How Does a Multi-Carrier IoT Device Choose a Carrier?
by Ralph Heredia on Mar 14, 2025 2:33:11 PM
The network an IoT device selects significantly impacts the strength and reliability of connection, which is essential for seamless data transmission and optimal device functionality. Whether for a smart utility meter in a remote location or a fleet tracking device traversing differen …
What is Network Redundancy and Why Is It Critical for IoT?
by Jim Greco on Nov 6, 2023 9:12:13 AM
Internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Without it, productivity comes to a halt, and businesses face substantial financial risk. IoT products rely on connectivity, and OEMs face customer frustration with a loss of internet and may even put customer assets or secu …
10 Key Features of an IoT Connectivity Management Platform
by Ralph Heredia on Sep 19, 2023 9:46:58 AM
IoT connectivity management involves the administration of all the necessary devices, networks, and data to test, deploy, and support the devices companies roll out themselves or sell to customers. As IoT deployments scale, managing connectivity becomes increasingly complex, and the p …
How to Cost-Effectively Manage IoT Data Plans
by Ralph Heredia on Jun 20, 2023 10:27:05 AM
IoT devices generate, store, analyze, and transmit large amounts of data, but managing this data can be costly. IoT sensors continuously collect data from their surroundings that is then transferred over a cellular network to the cloud, where it is processed and stored. The true value …
SIM Card Types and Sizes Explained
by Ralph Heredia on May 8, 2023 12:18:39 PM
SIM cards have been around for decades, and most of us are familiar with these small chips inserted into our smartphones. SIMs provide memory to store data and unique IDs to connect our devices to mobile networks. SIM cards were originally designed for mobile phones, but SIM types and …
LTE Cat-M1 Explained: Pros and Cons of LTE-M for IoT Devices
by Ralph Heredia on Mar 28, 2023 9:47:36 AM
Many massive IoT deployments require little bandwidth per device and leverage battery-operated devices, so power conservation is often important. 4G and LTE networks provide high-speed and high-bandwidth cellular connectivity but consume too much power for certain IoT applications. As …
Global IoT Connectivity: Understanding the Fundamentals
by Frank Greer on May 12, 2022 9:10:06 AM
IoT connectivity is an important component of any IoT solution, and deciding which option(s) to use to connect your device deployments is critical. If your company has a global footprint or has customers in many different geographic regions, then it may make sense to consider implemen …
What Are ICCID & IMEI Numbers? IoT SIM Cards Explained
by Ralph Heredia on Nov 24, 2021 2:59:06 PM
Most people are familiar with SIM cards for cell phones. Though an IoT SIM card is similar, it’s different in that it supports IoT devices specifically with their network requirements and unique data consumption rates (check-in rates). Few people understand how IoT SIM cards work and …
IoT SIM Cards — an Introductory Guide
by Ralph Heredia on May 3, 2021 12:33:05 PM
The IoT SIM card (also known as an M2M SIM) is a variation of the traditional SIM which connects mobile phones to cellular networks and stores user information. The primary difference is that an IoT SIM card is intended to support IoT devices, with their unique data consumption rates/ …
eSIMs: What They Are, What They’re Not, and When They’re Right for You
by Ralph Heredia on Mar 2, 2021 8:30:00 AM
The physical little chip consumers and companies have inserted into phones and other devices for years may soon be a thing of the past thanks to the rise of eSIMs. The eSIM is already changing the way we connect our devices to wireless carrier networks and eSIM interest is growing rap …
Uniquely IoT: Why IoT SIMs should be treated differently from traditional SIMs
by Ralph Heredia on Dec 3, 2020 9:00:00 AM
Some OEMs make the mistake of treating IoT SIMs and traditional mobile SIMs the same way, attempting to operationalize them in similar ways, without considering the financial models of IoT SIMs or the downstream effects of these business decisions. In this article, we will explore why …
Operationalizing IoT SIM Management: Tips for Device Makers
by Ralph Heredia on Aug 4, 2020 9:01:11 AM
An Overview of IoT SIM States and What They Mean for OEMs The state of your IoT SIM card determines the services a device can access. At a high level, there are two different modes an IoT SIM card can be in; active and inactive. These two modes are further split into different "states …