

Palm, whose executive ranks include former Apple brass, released a software update for the Pre this week that allows it to sync again with Apple's iTunes media management software.

The move comes after Apple last week issued its own software update to close a loophole in iTunes that had allowed it to sync with the Pre. ITunes is designed to work with Apple's iPod and iPhone products.

Palm mimicks Steve Jobs

Palm announced the software update in a blog post that mimicked Steve Jobs' signature catchphrase "Oh, and one more thing," which the Apple chief executive has often used to announce a brand new product.

"Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That's right -- you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1)," said Palm's blog posted late on Thursday.

It was not immediately clear when Apple may issue another software patch to counter Palm's move. When asked for comment, an Apple spokesman said, "As we've said before, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.

$200 Pre was launched in June

The $200 Pre launched in early June as a competitor to Apple Inc.'s iPhone, became the first non-Apple device that could connect directly to iTunes. Palm launched the Pre to good reviews, seeking to win a slice of the touch screen smartphone market now dominated by Apple's iPhone. Prior to the launch, Palm had touted that the Pre "synchronizes seamlessly with iTunes."

RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky estimates Palm has sold 325,000 to 375,000 Pre phones so far, ahead of expectations. In comparison, Apple sold more than a million iPhone 3GS units in the first three days on the market.

While analysts and the Pre's carrier, Sprint Nextel Corp, have said it's too soon to know if the phone will be a real hit, it has already sparked a huge rally in Palm shares this year.

War with Apple generating plenty of drama

Avian Securities analyst Matthew Thornton said the war with Apple is generating plenty of drama, even though few Pre users bought their phone with the intention of syncing with iTunes.

"There's a lot of hype around it," he said, noting that some senior Palm personnel formerly worked at Apple, making the rivalry between the two companies seem that much sharper even if the dispute will likely have a limited economic impact.

Palm Chief Executive Jon Rubinstein had helped create the iPod, and senior vice president of product development Mike Bell also used to work at Apple.

Rubinstein was brought in as Palm's executive chairman from Apple

Rubinstein was brought in as Palm's executive chairman when private equity firm Elevation Partners bought a stake in the company in 2007, and he was named CEO last month. Elevation's co-founders include tech investor Roger McNamee, former Apple Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson and singer Bono.

Kaufman Bros analyst Shaw Wu called Palm's move a "modest negative" for the company.

"While we acknowledge this is a short-term fix, frankly, we would have preferred Palm respond in a more professional and mature fashion," he wrote in a research note. "We do not believe hacking third-party software to work with one's hardware is a viable long-term business model, especially for a publicly traded company."

Palm was a pioneer of handheld devices

Palm was a pioneer of handheld devices, but has fallen well behind competitors like Apple and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd.

"Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content that they own without interference across devices and services," Palm spokeswoman Leslie Letts said.

Indiatimes

Yahoo offers iPhone-like Web for masses

Yahoo announced a new mobile service on Tuesday that will deliver an iPhone-like experience for people who cannot or will not splash out for the iconic but pricey Apple device as times get hard.

Yahoo Mobile will launch at the end of March in a form downloadable to any phone with a Web browser and from May in custom versions for hundreds of smartphones.

"There is a growing number of consumers out there who are not Apple iPhone users but want a rich starting experience," Marco Boerries, the head of Yahoo's mobile division, told the media in an interview.

Yahoo will also launch a version of Yahoo Mobile, designed to be a starting point for users to access the Internet, for the iPhone itself at the end of March. A test version for a limited number of public users is going live this week.

Yahoo Mobile offers a front page with colorful, boxy icons resembling the iPhone's for launching popular applications such as a Web browser, mail, news, weather and social network sites like Facebook.

Users also have the option to easily add any software or Web sites they choose to download on their phones.

The company plans in coming months to promote Yahoo Mobile via a series of 70 major operator partnerships it has struck to reach 850 million mobile subscribers around the globe.

Fifty of those partnerships already offer Yahoo services and the company expects the rest to adopt Yahoo Mobile in coming months, Boerries said.

Yahoo has developed versions that work on hundreds of mid-range and high-end mobile phones from BlackBerry maker RIM, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Motorola, as well as phones running Microsoft Windows.

Boerries defines the universe of phones that can effectively run Yahoo Mobile as "every phone that's shipped in the last two years that has a decent HTML-capable browser." He added: "We don't want to make lowest common denominator stuff."

A more general version of the service downloadable from the Web will also work on older phones but will not be tailored to those phones' specifications. Boerries demonstrated it on an old Sony Ericsson model.

Boerries said last year's on-again off-again talks with would-be buyer Microsoft had not significantly distracted his team, and said he had kept his key staff together for years.

After some prior delays in introducing services such as Yahoo Go, Boerries professed relief that his fuller vision of putting the Web on phones had arrived on time: "It is really, for me, making it all come together."

"This is like the uber-replacement of Yahoo Go."

Agencies