The Smart SIM technology and connectivity service aims to develop global IoT applications through an integrated device-to-cloud solution, including hardware, managed connectivity, and cloud services for multi-operator, multi-regional IoT deployments. Sierra Wireless' new products integrate connectivity management, operations management and application enablement services into one platform. The company claims this results in customers “spending less time integrating multiple platforms, allowing them to accelerate their deployment of connected products and services”.
Sierra Wireless states there are three unique benefits to its Smart SIM:
- Extensive coverage – the Smart SIM automatically selects networks based on the best service available in any given location. It comes with multiple operator profiles already installed, effectively combining several MNO roaming SIMs into one physical Smart SIM. The on-board patented applet then intelligently selects the best available regional network operator at any given time. This results in better coverage and service up-time;
- Smart network connectivity and superior Quality of Service (QoS) – Sierra Wireless’ fully redundant core network is designed and built for IoT connectivity and applications. The multi-operator Smart SIM selects the best available cellular network in any given location, ensuring the best possible data connection at all times. In the event a device loses network signal, whether in-transit or otherwise, the Smart SIM will detect this and re-establish the connection with another network automatically
- Cost-effective simplicity – with a single Smart SIM and unified IoT Acceleration platform, Sierra Wireless vastly simplifies global IoT deployments, saving customers the time and expense of having to arrange multiple service agreements, SIMs and platforms, and the management of disparate vendors (see white paper for more information).
Sierra Wireless has more than 700,000 SIM subscribers globally using its connectivity offerings to power IoT deployments. Customers manage and automate all aspects of the Sierra Wireless Smart SIM using the IoT Acceleration Platform to integrate SIM logistics into a connected product or service. The IoT Acceleration Platform can also manage third-party network operator SIMs to provide a single unified connectivity management platform for all deployed SIMs.
“The QoS capability of Sierra Wireless’ innovative Smart SIM technology was a key factor in our vendor selection process because we needed to maximize coverage across multiple network operators,” said Chris Gnanakone, founder and co-CEO for Nube, an energy management company based in Latin America. “It was important for us to choose a partner that could eliminate much of the technical risk in our solution. We were able to get to market faster because Sierra Wireless’ hardware is pre-integrated with the cloud platform.”
“In the payments industry it is crucial that our terminals are connected at all times, allowing our customers to transact business,” said Daniel Nordholm, CTO for Bambora, a global payments company headquartered in Sweden. “The broader coverage benefits of the Sierra Wireless Smart SIM ensure we can deliver service to our customers at all times. We were also looking for a single SIM solution to serve all of our terminals regardless of geography to drive down the complexity and cost of deploying and supporting our global customers."
