AT&T, Monday announced that it has struck IoT agreements with more than 136 companies across numerous industries, including agriculture, automotive, aviation, energy, healthcare, transportation, security and supply chain logistics. AT&T also notes that its network had nearly 22 million IoT connected devices worldwide as end of March, with more than 945,000 smart devices connected during the first quarter of this year alone, of which 684,000 were connected cars. The numbers are 70 percent more compared to the same quarter a year ago.
According to AT&T, businesses are increasingly turning to machine-to-machine (M2M) or industrial IoT technology for cutting costs, boosting revenue, saving time, reducing energy use and increasing visibility. The second largest mobile Operator in the US has a range of IoT/M2M solutions that cater for specific industries, including AT&T Cargo View with FlightSafe® for global assets monitoring; AT&T Smart Grid to use smart meters to help make energy grids more efficient and reliable and AT&T M2X which allows customers to connect their devices to AT&T's cloud-based data storage service.
Glenn Lurie, President and CEO, AT&T Mobility
We were the first wireless carrier to recognize the IoT opportunity. We started investing early and put a dedicated team behind it more than seven years ago. That's why we're the farthest along in connecting cars and seeing real traction in other areas which are just starting. Think of how much has been accomplished in a short amount of time – yet we're still just scratching the surface of what's possible. You'll see us continue to push, to innovate and play where our competitors simply are not.
Ralph de la Vega, CEO, AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions
We're seeing major interest from companies in almost every industry. They want to connect their machines, fleets, factories, shipping containers – even pallets – to our network. We're helping businesses solve real problems by building custom solutions that automate operations, reduce costs, and save time. With our highly secure and reliable network, there's no limit to what can be connected.
