ARM launches iot Starter Kit to start a new generation of smart devices connected to the cloud

     ARM today announced the launch of the ARM® mbed™ IoT Starter Kit, which uses Ethernet connectivity technology to transfer data from connected devices directly to IBM's Bluemix cloud platform. The secure sensing environment provided by ARM, combined with IBM's cloud data analytics, mobile and application resources, will accelerate the development of new smart device prototypes and special value-added services. The first products based on the kit are expected to be available this year.

     Krisztian Flautner, general manager of ARM's Internet of Things division, said: "If you can incorporate intelligence and connectivity from the beginning of the product design, you can create cloud devices that are more powerful than existing products. Building smart cities, businesses, and homes with the ability to share rich information with their surroundings is critical to unlocking the full potential of the Internet of Things. ARM's iot Starter Kit will accelerate and simplify the development of product and service prototypes to accelerate the adoption of connected devices."

     This iot starter kit includes application protection from Freescale's ARM Cortex-M4 processor and ARM mbed platform development boards, as well as sensor IO interfaces. In future releases, the new ARM mbed operating system will also be used, and the ARM mbed device server software will provide more diverse and efficient security, communication and device management functions. Building on the already launched IBM IoT Foundation and ARM mbed iot device platforms, the two companies will continue to work together to enable connectivity between devices and the cloud, creating an interconnected, open, secure and scalable environment.

     Meg Divitto, vice president of IBM's Internet of Things division, said: "The purpose of the Internet of Things is to bridge the distance between the physical and digital worlds, so that enterprises can better understand what is happening around them and enhance interaction with these things. In order for this to work in the enterprise, whether it's connecting devices to the cloud or developing applications and building data, it has to be easier. The IBM Bluemix platform and ARM's new mbed iot starter Kit are the result."

     ARM officially unveiled the iot Starter Kit at the Embedded World conference in Nuremberg, Germany, last week. Prototype kits have been made available to early partners, including the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which works extensively in space science, the environment, medicine and computing. And plans to build a big data demonstration project with the suite.

     David Moss, Manager of High-performance Computing, Massive Data and Visualization Solutions at the STFC Hartree Center, said: "The ARM mbed Starter Kit has been very useful in preparing various projects that require equipment. With the capabilities of this suite and the support of the IBM IoT Foundation, we expect to accelerate commercial value in product development and manufacturing in the future."

     Another company testing the kit is Cambridge Consultants, which serves a wide range of blue-chip and start-up companies and advises them on production development and technology.

     Tim Murdoch, Director of Digital Services at Cambridge Consulting, said: "We are witnessing the proliferation of technology and the ARM iot Starter Kit is a prime example of how it makes it easy for any individual or company to implement a design idea. "By connecting to IBM's cloud platform, we can now provide makers with a path to bring products to market faster and service development faster and more cost-effectively than ever before."

     This starter kit represents a major step forward in the collaboration between ARM and IBM. In addition to Ethernet connectivity, future versions of the co-developed starter kit may extend support to Cellular, Wi-Fi and ThreadTM connectivity technologies. ARM is currently discussing the packaging and marketing of the product with the world's leading electronics distributors.

     John Dixon, Director of Marketing at Freescale, said: "Connecting from the edge of the network to the cloud, Freescale's technology provides both secure and embedded processing solutions for the emerging iot applications of the future. We are delighted that the ARM mbed iot Starter Kit features Freescale's FRDM-K64F Freedom development platform. "This partnership will aid the development of iot applications, helping developers add smart functionality to every object and implement their designs faster until they reach the market."