How could such a concept work? Some might argue this equates to trying to drive a car without gas or fly a plane without wings. In this day and age, it seems nothing is too inconceivable and everything has an explanation (no matter how outlandish they might seem).
The concept of IoT without Internet originated when the Swiss mobile communications software company Myriad Group announced its system called Thingstream, would become commercially available. Thingstream is a network for device connectivity built on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) messaging, which is also referred to as “quick codes.” Thingstream is a recently launched machine-to-machine connectivity technology, whose functions are primarily centered around the protocols for USSD messaging.
USSD messaging data is used as a communications protocol by mobile networks to correspond with the computers of service providers. Users send messages to the phone company network when they need to register a device like a phone for the first time, which a USSD—dedicated computer receives. This particular protocol of service data supports a broad array of IoT applications that suit devices in motion, remote areas, or need to be secure before being connected to the cloud.
This particular form of service data messaging is a universal feature in cellular networks, which leads Myriad researchers to believe USSD can provide secure IoT connectivity without actually involving the Internet. Since Thingstream solutions utilize USSD through the company’s personal global roaming machine-to-machine SIM in asset tracking, logistics, facility management, and environmental monitoring (among others), the network’s simplicity has been one of its key selling points.
In general, IoT options for industrial applications are extremely complex, costly, and don’t offer the necessary or required levels of secure connectivity. As of today, an ideal solution for asset tracking normally involves cellular data, which be default requires both a suitable roaming carrier partner capable of matching the enterprise footprint, along with still allowing the deliveries of small secure payloads within the cloud environment.
USSD messaging omits many complex and complicated facets of carrier roaming, along with processing and power consumption that the actual transmitting devices require. The aim is to secure connections for Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications with a view to overcoming conventional challenges that are popularly associated with syncing remote, moving, and roaming network devices.
Myriad additionally offers Connect Hub—a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering, which is currently ready to be piloted. Active technical trials using mobile network operators have begun in African countries like Kenya, Namibia, and are set to commence in South Africa. The firm completed integration of a mobile payment application for out-of-brand authentication, whose service is expected to begin by the year’s end.
Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)
