The technology used for person-to-person communication, such as mobile phones or PCs has become ubiquitous due to network infrastructure, wireless technology, and the Internet. But perhaps a technology is still not widely used is Machine 2 Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT)—the science that meets the need for communication between their devices such as servers, controllers, sensors, or the cloud.

Internet is no longer just a network of computers. It has evolved into a network of devices of different nature and size, all connected, all in communication with each other and many able to share data at any time. These devices range from cars to refrigerators, from smartphones to toys, to cameras, tools, medical and industrial systems. Today there are more than one billion M2M devices used in sensors in the smart meter, smart buildings, and so on, and this number is expected to rapidly reach 20-50 billion units in the coming years and will require the adoption of solutions integrated belonging to a robust ecosystem. A study conducted by IDC predicts that by 2015, the intelligent M2M systems will come to exceed one-third of the total world of embedded systems.

Although each system or M2M application is different, the process is concentrated mainly in two different fields. The first phase to ensure that the devices are working properly, are connected and can transfer data. The second is related to the phase in which the data is sent to a certain destination, which can be an individual, another device or cloud to perform the analyzes required by the decision-making processes.

The M2M and IoT is growing dramatically. Thus increasing the demand for open platforms multi-sector SDKs, which can help companies and developers reduce time to market, better manage costs and provide new capabilities for embedded devices.

SDKs for Internet of Things

Many companies have decided to undertake IoT SDKs recognizing the great potential. Most of the time the goal is to improve a particular business area (increasing the value of the service or knocking down costs) and to transform into a full deployment plan or even multi-site, with the hope to replicate its success in other areas.

AT&T M2X Developer Kit

AT&T has launched a major initiative to reel in connected devices with plans to expand the universe of mobile applications beyond existing smartphones. The company has cloud-based M2M “developer sandbox,” called the AT&T M2X Developer Kit, which is a combination of tools for application and device developers. AT&T M2X allows developers to manage the data they collect from connected devices. The service is highly secure for data transmission and real time event management.

AT&T M2X Developer Kit comprises AT&T M2X, a new cloud-based managed data storage service for M2M devices, and AT&T Control Center powered by Jasper Wireless, which allow M2M developers to sign up, receive and activate SIMs (subscriber identity module), and then transmit and collect the data from these SIMs on any connected machine.

IBM and Libelium IoT Starter Kit

The Spanish company Libelium has partnered with IBM to launch a kit that will accelerate the development of Internet of Things applications. The kit called IoT Starter Kit consists of Libelium’s Waspmote wireless sensor platform with IBM’s Mote Runner software and 6LoWPAN, which helps the sensor and devices establish a direct connection with the Internet using the new IPv6 protocol. This platform is a powerful tool for improving and testing 6LoWPAN capabilities in the context of wireless sensor networks and the IoT.

The kit will facilitate the deployment of sensor networks for a variety of applications ranging from monitoring free of parking spaces, measuring pollution or elderly care. IBM has released the supplementary Mote Runner starter. This IDE is based on Eclipse and make it easier for developers to sensors through the 6LoWPAN protocol or ipv6 over low-power wireless personal area network.

Broadcom WICED SDK

Broadcom, the major player in the market for Wi-Fi circuits, has introduced a new SDK for its Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) portfolio that would allow high-definition audio streaming over a Wi-Fi network. The WICED Audio SDK provides OEMs with an innovative solution to deliver content directly from devices to speakers without the use of docking stations or wires.  It comes pre-integrated with Apple AirPlay support, and home media devices can seamlessly connect to products like smart TVs, portable speakers, media players, set-top boxes, sound bars and more using the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard or an advanced streaming application for Android.

The WICED Audio SDK contains I2S driver and API function calls to directly interface to audio DACs with precise clocking. In addition, it has synchronization algorithms that use timing information from Wi-Fi packets that deliver multi-room, multi-zone coverage to play different audio content in different areas of the home.

Cisco Fog computing

Companies have long wondered how to integrate cloud computing with the dynamically evolving IoT environment. Cisco already has an idea how to do it. The network company believes that data collected from hundreds of thousands of sensors operating in an IoT network can receive the data for analysis and processing by means of Linux based routers installed at the edge of the cloud.

Cisco’s Internet of Things group objective is to design and develop business solutions that provide connectivity to various data sources, machines and people. This group will focus on the development of vertical solutions including SDK that connect all the network of devices, objects and sensors not connected, transforming existing business models in dynamic, intelligent, innovative and data-centric processes.

The Internet Group of Things will focus on the design of Cisco networking solutions combining switching, routing, field networks, physical security and network integrated used in various verticals like manufacturing on demand, oil and gas, energy, mining, defense, transportation, smart cities and machine-to-machine processes for service providers.

IoT Framework for Raspberry Pi

Echelon Corp. recently announced an Industrial IoT for peer-to-peer networking of embedded controllers. The IzoT multi-protocol framework is  available in an ARM-ready beta version and reference implementation optimized for the Linux-based Raspberry Pi SBC as well as for Marvell’s Easy Connect SDK for Marvell’s 88MC200 WiFi SoC.

This open, multi-protocol, multi-application platform will support both wired and wireless connections, freeing developers from worrying about compatibility, protocol or connectivity issues. The platform is also said to be tailored for the harsh physical conditions and mission-critical processes of the industrial world.

Developers can take advantage of the software being released to rapidly prototype new IIoT devices and applications on standard ARM-based hardware platforms such as the Raspberry Pi, IzoT-enabled chips, modules, routers and software.

Gemalto M2M development kit

The Dutch chipmaker Gemalto recently expanded its M2M portfolio. The company operates Cinterion Concept Board for developers to provide Java developers with a further door to the Internet of things. The SDK kit gives physical objects the ability to automatically transfer information over a network, which creates a platform for smart decisions and continuously improving processes and interactions.

The Cinterion Concept Board is designed to expand IoT possibilities for Java developers by giving them ideal tool to speed up the creation of innovative solutions in digital signage, automated building applications, remote monitoring and control of devices and more.

Twisthink M2M Development Platform for Verizon

Twisthink has created a new Verizon Wireless Certified Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Development Platform which enables developers in a wide range of markets to make major, cost-effective inroads with M2M applications.

The SDK enables developers to create custom-embedded firmware applications on a 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) with local area and remote cellular connectivity. The M2M microcontroller has I/O that can be configured for a wide variety of tasks, for applications ranging from remote monitoring and alarm systems, home and appliance automation, vending machines to fleet management, remote pipeline equipment, agriculture and viticulture.